I wish I’d known this when I first started caravan trips although I hardly ever used my toilet cassette because all I had was an old Thompson Glendale and you couldn’t be bigger than twiggy to sit. I bought the caravan for £250 and it towed easily with my Datsun sunny 1.3 deluxe and even now about 25 plus years later I still miss it. I spent a lot of time repairing and under sealing the van and yes I know she didn’t look all that great but she saw me through a lot of heavy down pours and she kept on ticking but the one thing I do regret using to paint the outside of her was a cellulose paint, anyhoo I’m so for rambling on but you’re very helpful video brought back beautiful memories of my van so keep up the great work. 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Excellent once again, love this channel. Planning to buy a Caravan soon to tour the UK with my kids to get them away from XBOX and WiFi and to discover all the lovely places in this country and overseas also. Your videos have made it all seem much less daunting. I love the idea of using a site with fewer amenities on occasion to become self-sufficient and teach the kids about solar energy and using resources carefully, so many good lessons in Caravanning! We were regular campers (tents) but some cold nights and the general pain of setting up the tent each time has moved me on to Caravans now. Thanks guys!

Thank you for the " talk through". I've just bought my first caravan and you've helped me create a mental picture of some of the steps to set up. I've only ever owned Class C motorhome in the US...which are quite different from UK/ European units. My " new caravan " is a Vanroyce 450/2EK from'93. So hopefully - no tears ,just cold beers with my feet up!

As a single lady of 65 just bought my first caravan to have on my own , the ex used to do everything whilst i filled water hogs lol so its very helpful to watch a video like this thanks

Thank you guys. We were looking at buying a motorhome but have since decided on a caravan. Am pleased to say, pick up our 1st ever touring caravan next weekend!!!! Your videos have been a wealth of information and now so excited to go get out there........ Our lil old 2013 Swift Challenger will be awesome thanks to what you've shown us. Keep up the good work and Happy Caravaning???????

Quite literally just about to go pick up my first caravan. I'm sure I shall be watching this again several times over the next day or two. Good stuff, very informative.

@bradleymccreary2223

2 жыл бұрын

Me too!

We've just bought our first caravan, your videos are excellent, we're making tick off lists for the first few trips using your suggestions, thanks.

Very informative. Getting our first ever caravan later this week, having been motorhome users for a few years. Really learning a lot through watching your vids. Thank you.

New caravaner here, great little tutorial which I have bookmarked for the first trip away ! Especially like the sanity check cup of tea

Nice to see you back. some really sound advice for people new to caravaning. We are looking forward to seeing you both in July.Paul&Deb

Just bought our first caravan and now I feel much more confident when we take her on her maiden voyage. Away to watch much more of your videos.

thanks - a perfect refresher for our first trip in a year and only our second trip ever. Your videos are invaluable.

Looking into caravan travelling around the Uk myself, wanted to get a good picture of it all before committing. This helped a lot thanks

Brilliantly concise. Should include this video with the manual when anyone buys their first caravan. Top work.

@amandamcgeehan5714

3 жыл бұрын

That’s us. Watching this video has been very helpful, as we have no idea. I think we should allocate ourselves jobs to do to prevent getting under one another’s feet on arrival. I’m concerned that I might not get the heating and water correct. Watch this space 😱

Your videos are a godsend I've been looking at your reviews on and off all day the NEC how to buy a caravan cleaning your caravan etc keep up the good work 😀😀😀

After a ten year gap we're about to return to caravaning. It's amazing what you think you remember and clearly don't ! So this has been really useful. I'm making notes ..Thanks !

@dylanhancock5226

Жыл бұрын

I have a caravan

Just bought a caravan on a little site off a lovely lady in my dream area! This guide is super as I’ve never owned a caravan !

Where I live in Western Canada some things are a little different when we hook up and head out for the weekend but most things though are exactly the same. I also had a bottle of Casillera del Diablo in my "trailer." Nice vid!

Great little video, just bought our first caravan, that all made sense, don’t feel quite so daunted now, thank you. 👍

Nice! I havent been out in the caravan for 2 years so have had to find an easy setup to jog my memory, super helpful video I appreciate it very much as it's pretty much just me doing all of this stuff whilst the wife and kids are out in the park so it's difficult to try to remember all of these things when the kids are going nuts haha thanks!

Excellent very informative for people like myself who love Caravans but don't know anything about set up or maintenance

Another great video-thanks. I wish this was around when we started as first couple of times out are daunting. I'm really glad that other guests are so helpful as twisting the electric plug was new to me and I thought I'd broken the van first time out! For newbies I hope you follow this up with "leaving a caravan site" video. Keep up the good work.

@TheTrudgians

6 жыл бұрын

HI, well if you look in Practical Caravan i have written 4 part series taking in the entire life cycle of a caravan holiday, which includes leaving. Its out now in the shops. Dan

We are looking into getting a caravan (after being tent owners) - this video is perfect for complete newbies. Thank you!

Excellent, thank you. Just got our caravan cant wait to use it for the first time.

I always check the power cable reaches the power point first. Once you know this, start with the levelling. Nothing worse that disconnecting the car to find the cable don’t reach. In sites where the pitches are marked this shouldn’t be a problem. Your videos are great!

Really helpful as usual "Trudgies." So calm and confident. Keep the videos going please.

Thanks very much - we are about to buy a caravan and this has really helped give us confidence.

Brilliant. I have never seen the setup procedure described better any where.

Thanks Dan, all of your videos have been extremely useful for us first time caravanners!

Love the “Sanity Check Cup of Tea”! First class advice :-)

Thanks for your tips We just bought our first caravan and didnt have a clue whatsoever what need to be done first! So will need to make a list and attach in a caravan :)

Thank you for this. Concise and informative and love the cup of tea check.. Will easily adopt that method 👍

What a great video to follow. We are complete newbies and going out for the first time this weekend with our caravan. You make it look so easy. Thank you.

@TheTrudgians

Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped, and genuinely after a couple of goes - it becomes second nature. Our very 1st outing took 4 hours to set up. These days (without awning) it’s about 30mins or so.

Good walk through and I like the Sanity check cup of tea as a simple way to check it all.

Jezzer & team did a jolly interesting video on blowing up a caravan. Ripping wheeze!

I'm thinking about buying a tourer in a couple of years and this was excellent information thank you 😎😎

I wasn't expecting to see Tom. 😍 Great video as always, Dan. X

When putting the water pump into the aqua-roll, ensure the roll is as close as possible to the van to enable the pump to work even when the water level gets a bit low, i.e. keep it under the water. Leaving a lot of the hose outside the roll, means you can not pump the water below the pumps position.

Great video Dan, for all the caravan newbies out there. I've been caravanning for nearly 20 years now and wish i had a video to go off back then. Best piece of advise I can give to anyone new to caravanning is to ask plenty of questions before trying for the first time and don't worry, there's hundreds of years of experience when you arrive on site and if someone doesn't come to help if your stuck, don't be afraid to ask its the only way you'll learn. Finally, just to add on to Dan's advice, don't forget to pull a couple of feet forward after reversing onto your pitch to allow the caravan brake to reengage.

Good little video, you made it look very easy and stress free. Just how we do it 👍

Lovely to watch such a thorough demo

Great video, just about to purchase our first caravan this will be a great help : )

Thank you very very much 🙏 for an amazing knowledge. We’re going to use the caravan for our first time. Cheers

@TheTrudgians

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Wow what a fantastic video for our first caravan holiday this year CANT wait 😊😊

Brilliant video. Newbie caravan owner so your video is amazing

Love your videos very informative.

Thank You, so informative, clear and concise.

Excellent video as usual. Your videos are very interesting and can’t wait to get my own caravan! One thing you did forget was the corner Steadies! And that levelling the caravan front to back should be done using the jockey wheel.

@TheTrudgians

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Dave, i make reference to leaving front to back & the corner steadies at 3:02 in this video, also I have included a link to our levelling video which goes into further detail regarding how to level a caravan. This video is really a high level overview, and im sure you can imagine each topic could go into another 20mins just discussing that item at length. I hope that helps, when are you getting your own caravan ? im sure you will really enjoy the adventures, and I really hope our content is helping you. Let us know when you collect a 'van Take care Dan

Informative to anyone is new to caravanning, safe travels

Thanks for the video. We're picking up our caravan next weekend, so this video will certainly help a lot. Could you do a tutorial on how to operate the alde heating system?

Very helpful! Thank you very much!

hi guys great video you levelled the caravan from side to side but never showed the best way to sort out levelling front and back. I am new to caravanning so watch many of your videos to gain knowledge thanks

That was really super useful video.I have just bought my first caravan & looking forward to a weekend away in Devon at Easter👍🏻 Hope to bump into you guys somewhere😊

@TheTrudgians

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

A couple of things worth mentioning. If you run one side of the van up on levelling ramps with the motor mover the van will turn to one side because of the resistance, so you will need to make a course correction at some point. Its also near impossible to align the wheel up so the hub lock receiver lines up. Your insurance will likely state that the van must not be left unattended without the security devices fitted. I generally keep a grey plastic fuel can which I pre-fill with the fluid and water mix for the toilet flush and at the end of the stay any fluid left in the toilet is emptied back into the can. One other small point, milk before the hot water.

New to caravanning very informative and helpful, cheers guys .

Great tips. Thank you. Best regards Martin and Anne

I remember doing this with ours. I still miss our caravan.

Hi dan another useful video for first time caravaner who am just starting out I think the next video dan would b ideal is to show people how to tow a caravan and tips on what to do and not to do .to give people more confident to tow cheers .kev

@TheTrudgians

6 жыл бұрын

Stay tuned Kev ;-)

Excellent advice. Thank you 😊

Always enjoy your videos which for ne Caravanners is really useful. Very good video on setting up but it would be equally useful to have a video on the procedure for leaving the site with particular points on the on board electrical systems including the Sargent so nothing is damaged and all the things to remember. Jon

Excellent video. I need info like this as we pick up our very first caravan next Friday

@CluelessinaCaravan

6 жыл бұрын

Keith - welcome to the club! It's our first season too :-) Loving it.

Thanks Dan for another great vidéo 😉

I'm fairly new to using a caravan so this help is great, thanks very much. Can I just point something out please, at 3.28 you mentioned the gas, but nothing else was mentioned about this. Other than that, this video was very helpful, thanks again.

Thanks for sharing. It's been a massive help. 👏👏👏

Tom’s not wanting to be there again 😂😂👍 good video

Very informative for persons new to caravanning. Just one point though. " Pay close attention to the on site speed limits." But not apparently, to the on site road signs! :)

Really informative and great tips. Thank you 👍🏻

Top draw. Great vid. Love the sanity check cup of tea. Never heard that before. 👍

@mrbillhicks

4 жыл бұрын

Top drawer...

A very good a safe point made about plugging the power lead in to the caravan FIRST! I've seen people plugging in at the bollard first then walking around with a live plug!!!!!! Something to bear in mind

@TheTrudgians

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, and how many motorhomes have you spotted that just unplug from the unit, and not the post - leaving the cable live and on the floor... grrr. Take care Dan

@Dieferdan

6 жыл бұрын

Oh that does wind me up!!!!!! BTW I'm currently away in my wobble box down in Cornwall. Stunning weather too :D

Good informative video - does anyone know whether there are any similar ones out there but for camper vans? Thanks.

Great video Dan as always - Lin xx

Brilliant, thanks Dan 👏

A Really useful video. Thanks Phil.

Fantastic video and very informative. :)

Great video we are about to buy our first caravan

Wow, this looks so cool.

I'm looking to buy my first ever caravan this video is excellent

I’ve just deja vu moment, read your article in Practical Caravan last week! Nice one Dan 👍

@Dieferdan

6 жыл бұрын

Dan is definitely James. Reckon Tom could be a good Jezza :D

@carolhandrahan4959

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this 😀 Is there a tip for moving onto the levelling block when using a motor mover? We found once the wheel started to go up the block the other side went faster and the caravan sort of went lopsided as if going in circles 😳🙈. Thanks again. Carol

@TheTrudgians

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Carol, yes indeed there is. I rest against the side of the caravan, just to gently push against the van that is trying to turn towards me, this keeps it straight while going up the ramp. If you do this, make sure you chock the wheels and apply the hand brake before releasing the motor mover, it will want to move a bit more once the tension has been released. Hope that helps. D

@carolhandrahan4959

6 жыл бұрын

The Trudgians thank you! 😀

Hi Dan, another great video. I have a couple of comments though. When filling the water, I was always advised (and i'm sure my manual says) that for my bailey, my taps should be turned on (pointed to hot) when I turn on the water pump. I then never get water bubbling out the taps as all air is pushed out as the tank fills. And by having it on hot, it fills the hot water tank first. For my toilet we only half fill the cap for toilet flush. Our thetford doesn't need a cap full. Great video.. I hope all are well and look forward to the next one...

@andybeck7493

6 жыл бұрын

Further to that I found it easier to fill 20ltr water Jerry can when filling aqua roll then top aqua roll up after you've bled water. Then you just keep Jerry can filled to keep aqua roll filled.

@TheTrudgians

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Daren, always best to follow guidelines in instruction books, this video is aim to be as generic as possible, so not taking into account variations on make or types of water heater etc, or if you even have a water heater and onboard tanks. With the toilet, again just follow instructions. We in fact don't bother topping the blue chemical with water, we just use the caravan loo as an emergency No.1's etc. Hope that helps. Dan

@michaelyounger4318

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheTrudgians I was shown, and always turn the kitchen tap to hot and open to release air in the hot water tank. Simply close the tap when the water flows and air stops spluttering out. This way you can be sure there is no air in the water heater before switching on the water heater preventing any potential overheating and damage. Hope this helps. Excellent Videos Keep them Coming I wish they were available when I started caravaning

Thanks for the video!

Love all the information. In relation to awnings. Even if there are only two persons using the caravan, no pets, no visitors. Are there any sites who do not charge you if you have a small awning?, we pay for the pitch and then have to pay an additional fee! . At 63 yrs of age , I can remember years ago not being charged extra for an awning. In your opinion are sites becoming penny pinchers?

Very very good tutorial many thanks.

Hi, I have not been in a caravan since I was a kid. First thing we did was wind the legs down to get it level and stop it tipping up.

Very helpful thanks for making this helpful video.

Excellent, thank you

Very helpful and well explained. Thank you! :)

Fab....very helpful Thanks!

Really helpful and clear, thank you

Brilliant video. After I have pressurised the water system, do I leave the pump switch in the on position. First time caravaner. Any help would be appreciated..

Hi Dan, as we have just bought our first caravan we have a lot to lean and your videos have become our go to when looking for info and advice. As were new to the game we were wondering something very simple and I think important but not found the answers anywhere on youtube but my question is once on site and set up do we need turn the water pump off after each use or can it stay on whole time keeping an eye on water in aqua roll, all so the same with hot water heater is it only best turn on when needed? many thanks,

Hi Dan, Sorry to be pedantic, but before you unhitch the car you should ensure the caravan handbrake is applied then it doesn't roll off the levelling ramp ??. Or put handbrake on before disconnecting motor mover. great vid though very useful for newbies. Loved Trudgfest even though we dont do cooking on a CADAC . can't wait wait for next time!!, congrats for the amount of money yourself, Andy & Ian raised , no doubt with some help from your other halves. Craig & Kristen.

@grahamjessop4541

5 жыл бұрын

Why put on the handbrake after the caravan is level and securely pitched and the motor movers have been disengaged? Drum brakes stick and lock if applied for any length of time.

I'm just stating out, thank you very helpful.

Very useful. Thank you

You did not show unhitching, I always have trouble with the ALKO, any hints?

Brilliant video thanks.

Oh my gosh! I’ve been to that campsite many times!! Morton In marsh I think it’s called :D

excellent video. Thank you :)

Really helpful thank you

Another great video but just one small point,always remove the teabag before adding the milk to get a full flavour cuppa.

I just bought a caravan that’s been winterised and dry stored for 12 years. It like new condition everywhere. Can you recommend a video showing me how to get the services ready for summer use. Cheers