Ask people why they
caravan, and you'll get a wide range of responses Many will say that it's the freedom to roam that's most important to them. Others will say that it's the spontaneity of being able to hitch up your van
at a moment's notice that they love best. Add to this the appeal of being able to take your home comforts with you whether you're sunning your self in Spain or exploring the Cornish coast, and you'll start to get an idea of what makes caravanning so addictive. But the best is yet to come.
What makes caravanning really great is the possibilities it opens up. Whether you enjoy walking, sailing, or visiting tea rooms around the UK, a caravan provides a comfy base from which to to indulge your favourite pastimes wherever you go. So why not give it a try?
National Camping and Caravanning Week runs from
28 May to 3 June, which gives
us a great opportunity to celebrate the joys of caravanning. Over the following pages we'll be talking to readers about their
caravan-related hobbies and explaining what we'll be doing during National Camping and Caravanning Week to convert more people. And on p61, we give you the chance to win
a week's holiday. All you need
to do is to let us know what you'll be doing to promote
caravanning.
But first of all, for anyone who's already keen to get into the hobby, but isn't sure where to begin, here's your essential five-step guide to getting started.
1 CHOOSING A VAN
There is a huge variety of caravans out there to choose from, ranging from tiny two-berths with a basic spec to palatial six-berths. Prices are equally varied. You could start off with a swish modern van with all the mod cons, but many people start with a second-hand tourer they picked up for less than £1000.
But the first thing to consider is what size van you need. How many people will use it and are you likely to have guests? Next, consider your priorities. Perhaps you really enjoy cooking and want
a decent sized kitchen. Or do you need lots of storage for holiday items such as inflatable boats
or tennis rackets?
A good place to get an idea
of what's available is the Buyer's Guide at the back of Practical Caravan. It gives a brief
description of all new caravans, their dimensions and their prices.
Another great place to view and compare lots of different types of caravans under one roof is at
a caravan show. Large shows take place each year at Manchester's GMEX (January), Birmingham's NEC (February) and London's Earls Court (November), and there are plenty of smaller regional shows in addition to these. If you are at a caravan show, avoid making
an impulse buy. You can get impressive discounts at these events, but it is still worth taking brochures away and giving your purchase further thought.
Once you have an idea of what you are after, it's worth visiting
a few dealers, to see what's
available. Tell the dealer what size caravan you are looking for and what features you consider
to be a priority.
Having a budget in mind will also help you to narrow down your search. When budgeting, bear in mind all the extra costs you will incur for buying equipment such as water containers and a battery. And that's not to mention
caravan insurance and any
modifications you might need to make to your tow vehicle such
as fitting a towbar.
Many dealerships will have
a good selection of ‘quality used' or nearly new vans. This is a great way to make a saving and get yourself a decent tourer.
Once you've found your perfect caravan, ask your dealer about finance. Many offer a hire purchase arrangement where you pay for your caravan over a period of time. For more information on this, see ‘Is the price right?' on p71 of our November 2004 issue.
You should also consider where you are going to store your van. You can keep it on your drive but this could be an open invitation to thieves. The best option is to keep it at a CASSOA-registered storage site.
2 WHAT TO TOW IT WITH
Matching your car to your caravan will make towing stable and safe, and you don't need an expensive 4x4 to do it. Ideally, when fully loaded, your caravan should weigh 85% of your car's kerbweight. This is the optimum figure for stable towing – it lets you tow as large
a van as possible without adversely affecting your outfit's stability.
Stability is not the only issue. Your car's capability as a tow vehicle
is also important. In the car's handbook, you'll find a figure marked 'Maximum towing figure for braked trailer'. Your caravan, when fully loaded, must not exceed this figure. The closer your caravan's weight is to this figure, the more your car will struggle and the more unstable the outfit will be
at high speed. This figure is set by car manufacturers as a mechanical limit for the car pulling any kind of trailer and is not an optimum figure for high-sided trailers
such as caravans.
But no matter how good the engine, you won't get far without a towbar. Many car manufacturers will factory-fit a towbar, so ask your car dealer about this. You can also try the National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) to see if your car can be fitted with a towbar. The NTTA will be able to recommend a qualified fitter. Two respected towbar manufacturers and fitters are Brink (tel 024 7635 2353) and Witter (tel 01244 284 500). They will supply and fit
the towbar for you.
Once you have taken
all these factors into consideration, you
might decide that your current car is not up to the job, and that you need a car better suited to towing.
Diesel engines are considered best for towing due to their
low-range torque – or power to pull the caravan from a standstill and to accelerate. Many people prefer automatic transmission, which makes for relaxed driving on long journeys and prevents roll-back on hill starts.
Have a look at our Towcar Buyer's Guide in the back of
this magazine where we feature
our suggested best towcars.
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