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| JSG Member Since: 12 Jul 2007 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2412   
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We've gone for one of these for a first caravan - Elddis Xplore 506. Due in March.
 Click image to enlarge John http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk 2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS |
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18th Jan 2012 8:50pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5025
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 Blimey you guys make me laugh, Haven't you heard of second hand vans  My most expensive van was £1800, Van Royce with all the bells and whistles 
Top tip, book your sites early, it's not like the old days when you could just turn up. The popular Caravan Club sites for instance can be booked up within a week once the new years booking system is up and running - about now  It's crazy, people just blanket book anything they may visit because there is no penalty if you cancel 
You chaps won't be wanting to borrow my porta loo and toilet tent then |
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18th Jan 2012 9:53pm |
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| Lorryman100 Member Since: 01 Oct 2010 Location: Here Posts: 2686 |
And they say the Scots are tight wads
I may let you kip in the awning in August Chris, as we will be down your way for a week or two. You may need your portaloo though............ |
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18th Jan 2012 10:03pm |
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| WarPig Member Since: 05 Dec 2009 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1748  
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Your right about the CC sites zag. I liken it to those folk that put their towels out on the sun loungers by the hotel pool first thing in the morning. Then disappear to the beach all day!
This year Im going to try the small CL sites instead, now that Ive finally got a caravan with heating, hot water, shower etc. |
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18th Jan 2012 10:06pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5025
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Your awning will be a luxury after my house Brian
Warpig. CL's definitely the way to go, on your own in a field somewhere, can't beat it. The last site we went on was commercial, eveyone lined up with a BBQ smoking away on each side. It was worse than Coronation Street |
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18th Jan 2012 10:27pm |
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| WarPig Member Since: 05 Dec 2009 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1748
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I'd also like to try some winter caravaning. Perhaps take our oil filled radiator as a back up. Im also looking forward to disappearing with my 5yr old boy for dad & lad weekends, leaving Mrs Warpig behind
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18th Jan 2012 10:39pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443 
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Did a fair bit of winter caravanning when we had ours, used to have to turn the heating off in the night as we got too warm even with the dogs in the awning. We woke up one morning to find icicles hanging in the awning, the dogs had one of those kids pop up tents with their bed inside with a halogen heater close to the entrance. The whole of the awning was covered in frost and icicles except for a round area on the roof above the heater!
Nothing funnier than to see the look on peoples faces when they've asked you if you went away for Christmas and you tell them yes, and you had a cracking time paddling in the sea.............in wellingtons and thick coats!! |
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18th Jan 2012 10:54pm |
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| Lorryman100 Member Since: 01 Oct 2010 Location: Here Posts: 2686 |
Going away in the winter time is great as the CC all year sites are basically empty. We do it and have bought a special winter awning from Isabella which is designed to be used in the snow and cold. The awning is reinforced and designed to be flexible in the extreme cold unlike a summer awning. You need to purchase the extra poles and lining separately, but for winter touring it is essential.
http://www.isabella.net/uk/porches/universal360.html The other thing you need to consider is the Aquaroll and the wastemaster as these will freeze. The externally fitted water pipes will need to be lagged or drained if the temp drops below freezing otherwise the pipes burst. Then again we go up to Aviemore and Morvich which does get a bit snowy and chilly in the winter time.
Brian. |
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18th Jan 2012 10:56pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443
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Ours used to have an inboard tank and I used to keep the aquaroll in the awning with a blanket or two round it if it was going to freeze hard. IIRC one year we were in -8'C nights and never had any problems, just getting the kids out of the van into the "bracing air"
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18th Jan 2012 11:09pm |
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| Lorryman100 Member Since: 01 Oct 2010 Location: Here Posts: 2686 |
I bring in the aquaroll and wastemaster when winter touring as well as leaving the heating on all night in the van. As far as the awning goes the halogen heater stays on all night on low to stop the condensation freezing. The dogs stay in the van, no way the missus would allow her babies to sleep in a cold, partially heated awning
 You are still welcome to sleep in it though Chris. |
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18th Jan 2012 11:18pm |
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| JSG Member Since: 12 Jul 2007 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2412
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To be honest the original plan was a second hand van a few years old - a lot we looked at were rubbish and then the new ones come with a 10 year warranty against leaks and damp (Land Rover should do the same). We ordered it at the NEC show at the end of last year after some severe haggling and paid not much more than we have had to pay for a 3 year old van. Key thing for us was to get the right layout for 5 of us where we can put the two smallest kids to bed and still have most of the van to move about in. John http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk 2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS |
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19th Jan 2012 1:36am |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5025
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No you can't talk you way out of this one John
 3 year old van What about a nice 15 year old van
Seriously sounds great I would love one  The trouble with old vans is the maintenance and getting the parts. My old VanRoyce (25K new!) had everything, floor lighting and floor hot heating blowers etc etc but if anything went wrong that was it, wasn't worth fixing it and you couldn't get the parts just for basic stuff 
Modern ones can be problematic but at least you can fix them easily
I would like another van, 4 berth this time but the storage costs of £500 per year down hear kills it for us - we shall use the boat for a caravan for a bit but will go back to caravanning. Scotland and Europe are the best places, forget Ireland the roads wrecked our car and van 
Have fun in them all
Warpig you could always put your wife in one of those awning doggy extensions Mine lives in the coal hole at home Until the housework needs doing of course |
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19th Jan 2012 9:12am |
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| TJ101 Member Since: 30 May 2007 Location: Taunton Somerset Posts: 3750  
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Never bother booking anywhere,, as wild camp 90% of the time ,, but then its easy with a motorhome
Somewhere south of France
Click image to enlarge Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1
Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK |
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19th Jan 2012 10:04am |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5025
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Yeah but.......... Don't you need planning for that, is the extension on the back under permitted rights |
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19th Jan 2012 10:17am |
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