Caravan Advice & Tips for Beginners Part 2
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- After sharing our experiences for those new to the caravan lifestyle, our wonderful subscribers sent us their tips, suggestions and advice. In this video we share their tips with you. A huge thank you to everyone for your contributions.
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Caravan:
Swift Vogue 580 SB 2018
Swift Caravans
Dunswell Road, Cottingham, East Yorkshire, HU16 4JX
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Email: enquiries@swiftleisure.co.uk
Twice now have gone to the caravan dealers for a part, first time to our local one for a window stay and bought a new caravan! You would have thought that being away on holiday it would be safe to pop to a dealer for a new seal for the cassette toilet. Nope, we bought another caravan!!! We had to go home at the end of the holiday, empty the caravan, pack a box with kitchen stuff for 2, put bedding and other essentials in the car and go back the following weekend to swap caravans! Shropshire to Suffolk. Stayed on a site we knew for the weekend to check everything out and then came home. I have also been on a business trip to Gloucester and - you've guessed it! - drove past a dealership, turned round and went back to have a look at a caravan I'd glimpsed driving past, and bought it! Nine caravans later and I'm barred from visiting dealerships, the NEC shows (2 caravans!), and even looking at caravan magazines. It's an addiction lol. Keep up the videos, even after all these caravans I still find tips useful.
Hi, Definitely sounds like you’re a caravanolic 😆😂😀 You’ve certainly made us giggle with your experiences 😂 Many thanks for sharing & for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele.
I’ve just found your videos 3 days ago, very good.
All the tips that get passed around are great, we can never know everything.
We have been caravanning for 45 years, starting in a new ABI Monza in 1976 with the very hot summer, my wife had just had our 1st baby, 3 weeks old and we were off on our 1st trip, the van cost £500.
It was 12 ft long with single dinette / bunks at front and double at back, centre kitchen opposite wardrobe and toilet compartment, bucket with lid, before porta potty , there was not much room between kitchen and toilet if the door opened, so I got curtain tracks and made the door sliding, tracks fitted to floor and wall and stops to limit travel.
We didn’t use so much water in those days , because we had a Whale foot pump, you only pumped what you needed,.
There was no electricity in the caravan, we had 2 gas lights with mantles that got lit with a match, we got heat off the lights , great at this time of year and cosy in autumn, no fridge , no cooker, not even double glazing, the windows were glass.
So in summary, no much home comforts but great holidays and weekends.
Thanks
Alastair
Hi Alastair, Thank you so much for sharing your experiences of caravanning all those years ago, absolutely fascinating to read. Things have certainly changed today. With many thanks again, sending all our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
hi great information enjoyed watching just a quick tip that works for us is put foam pipe insulation onto the wardrobe hanging rail, clothes on hangers never fall off and the all stay in place also they don't make any noise when travelling. xx
Brilliant tip Nila 👍🏻 Many thanks for sharing 😀 Keith & Michele
My hubby and I are in knots with your love of sweets. We've decided thats one of our essentials. Thanks for all the great tips.
Hi Baljit4281, Many thanks for watching, we’re delighted you’re finding our videos helpful 🤗 It wouldn’t be a holiday without the sweetie jar 😀🍬🍭😋 Sending our best wishes to you both, Keith & Michele.
Hoping to buy my first caravan , so very useful information thanks guys
Tips for beginners.
Always check all of your caravans road lights including fog, 3rd brake and reversing lights before setting off for holiday and your return journey home. If you do not have an assistant to help you. You can still check the lights, switch your towing vehicles ignition on, them put what lights on to check then walk round the caravan check as you walk round. Checking brake lights on your own easy, get a strong thin piece of wood jam it between the drivers seat ands brake pedal.
Great tips David, Thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi hope you are both well. Upon doing research on towing mirrors, it’s not a legal requirement to have them when towing. For example if you was towing a small trailer you would not need towing mirrors. The law only requires you to be able to see a curtain distance behind what you are towing.
Hi wkdblue62, Many thanks for the clarification 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Just bought my very first van and this is now my goto channel and I'm binge watching. Thank you for doing this it's invaluable
Hi Aine, Welcome to our channel & congratulations on your first caravan 🎉🎉🎉 We’re delighted you’re finding our videos helpful, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us directly, info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Wishing you many happy travels & adventures 😀 Keith & Michele.
Loved the fridge thermometer tip - I stopped the video and ordered it straight away on ebay. £3.32 each. Keep the videos coming!
Hi Paul, Many thanks for you great comments & a special thanks to our viewer Howard B for that recommendation 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Good advice , I have a list of what to do when leaving site
Hi @StephenKirk-ig1xc Many thanks for your kind words Stephen ❤️ We’re delighted you found our video helpful 🤗 Happy travels, Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Hi love your videos Went taking out your toilet cassette right out on floor there is a hole . Does anybody know what it's for. Put your finger in & pull cover off there is a small square hole what does it do. / My caravan is a Swift Stirling Eccles.,, A tip for you if you have bad eye sight went you open toilet lip you see a black hole IF you take out toilet cassette pull back slide dry that cycle get some PVC Put tape it in cycle then put cassette . Go in caravan open lip the hole is WHITE & Closed! Went you open it! It's BLACK, OPEN, ALSO Before you use it all ways flush it then nothing sticks ( 2 ) waste Best Wishes John
I have in the past tried to pull away with the movers still engaged!!
Didn’t take long to realise we weren’t moving!
Hi Ron, We’ve don’t the same 🙄 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
ive just changed from a moho to a caravan ,brought it back from the dealer and the first thing i did was to leave the handbrake on while attempting to to get it onto the drive. face palm moment no1 only had it for 5 days so not had chance to get face palm no2 in yet lol
Hi there, we have a checklist on our phone which we 'tick off' every time. An app like G Tasks does the job. Alternatively, a printed out checklist which is laminated can be ticked off with a whiteboard marker and rubbed out each time. cheers
Hi Lynda, Great tips 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing, Keith & Michele
Both of those tips really good ideas 👍🏻
My tip after caravanning for over 25 years is to have a laminated A4 list of the things you need to do when moving On i.e "CARAVAN MOVING ON LIST". Also have an end of season list to drain off tanks etc which saves looking through the manual every year to find the correct procedures.
Excellent advice Mike, thanks for sharing. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Thanks for another useful tips upload. I'll share 2 of my own:1. I have a site booking word template that I've printed out that prompts me to ask site owners 'what's the best approach route to use?' That has helped me avoid problems a couple of times. & from another caravanner I picked this one up2. Pack your awning the night before leaving the site 'IF IT'S DRY' this saves a dry out at home issue & once again has helped me 3 times now when rain came overnight!Keep the uploads coming.
Hi Dave, Many thanks for your tips, great advice 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
very enjoyable watch. Two things I always do, is after hitching up, drop jockey wheel and wind down to lift car, to make sure you have a secure hitch and second, check your pitch for rubbish, dog poo or equipment left.
Great tips Guys, Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
I saw one novice drop his caravan onto his tow hook, because he released his jockey wheel rather than wound it down. luckily he hit the tow hook. otherwise I dread to think what would have happened if it had landed on his foot. what I'm trying to say how valuable advice from people like yourselves are to beginners like Myself. Thank you.
From Taupo NZ, We have a New Challenger 645 arriving in 2 weeks.Your videos are superb and very informative ,am spending hours watching them to get familiar with Caravanning.
Congratulations on your new caravan David 🎉Wishing you many happy travels & adventures.Many thanks for your kind words, we’re delighted you’re enjoying our videos & finding them helpful. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Hi Michele and Keith.
We would be obliged to receive your help as a first-time Caravaner in waiting. My issue is a single axle or twim. we are chair users concerned about hitching up and movement while travelling .
As we have not purchased yet, what to get the most value and to suit our needs . As disable driver are motor Mover helpful.
All advice gratefully received.
Keep up the good show..
Sincere thanks
Seàn.
Hi Sean, We have had both single & twin axles & enjoyed both. The twin axle feels more stable when towing but it’s generally a longer vehicle. We would definitely recommend a motormover for any caravan as this makes manoeuvring so much easier! It would be wise for you you to visit some dealerships & the caravan shows that are frequently on throughout the year across the country, at these you can get advice as to what would be best suited for you. Wishing you good luck in your search, with all our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Great idea for a video - everyone wins when these tips and "boo-boos I've made" are shared. Let's hope there's plenty more.
Hi Rob, that’s the beauty of this great caravanning community 👍🏻 thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Further tips would be to remove the shower hose and microwave plate before moving off, all on my "Caravan Moving On List" love your videos so useful.
Many thanks for sharing these tips Mike, very helpful for everyone. Thanks for watching, we’re delighted you’re enjoying our videos. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
A critical check on every trip is to check tyre pressures and condition on caravan and tow vehicle!
Great advice Blokey, Many thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Hi, we are due to pick our caravan up next weekend and it will be our first one. We have found your videos really useful and they have helped build our confidence up a little more for our first trip in a few weeks 😁 Rob and Gav
Hi Rob & Gav, Thank you so much for your kind words & congratulations on your new caravan. Please feel free to contact us directly if you are unsure of anything. We’d love to see some pics of the caravan as well 👍🏻 info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Thanks again, Keith & Michele.
Hi lovely interesting & entertaining video. I am in South Africa & tow a rough roader caravan which means punctures are more frequent. So a small tip may be to carry a “leveler” (used by motor Homer’s) to drive the van onto. Thus making it way easier to get the jack under & also a lot less cranking to lift the van. I have got a rear view camera fitted to the van which is great asset for seeing the traffic following as well as reversing etc. with the tow vehicle. yes I do have movers as well. 🦒🐘😎
Hi David, Welcome to our channel 😀 Great tips, many thanks for sharing with everyone & thank you for your kind words. We’d love to see some photos of your adventures in South Africa 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi, re your advice on the fridge. We use our wee level and wedge it into the ice box to keep it open and it sticks out far enough to prop the door open as well. Because we have very hot temps here mould was growing in the ice box as well....not nice eh. I have a caravan style channel as well and am doing as you have done as we get a lot of English caravans here in New Zealand and having owned a few and worked on them for a few years decided ...like you.... to answer questions that have been put to me. Our self containment here for waste water is a lot stricter and we have to fit smell traps in all the pipes. Nice videoing and thanks for taking the time, Peter
Great tip Peter, thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Good luck with your channel 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Great video from both of you ( as always!).
Thanks for mention and thanks to who suggested decanting top flush - I had been throwing it away as well !
Now we pour it into empty 5litre bottle ( 5L plain water £1:10 from Tesco)
Keep up great vlogs
Regards
Howard
Absolute pleasure Howard, thank you so much for your continued support 😀 Keith & Michele
Thanks for the mention, strangely enough we found a rouge screw in our caravan on our recent holiday I'll have to check out the oven when we're next in the caravan.
Best wishes
Jon and Karen
Hi Jon & Karen, There are several screws that hold the oven, at the back & the sides, you may need a torch. Thanks, as always, for watching, Keith & Michele
The campsite when the van was on chocks (lots of them) was it Stowford meadow... Our first caravan a brand new Elddis Odyssay 540 back in 2007 had to be packed up on the front as the jockey wheel would not touch the floor, lovely site put pitching is a bit of an issue
Hi Graham, Can’t recall the name of the site 🙄 Definitely wasn’t Stowford Meadow though, haven’t been there. Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi every calls me Mrs Gadget now I have so many ,
I have bought a Bristle Pastry Brush I use to clean around the rubber on the Windows .
My hand held cleaner doesn't get dust out of the track where the door screen goes
so I hold a Straw in the end of cleaner and it sucks up all the dust easy.
Hi Mrs Gadget 😀 Fantastic tips 👍🏻 Many thanks for sharing with everyone, Keith & Michele
Thanks for the video, Useful information, always good to have a last look around before travailing.
Many thanks for watching Andrew 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
I think the reason why the caravan manufacturers dont include a jack is because your car already has one and they normally always fit onto the chassis of your caravan.
Hi Paul, Thanks for your comment. It has to be said that not all car jacks are of the “scissor” type which is the only type you would be able to use on your caravan. You can buy & bolt on a caravan specific jack, like the Kojack for example. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Thought I was watching Gogglebox for a moment....you love your sweets don't you lol.
Keep doing what you are doing and we all learn something. I absolutely love your videos! -Lin xx
Hi Lin, Hope you are both well, Many thanks for your lovely comments ❤️ I’m threatening to ban the sweetie jar 😆 Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele x
If you have the swift command on your van it will tell you the fridge temperature so there would be no need for an external thermometer.
Hi Nortesport, You are totally correct but this is a relatively new feature & older caravans won’t have it. Still handy to have one in the fridge 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Love this picking up my first caravan at the weekend an you guys have been so helpful
Huge Congratulations on your caravan Mark 🎉 Such an exciting time for you! Wishing you many happy travels & adventures. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Thanks for the mention. I love your vlogs and your chatty style! I'm a bit worried about the sweetie jar☹️Do you have a good dentist😂😂😂Enjoy the rest of your trip, I'm counting down three more weeks until my 6 week trip to Cornwall😍
Hi Gill, Many thanks for your contribution to this video & your kind words 😀 Wow, 6 weeks away, we’re so jealous! Have a fabulous time, please send us some pics 🌞😎👍🏻 Thanks, as always, for watching, Keith & Michele (P.S. Regular dental visits are required 😆)
Hi Keith and Michele fab video a brilliant idea to read out tips and ideas of what caravaner hav sent in to u for u to share with new caravers fab idea and thanks for sharing my tips as well keep up the good work guys cheers as always .kev
Hi Kev, Many thanks for watching, delighted you enjoyed it 😀👍🏻😀 Keith & Michele
Great vid guys looks like fun have great time don x jan 🤠🇬🇧👍👍👌👌👌💕
Hi Don & Jan, Many thanks for your kind words, delighted you enjoyed it 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Another tip, check your tyres are legal and how old they are, just so you avoid a blow out
Hi Danielle, Thanks for sharing that tip, we’ve recently covered this topic in another video out soon. Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele.
you mentioned the alko jack which fits into the holes in the chassis, if you have a motor mover you CAN NOT use this jack , as the motor mover is in front on the holes
Hi Paul, Thanks for this info, we have covered this in another video “Levelling a Twin Axle Caravan”. Hope this helps, sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Excellent information thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for watching Liz 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi
I'm a novice in this. Can I ask you please next time in your video to show images or examples of what you're talking about?
Thank you
Louise Kalonji
Hi Louise, Welcome to the caravanning community 😀 We’ll definitely try to do this in future videos 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Hi, just watching the new clip. Top class as normal . While I agree that one should use towing mirrors & indeed it is good practice, I don't believe it is illegal not to use them as long as you can see in the areas specified in the Highway Code. Take care Nick
Hi Nick, We’ll look into that info & give an update in Part 3 👍🏻 Many thanks for your kind words & thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Print a small check list and stick it in front window so you can read it from outside 😀
Great tip 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing, Keith & Michele
I find some fittings are fixed with very small short screws ....result hooks , hinges, towel rails fall off and leave holes ......what to do make new hole use same screw and the problem repeats, longer screw no good as cabinet wood is thin
What I do is use Gorilla wood glue , a little applied (with a match stick )to the old screw hole and the screw even the back of the fitting screws to the wall , then screw in wiping off surplus and leave for 24 hours before use
But this glue expands like a foam so don’t use too much but if it does leave to harden and it can be removed with a Stanley blade
Does that make sense
Thanks for your videos
Superb tip Stuart 👍🏻 Great idea. Thanks for sharing, Keith & Michele
If I knew how I’d video on my iPhone and post as it needs a bit of a demo to avoid glue foaming too much vs applying just enough to do the job .......can do a vid ok I guess but how to post 🙄
Hi Stuart, If it helps you can send us the video & we’ll see if we can use it somehow: info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Hope this helps, Keith & Michele
I have just purchased the new Swift Basecamp! I caravan on my own (65 year old widow) and this is perfect for myself and my wee Maltese Bichon. However, I like to have hooks for hanging my keys on, Martie's lead, my coat etc. How do I fit them on? Please don't suggest self adhesives, they fall off! Can I use small screws?
Hi Allyson, Congratulations on your Swift Basecamp 😀 We actually do use the 3M adhesive hooks in the washroom. They are very secure & take the weight of our towels easily. We purchased these from Amazon amzn.to/2GUv29r We highly recommend them but if you would prefer to use screws we would suggest a small amount of adhesive on the back of your hook then small wood screws that are short enough to not go through to the other side. If you use this method please be aware you will not be able to remove them without possible damage to the interior wall whereas the 3M adhesive hooks can be removed without trace. Alternatively, if the surface you’re planning to use is non textured you could try suction hooks that can be easily positioned & removed. Hope this helps, wishing you many happy travels, Keith & Michele.
Oh well perhaps one more, when leaving site , after removing waste water tank , take the pipe fittings used to connect wastemaster to caravan up to the wash up place and give it a good clean and a dry off so it’s nice n clean for storage and next use , pop into a plastic bag and store in the bag you put the waste master in if u have one as kit is then in the same place ready for next time
A waste master / aqua roll bags keeps muck out of the caravan if you carry these in your van when travelling
Another great tip Stuart 👍🏻 We’ll definitely be using your tips in part 3 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Ps my other tip is
I use a wheel nut gun for steadies as that doubles to help remove car or caravan quickly in event of a flat tyre without struggling with wheel nuts
The elect drill to do steadies is not much use for anything else on tour where as wheel gun can do wheels and also screws in hard standing pegs (perhaps use a flexible extension for some applications )
Stuart
We’ll have to look into this one Stuart, we thought wheel nut guns were only used with compressors 🤔 Many thanks, Keith & Michele
I have a Snap-On tools battery wheel gun , expensive but excellent bit of kit , really bought for working on my car , just seemed the best use to carry with me in case of a caravan flat when the wheel nuts are likely to be quite tight. I’d recommend anyone towing to slacken their wheel nuts and re torque them up now and again to avoid them getting stuck, flats always happen when it’s raining 😟
Excellent vid guys, a BIG thumbs up!!!
Many thanks for your kind comments Kevin 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Very useful videos, I'm about to go for a trip in my restored 15 1/2 footer and have made a list of things to check inspired while watching you, I live in Australia but your hints are worth their weight in gold anywhere.
I'm slowly closing in on eighty so I need this list, it's similar to a checklist for going boating I made a few years ago, there's the towing, launching, retrieval etc so a caravan is not much different, it's an excel spread sheet so can share it with the world when I think it's finished.
Uuuuh, don't you have a jack in your car? OK, I have a scissor jack that came with the car and a hydraulic jack plus axle stands in the caravan's tool compartment (left over from the boating era) plus a wheel nut socket with a very long bar (actually a tension wrench) because those nuts are tight.
PS, this is a big country and an 8 hour run is normal just to go 1/3rd of the way to somewhere.
Hi, Thank you so much for your lovely words & welcome to our channel. Superb idea to use a spread sheet as a check list, as even the most seasoned caravaner can forget things. It is not advisable, certainly in the UK, to use a car scissor jack for the caravan as these can slip whilst lifting a caravan. A bottle jack, however, would work. Please feel free to send us photos of your adventures, we’d love to see them 👍🏻 info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Many thanks, Keith & Michele
Yet another great video from you both
Thanks so much for your lovely words Bren & Jules 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Thanks you two, like your relaxed style and appreciate the useful information and stuff you deliver for us.
At least I now know what to do when I’ve got a screw loose - stick my head in the gas oven!
Co-Pilot - as it happens I have been trialling this Caravan (has other settings!) on my iPhone and am actually very impressed with it, Very easy to use, clearest instructions on the route and has a good range of user settings. My previous favourite iPhone based SatNav was Waze, which is pretty awesome, but does not yet cater for caravanning. So Co-Pilot will be my go to in future and will be put to good use when we go to France in September, hoping to avoid most Tolls. It is so good I have just subscribed at the end of my trial and there is the rub - it is £25, but just for a year! If I like it and really want to continue to use it then I would seriously consider re-subscribing, but only time will tell. For now, as an alternative to over £100 for TomTom and so on, I would highly recommend Co-Pilot for iPhone (not sure if it does Androids?)... 👍🏻 💚 😎
Just double-checked - Co-Pilot is available for iPhone, iPad & Android & Windows Phone 8 (whatever that is!)... 👍🏻 👀 📲
Hi Rog, Thanks for your kind words, as always. This app looks really interesting, especially at only £25 per year. We’ll definitely be looking into this 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing, Keith & Michele
Excellent tips, thanks
Many thanks for watching Tom Tom, we’re delighted you’re finding our videos helpful 👍🏻 Best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Keep the videos going guys. You've been really informative and helpful. Some very helpful tips for first timers. Well done
Hi Chris, Many thanks for your kind words, delighted you’re finding our videos useful 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
We upgraded our Caravan a short while ago & on the handover day we thought we would film the handover process on our mobile phone.. Like you we thought it would be useful so we don't forget any relevant points so, we asked the guy doing the handover at the caravan dispatch shed so we pulled out our phones and asked "could we video this so we don't forget anything" and his prompt reply was "were not allowed its company policy" So we never got to video !!
Hi David, we find that really unfair 😟 It’s such a shame that on such a momentous day you’re not allowed to keep the moment on film, aside from the usefulness to review it at a later stage. Really don’t understand why that’s their policy 🤔 Wishing you many happy adventures in your new caravan. Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Another great video! Keep them coming 👍🏻😁
Thanks, as always, for watching & your lovely comments Grace 😀 Keith & Michele
Great video with some good tips, we have a motorhome apart from having a driving cab the habbitation side is near enough the same as caravan, keep up the good work, love watching your videos 👍😄
Hi Andrew & Karen, Many thanks for your lovely comments, delighted your finding our videos useful 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Well done guys look forward to your vids me and the wife 😎
Many thanks Jeff & The Wife 😀 Keith & Michele
Hi both, what a great video and love listening to your tips and by the way, isn't Concierge Camping just the best... I always struggled with the Al-Ko wheel lock and leveling the van, since I have got the lock and level it just makes it a breeze. Another few tips tips, when emptying the flush tank, just pull the cassette out a few inches so the flush pipe and the pipe rests on it and empties the contents away from the van. I put a few velcro circles on the flush tank filler cap so when you are on site you dont have to keep locking it. I have bought some solar PIR 180 LED lights from Ebay and fitted awning rail to them so you can have security when on site and at home... keep them coming...
Hi Steve, Great tips, thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Concierge Camping was fabulous 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
I absolutely love you too!! You're just fab 😍😍😍
Thank you so much for your lovely words Dawn 😀 So pleased you’re enjoying our videos. Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele.
Can you please help. How do you find out if my car is compatible with a certain caravan. I drive an Audi A3 2.0tdi. Thanks
Hi Mark, The simplest way is to got to towcar.info This will allow you to match your car & caravan. Hope this helps, Keith & Michele.
Hi There, Just a quick question - Can you use a normal car jack for your caravan?
Possibly a bottle jack used on the axle with a piece of wood on the top to spread the load. The best option is a purpose made jack like the Kojack. Keith & Michele
Wow, surprised re towing mirrors, are you allowed to use a re facing camera in place of mirrors please?
Hi Peter, Here in the UK it is a legal requirement to use towing mirrors if your caravan is wider than your car, irrespective of having a rear facing camera. Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele Thanks for replying, I am surprised with your answer, we dont even have any requirements, its mainly left to common sense. My camera even has a microphone and my partner can tell me whether the lights are working,
Final tip for today
I use pieces of hard wood decking of various sizes for levelling and under steadies on grass
Treated Hardwood decking just doesn’t rot or go soft like other woods , easy to build up layers to get level yet strong
Another great tip Stuart, thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
great videos guys, we are picking up our first caravan on 25th July 2019 it is a compass corona 524 club so your beginners videos have helped a lot I cannot wait to pick it up but nervous about towing for the first time, although our caravan is 10 years old it is immaculate inside it looks brand new so we are sure caravaners take great pride in their caravans and we aim to keep it in top condition but I do have a question is it advisable to buy caravan cleaning only products?
Hi John, In our opinion, we would advise to only use caravan related cleaning products, both inside & outside of the caravan. We would worry using standard cleaning products in the bathroom & kitchen areas as most of the materials differ from standard home units. The materials used on the outside of the caravan differ greatly from those of a car so using car products on the exterior would be too harsh & could damage it ie T Cut. Under no circumstances use any household window cleaning products on the inside or outside of the windows as these could affect the acrylic. The biggest tip would be to buy plenty of microfibre cloths as these are gentle enough, do not scratch or mark any surfaces, can be cleaned & reused. Congratulations on your caravan, wishing you many happy adventures 👍🏻 Let us know how you get on. Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Hi Michele, Love the Vlogs - we have a similar van to yours and wondered where you got the purple mat/rug in the living area ? Mark.😁
Hi Mark, Many thanks for your comment. We purchased our rug from B & M. It’s a Radiance Sparkle Rug, 60 x 110 cm, available in mauve, silver & champagne colours. It was £14.99 & they are still available in store. Hope this helps 😀 Keith & Michele
Are you at Concierge Camping?
Hi Andrew, Yes 😀 This was filmed when we stayed at Concierge Camping. The thumbnail photo is from Lincoln Farm Park. Both fabulous sites 👍🏻 You’ve obviously stayed at Concierge to spot that 😀 Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele.
We lost our barbecue because the door dropped open
Hi Marilyn, Sorry to that, so important to check, then double check all lockers & doors are securely locked, especially at the end of a holiday when your mind is elsewhere. Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Hallo and greetings from Germany
You are a very likable couple and your Videos are really great.
In caravaning we are more than 20 years, but now we bought our first Swift/Sprite and we are very enthusiastic about this great caravan.
Here in Germany we will be Aliens 😎 with an GB caravan, because they are not common.
Very interesting was your tip with the tube over the Truma tube over the aqua roll tube. I already organized an equivalent to be protected for the first trip.
One tip from the continent, be aware where you lock the cable of the brake during towing. In NL and Switzerland it is not allowed to make the cable only around the hook
keep on with your videos and keep healthy
Many thanks for watching Mon Tesa, We’re delighted you’re enjoying our videos, wishing you many happy travels & adventures in your new Swift. Sending all our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.