Setting up a new Caravan

What I'd do is join a local caravan club and have a chat to a few of them. Then make up your own mind.

Aside from that, are you going to be a free camper. If so decide whether you need lots of 240 volt power (generator) or Solar. Water Tanks? how much do you have how much do you need.

What are you towing with etc?

Other things, how are you getting your mail, how are you going to pay the bills.

So I reckon the caravan club is the way to go.

You don't say whether your new purchase is new or second hand but regardless the first thing I would do is empty the van completely, water tanks, extra gas bottle etc and take it to a weigh bridge. You may find the stated Tare (unloaded) weight as recorded on the VIN plate bears little relationship to the reality. As an example our 22 footer had a stated Tare of 2040 kg. A visit to a weigh bridge gave us an unloaded figure of 2300 kg.
Next have a look at the ATM and GVM stamped on the plate. these figures will give you an idea of how much "stuff" (technical term for payload..LOL) you will be able to LEGALLY carry and what vehicle (if not already owned) will be needed to whisk you away on your travels. Keeping in mind it is accepted practice to have 10% or a little more tow ball weight applied to the tow vehicle for stability reasons.
Heaps more of course but as already has been suggested a call to a caravan club or one of the towing clinic type companies around is a pretty good idea.

Enjoy running a muck on your journey.

Cheers
Pop

Hi 2rnamuk,

Welcome to the fold though at 52 you haven't graduated to long pants yet. LOL
Or should that be short pants. Seems the older we get the more we wear shorts. LOL

You will find that you will use a mix of caravan parks and free camps as well as everything in between. That is what we do but my preference is free or freedom camping as there is more space in free camping usually, and there seems a higher level of camaraderie in the free camps I find.

The first advice is to talk to anyone and every one without being to demanding of others time. We all like our space. Happy hour is the first essential. A couple of beers or wines at the end of the day in good company is about as good as it gets at our age and is something to look forward to every day. I only drink when I an caravanning as it is a social thing for me. Mind you, I can talk the leg off a chair at the best of times.

You may need a reasonable supply of DVDs as you will not always get good TV reception.

One of the first things to buy is "Camps Australia Wide" which comes in 2 main sizes and both spiral bound and hard bound I think. I prefer the spiral bound as you can flip the pages you don't want, out of the way. This book is the travelers bible. Available from any outdoors shop and caravan outlet as far as I am aware as well at the EO shop here.

You will need a set of leveling ramps for uneven ground (yellow wedge things) and a couple of blocks of wood for same as well. The best thing to do is to get that book and go and try your van for a few weekends, especially between now and Xmas and that is the best teller of what you need. Avoid traveling in the last 2 weeks before Xmas. Keep watching these pages and also search these pages for any info you need as we are unsure of your specific needs.

If you get onto the Greynomad101 site This Site and get their early DVDs about what you need to take it is a good starter. Mind you though, you do not need everything that Sid takes.

Another good source is the Gall Boys Adventures DVDs and are both extremely entertaining and very informative. They clearly show what not to do with your Kedron caravan LOL. You will find them on the net also.

Check out all the caravanners forums as there is a wealth of information out there which is all valuable. The best teacher though is experience so go do it and enjoy.

Check this one outCaravaners forum

Cheers and happy travels, Bruce.

Mark a couple of things have come to mind re what is needed for initial setup.

The first is that you will need to get a good drinking water quality hose to fill your van.
There are several on the market and most are somewhat rigid compared to the lay flat variety

I recommend the Flatout brand of lay flat hose as it is the best quality and will last for many years. It comes on its own reel and takes up less space than most hoses.
Flatout Hose and reel

Don't be tempted to save money and by that other lay flat brand as they are of much lesser quality. Flatout is the only one to buy. Note that they are not cheap but they are quality.

You will also need a variety of hose fittings to screw onto taps so get a few of the cheap ones as you may forget and leave some behind at some time or other so it does not pay to buy the expensive ones, unless you are on the ball all the time. I am not unfortunately.

It may pay you to get a reel for the power cord as well but that can be further down the track as it is not important first off.

The other thing you will need is sullage hose for the grey water disposal. This connects onto your sink, shower and basin outlets to carry the grey water away. Get a couple of lengths as sometimes you need a short one and other times you need a long one so getting two allows you to cut one up into varying length pieces. See if you van get some spare joiners for it as well.

Some of the other things you may need are an axe, a rake for cleaning leaves away from the van or fire pit area, a level for the A frameLike This T Level. Note that your van may come already fitted with one so check with your dealer.

As I think of other things I will add them also.

Cheers, Bruce.