Come Pack With Us | Caravan Vlogs from Mac & Sarah
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- čas přidán 24. 05. 2024
- Hey friends! Welcome to our channel and to another of our caravan vlogs! In this video we are packing up to go away for the weekend.
Recently we received some questions in comments and over on iInstagram, asking how we pack our caravan, what goes where, what we leave in and what we pack in the car. So we thought that while we get ready to go away we'd film the process to answer those very questions. Hope it's interesting or helpful.
If you're joining us for the first time and caravan vlogs are your thing, then stick around, we have some great plans for 2024 and of course we'll be sharing everything with you, our wonderful viewers!!
We're so happy you're here and really hope you enjoyed this video, thanks so much for watching!
All the best
Mac, Sarah & Dozer
Why not follow us on Instgram: @towing__home
#caravan #caravanlife #caravaning
A laminated check list as I'm always forgetting something!
Such a great idea and very organized!! 👍
I can’t believe I never thought of an old CD case for DVD’s. We’ve got a cupboard back - thank you!
Haha you're welcome!!!! Even our DVDs at home are in large binders, 500+ in one small cupboard lol
"What's in the box!" --- Brad Pitt in 'Seven'
Bingo!!! 👍 Great movie!!
Living vicariously through your caravan videos. Love the bathroom wall colour (dark green) in your home. Always love the plants too. 💚
Awww thanks so much Bethany ❤️ the bathroom is probably our favorite room in the house haha. Thanks for watching, all the best x
Wow someone else actually weighs out food for their lab. We also pack more for Calla that we do for us
Hi Sarah, oh yes we've always done that and yes, always more stuff for Dozer than us 😅 thanks for watching, boops to Calla x
Just had another excellent weekend at prestwick holiday park the beach was deserted
Sounds lovely! Glad you had a good time
Great Video guys🐾as always a great watch and love the Dozzer's Prep box🐾 apologies if we spelled the Big guys name wrong🐾
Hey both! Hope you're well. Thanks for watching! You got his name spot on 👍
Hi Mac and Sarah. You're very brave doing a video like this, as it could open you up to eye raising criticism from some. However, we found it useful and informative as you seem to be taking pretty much the same as us overall, give or take some specifics. We do differ slightly on distribution of these items, though.
We use lightweight Corelle for our crockery, which we store along with glassware and frou-frou (artificial plants, ornaments and hanging stuff) in a plastic storage box on our car back seat. Most of our clothes travel in drawers and wardrobes inside the van. Unlike you, we never put our awning or sun canopy in the van. Again, it travels on the back seat of the car, along with the box of Xenna's food, toys, treats and sundries and other items.
Personally, I would be inclined to carry a few more related items from your car in your front locker and move your awning from the van into the car too. We store nothing in the frame under our fixed rear island bed, until we get on site. Our telly travels under the duvet and pillows on top of the made up bed. So rear of axle, we carry just clothes - approx 10kg, telly - 2.5 kg, bed linen - 3kg and a couple of light hair and beauty items in Pam's vanity unit - approx 2kg. Like you, we carry our aquaroll and wastemaster over the single axle in our shower and toilet, which are both located in the middle of our caravan.
We've just invested in a new travel charcoal BBQ for away trips. It's a mid-sized Lotus Grill - fantastic, lightweight at 4kg, smokeless and really easy to clean and ready to BBQ in 5 mins. It has a zip case with carry handles and goes on our back seat, along with our foldable picnic table, chairs, food and my toolbag.
We removed the original table inside our caravan. In its place went an electric ultra lightweight teppenaki grill from Outdoor Revolution and a foldable heatproof table for outside use.
Aside from the above, our electric egg boiler and Dozer's foldable ramp, we have the same items.
Hope our insights are useful..Great vlog from you guys as always. Love your work.❤❤ All the best from Graham, Pam and Xenna. xx
Hey Graham, Pam & Xenna, hope you're all keeping well. Thanks as always for watching 👍 We don't mind the raised eyebrows haha, it's always a case of each to their own isn't it?
Those are some fantastic tips and it's great to hear how you get set up for success, I'm sure there are some tips we can adopt too 🙂 Great for others to see too, in case it's helpful.
Thanks again and all the best
Mac, Sarah & Dozer
Hi guys, being like yourselves enjoying dog walking we always keep a welly boot jack ! super handy from slipping your boots off on threshold of your awning carpet ! The plastic ones are cheap,light and easy to clean.Love that Dozer is still enjoying his trips!! Dru and Wally (the Lab)
Hey Andrew, Dru and Wally! Thanks for watching! Oh boot jacks sound very helpful. The one thing we hate is mud huh!
Fab video and really enjoying watching them. When travelling we put our tv on the bed under the pillows no issues. I pack clothes in our wardrobe but found them falling of the rail so just stuff a cushion at the top. We now tend to leave toiletries in the van. Less to pack. Can’t wait to watch how you weekend away went
Hey Melisa, thanks so much for watching. Great tips too, TV under the pillows 👍 and stuffing a cushion between the wardrobe rail is absolutely genius!!! Will definitely remember that one 😀 thanks again, all the best ❤️
We use 2 or 3 packing cubes for our clothes - they basically act as drawers.
Hi Craig. Yes we have loads of cubes too, but left them out this time. When we're away for longer, we also just leave stuff in them and pop them in the overhead cupboards in the bedroom. Thanks for watching 👍
Have a great trip 😁
Thanks Alex, it was good. Video out next week 👍
You should get dozer on some Green lipped mussel also., brilliant stuff
Thanks for the tip
Learning how to pack car and caravan in the best way feels like a real learning curve. We’ve only done 3 trips so far and we find something we can make better each time. We avoiding putting too much in caravan to start with but found by putting more over axels in our last trip our nose weight was spot on and car was better packed too and I’m trying to make a spreadsheet of weights of each item to make sure caravan isn’t overloaded either. Hope you enjoyed your trip with lovely Dozer.
Ah a spreadsheet, now you're talking! It's a great idea to make sure you know exactly what you need and what it weighs. Yes we pack differently depending on what we need for that particular trip and little tweaks are also useful. Thanks for watching, much appreciated 👍
I LOVED this. I am picking up my brand new caravan next week, then Dora The Explorer goes to Devon for a week. This video was heaven sent as I have to start from scratch to load her up. Luckily there's a caravan accessories shop nearby. Great video and thank you for the tips x🎉
Hey Alison!!! Oh that's very exciting!!! And to have an accessory shop nearby is awesome 👍 Although if there was one near us we'd spend a fortune haha. Please let us know how your first trip goes, we'd love to hear!
All the best, Mac & Sarah
I use the same fabric clothing bags, one of the best things we ever did
Hi Paul, they're a game changer aren't they? Thanks for watching 👍
So pleased you made this video, we have caravanned for 30 plus years but recently there seems no advice for loading a caravan and it’s so important.
Hope anyone new to caravanning watches as so many people pack under the bed with so much heavy stuff it’s so dangerous.
Also you showed you don’t need everything in the caravan , carry stuff in the car.
All brilliant advice.
Dozer is so gorgeous, as you put his ramp in the car my husband and I both went Ahhhhhhhhhh at the same time .
Have a fab trip xx
Aww thanks so much Vicki. Yes it's now a well honed packing routine lol. We try to keep the weight down in the caravan as much as possible.
Thanks for watching, all the best
Mac & Sarah
Great vid guys it more or less mirrors what we do and our van is sited 😊but watching all these videos plus others is given us itchy feet to go touring again 😀 Ry&Ave
Ah thanks for watching. I guess there's benefits to both. We've only ever toured bit it must be nice to just drive up and enjoy. Thanks again!
Another fantastic video guys, but I think you need a bigger car ( just kidding ) why the more space we have, the more stuff we take Lol
Keep up the fantastic work
Hey Michael 😂 actually you're right, we do need a bigger car, but how can that be? Lol. We've got pretty canny at packing the car now but when it's time to change we will go for more space..... So we can take more stuff haha. Thanks for watching 😀
This was great! We haven’t used packing bags but I think that’s a great idea especially reducing the trip from house to van and back again and again😂
Hey Susan, thanks so much for watching, we always appreciate your support! Absolutely, the big bags are super helpful for us! All the best, Mac & Sarah!
I leave some toothpaste and toiletries, items of canned food, dogs bowls doggy bags so i dont foget them each time in the caravan all the time.those clothes cases great idea ,I'll look those up,have a great weekend 😀 x
Thanks for watching Elaine, all the best x
We pack like you but dont have a dog & crate. So we fit a tepanyaki grill plate, an airfryer & a slow cooker into the car.
Ah that's handy, we'd love some more space. Just need a bigger car lol
Thank you for another video. You make such great content. Mac is looking good 😉 I hope you have a great weekend away. ❤🏳️🌈
Ah Matt you're too kind ❤️ Thanks for watching as always, much appreciated 👍
Great video all makes great sense, as soon as we start loading the Car our Dog Benji is in the back as soon as we open the tailgate even if loading the night before...lol of course we don't leave him there!
Aww bless him, that shows how excited he is to go away! Thanks for watching, much appreciated 👍
Hi guys. Hope you have an amazing weekend away. During the summer season we now leave everything in our caravan apart from toiletries, medicines, food, clothes and bedding and we nestle our TV in the fixed bed to try to protect it from being shaken around with the roads being so full of pot holes. We did used to transport it wrapped up under the front sofa but our first TV broke due to it being shaken around too much. Just thought that might be a little tip. It’s great that we all try and help each other. We used Keith and Michele’s tip about putting a child lock on our caravan fridge door to prevent it from falling off again (still waiting for the repair work to be done on our kitchen units). I too pack toiletries in small refillable bottles. It saves so much weight and space. Great video again. 👍❤️Amanda and Paul.
Hey Amanda and Paul, thanks for watching and for the tip to protect the TV! We know what you mean about pot holes but so far 🤞they haven't led to any damage. Yea it's great to help each other out with tips n tricks, what a lovely community ❤️ thanks again
Great vlog, really enjoyed it. We have a motorhome and my wife has lists on her phone ( Moho essentials, Moho shopping etc) which we check and tick off as we pack up. It has saved a few problems along the way and we couldn’t travel without them. Gary and Kate 😊
Hey Gary and Kate! That sounds super organised, and the perfect way to ensure you don't forget anything 👍 thanks for watching 😀
Hi, we enjoy watching your video. we use small packing cubes for underwear and just put them right in one of the top cupboards.
The tv can go in the bed with the pillows. We put all pans in the cooker with protective felt rings between them.
Look forward to you next trip.
Hey Janice, thanks for watching! Oh we need some of those little felt rings for pots, thanks for the tip! We also use packing cubes for undies and socks etc, but this is such a short trip we haven't this time. Thanks again, all the best
Morning,
A good informative vlog, your routine seems very similar to ours and use very similar items, maybe as we have the same van 😅.
The wire rack unit under the sink we changed to a slide out one from ikea got the idea from Keith and Michelle, we also put non slip matting under the vanity sink and got some small storage baskets.
Enjoy your trip and take care.
Paul and Joanne 👍 😊
Hi Paul and Joanne, thanks for watching 👍 oh that's such a good idea about the rack under the sink, need to find that in IKEA for sure!! All the best
Our caravan is on our drive. Clothes go straight in from house toiletries stay in caravan all new start of the year we have a food box left in caravan a dog cupboard all stocked up. We travel with awning in the boot. X
Thanks for watching! Yea the boot would be the ideal place for the awning were it not for a big doggo in there 😂
Roof box is a good investment. Keeps the weight over the centre of car
Actually we just bought one 👍 great minds!! We're off for a couple of weeks from next weekend so it will definitely come in handy.
As we've built up our caravan equipment we now leave things like toiletries, makeup, hairdryer (all the essentials!😂) in the caravan permanently. We have our caravan in storage so the more we can leave in the better.
A piece of grey pipe lagging over the top of coathangers works a treat whilst travelling.
One thing we must get to leave in permanently is an Amazon charger, a kindle with no battery is a real pain!
Love the grey bags, we have those for transporting bedding and towels.
Enjoy your trip and we look forward to seeing your next video.😊
Hey, thanks for watching. Yes totally agree, the longer we do it, the more we understand what can stay. We're so lucky that our van fits down the side of the house, but a future bigger van may need storage lol
@@MacSarah we just need a bigger driveway!🤣
Bought a fold up bike takes up most of the boot space but i use it to cycle round the caravan site weather permitting for a bit of exercise so its worth it good for prestwick as the sites at the beach
Ah fold up bikes would be great actually but we don't have anymore free space lol. We need a bigger car! Thanks for watching
I’m sure you recently did a video showing you filling your front locker with stuff!! 🙃😀
One of these days I’m going to get my Basecamp to a public weigh bridge just to see where we’re at regarding weight …It’s only been three years and still haven’t done it!! 😂
Tristan & Katie
Yea that was the old caravan with different weight distribution. I'd like to take ours to a weigh bridge too 👍 thanks for watching
Hi Sarah and Mac. Can you provide a link for the clothes bags you use and also the melamine set?
Hi Caroline, yes of course, here's the link for the bags: Lifewit Large Capacity Clothes... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PCMSLLF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Not sure which seats you mean though, is it the Stretch Seats?
@@MacSarah Noooo, your melamine plates, bowls etc!
Hi, great informative video. Can I ask if you have actually been to a weighbridge with the caravan once packed up and ready to go. We were surprised with the weight of ours and have had to remove a few luxuries ha ha
Hi Bev, thanks so much for watching. Actually we haven't but it would be a good idea 👍 we kinda weighed a load of stuff as aax load and we now know what not to exceed, but the absolute clarity of going to a weigh bridge would be helpful, thanks for the tip
Hi guys have missed you 🙄🙄 hope your both feeling better and looking forward to your next trip. Thanks for the great tip about the lightweight/foldable bags i use them to store our pillows and duvet in our van, we are going away to Eye Kettlby next weekend and was going to pack a case but now we have a motorhome i was worried where i would store the empty case so using the storage bag solves my dilemma thank you.😁 Enjoy your trip look forward to seeing you again soon. Take care xx
Hey Julie, thanks for watching, as always we really appreciate it. Yes those folding bags are awesome, let us know if you want a link to them on Amazon. Ah we're off the Eye Kettleby third week in June, we can't wait to looks amazing. Have an absolutely wonderful time ❤️. All the best, Mac &Sarah
Thanks i got mine from amazon to lol xx
Great video. We like it a lot. Please send me the link of the Amazon storagebags. Thanks in advance.
Hi so enjoyed your videos is there any chance you could let me know where you’ve got three bags to pack your clothes from please
Hi Ella, thanks for watching! Yes of course, we got them from Amazon... Hopefully this link works www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PCMSLLF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
We are just about to purchase our first (2nd hand caravan) today.
What a minefield it’s been! 😱🤣
Didn’t bank on changing the car though to tow it!
So the weight over the axle - can any of this go in the car to lighten the load in the caravan?
Fab informative video - new sub here ❤
Hey Bessie! Thanks for watching and subscribing 👍 oh yes lol it's a bot of a minefield at first but it gets easier and there's loads of help and advice around! We could but some of that in the car but the car is usually pretty full too
Thanks again, all the best x
@@MacSarah I’ll make more room - the rescue greyhounds can stay home …. 🤣 only joking x
So little in the 'van. How do you cope onsite ? lol What about toilet Fluids and waste pipes for when using serviced pitches ? There is so much to think about. Spare bulbs and the like. Oh yeah Don't forget the Cadac and spare Gas cylinder. The list goes on. Weight? Who cares, you're going on holiday!! lol Great video on how to pack and stay organised. I f weight does worry you, then think about the AFD Weight Reduction Tablets as featured by Mr Dan Trudgian.
Haha hey Chris, thanks for watching 👍 yes this is only a short trip so we ain't taking much! The hoses etc for serviced pitches come out and stay in the garage at home if we don't need them. And we don't yet have a Cadac (😮 oh the shock lol). We're over packers by nature so it is hard keeping the weight down 😂
Alot that stuff especially ramp not secure .on back seat
Thanks for the warning
One more thing if anyone can help - both old enough to tow but have never towed so want to do the responsible thing and book on a course. My question is :
1. Can anyone recommend a course or
2. We live in a village with at least 15 farms - do we ask a farmer friend to show us?
Hey Bessie. If you're members of (or may join) the Caravan & Motorhome Club, they offer courses, think for just under £200. Have a look on their website. Looks like they offer them across the country.
SEVEN !
YESSS! 😂 Nice one Janet!! Lol. What a great movie! Thanks for watching 👍
The front of your van doesnt have much in it its better to have a bit of weight on the front maybe get a weight scale to see how much they recommend 70-80kg on the hitch ball i would say you are well short of that
Thanks for watching, actually you'd be surprised, it's bang on. We do have a nose weight gauge and move things around depending on how much we're taking overall.
@@MacSarah ok your front locker looks empty compared to mine i have a spare wheel plus gas bottle in mine plus the cable plu locks and when i weighed the nose it only weighed 60kg
We take more stuff for our dogs than we do for ourselves 🙄
🤣 oh the things we do for our doggos huh? We're the same lol. Thanks for watching 👍
@@MacSarah 👍❤️🐾
You don't have children??
No we don't, just us and our doggo
Mac I say Sarah is the very beautiful women you marriage you are so lucky..