Caravan Advice & Tips for Beginners
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2019
- We share our experiences and give our advice to people new to the caravan lifestyle. Hope it helps!
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Caravan:
Swift Vogue 580 SB 2018
Swift Caravans
Dunswell Road, Cottingham, East Yorkshire, HU16 4JX
www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans
Tel: 01482 847332
Email: enquiries@swiftleisure.co.uk
My tip after decades of caravan holidays is to keep a full kettle of water in the sink and when you get to the site get a brew on and forget everything else. The world is a much better place after a cuppa. Happy camping campers. 😊
Many thanks for those excellent words of advice Dog Ferocious 😀 Thanks for watching, sending best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Thanks guys. We have changed from a motor home to a caravan due to heath reasons. Our first trip out is next Thursday. Thank you so much for your advice. Take care guys.
Thank guys, great advise, we’re heading out for the first time next month, hope to see you sometime, you’re providing invaluable guidance, thanks again.
Many thanks for your kind words Kevin, good luck on your first trip 👍🏻 so exciting for you 😀 Make sure you pop over for a chat if we do bump into each other. We love it when people introduce themselves & we can put a face to the name 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
We are finally picking up our (first ever) caravan on Friday so I’m busy typing up notes and checklists ready for the big day. Being complete caravan novices, I have to say, the information provided on here has been invaluable. Looking forward to going through your next videos. Thanks for the advice - Deb and Dave x
Hi Deb & Dave, Huge congratulations on your new caravan 🎉 What an exciting time for you. Hopefully it won’t be too long before you can start your travels & adventures. Many thanks for your lovely words, delighted you’ve found our videos helpful, if you have any queries, please feel free to email us directly info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk We’ll be happy to help. Sending best wishes, stay safe, Keith & Michele.
Thanks for the video guys. We are just in the process of buying our first ever caravan and these tips will certainly help us. We are busy making a list of all the things we need to get us going. Looking forward to watching the second installment :)
Hi Mal, Congratulations on getting your first caravan 🎉 Wishing you many happy adventures & travels. Delighted you found our video helpful, any queries you have, feel free to contact us directly info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk We’ll be happy to help. Best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Bless you both...you are the very reason my wife and I are going to get our first caravan ..can how happy you are and how much you enjoy caravaning! Great video and advice, thankyou.
Many thanks for your lovely words Adrian, wishing you both the best of luck in your search & many happy travels in the future. Sending all our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Thank you a much for the helpful video! We're preparing to collect our first caravan in a few weeks and you are both so kind and encouraging! We're very excited (and more confident after your video!), Thank you!
Hi S Levett, Many thanks for your kind words & huge congratulations on your new caravan 🎉 Such an exciting time for you! We’re delighted you’ve found our video helpful, if you have any queries or problems, feel free to email us directly info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk We’ll be happy to help 👍🏻 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Another great video, always look forward to watching and seeing you both 👍
Hi Bren & Jules, as always, thanks for watching & taking the time to comment 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
When your wife asks can we pop to the local caravan shop as We need some new place mats? Dont under any circumstances do it !!! The last time we went it cost us about £17.000! And we still need some place mats !!!
Ain't that the truth, we went to look around the accessory shop and you guessed it we didn't actually buy anything from the shop.
😆 😂😆 Absolutely brilliant Nigel. That certainly made us giggle 😆 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
🤣🤣🤣👌
Thank you for all you do for the caravan community and thank you for the advice on caravan tyres all mine are dated 2118 including the spair love watching you videos keep it up guys all the very best Steve & Jackie xx
Hi Steve & Jackie, Many thanks for your kind words, greatly appreciated 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Just found your channel. Picking our first caravan up next week and anxious. But listening to you guys I think we can just about make this work. Thank you.
Hi Carol, Congratulations on your new caravan 🎉 Very exciting time for you. Delighted you’ve found our videos helpful, if you have any questions or queries when you start, feel free to email us & we’ll be happy to help info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Wishing you many happy travels & adventures, Keith & Michele.
I actually own a motorhome but love following your videos and of course most advice is relevant for both motor-homing and caravaning ... another great video and thanks for the great tips.
Hi Rob, unfortunately we don’t know anything about motor homes 😯 but you’re absolutely right that a lot of the same logic applies 👍🏻 Delighted you’re enjoying our channel 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Thank you.
You reminded me to go out to the caravan and prop the fridge open a little...
... much appreciated ..
Delighted you found our video helpful 😀 Thanks for watching, sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Thanks for doing this! We’re going back to a caravan after 2 Motorhomes and pick our new caravan up in a couple of weeks - SO excited! But what you just said confirms our thoughts as luckily we can just fit our caravan on the drive so have decided to do all the testing out there rather than stay on a site. We’ll then take it out for a weekend if we get some nice late Autumn days to test out the awning. Thanks again!
Hi mischka54, Welcome to our channel & congratulations on your new caravan 😀 Excellent decision to trial it at home, hope all goes well, wishing you many happy adventures 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Some good tips thanks been caravaning for a few years but always happy to learn from others
Never too old to learn Jeff......we still are 😀😆😀 Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
We are thinking of buying our first caravan and to be honest I was a bit scared of all the things you have to do before you start your journey and once at the other end. You 2 have made everything so simple in the way you explained it, we cant wait to start our new chapter. thank you
Hi Len, Many thanks for your kind words, we’re absolutely delighted you’re enjoying our videos & finding them helpful. If you have any queries, feel free to email us directly info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk We’ll be happy to help. Thanks again & best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Great video guys.. I've just started thinking about becoming a caravaner, (If thats the right term?) literally this week.. trust me when I say I have never thought about it before in my life.. As a maturing motorcycle touring "Power Ranger" I can see the appeal and something I think the wife and I could really enjoy together.. While I'm here It like to say, you do not deserve the dislikes you have for this video, I've been doing "CZcams" a short time myself and some people just don't appreciate the effort and learning process it takes to put these videos together. keep up the great work, I really enjoyed it and a couple of your others so I've subbed.
Thank you so much for your kind words, they’re greatly appreciated 👍🏻 The caravan lifestyle is great! Very relaxing & so many places to visit! We’re sure you’ll love it 👍🏻 Good luck & if you want to contact us directly for any further advice, please feel free to do so. info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Another tip for the toilet roll, give it a slight squeeze so it is oval rather than round. You can then leave it in situ without a visit from the Andrex puppy. Another great video 👍
Thanks for the tip Tony 👍🏻 As always, thanks for watching 😀 Keith & Michele
As ever, another great video !
Some superb tips there and timely reminders to all who forget things !
Had exactly same problem with leaving fridge set on Coldus Maximus so decided to get a cheap digital fridge thermometer £3:55 on eBay
Hangs on shelf and once it gets to around 7C we turn fridge setting down
Good advice on bedding too - we have a French bed and use standard fitted bottom sheet - but fitting it is another story - mix of acrobatics and heavy perspiration trying to lift mattress and fit sheet.
Motor mover ?... best thing ever invented for caravans ( ok except cassette toilet).... plus it’s another blokey toy to use
Thanks again for all your work on vlogs
Kind Regards
Howard
Hi Howard, Great tip regarding the fridge thermometer 👍🏻 Totally agree with you about the motor mover! Many thanks for watching & your lovely comments as always 😀 Keith & Michele
Safe to say that I will now be watching all your videos for helpful advice. We are now looking at getting our first caravan at some point in the near future, and I'm sure your videos that I have yet to watch will be a great help.
Hi Jamie, Thank you so much for your kind words, we’re delighted you’re finding our videos useful 👍🏻 Good luck with your new caravan, let us know how you get on & if you have any questions we’ll be happy to help. info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele Will do. Still early days yet, so just starting looking at what is out there. Thanks for the offer of further advice, which I may well have to take advantage off. I've also bookmarked your website. Regards..Jamie
Such a great video. We have just bought our first caravan and can't wait to get out and explore our wonderful country. As you suggested, we may spent this weekend in it sat on our driveway as a trail run. I'm sure the neighbours will be amused! I shall be following you for more care free advice.
Hi, Congratulations on your new caravan 😀 Delighted you’re finding our videos useful 👍🏻 Wishing you many happy adventures, please let us know how you get on: info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
We just bought our first caravan n im planing on Testing it out at home. Good advice. Love this video.
Our first trip the access road for the pitch was really tight and we couldnt use the car to reverse the caravan on, no motor mover so 2 of us pushing it on grass was not fun. But straight away 2 other caravanners came to our rescue. So we do watch as orgers arrive on site but only so that if we see them having difficulty we go out and help.
Hi Louise, Many thanks for your comments. It’s fabulous that fellow caravanners are always willing to help 👍🏻 Such a great community 😀 Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone, these comments will be so helpful to new caravanners 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
As you know, we are about as novice-ee as they come and your first tip is precisely what we did - we are fortunate to have an excellent CL about half a mile away and we had our first weekend in our new (to us) caravan closer to home than most... 👍🏻
We then had the next weekend the other side to Peterborough from where we live (just outside) and where we left the ‘van in secure storage at the CS we stayed at for the three nights... 🤢 Unfortunately we had already booked our annual trip to Norfolk, before the ‘van, so we will have to wait a couple of weeks before we can get away again... 🙄
Anyway, sorry to bore you all with that - some really good tips in your presentation, thank you as always... 👍🏻💚
Thanks as always for your comments & for watching Rog 👍🏻 It’s never boring for us to hear people’s caravan stories, experiences & adventures. Keep ‘em coming 😀 Keith & Michele
Nice one! We always keep our blinds shut when towing and when in Storage. We have the same blinds as you and they have no springs! We always shut ours when towing as we don’t want any other people seeing in! I fancy doing a 10 caravan tips, I think I will add it to my list of videos... Cheers Oliver
Hi Oliver, Congratulations on reaching 500 subscribers on your channel Caravanning With The Cox’s 👍🏻 Many thanks for your comments, will be helpful for others 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi both, always look forward to Friday for the next video. This had some good practical advice. I was going to mention the fridge lock but it has already been mentioned. I always keep a water carrier with fresh drinking water to use in the kettle as we find it tastes better than through the aquaroll. When I empty the toilet flush I put it into a plastic Jerry can and use it next time, saves faffing about with mixing fluid and water, also saves a trip to the tap.
Hi David, What a brilliant idea re saving the flush water 👍🏻 New tip for us, will be putting that into practice 😀 Thanks for sharing with everyone & for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
David Smith excellent tip thanks - I’ve been often “flushing away” a load of fresh water / fluid into the bottom tank before leaving
After watching in full, I subscribed!!
Thanks Kev, Glad we won you over 😀 Welcome to our channel. Keith & Michele
Great video again Keith and Michele! 😁😁
Thanks so much Grace for your continued support 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Great advice for anyone who’s just bought a caravan. Thank you for sharing. Cheers Stuart, Rebecca and blue 🐾
Thanks for watching Stuart, Rebecca & Blue 👍🏻 Whenever we read your comments we end up singing “that” song for the rest of the day 😆 Singing it now! 😀 Keith & Michele
It is catchy 😂😂. We are from Lancashire, so when I sing it the “TOW” part sounds quite funny. Cheers Stuart, Rebecca and blue 🐾
😆😂😆😂
Great video with tips for newbies. I remember the Andrex puppy was in our caravan, but only once! We also walk round the caravan and check all the exterior locker doors are locked properly. Once we had one pop open on departure but luckily another fellow caravanner alerted us and we caught it just before we left the site...phew. We also drain all the water out when leaving a site, just saves lugging extra weight and affecting the tow experience. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure this will be useful to many :). Janice & Paul
Hi Janice & Paul, I bet we’ve all experienced the Andrex puppy at some stage 😆 Thanks so much for sharing your information with everyone. Great tips 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Is there a fast way to drain your tanks? I'm a bit worried about the extra weight
Hi Lauren, Most caravans have a drain down valve. Swift for example, usually have it located under the front sofa, it’s a small yellow lever next to the water boiler. Lifting the lever up will start the draining process which usually only takes a few minutes. We highly recommend draining your tank prior to towing. Hope this helps, Keith & Michele.
Always enjoy watching your Vlogs, very useful and explained in a easy to understand way😀
Thanks so much for your kind words Jim 👍🏻 thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
When defrosting your fridge puppy train pads work well.
Buy a longer drop awning skirt so you can tuck it under you awning carpet stop drafts and pets escaping.
Before putting an awning on your caravan check the awning rail for blockages.
Alway use a bowl to protect you sink, and use a work top protector.
More great advice Rebecca 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Love the awning skirt tip, will be putting that into practice 😀 Thanks again for sharing, Keith & Michele
Hi 1st timer to your vlog but seasoned caravaner, 30 yrs, some really good advice. Re fridge when in storage I leave door fully open and turn ice cube tray on it’s side in freezer compartment which allows air to circulate.
Towing mirrors I apply couple of pieces of masking tape to ensure the feet don’t mark the painted mirror cases. Remove mirrors and tape at your destination as masking tape can cause problems if left on and it’s an offence to drive solo with towing mirrors fitted.
Hi Colin, Welcome to our channel. Some great tips there, thanks so much for sharing with everyone 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Good advice not only for caravanners but motorhomers too.
My best tip would be to use a good face flannel to dry off after a shower and finish off with a towel. You’d be surprised how good this works.
Hi Michael, really good tip 👍🏻 Great idea. Many thanks for sharing 😀 Keith & Michele
We have been watching your latest videos first, we should have started with this one for tips, but we are still enjoying all your videos. It looks like I will have to get a snack jar like Kieth’s lol
Hi @mikebro2557 Many thanks for watching ❤️ Go easy on the sweeties!!! Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
Lovely information guys.keep this up please. We are picking our first van up nx Saturday. Its a bailey unicorn vigo.2014.we can't wait.
Hi @davidfisher6483. Huge congratulations on your new Bailey. Next week will fly by. Enjoy. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele
Well I just aquired a caravan for free. I'll be getting it fixed up structurally (I'll do the inside myself) and I'll be using it for college accomodation. It helps that I'm an apprentice mechanic and that I'm quite tech/mechanically savy but these vdeos help even me out
Hi Iro-Hun Car Guy. Delighted you are finding our videos helpful, and huge luck with your “project” Caravan. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele
I always wondered about bedding for those beds with the corners "shaved off" and now I know!
Delighted you’ve found it helpful Rob 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
You can buy off Amazon elastic with clips on that will pull the sheets tight, we use them in our caravan.. search for : elastic bed sheet Suspenders !
@@campakilla1 Thanks for the tip :-).
Hi Ollierz, Many thanks for that information, we haven’t heard of these so good to know 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
You guys are awesome. Really cool stuff.
Many thanks for you kind words Adam. Keith & Michele
Hi, Another tip for the toilet roll -----put a elastic band around the roll it stops unrolling
Thanks Harry, no more Andrex puppy moments 😆 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Always great help we just starting love your channel
Many thanks DJ Marshy, Welcome to the caravanning community, any queries feel free to ask, you can email us directly if you prefer, info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Good advice
First time caravaning & didn't know could turn fridge on when towing
Hi Tina, Delighted you’ve found our tips useful 👍🏻 thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Hi guys great advice Never rush & double check Before you drive away Allways.
Great advice Nigel 👍🏻 Many thanks. Keith & Michele.
Hi great useful video thanks, also do not forget on leaving the site ( or your home ) to make sure all your roof lights are closed. The amount of caravans that you see on the roads with a roof light open .......
Hi, Many thanks, Great tip 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
that reminds me of a video czcams.com/video/ZW_6nztnPVc/video.html
Your videos have been essential viewing for us caravan noobs. Thanks.
Hi Hey Ho Let’s Tow, Many thanks for watching, we’re delighted you’re finding our videos helpful. Hope you have many happy travels & adventures, sending all our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele thanks!
If you have a motor mover use it. They are absolutely a great addition.
Absolutely agree David 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
We just went on our first caravan holiday,we went a whole 2.5 miles from our storage place.
Brilliant Zammmo 😀 You could walk home if you forgot something 😆 Hope the first outing went well, wishing you many happy adventures 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
zammmo - Excellent - you beat us by two miles, as our first ‘adventure’ was only half a mile away from home! An even shorter walk, but in the end we did not need to return home, we just enjoyed the CL we stayed at! Happy caravanning to you... 👍🏻💚😎
Absolutely love you guys 👍 I really enjoy all your know how’s. And knowledge
And you’re sense of humour is sooooo good 👍😁🥂Thank you for your videos
Oh!! If I could just say one thing I seem to forget to do is close the skylight 🤬
Anyhow stay safe and god bless 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂
Many thanks for watching & for your kind words Jay. We’re delighted you’re enjoying our videos & finding them helpful 👍🏻 Think we’ve all left the skylight open at some point 🤗 Sending all our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
When you leave a site, empty the toilet flush tank (or leave a minimum amount in for the journey visits) otherwise the water sloshing around can overflow and cause damp. I was given this tip by a very reputable firm of repairers who were used to investigating damp in toilet areas. You forgot to mention the towing mirrors. The number of times I have had to stop after a few minutes to put them on! I leave them on my seat now so I can't forget!
Hi Gill, Excellent advice, thanks for sharing with everyone 👍🏻 We knew there would be alot we forgot 😆 So relying on you guys to help out 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Both great tips.
Hi Gill. Great tip regarding towing mirrors, will put them on seat from this day forward.
Elastic band on the toilet roll and kitchen roll whilst traveling avoids unravelling 😊
Hi @Jessica-xxx Many thanks for watching & for your advice ❤️ Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele xxx
I am so bad about my microwave plate in mine, I liked the idea of tucking it under something. Mine being American is a little bigger (about 11.5 meters hitch to bumper) but one big benefit other than a much larger fridge is my fridge can run on propane.
Hi, Many thanks for watching, delighted you’ve found it helpful 👍🏻 Best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Great advice thanks for sharing folk's
Many thanks Davie 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Great advice guys .. brilliant..
Hi Stevie, Many thanks for you comment & thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi Keith and Michele excellent advice for new beginner and good tips aswell my wife alway users a hair dryer to defrost the freezer on luke warm setting so it drys the fridge out aswell we always carry a electric cool box with us in car one less thing to worry about and when setting off I get the wife to drive off in front so that I can see that everything is Ok and there no noise coming from van when pulling away so I know everything Ok hope that of some help cheers as always
kev
Hi Kev, great tips, thanks for sharing with everyone, really useful advice 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
This was a great video, thanks
Many thanks for watching Luke, delighted you enjoyed our video & found it helpful. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Great advice. Thanks
Many thanks LadyLexie A, delighted you found it useful 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Hi I’m new to Caravanning taking it out on 20th July for first time bit nervous about hooking up etc tips I’m getting are fantastic great help thank you
Hi Joanne, Congratulations on your new caravan 🎉 Delighted our videos have helped to reassure you. Have a fantastic trip tomorrow 😀 Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Thank you 😊
Hello, if in the future you wanted to do a feature on the EP Levelling system, we have just had it fitted to our 3 year old Coachman Pastiche. WOW, we are now living the easy life. Cheers
Hi Nick, That’s something we haven’t considered but sounds very interesting 👍🏻 Will have to look into it now 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
What I have found when showering. When the water is at temperature turn the hot water booster on at the control panel and have the shower mixer tap half way . I get a much longer shower.
I should add, on a fully serviced pitch 😳
Many thanks for sharing, hopefully others will find this useful 👍🏻 Sending our best wishes wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Very good advice. Buying fuses 👍😅 I should have done that when I was new....
Oh in Denmark it is a prestige to have a motormoover on 😊
Many thanks for watching Katrine, sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Very sound advice from you both. Regarding keeping the fridge door open when in storage Michele said about keeping the door open with cloth or something similar. Well after 5 years of caravaning 3weeks ago found a small plastic clip/catch on the top of the fridge door. Designed to keep the door open a discovery for me. Don’t know if you’re door is the same worth a look.thanks for the the video.that sweet jar emptied quite a bit towards the end of the vlog 😂😂
😆😂😆 Forever having to fill up that sweetie jar Paul 😀 Ooops, now that you’ve mentioned the clip, we’ve both just remembered the salesman, on handover, told us about that! Totally forgot 😆 It’s even in our handover video 😀 Old habits die hard! Thanks so much for watching & sharing 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Good people, many thanks
Sound advice guys.....especially the stubby phillips driver.👍
Hi Andrew, Many thanks for your comments, delighted you found it useful 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Just been away for the first time somewhere local in our new van , before setting off home double checked everything van back in storage quite pleased with myself, till I just watched you guys SHIT the bloody microwave dish 😬. Time to make that checklist, good vid 👍
LOL 😆 You’re not the first & certainly won’t be the last to forget the microwave! Congratulations on your new caravan 🥳 Over time & more trips you’ll get into a routine & know exactly what you need to do but a check list is always great to have as a point of reference. Wishing you many happy travels & adventures, Keith & Michele.
When planning a route I view the route too ... it’s bus stops I look for lol
😆 Thanks Bob, Great tip 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
I am just starting out , loved your tips esspecially Micheles tip on the Microwave plate, it is the littel thing that can save a lot of frustration time and money.Do you have some tips on attaching the tent , i am alone and that would be a great help.thans
Hi Vincent, Many thanks for your kind words, delighted you’re finding our videos helpful 👍🏻 By tent we assume you mean awning. Most modern caravans come with an awning rail attached to the top of the caravan. You simply slide the awning into this rail & draw it across the length of the caravan. Once in position, if it’s an air awning, inflate it then peg it down, if it’s a poled awning, connect the poles as per instructions then peg down. Hope this helps, if you need further advice, please feel free to contact us directly info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Best wishes, Keith & Michele.
I use Mitchell’s map on internet you click the caravan option and it selects the route for you.
Thanks for the tip Lucy 👍🏻 Sending best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Important advice alway make double sure your hand brake on the caravan is off before using the motor movers as it can cause a lot of experience repairs we watched someone do this and cause major damage.
Great tip Rebecca 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing 😀 Keith & Michele
What a lovely couple thx for the tips xx
Hi S A P I E N, Many thanks for your kind words & thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele NP I shall watch all yr updates from now on can I ask a favour and subscribe to my channel although I don't produce any vids love some friends lol thx
Michelle, Your blinds are fine to leave down as they have no springs. However, if like me you have the type that come down from the top of the window they should be left up if you are storing the van for a while. The springs get stretched and may need adjusting, so best to close the curtains where possible to stop light and "peeping tom's". Nick
Hi Nick, Thanks so much for that information. Learn something new every day 😀 Did say we’re still novices 😆 Thanks for sharing with everyone 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Don't forget to raise jockey wheel before driving away, then drop it again when reached destination. Also check your sky lights and windows are closed.
Great tips Ruth, thanks for sharing with everyone 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi, nice and helpful video. We have just bought a caravan after many years of experience of owning a motor home. Whilst lots of things are common to both, I’m bit unsure about a few things. All motor homes have clean and grey water tanks built in under the vehicle and you just fill up with clean water when you arrive at a site and empty grey water when you leave. But I get the feeling that caravans don’t have built in water tanks and all water needs to be brought and taken away in portable tanks. Would be very useful to me to get some tips about this subject.
Hi Gandymag, Caravans use a container such as a an aquaroll or water hog to store water outside the caravan that is then drawn in by the caravan water pump (this can be internal or external). This needs to be topped up from a water tap as the water is used unless you’re on a fully serviced pitch & a water tap is included where you can run a hose directly into the aquaroll. Grey waster is collected in a waste master that sits outside & all water waste drains to it, then it’s emptied at a designated waste point on site unless you’re on a fully serviced pitch where a drain point is usually included & the waste runs directly into that via a waste pipe. Hope this helps, congratulations on your new caravan & welcome to our caravanning community. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Hi, great video and I do a lot of the things you've mentioned. I do have 1 question and that is do you not check the caravan nose weight is correct before hooking up to your vehicle?
Hi Lee, Sorry we omitted the nose weight 🙄 We’ll include this information in Part 3 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Some good tips there. Cheers Phil
Thanks Phil, hope all’s well with Juliet 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Love this video, thanks for sharing! After years of camping, I am thinking of getting a tourer next year for my 10 year old daughter and myself. I won't be touring, as I don't want to tow (teeny car and no confidence!!), but I will be storing it near the place we stay and getting it out when we want to have holidays and mini breaks. Do you know anyone who does this? I know what the storage costs will be, but annually, how much would you say you spend on campsites? and how often do you use your caravan? I will also be using it during the school holidays, so that should recoup a lot of my spend!
I will be avidly watching all your videos and I have subscribed!!
Hi Lucy, Welcome to our channel. We try to get away once a month in our caravan, costs vary depending on the site. Smaller CL’s for example cost a lot less. If you’re not happy towing you may want to consider a seasonal pitch where your caravan is sited on a pitch for the entire season & you can visit as frequently as you like without having to tow. Hope this helps, sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Hi guys , love watching your videos. Can you tell an absolute caravan beginner when parking the van on a site that has both grass and gravel/concrete on the pitch which one do I park on ????
Hi Martin, Some sites will tell you which way to pitch your van & car whereas others will let you pitch anyway you want. On a mixed ground pitch we tend to put the caravan on hard standing, with awning on grass. If in doubt, just ask the site wardens. If you have any other queries, feel free to email us directly info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk We’ll be happy to help. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
We put our microwave plate in a bubble envelope and leave it in there.
Great tip Roger, thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Don't forget the towing rear view mirrors!
Thanks for watching Martin 👍🏻 Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Nice vid, looking to buy a 1st tourer , any chance of an overview of your caravan, also can you “show “ tips on hooking up , levelling and unhooking please. Thanks again
Hi Tom Tom, Many thanks, we have done videos of our caravans & about levelling. Good luck with your search 👍🏻 Best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Nice one guys looks good h fun don 🤠🇬🇧👍👍👍👌👌
Hi there you two, I've just recently subscribed to your channel and wondered if you have any advice on joining motorways as with a caravan on the back ones acceleration is a lot slower and might have difficulty picking a gap to slip into.
Hi George, Welcome to our channel 😀 Assuming you are in the UK, we would recommend when entering a motorway slip road to join the motorway, indicate right as soon as possible & you will find that approaching traffic will move to the centre lane. It’s advisable to use the majority, if not all of the slip road to gain your speed. We’ve never experienced any difficulties & generally find other drivers do flash their lights to you & move over, even large lorries. Hope this helps, Keith & Michele.
thanks for the video!
Your welcome DRIVEFROMEHOME4K. Many thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
@@keithandmichele ❤️
Hello Keith & Michele, just wanted to ask a question, my family caravan fridge isn’t cooling and it’s only ever worked 1 times since we got it, if it helps it’s a Swift Charisma 550 2009 model. Do
you know anything about why this is happening?
Regards
Gem
Hi Gem, Really sorry but we do not know the answer to this 🤔 You may want to try the Facebook group Swift Caravan Owners Worldwide or DIY Caravan Repairs and Maintenance. Both groups are really helpful for technical problems like this. Or hopefully someone will respond to this comment with some advice 👍🏻 Hope this helps, Keith & Michele
Great tips guys, after 20 plus years of caravaning we can almost do everything with our eyes shut except for the driving bit 😁 but since the YT caravan community has grown and I've watch other people sharing there ideas I have picked up some great tips on making things easier. One thing worth mentioning is make sure you carry some type of Jack in case get you get a puncture.
Best wishes
Jon and Karen
Great tip Jon & Karen, thanks for sharing 👍🏻 You’re so right, we can all learn so much from this caravanning community. It’s fantastic the way everyone shares their advice for others 😀 Thanks for watching as always, Keith & Michele
Yes, when driving with a motorhome or with a caravan only go where big things go.
Great advice Jacinta 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
We bought a caravan last year and went out in it a few times. We are really trying to be positive about it, but neither of us are looking forward to going away in it again. Hopefully it will grow on us
Hi Ms S Grumpy, We’re a little unsure of what you’re not looking forward to, is it the whole Caravanning experience or are you concerned about the health & safety aspect due to the pandemic? Please feel free to contact us directly so we can help in any way we can & hopefully alleviate any concerns you have info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Carefree Caravanning thank you for responding. I think it’s partly because we take our dogs with us and we find it restricting, we won’t leave them in the van and go out. This is for their safety and so they don’t upset others if they bark. The other aspect for me is sleeping, I’m thinking about getting a really good air bed and sleeping in the awning, my husband sleeping in the van. Having the bathroom door right by our heads means I get disturbed several times every night, not his fault, but I can’t get back to sleep. We will try and get on with it if we can get away in the late summer, if not I think we will sell it. We’ve never been away in wet weather yet!
So sorry to hear you haven’t enjoyed your experience so far. We haven’t got any dogs but we know a huge number of caravanners take their dogs away with them & many sites have designated dog areas & some amazing walks. It may be an idea to plan ahead for your trip & find places to visit that are dog friendly. Hopefully some dog owners will add to this comment to give some advice & share their experiences. Regarding the bed situation, would it be possible to make up the front bed so one of you can sleep in the bed, the other in the front? That way you wouldn’t disturb each other at night if one of you needed the loo. Again, it would be great if others comment & share their advice on this. As we said before, please feel free to contact us if you need to. Hope this helps a little, it would be lovely if you could continue but we know caravanning isn’t for everyone. If you decide it’s not for you, you’ve tried it & you can’t do better than that. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
May i ask where you got those little plant pot from in your wundow. Xxx
Hi Gill, The plants were from The Range & the Pound Shop. They just add a little personal touch 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
I guess it's a sense of freedom you don't get with other holidays
Hi Darren, Yes, it’s definitely a home from home with different views, places to visit & experiences each trip. We love it & highly recommend it 😀 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele.
Just a thought has any one tried the magnetic strip lights battery, for sticking to out side of caravan in awning.
Hi Susan, Great idea, hopefully others will find this useful 👍🏻 Thanks for watching, best wishes, Keith & Michele.
Caravan walls are aluminium so magnetic strip lights would not stick. Would sit on table though.
A great video again guys, don't see the link for the fuses though?
Thanks Robert. The link is at the bottom of the description box, here it is Fuse Kit: amzn.to/2VDUQui Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Great video full of advice we have just found your channel and subbed 👍we just recently did an RV relocation from Toronto to Vancouver🇨🇦 and had a great time. Please keep in touch 👍🙂
Hi Guys, Thank you so much for your comments & welcome to our channel 😀 We’d love to see some photos of your outfit. Please feel free to send them to info@carefreecaravanning.co.uk Thanks for watching 👍🏻 Keith & Michele
Hi we don’t really have photos but here is a link to a video we did of the inside czcams.com/video/n-SZx1h9nr0/video.html let’s keep in touch 🙂👍
Very useful video thanks. We have a young family (two children under 5) and are considering buying our first caravan next year or year after. Do you know any CZcams channels with tips and advice for caravanning with young children?
Hi Bigburty, You could try Make Way With The Morleys, Caravan Shorts & Rolling With The Robsons. They all have young children & document their travels & experiences. Hope this helps, good luck with everything, thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Carefree Caravanning Many thanks Keith and Michele! I will check out those channels.
Hi Keith & Michele, did you take a driving course to learn how to tow your caravan?
Hi Clare. No we didn’t take a towing course just learnt as we went along. Well worth a look at one of the club courses if you’re unsure. Hope this helps. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele
First timers caravanning, first trip, go places near to home. " Oop I forgot my wife...never mind.!" Lots of laughs. 😂😂😂
😀😆😂 Thanks for watching Dhuan, Keith & Michele.
Hi both Brill vidio ...could you please tell me why you travel with blinds open
Hi Derek, Our previous caravan had the spring loaded blinds which if left down when travelling can damage the tension. The blinds we have now are not spring loaded so we don’t need to open them (as explained to us in an earlier comment from Nick & Jan) which we didn’t realise. Old habits die hard 😆 Thanks for watching, Keith & Michele
Sir, is there any limit on how many passengers can travel in the caravan?
If it has a 2 bed system which actually accomodates 4 adults, can 6 adults travel in that? Thanks.
Hi Dipin, No passengers can travel in a caravan whilst towing, this is against the law. Passengers must travel in the towing vehicle, each with their own seat belt. Sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele Thank you.
When u said bout hitching up the caravan Checking lights etc u didn't mention bout putting mirrors on this is a legal requirement
Many thanks for this reminder Wendy, we’re pretty sure we’ve covered this in other videos but always good to mention it again. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
Can you add the link to the fuses again?
amzn.to/3dcqquP Hope this helps, kind regards, Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele thank you so much
Great stuff - stop eating all the sweets LOL - takecare :-)
Delighted you found our video helpful Wayne, got to have the sweeties 😆 Thanks for watching, sending our best wishes, Keith & Michele.
@@keithandmichele Same to you both - crazy times and yes your videos are very helpful - safe and happy caravanning!!!
Hi as for the tip for the fridge the door on the fridge in my caravan as two places one to lock the door closed and one that holds the door open about 1/2 a inch. And the toilet roll simply put a elastic band round it to stop it unrolling
Hi Steve, Many thanks for your advice & thanks for watching. Sending our best wishes to you, Keith & Michele.
👍
As always, thanks for watching Andrew 👍🏻 Keith & Michele