Great advice as always. We pay around £600 per year, split into 6 month payments. One thing to watch with storage is access times to get your caravan in & out of storage, some storage places we looked at were quite restrictive which would add complication when planning trips (e.g. not before 8:00am and back by dusk! - early in winter times) we have 24hrs access. Keep it up Dave.
Hi Brian, very good point and something that needs to be considered. Storage prices seem to vary so much, I suppose supply and demand in a given area and also the security that's in place too. Thanks for sharing and stay tuned. ATB, Helen & Dave
Good video. When we decided we would like to consider caravanning, the first thing we did was to decide on a budget, and that had to include a car as our existing one was not suitable - it's very easy to get swept away in the excitement of it all and overspend if you are not careful - layout of the caravan was very important to us as well. Then we researched storage, ( inc if we could keep it at home) insurance and security, servicing costs. What would we need to spend on items for the caravan ( aqua roll, waste master etc). We also decided to get a Sat Nav in which we could put the dimensions of the car and caravan, therefore ensuring that we don't end up going down unsuitable roads. Until I towed the caravan the 85 miles from the dealers back home, I had never towed anything before - I did do a Caravan and motorhome club caravan driving course first which was invaluable. For our first trip, we decided to stay very local for a weekend, at a site we know, and on roads that I'm familiar with - not far from home so if we had any issues, or even forgotten something, we could easily get back. Things we've discovered since owning the caravan: It's very easy to take far too much stuff with you, and we have now pared it right down. Channels like yours and some caravan forums are fantastic for ideas and suggestions for all things caravan related. Everywhere we've been, folk have been very friendly, and will always help others if they get in a pickle. We love it!! Steve n Jeanette
Hi Steve & Jeanette, fantastic comment and it sounds like you really did your homework first which is so important. Helen attended a CAMC towing course and also found it invaluable and was able to share information with me which I didn't know nor had never considered. Thanks for sharing this and also for watching the channel, we appreciate it very much. Happy travels, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave Thanks both - the other thing I forgot to mention was weighing up whether to go campervan/motorhome or caravan - it made much more sense to us to go the caravan route as we do like to explore a bit and find it far more convenient with a car. Also, at the start I wasn't all that keen really - we've always had holidays abroad in the past and I thought it might be a bit restrictive for my liking, but now we are doing it I really love it and like others, only regret not doing it a bit earlier. We've had our calamities too ( only been doing it for 18 months), but that has not dampened the enthusiasm. Keep up the videos, we love them, and give Bella a big hug from us both. Perhaps we'll see you on the road sometime. Steve n Jeanette
@@steve1962 Hi Steve and Jeanette, very much like us, lot's of holidaying abroad before this but now we stay home but just holiday all of the time ha ha. See you on the road, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave & Helen. We bought ours from Dereham after you visited Greentrees. And as I mentioned in that video you posted. We did exactly what you suggested. Slept on it for the weekend. Went back and haggled and got about £500 of extras. Cost us 19k for 2019 6 birth. We've had it just over two weeks and been to thetford forest. 5 nights in Sandringham after your recommendations and 3 nights off grid in Bisley surry at a Hotrods weekend. I discovered there that we had not hot water. They sent an engineer out to my home near Dereham and there fitting a new thuma heater. So our 6 month warranty is great. I told Neil the boss at Greentrees and Harry our salesman that we watch you channel and boughy the caravan we saw in your video when you visited them. Hopefully if you go back they might look after you. Thanks for your videos I like every one. And my girlfriend and I have learnt so much from you. Hope to see you both on site one day. I'll get a sticker from you then. All the best mate. Dave & Charlotte x
Hi Dave & Charlotte, delighted that you watch the channel and thanks so much for your support. I think you're the 3rd person to buy a caravan off of the back of our video. It's great that they sorted your hot water and it sounds like you're getting plenty of trips under your belt, which is great because that's when you find any issues. Stay tuned and thanks again. Helen & Dave
I bought new, smallish and light for easy towing. I didnt know tourers could be stored at a site and towed onto a pitch for you. Had i known this i would have bought older, larger and cheaper until i had more experience of caravan life. We use ours mostly to be near grandchildren on the south coast.
It’s a case of whatever works best for you we think and most importantly what you feel comfortable and confident with. Thanks for sharing. Stay tuned! Helen & Dave 👍
Some good advice.. I can't believe the storage prices people are paying generally over £600. When we moved top of the list was driven/lawn to store caravan on. So moving 5 years ago I have saved £3000 so far😊
Hi Victor, agree, the rates seem to vary dramatically. Well done you though because these prices do really inflate the annual Caravanning costs. Thanks for watching. Helen & Dave 👍
Great selection of advice Dave. We also made the mistake of a wrong layout recently and will be rectifying that next week at a cost which could have been avoided if we had thought a bit more and walked away. Thanks as always for the videos. David & Rachel (Colchester) - £650 annual Platinum Secure Storage.
Hi David & Rachel, always good to hear from you and hope you're both keeping well. I think we all get carried away in the moment as it were. I suspect, based on your previous comments/messages your storage has passed David's security tests lol. Thanks as always, Helen & Dave
Hi there Dave, Lots of sound advice there 👍 for new comers to the touring world. As you say mistakes can be made by not doing research first. It’s good to visit shows and see the different layouts to decide which will work best for you… All the best, Rob & Gail 😀
Hi Rob & Gail, hope you’re both well and like us you’re probably holding out for some decent weather. Good idea to get along to shows/dealers or even get online/youtube. I think we’ve learned from past mistakes 🤔🧐 Best wishes, Helen & Dave 👍
Hi Dave: Excellent as ever. We store our van on a secure site in Manchester. It has 2 locked gates, CCTV but not CASSOA. If I pay for 12 months in one go it is £800. Slightly more if you pay monthly. That's about the going rate around here if you want to come and go whenever you require. Keep up the good work. Paul & JM.
Thanks very much Paul! Yes the prices vary dramatically from area to area it would seem but you have to look after your pride and joy. Hope you’re well and we always appreciate your support. Take care, Helen & Dave 👍
Good job dave we had our yearly service this year and you seen our van oh no 45% damp rear off side top corner he said because caravan in such good condition for its age which is 2010 I would recommend fix it all good now it was awning rail on off side he had it a week stripped dried put back all good now 😊
Hi John, goes to show how important it is to get a service. Glad you caught it on time, deffo worth getting it fixed. Hope you're well. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
Great advice and definitely know what your tow car can pull. We've got a shogun but still checked the weight of our caravan when we changed it. Layout important. Great video. Xx
Hi Alison & Keith, completely agree, you've got a beast of a tow car there though but non the less, deffo need to be belt & braces! Thanks as always, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave and Helen, yet another great and informative vlog. We bought our caravan from new (Swift Elite twin axle - dealer special). We've been very pleased with it for the last two and a half years. We keep it locally in storage and pay £300 p.a. Looking forward to many more adventures. Cheers Terry
Well done Dave a really useful video and great advice it's all too easy to purchase and think later same with cars motorhomes all sorts I have always made a list of what I want what I can afford and tried to go into things the right way sometimes it takes discipline 😂 hope you and Helen are keeping well Daniel
Hi Daniel, I'm getting a bit more like you these days, especially when parting with lot's of hard earned cash. Thanks as always, Helen is still on the drugs and also taking medication ha ha. She's not doing too bad. Hope you're good and thanks for ongoing support. Cheers, Dave
Hi Dave I pay £40 per month storage. It’s a twin axle and I found that lots of places in my area West Yorkshire don’t take twin axles so I was lucky to find somewhere. Great video
Hi there Ian, thanks for sharing. That seems very reasonable to me especially given the size of your caravan. Thanks for watching, stay tuned. Helen & Dave
Hi David good advice we bought a used caravan last year with a French bed and had the same issues as yourself and we upgraded in February this year to a island bed and what a difference it’s made we both now lie in bed in the morning We store the caravan in Worcester and we pay £560 per annum but the storage yard is fantastic and great people When we bought the used caravan we had 12 months warranty Thanks Lee
Hi Lee, thanks for sharing this information, interesting read. Overall it sounds like you’ve found a good van, great warranty and reasonable storage. Security and peace of mind are paramount. Thanks again, Helen & Dave 👍
Hi Dave, enjoyed your video, really good tips and advice there for would be caravaners, think we can easily let our heart rule our head at times, thank you for sharing x Julie and Tony x
Hi Julie & Tony, thanks very much. We’ve spent most of our lives being impulsive and letting our hearts take over our brains 😂 Best wishes, Helen & Dave 👍
We did 3yrs of “thinking of getting a caravan” and 6 months of “getting a caravan”. We did have a caravan over 10yrs ago, but a lot has changed since. First thing we did was buy a note book. We put together a list of must haves and likes to have. This note book also had a shopping list of bits we needed. In the must have list, it had “must fit on the drive” so I did a scaled drawing of the drive and a scaled drawing of a caravan that you could fold out for different sized caravans, as a visual. We had our budget and started to look at caravans online. Which is a bit of a mine field! We had 3 caravans in mind, so we held out for the October NEC show, we had waited 3yrs, what’s another 5months. We went to the show and didn’t like any of the caravans we had in mind, but did find another that we did, but this was just over our budget and only just, but we agreed prior, that we wouldn’t go a penny over! So unfortunately we walked away from the show with nothing. The NEC is a 5hr drive and we wasn’t going to settle, as it had taken all that time to get to and back from the show. But we had a more detailed caravan in mind now, a new one being out of budget then lead us down the second hand route, the day after the NEC visit, my father in-law (seasoned caravaner and joined us at the show) found a caravan an hours drive away well below budget and 2yrs old and hardly used. We are now the caravans new owners!! It’s worth going over kill on the planning and research as it could save a lot of money.
Hi Martin, many thanks indeed, an interesting read but sometimes we think things happen for a reason and also patience is a virtue. Great planning too. Cheers, Helen & Dave 👍
Fantastic information Dave and very helpfull reguardless of wether it is first or tenth caravan. One thing I would add is check that the type of site you like allows the type of caravan you want, my favorite site does not allow twin axle or fith wheels and sign written vehicles ( for you business owners)
Hi Aaron, thanks for watching and leaving a comment. A great point that you make. You may be limiting the number of options available with a big unit and indeed with sign written vehicles. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
Much as we wish we had a drive big enough we are very lucky with our storage. It's about six miles away and stores about 40 vans behind the house of a lovely retired couple who are ex caravaners. For £300 per year we get unlimited access, our own key and they even provide several electrical hookups so we can put the fridge on the night before we go away, there's caravan washing facilities and even a customer toilet! Our biggest mistake with our first caravan was buying a two birth! Within a year it was swapped for a four birth with a proper bed. This is probably quite a common mistake. Best bit of advice we'd give anyone is just use it and enjoy it!😊
Hi Cas, what a result on the storage, superb! Completely agree, as you know we are out as much as we can be, holidays abroad are a thing of the past, so many wonderful places to see in the UK. Best wishes and stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Good advice indeed. Just to add our storage is £280 for 12 months at Skegness Storage (find it easier to visit the coast without putting extra stress on the tow car) however we are looking at moving to Peterborough to be more easier to get to Norfolk and seen storage around the same cost (gold cossoa too) so there are some fair priced storage out there if people are willing to shop around. Loving the videos still and thank you!
Hi John, that’s very good value storage costs and to find similar in Peterborough is also really good. Prices seem to vary so much around the country. Thanks for watching and supporting us, it means a lot. Cheers, Helen & Dave 👍
@@HelenandDave we just seem to get a little luck after hours of trawling the Internet but would rather keep it close so we can keep our eye on it but Hey ho! Thanks again and always look forward to the fresh uploads from you. We wish the 3 of you all the best especially with Helen at the moment 👍💙
We brought ours back in November but went for an older one just to see if we like it didn’t want to spend 15k-20k and it was just a phase 😅 so far we love it. Don’t for get to look at break weight for the tow car as well. We pay £800 year for a platinum storage yard not a cheap old game thou this caravanning we probably spent other £1500 getting other bits awning etc great video keep up the good work 👍
Hi, good to hear from you again and thanks for sharing your own experiences. The price of storage seems to vary a lot but then there's storage and there's STORAGE! I think you know quite soon if caravanning is for you or not and if you're still doing it after two years we reckon you're caravaners for life! Stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Hello Dave, great video, I totally agree with you, don’t let your heart rule your head, and sleep on it is the right thing to do, I would say tow car is the most important things, we had a vw golf diesel at first but once we started to fill the caravan it struggled to go uphill, then a Mercedes 220 diesel witch was prefect but started to have mechanical problems, mainly oil leaks, then with the help from yourself we now have a Kia shortage diesel that tows a dream, so like I said really think about your tow car, cheers Dave until your next video, 👍👍.
Hi Buster Boy, interesting read, thanks for your comment. It can be challenging and the tow car is so important. Pleased you’re happy with the Kia, we’ve been very pleased with it as you know and keep putting off changing it because it’s been so good. Happy travels, stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
Another great vlog with more good advice we're over here in North Shropshire our storage costs for a very good cassoa gold site are £240 per year so very good value we're coming to Deers Glade again in August for the carnival can't wait for the fun to begin
Hi there Andrew, always good to hear from you. Great deal on the storage, well done. Deers Glade is a wonderful site, hope the weather is kind to you when you get here. Take care, Helen & Dave
Hi Paul, many thanks for watching and sharing your info. Storage costs do seem to vary so much from around £350 upto £2000 is what has been shared so far. I suppose it depends where you live and what availability plus security these sites have in place. Thanks again, stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Hi guys... great video and very informative as always... we pay storage at Bridlington CAMC site just round the corner from us which is CASsOA and it's £540 per year... can't store at home because of the deeds 😊... cheers Dave and Jane 👍
Hi Dave & Jane, hope you're both well, your storage costs seem reasonable to me. Never been to the Bridlington CAMC site but we want to get back to Yorkshire before too long so will check it out. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
We made sure that our missives allowed parking a caravan on the drive. We used to store on camp but would no longer have that option. We went through 8 caravans and changed every three years or so. We settled on a Bessacarr 495 two birth kept that for 10 yrs and got one with a big motor mover 😉😉 Bought 2 new caravans, never again. PDI was a waste of time and the van very quickly was falling apart. One new car never again, it was the cost of depreciation and servicing by dealer. We will not even look at a new Motorhome. All good advice, which to be honest we ignored this but we only slapped a Deposit on Desmond then went away to think about it. All great advice Dave thanks for passing your tips on. We both agree it is the best thing we have done and enjoy it to this day nearly 40 yrs on.
Hi Dave & Lindsay, seasoned professionals! almost full timers! Thanks for sharing your own experiences, like you we don't do new anymore and yes we've been impulsive but also we've been lucky. Deffo the best thing we've done too and in your case 40 years of caravanning/motorhoming id all the proof you need. Fantastic! Take care, Helen & Dave
We bought our first caravan last year from a dealer. 2017 Bailey and we got a 3 year warranty including water ingress. We purposefully store it about an hours drive from us; Partly due to local storage costs which were extortionate and also easier access to places we want to go. We have it stored in a gold CASSOA site, which appears to be good.£600 a year.
Hi Peter, thanks for commenting. Lovely caravan you have there and a good warranty too. It does seem that storage costs vary wildly but the main thing is that you have peace of mind in terms of secure storage. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
We bought our first caravan just over a month ago from Highbridge, it came with a six-month warranty. We are paying £45 per month for storage in Berkshire.
Thanks for watching and sharing this info. Warranty and storage costs seem to vary an awful little bit but £45 a month seems good value. We hope you’re enjoying your caravan. A bit if decent weather will improve the experience so much more. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
Great advice Dave and totally get the know your weights and not just your kerb weight as my 2year old Toyota Rav 4 plug in hybrid weighs 2000kgs but as it’s a Hybrid the maximum tow weight capacity is a mere 1500kgs, certainly shocked and limited our first caravan purchase…. Ours was 5 years old and from a local dealer, would have come with 6 months warranty but we extended this to 2years for not a huge amount of money really, gives a bit of peace of mind. Great tips and advice Tris and Nikki
Thanks Tris & Nikki, hope you're all well. Yes, bang on, getting know the weights is so important and so easily ignored because it can be confusing. Hadn't considered the Hybrids and battery weight, great point. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave same just thought I’d be able to tow up to 85% of 2000kg and well I was gob smacked hey ho will get a better tow car when we change it….but hybrids and electric cars are the modern thing now…they will need to up the game in towing capacity weights soon 😀😀
Hi Dave and Helen, Fantastic vlog and very helpful, We have had 4 vans in 16 yrs but this has been our choice with family and kids but always enjoyed every one 😊. We are loving our latest van a 4 berth but just for us two with a fixed bed lovely. The sleep on it theory is great unless you go back the next day and it's gone 😢, but we always say then it was not meant to be. Our current storage fees are £550 for a gold cossoa site 😢. We have booked Incleboro for September, wondering if we could call in for a van clean 😂. Take care and enjoy your next trip away. Paul and Joanne 👍 😊
Hi Paul & Joanne, great to hear from you as always. A new van every 4 years is good going lol but get where you're coming from and clearly you're both still loving the experience. We reckon if you get 2 years under your belt you're probably caravanning for life! Drop by and I'll run the chamois over it when you come to Norfolk lol. Take care and thanks. Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave Thanks, we'll message you nearer the time, I'll fetch the sponge lol, Great sense of humour you have and appreciate the comments. 😁 P and J ❤️
Hi Dave, we keep ours in a CaSSOA gold standard site, cost is £240 per 6 months. We are based in Bolton area Great channel by the way, very informative.
Hi Phil, thanks for watching and the lovely feedback, we appreciate it. Storage costs seem very reasonable indeed, well done. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
I agree, it's security is second to none and there is a security guard and owner lives on site too. Think we've been really lucky finding this. We are newbies, having only bought the caravan in March. Keep up the good work 👍
We pay special offer £45 per month then in December it will increase to £90, Dorset area, Gold CASSOA. We were quoted nearly 2k at another that isn't CASSOA rated.
Hi Claire, thanks for sharing this info. Storage does seem to vary so much in price. Initial offer seems very good indeed but the £2k sounds very excessive. Appreciate you watching and sharing. Take care, Helen & Dave
Thanks for watching. Some lovely caravans out there and some good deals too. We think it pays to shop around and if you ask you might be surprised what you can negotiate too. Good luck, Helen & Dave 👍
Good information there Dave. Just to add just some of the observations from my own experiences: I would say that kerb weights and the 85% guidance is a bit of a mess, especially when looking at insurance, there is little common agreement as I can vouch for from my own experience. 🙁 My advice is always read the small print in insurance ( including looking for changes at renewal time☹️☹️☹️) and warranty documents and use a credit card to pay a deposit, as along with taking out finance there is a level of protection available should there be issues getting warranty work done, or the dealer goes bust. Also, the selling dealer is also the only one who is obliged to do warranty work, very unlike it is with car main dealers. Ultimately, caravanning is - and is meant to be enjoyable, avoiding some of the pitfalls from the outset can help ensure it stays that way.
Hi Mel, thanks for sharing this invaluable added info. very helpful and appreciated. Small print, is small for a reason I reckon but again, if you're signing agreements of any kind you really need to be sure you understand what you're signing. Like you we love it, even when it's wet, windy, muddy, toilet cassette red light comes on at midnight, EHU trips when you put the kettle on, drivers cut you up on the road and when you cannot resist the urge to keep buying needless accessories ha ha ha ha. Stay tuned, see you soon. Helen & Dave
Prior to getting a caravan last year we had a folding camper for 3yrs which we loved. Apart from weather watching when packing away! However we could store it on our driveway. I decided to get a caravan so we could go away more of the year and have a bit more space. First year storage was £650 in Hampshire/Berkshire area. I had to get a new storage site, which is now £400 per year. Love the ease of going away on the caravan as I can set up on my own. Anthony
Hi Anthony, many thanks for watching and leaving a comment. £400 seems much more reasonable to me. Glad you’re enjoying your new caravan and we hope you have many fun adventures. Cheers, Helen and Dave 👍
Hi D & H, some great information there, a couple I didn't follow out, however I've been very lucky. We pay £40 a month for secure storage, which just happens to be our favourite site, personally we don't go for club houses or shower blocks, we tend to like small, quiet sites, ours is about half way between Canterbury and Folkestone, great stop over point for going to or coming from both, channel crossings, and then there's always the cost at £22 p/n including hook up, all the best, and safe travels, Neil
Hi Neil, always good to hear from you. Sounds like you have a good price for storage compared with some and being on your favourite site is a real bonus especially at £22pn. Thanks for sharing, Helen & Dave
Sleep on it dave😂try and tell my mrs that joking aside great informative video by the way we stayed at the grange a couple of weeks ago fantastic food and drove past your house would’ve stopped if I’d seen you all the best martin
Hi Martin, it must be a female thing, Helen is just the same. Hope you had a good stay at the Grange, weather is up and down and makes such a difference. Would have put the kettle on if I had known lol. Take care, Helen & Dave
We pay £470 per year storage for a 7.5 metre caravan. We bought a 2011 sterling Eccles Quartz 4 berth fixed island bed, second hand, we were like you and didn't know whether we would like it and didn't want to splash much cash, on what was our first caravan. It came with a full one year warranty from the dealer. It has developed water ingress after circa 10 months over the winter, which we found on our first outing this year. No worries said the dealer, took it in and is sealing it and repairing water damage as we speak ( leakage from awning rail fixing area from original construction ) and the repair comes with a year's warranty as well. The caravan originally came with a motor mover, solar panel and a starter kit with water, waste barrels and an inflatable awning.
Interesting read Steve and thanks for sharing. That sounds like the sort of dealer we all need, great service there! Deffo advantages for picking up used, especially when you can get all of the kit in the price too. Take care, Helen & Dave
We bought a new Bailey Unicorn Madrid last week. The most noticeable thing for me was there was no new caravan smell like you get in a new car, the seats weren't covered in plastic sheet, nor the carpets, it never seemed like it was brand new and to top it all off the PDI man scuffed our wheels when doing the torque-up. I lost £4K in value in a year of owning the previous one so wasn't happy about that especially as it was spotless. No battery was included nor gas bottle but they did swap over our old battery and motor mover which they also refurbished. We intend to keep this caravan for a long time :D Just started a new channel: Caravan Hepcats, first video is rubbish but it'll get better...hopefully. Take care both :)
Just subbed to your channel, needed to put a face to a name lol. Thanks for sharing your own experience, very interesting in terms of how new is new and what you actually get for your money. Even our first second hand caravan came with only a battery from the dealer. PDI man is in the wrong job!! Thanks as always and good luck with the channel. Helen & Dave
You see so many people saying just tow and go in their ads how many folk jump in and buy without doing some research about weights etc police wont accept that as an excuse would be costly
Spot on Cameron! There's a lot to think about and you need to do your homework because can go very badly wrong. Thanks for watching, stay tuned! Helen & Dave
Somebody said in an ad their roof was cracked above the window but they had been told this can be fixed with a fibreglass patch i dont think thats quite true as far as i know roof repairs are quite tricky and require removal of the roof section inside and out
I bought a sodastream to take to the cvan site you get 60 litres out the syrup and gas its cheaper than buying cans as most site shops are quite expensive with cans of coke etc mention this in your next video to make other caravanners aware of this thanks
@@HelenandDavemy niece lives in Stoke pays £700 per year for the same thing. We’ve got a 2010 Lunar Clubman so are anxious about damp throughout the year.
While talking of weights etc. GTW is very important! Possibly more so than mptlm. Deduct the weight of the car from the gross train weight and that is the max caravan weight you can tow. It can be less than the mptlm or whatever the arrangement of letters is?
Hi David, thanks for sharing, hadn't heard of this before but one I'll look into. Yeah, I get confused with all of the acronyms lol. ATB, stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave. Great video. However I would add one more. You should make sure you have the correct Driving License. Anyone who passed their test after 1998 will not have a towing entitlement. That’s B+E. You can tow but only up to a maximum of 750kg. So you may have to pass another driving test. Worth considering. My wife says that she loves your parrot. 👍
Hi Rob, You will find the law changed on this a couple of years ago, mainly because test centres were getting clogged up and they needed to get HGV drivers through tests, and we are now back to not having to do a towing test, licence entitlements are automatically changed and get physically updated as and when a licence is renewed. As a result our daughter is now allowed to tow her horse trailer with our previous caravan tow car without doing the test. While it saves me doing the towing, I still am allowed to fill it with diesel etc etc apparently
Hi Rob, thanks for watching and glad your wife likes Co-Co, he talks more than Helen and makes even more mess lol. I thought the law changed again in 2021 to allow anyone with a normal licence to tow a caravan. Just found the below on Auto Trader website 'With the latest changes announced by the DVLA, you’ll be allowed to tow trailers weighing up to 3,500 kg MAM from autumn 2021 onwards. Category BE, which allows you to drive any vehicle towing a trailer and weighing up to 3,500 kg MAM, will be automatically added when you get a new driving licence'. Pretty annoying for all of those who had been on courses and sat a test prior to this. Cheers, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave Hi guys. Co-Co looks gorgeous. He can’t be as messy as our children Lol. I wasn’t aware of that law change, as a Class 1 HGV driver I probably should have been. I’m glad you know it though. Cheers
@@robwallace266 Cheers Rob, I'm not sure that many people are aware of tbh. A bit like many of the new Highway Code changes, apparently we have to give way to push bikes and pedestrians, now where's the fun in that lol. Take care and thanks as always. Cheers, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave, towards the end you touched on the per night cost, perhaps while travel is more difficult another chat video subject could be the comparative cost of a long weekend? In round numbers since September last year Taylor (Swift 580) has saved us £900 - £1100 in Hotel bills, something like £75 - £80 per night in restaurant bills. Breakfast and lunch is arguable depending on your preferences, but at least a meal deal? Perhaps you could do a 3 way comparison? Helen could do a weekend in a lovely Spa Hotel with meals, Champagne and treatments, while you do a spit and sawdust B+B, compared to nice moderate weekend in the 'van? I'm sure Helen would be game for that? 🤣🤣🤣
Loved the first part to your comment but Helen needs no encouragement when it comes to spending money lol. Must say though, we are due to go to a family wedding soon. Everyone is booked into a hotel, we are taking the caravan, nuff said. Hope you're well and thanks as always for your contribution. Helen is on the phone to The Ritz!!!!! Cheers, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave The Ritz is over priced, try Champneys, much better value for a Spa. Caz is the same as Helen, loves Michellin stars, me? Well I'm a Ginsters and a Pint sort of bloke, looking for my dinner under a few micro greens is not for me!
We made the mistake of buying the first caravan we saw. Being that we rarely socialise it was hard for us to go and look in the first place, but we managed to find the place and he had set it up for us to take a look at. At first glance it looked clean and tidy although the fire had been clearly taken apart and had not been put back completely. Then there was the tap on the sink; it leaked badly but he said it was an easy fix. We had a quick look at the bathroom, again it was clean and tidy so we did not take too much time in it. What we had failed to notice was that he had covered the shower basin cleverly using a white, rubber mat. Under which, I might add was a gaping hole where the plug hole should have been! He said that he had hardly used the bathroom as he always used those on site instead. Then came the motor movers or lack thereof; this wasn't a deal breaker for us but we should have made sure he supplied them as he had removed them because they made a noise - apparently. I think he just wanted to make more money selling the whole kit and caboodle. He showed us the TV working and radio, then made the bed quickly in order to show how experienced he was using his caravan. With all the negative things about it, the interior was relatively clean apart from the roof vents that he had screwed into place, because the brackets had broken, no doubt because of age/heavy handedness. I could see that my wife was happy with it, so I asked him the lowest he would take £4250, and with a little pushing I managed £4k cash. The Elddis Avante 2006 we have is now mostly done. It has taken a further £600's to put most things right and I am in the process of painting a motor mover that we bought from Ebay, before I fit it. All in all it has been one heck of an experience for us and knowing what I now know, I would have given this a wide berth as the owner was just out to make some money from unsuspecting muppets - like us. We have seen similar caravans going for less in excellent condition, which kinda pisses me off really, but the outside is almost unmarked - thankfully, and my polishing skills have not been wasted, as she now sits shining like a diamond, all ready for the road. A great many man/woman hours have gone into refurbishing it, and rather selling it off, we are resolved to using it for this year at least.
Hi there Dave, many thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like you’ve had your hands full but you’ve persevered and ready to roll at last. There are some unscrupulous sellers out there, private and dealers who don’t have a conscience. On the plus side if you’ve managed to get your caravan serviceable for £600 then you’ve done pretty well. We hope you can now enjoy many happy trips away in her. Best wishes, Helen & Dave 👍
I’m hoping to buy a cheap caravan next Spring (being a window and so on my own now). Reading your experience makes me wonder if I should buy from a dealer with a warranty knowing it’ll probably be a couple of grand more! 🤔
@@barbsdee3831 Do yourself a favour and use a reputable dealer. Yes, they do add on a little more but you know that you are getting a decent caravan with a warranty.
I really do wish that people would stop calling this 85% thing a rule. It isn't a rule it is guidance. My vehicle is legally allowed to tow 3500kg but only weighs around 2250kg which is way beyond this 85% "rule". I wouldn't recommend a total beginner to tow at that ratio until they have a bit of experience or at least done a lot of research.
Technically you're correct but the 'Rule' which is what the RAC, Practical Caravan and many other reputable sources call it, is there for the very reason you have put in the 2nd part of your comment. Maybe they should call it a 'rule of thumb'. I wouldn't advise anyone to tow outside of the 85% 'rule of thumb' even if their vehicle is legally allowed to.
Great video Dave. We'd like to dive in on the storage question as being ripped off by some is easy done. We had our caravan at a Caravan and Motorhome Club Site which was CASSOA Gold, had limited access and very lax security which in County Durham is best part of £600 a year. We swapped to a CASSOA Platinum site a few miles away, security is fantastic, fob, camera and lock coded access. It's like having the caravan in a bank vault and it's over £200 a year cheaper. Buyer beware, do the homework and don't think the clubs are gonna be doing the best deals. Storage with a registered company to the best standard does make a difference to caravan insurance and for us it was cheaper than keeping the caravan at home but a lot less convenient.
Hi there Alan & Ali, hope you're both well. Very interesting and something that doesn't surprise me at all but non the less is still very alarming and a massive saving with CASSOA storage site. Agree also on your advice ref clubs. We found that out when purchasing insurance through one of them in the past. We do like the convenience of the van being outside of the door. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
Hi Cameron, I think that's the big watch out when buying a caravan, especially if it's a new one. You will have to fork out more for what you might think would come as standard so it needs to be budgeted for. Hope you're well and thanks as always for watching. Cheers, Helen & Dave
Was trying to sell mine last week to buy something newer had a cheeky pig came to see it wanted 2k off the price pulled out a damp meter said had damp when i said no kept pestering me with messages wouldnt take no for an answer why was he so desparate to buy if was damp so is blocked now some people have a nerve got weekend away booked next month for prestwick hp and silverdyke hp anstruther both are excellent sites with friendly helpfull staff am a regular at both
Prestwick has a pub and restaurant food is good prices are reasonable if going just follow signs for the airport and you cant miss it last planes good for planespotting too are at 8 pm is a signpost at main gate and is only a short walk to the beach ask for pitch in front of the mansionhouse or in courtyard at toilet areaif going both sites are all owner only they dont hire out and are clean and tidy silverdyke doesnt have anything its only a short walk to the nearest pub
Great advice as always. We pay around £600 per year, split into 6 month payments. One thing to watch with storage is access times to get your caravan in & out of storage, some storage places we looked at were quite restrictive which would add complication when planning trips (e.g. not before 8:00am and back by dusk! - early in winter times) we have 24hrs access. Keep it up Dave.
Hi Brian, very good point and something that needs to be considered. Storage prices seem to vary so much, I suppose supply and demand in a given area and also the security that's in place too. Thanks for sharing and stay tuned. ATB, Helen & Dave
Good video.
When we decided we would like to consider caravanning, the first thing we did was to decide on a budget, and that had to include a car as our existing one was not suitable - it's very easy to get swept away in the excitement of it all and overspend if you are not careful - layout of the caravan was very important to us as well.
Then we researched storage, ( inc if we could keep it at home) insurance and security, servicing costs.
What would we need to spend on items for the caravan ( aqua roll, waste master etc).
We also decided to get a Sat Nav in which we could put the dimensions of the car and caravan, therefore ensuring that we don't end up going down unsuitable roads.
Until I towed the caravan the 85 miles from the dealers back home, I had never towed anything before - I did do a Caravan and motorhome club caravan driving course first which was invaluable.
For our first trip, we decided to stay very local for a weekend, at a site we know, and on roads that I'm familiar with - not far from home so if we had any issues, or even forgotten something, we could easily get back.
Things we've discovered since owning the caravan:
It's very easy to take far too much stuff with you, and we have now pared it right down.
Channels like yours and some caravan forums are fantastic for ideas and suggestions for all things caravan related.
Everywhere we've been, folk have been very friendly, and will always help others if they get in a pickle.
We love it!!
Steve n Jeanette
Hi Steve & Jeanette, fantastic comment and it sounds like you really did your homework first which is so important. Helen attended a CAMC towing course and also found it invaluable and was able to share information with me which I didn't know nor had never considered. Thanks for sharing this and also for watching the channel, we appreciate it very much. Happy travels, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave Thanks both - the other thing I forgot to mention was weighing up whether to go campervan/motorhome or caravan - it made much more sense to us to go the caravan route as we do like to explore a bit and find it far more convenient with a car.
Also, at the start I wasn't all that keen really - we've always had holidays abroad in the past and I thought it might be a bit restrictive for my liking, but now we are doing it I really love it and like others, only regret not doing it a bit earlier.
We've had our calamities too ( only been doing it for 18 months), but that has not dampened the enthusiasm.
Keep up the videos, we love them, and give Bella a big hug from us both.
Perhaps we'll see you on the road sometime.
Steve n Jeanette
@@steve1962 Hi Steve and Jeanette, very much like us, lot's of holidaying abroad before this but now we stay home but just holiday all of the time ha ha. See you on the road, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave & Helen.
We bought ours from Dereham after you visited Greentrees. And as I mentioned in that video you posted. We did exactly what you suggested. Slept on it for the weekend. Went back and haggled and got about £500 of extras. Cost us 19k for 2019 6 birth. We've had it just over two weeks and been to thetford forest. 5 nights in Sandringham after your recommendations and 3 nights off grid in Bisley surry at a Hotrods weekend. I discovered there that we had not hot water. They sent an engineer out to my home near Dereham and there fitting a new thuma heater. So our 6 month warranty is great. I told Neil the boss at Greentrees and Harry our salesman that we watch you channel and boughy the caravan we saw in your video when you visited them. Hopefully if you go back they might look after you. Thanks for your videos I like every one. And my girlfriend and I have learnt so much from you. Hope to see you both on site one day. I'll get a sticker from you then. All the best mate. Dave & Charlotte x
Hi Dave & Charlotte, delighted that you watch the channel and thanks so much for your support. I think you're the 3rd person to buy a caravan off of the back of our video. It's great that they sorted your hot water and it sounds like you're getting plenty of trips under your belt, which is great because that's when you find any issues. Stay tuned and thanks again. Helen & Dave
I bought new, smallish and light for easy towing. I didnt know tourers could be stored at a site and towed onto a pitch for you. Had i known this i would have bought older, larger and cheaper until i had more experience of caravan life. We use ours mostly to be near grandchildren on the south coast.
It’s a case of whatever works best for you we think and most importantly what you feel comfortable and confident with. Thanks for sharing. Stay tuned! Helen & Dave 👍
Good advice
Thanks Paul, appreciate you watching and leaving a comment. Helen & Dave 👍
Great advice Dave. We can always rely on you. Pity we’re so impulsive, but always learning as we go. 👍🤣😂
Hi Lesley, thank you. I know, we never learn 😂 Hope you’re feeling better. Cheers, Helen & Dave 👍
Some good advice.. I can't believe the storage prices people are paying generally over £600. When we moved top of the list was driven/lawn to store caravan on. So moving 5 years ago I have saved £3000 so far😊
Hi Victor, agree, the rates seem to vary dramatically. Well done you though because these prices do really inflate the annual Caravanning costs. Thanks for watching. Helen & Dave 👍
Great selection of advice Dave. We also made the mistake of a wrong layout recently and will be rectifying that next week at a cost which could have been avoided if we had thought a bit more and walked away.
Thanks as always for the videos.
David & Rachel (Colchester) - £650 annual Platinum Secure Storage.
Hi David & Rachel, always good to hear from you and hope you're both keeping well. I think we all get carried away in the moment as it were. I suspect, based on your previous comments/messages your storage has passed David's security tests lol. Thanks as always, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave I couldn't possible comment Dave 😂
Currently digging a moat and draw bridge just to be on the safe side 😉
Hi there Dave, Lots of sound advice there 👍 for new comers to the touring world. As you say mistakes can be made by not doing research first. It’s good to visit shows and see the different layouts to decide which will work best for you… All the best, Rob & Gail 😀
Hi Rob & Gail, hope you’re both well and like us you’re probably holding out for some decent weather. Good idea to get along to shows/dealers or even get online/youtube. I think we’ve learned from past mistakes 🤔🧐 Best wishes, Helen & Dave 👍
Great advice as usual Dave.We have all been guilty of letting the heart rule the head, when making a big purchase. So top tips there mate.
Hi there Andy, thanks. Yep we've got the T Shirt too ha ha. Hope you're well and thanks as always, stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave: Excellent as ever. We store our van on a secure site in Manchester. It has 2 locked gates, CCTV but not CASSOA. If I pay for 12 months in one go it is £800. Slightly more if you pay monthly. That's about the going rate around here if you want to come and go whenever you require. Keep up the good work. Paul & JM.
Thanks very much Paul! Yes the prices vary dramatically from area to area it would seem but you have to look after your pride and joy. Hope you’re well and we always appreciate your support. Take care, Helen & Dave 👍
Good job dave we had our yearly service this year and you seen our van oh no 45% damp rear off side top corner he said because caravan in such good condition for its age which is 2010 I would recommend fix it all good now it was awning rail on off side he had it a week stripped dried put back all good now 😊
Hi John, goes to show how important it is to get a service. Glad you caught it on time, deffo worth getting it fixed. Hope you're well. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
Great advice and definitely know what your tow car can pull. We've got a shogun but still checked the weight of our caravan when we changed it. Layout important. Great video. Xx
Hi Alison & Keith, completely agree, you've got a beast of a tow car there though but non the less, deffo need to be belt & braces! Thanks as always, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave and Helen, yet another great and informative vlog. We bought our caravan from new (Swift Elite twin axle - dealer special). We've been very pleased with it for the last two and a half years. We keep it locally in storage and pay £300 p.a.
Looking forward to many more adventures. Cheers Terry
Hi Terry, thanks as always, lovely van 👍 Great price for storage, well done 👍 Stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Hi Helen and Dave
We store our caravan in attleborough it cost us £350 pounds per year
Great video Kevin and sandie
Hi Kevin & Sandie, that's a very fair price indeed. Thanks for watching, stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Well done Dave a really useful video and great advice it's all too easy to purchase and think later same with cars motorhomes all sorts I have always made a list of what I want what I can afford and tried to go into things the right way sometimes it takes discipline 😂 hope you and Helen are keeping well Daniel
Hi Daniel, I'm getting a bit more like you these days, especially when parting with lot's of hard earned cash. Thanks as always, Helen is still on the drugs and also taking medication ha ha. She's not doing too bad. Hope you're good and thanks for ongoing support. Cheers, Dave
Hi Dave I pay £40 per month storage. It’s a twin axle and I found that lots of places in my area West Yorkshire don’t take twin axles so I was lucky to find somewhere.
Great video
Hi there Ian, thanks for sharing. That seems very reasonable to me especially given the size of your caravan. Thanks for watching, stay tuned. Helen & Dave
Hi David good advice we bought a used caravan last year with a French bed and had the same issues as yourself and we upgraded in February this year to a island bed and what a difference it’s made we both now lie in bed in the morning
We store the caravan in Worcester and we pay £560 per annum but the storage yard is fantastic and great people
When we bought the used caravan we had 12 months warranty
Thanks
Lee
Hi Lee, thanks for sharing this information, interesting read. Overall it sounds like you’ve found a good van, great warranty and reasonable storage. Security and peace of mind are paramount. Thanks again, Helen & Dave 👍
Hi Dave, enjoyed your video, really good tips and advice there for would be caravaners, think we can easily let our heart rule our head at times, thank you for sharing x Julie and Tony x
Hi Julie & Tony, thanks very much. We’ve spent most of our lives being impulsive and letting our hearts take over our brains 😂 Best wishes, Helen & Dave 👍
We did 3yrs of “thinking of getting a caravan” and 6 months of “getting a caravan”. We did have a caravan over 10yrs ago, but a lot has changed since. First thing we did was buy a note book. We put together a list of must haves and likes to have. This note book also had a shopping list of bits we needed. In the must have list, it had “must fit on the drive” so I did a scaled drawing of the drive and a scaled drawing of a caravan that you could fold out for different sized caravans, as a visual.
We had our budget and started to look at caravans online. Which is a bit of a mine field! We had 3 caravans in mind, so we held out for the October NEC show, we had waited 3yrs, what’s another 5months. We went to the show and didn’t like any of the caravans we had in mind, but did find another that we did, but this was just over our budget and only just, but we agreed prior, that we wouldn’t go a penny over! So unfortunately we walked away from the show with nothing. The NEC is a 5hr drive and we wasn’t going to settle, as it had taken all that time to get to and back from the show. But we had a more detailed caravan in mind now, a new one being out of budget then lead us down the second hand route, the day after the NEC visit, my father in-law (seasoned caravaner and joined us at the show) found a caravan an hours drive away well below budget and 2yrs old and hardly used. We are now the caravans new owners!! It’s worth going over kill on the planning and research as it could save a lot of money.
Hi Martin, many thanks indeed, an interesting read but sometimes we think things happen for a reason and also patience is a virtue. Great planning too. Cheers, Helen & Dave 👍
Great video Dave, really informative.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks Pam
Fantastic information Dave and very helpfull reguardless of wether it is first or tenth caravan. One thing I would add is check that the type of site you like allows the type of caravan you want, my favorite site does not allow twin axle or fith wheels and sign written vehicles ( for you business owners)
Hi Aaron, thanks for watching and leaving a comment. A great point that you make. You may be limiting the number of options available with a big unit and indeed with sign written vehicles. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
Much as we wish we had a drive big enough we are very lucky with our storage. It's about six miles away and stores about 40 vans behind the house of a lovely retired couple who are ex caravaners. For £300 per year we get unlimited access, our own key and they even provide several electrical hookups so we can put the fridge on the night before we go away, there's caravan washing facilities and even a customer toilet!
Our biggest mistake with our first caravan was buying a two birth! Within a year it was swapped for a four birth with a proper bed. This is probably quite a common mistake.
Best bit of advice we'd give anyone is just use it and enjoy it!😊
Hi Cas, what a result on the storage, superb! Completely agree, as you know we are out as much as we can be, holidays abroad are a thing of the past, so many wonderful places to see in the UK. Best wishes and stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Amazing storage price. what part of the country is this please? I am looking for storage in Yorkshire.
@@castlequay2327 yes we're very lucky. We live in north Cumbria. I hope you find some good storage, it does seem quite hard to come by.
As always, great vid - layout layout layout
Thanks Chris, agree whole heartedly with you! Stay tuned, cheers Helen & Dave 👍
Good advice indeed. Just to add our storage is £280 for 12 months at Skegness Storage (find it easier to visit the coast without putting extra stress on the tow car) however we are looking at moving to Peterborough to be more easier to get to Norfolk and seen storage around the same cost (gold cossoa too) so there are some fair priced storage out there if people are willing to shop around.
Loving the videos still and thank you!
Hi John, that’s very good value storage costs and to find similar in Peterborough is also really good. Prices seem to vary so much around the country. Thanks for watching and supporting us, it means a lot. Cheers, Helen & Dave 👍
@@HelenandDave we just seem to get a little luck after hours of trawling the Internet but would rather keep it close so we can keep our eye on it but Hey ho! Thanks again and always look forward to the fresh uploads from you. We wish the 3 of you all the best especially with Helen at the moment 👍💙
@@johncbroughton thank you very much John 👍
We brought ours back in November but went for an older one just to see if we like it didn’t want to spend 15k-20k and it was just a phase 😅 so far we love it. Don’t for get to look at break weight for the tow car as well. We pay £800 year for a platinum storage yard not a cheap old game thou this caravanning we probably spent other £1500 getting other bits awning etc great video keep up the good work 👍
Hi, good to hear from you again and thanks for sharing your own experiences. The price of storage seems to vary a lot but then there's storage and there's STORAGE! I think you know quite soon if caravanning is for you or not and if you're still doing it after two years we reckon you're caravaners for life! Stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Bought our van February, £11995, 18 months warranty, storage under cover £540 .
Thanks for sharing Geoff, storage under cover price seems about right. So many variations across the country though. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
Very good advice given, i hope it helps others, like you we have made similar mistakes in the past👍
Thanks very much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. Appreciated, Helen & Dave
Hello Dave, great video, I totally agree with you, don’t let your heart rule your head, and sleep on it is the right thing to do, I would say tow car is the most important things, we had a vw golf diesel at first but once we started to fill the caravan it struggled to go uphill, then a Mercedes 220 diesel witch was prefect but started to have mechanical problems, mainly oil leaks, then with the help from yourself we now have a Kia shortage diesel that tows a dream, so like I said really think about your tow car, cheers Dave until your next video, 👍👍.
Hi Buster Boy, interesting read, thanks for your comment. It can be challenging and the tow car is so important. Pleased you’re happy with the Kia, we’ve been very pleased with it as you know and keep putting off changing it because it’s been so good. Happy travels, stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
Hello Dave, just wondering if you know if there is a certain type of tyre you should fit to your tow car ?, 👍.
Nicely done Dave 👍
Thanks Andy, appreciate it very much. Cheers, Dave
Very sound advice 👍
Glad you think so and appreciate you watching and leaving a comment, Cheers, Helen & Dave
Another great vlog with more good advice we're over here in North Shropshire our storage costs for a very good cassoa gold site are £240 per year so very good value we're coming to Deers Glade again in August for the carnival can't wait for the fun to begin
Hi there Andrew, always good to hear from you. Great deal on the storage, well done. Deers Glade is a wonderful site, hope the weather is kind to you when you get here. Take care, Helen & Dave
Brilliant video we currently are paying £800 per year but we want a caravan no space to keep it so storage is the only way for us
Hi Paul, many thanks for watching and sharing your info. Storage costs do seem to vary so much from around £350 upto £2000 is what has been shared so far. I suppose it depends where you live and what availability plus security these sites have in place. Thanks again, stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Brilliant video!
Thank you Jackie 👍
Hi guys... great video and very informative as always... we pay storage at Bridlington CAMC site just round the corner from us which is CASsOA and it's £540 per year... can't store at home because of the deeds 😊... cheers Dave and Jane 👍
Hi Dave & Jane, hope you're both well, your storage costs seem reasonable to me. Never been to the Bridlington CAMC site but we want to get back to Yorkshire before too long so will check it out. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
We made sure that our missives allowed parking a caravan on the drive. We used to store on camp but would no longer have that option. We went through 8 caravans and changed every three years or so. We settled on a Bessacarr 495 two birth kept that for 10 yrs and got one with a big motor mover 😉😉 Bought 2 new caravans, never again. PDI was a waste of time and the van very quickly was falling apart. One new car never again, it was the cost of depreciation and servicing by dealer. We will not even look at a new Motorhome. All good advice, which to be honest we ignored this but we only slapped a Deposit on Desmond then went away to think about it. All great advice Dave thanks for passing your tips on. We both agree it is the best thing we have done and enjoy it to this day nearly 40 yrs on.
Hi Dave & Lindsay, seasoned professionals! almost full timers! Thanks for sharing your own experiences, like you we don't do new anymore and yes we've been impulsive but also we've been lucky. Deffo the best thing we've done too and in your case 40 years of caravanning/motorhoming id all the proof you need. Fantastic! Take care, Helen & Dave
We bought our first caravan last year from a dealer. 2017 Bailey and we got a 3 year warranty including water ingress. We purposefully store it about an hours drive from us; Partly due to local storage costs which were extortionate and also easier access to places we want to go. We have it stored in a gold CASSOA site, which appears to be good.£600 a year.
Hi Peter, thanks for commenting. Lovely caravan you have there and a good warranty too. It does seem that storage costs vary wildly but the main thing is that you have peace of mind in terms of secure storage. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
We bought our first caravan just over a month ago from Highbridge, it came with a six-month warranty. We are paying £45 per month for storage in Berkshire.
Thanks for watching and sharing this info. Warranty and storage costs seem to vary an awful little bit but £45 a month seems good value. We hope you’re enjoying your caravan. A bit if decent weather will improve the experience so much more. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
Great advice Dave and totally get the know your weights and not just your kerb weight as my 2year old Toyota Rav 4 plug in hybrid weighs 2000kgs but as it’s a Hybrid the maximum tow weight capacity is a mere 1500kgs, certainly shocked and limited our first caravan purchase…. Ours was 5 years old and from a local dealer, would have come with 6 months warranty but we extended this to 2years for not a huge amount of money really, gives a bit of peace of mind. Great tips and advice Tris and Nikki
Thanks Tris & Nikki, hope you're all well. Yes, bang on, getting know the weights is so important and so easily ignored because it can be confusing. Hadn't considered the Hybrids and battery weight, great point. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave same just thought I’d be able to tow up to 85% of 2000kg and well I was gob smacked hey ho will get a better tow car when we change it….but hybrids and electric cars are the modern thing now…they will need to up the game in towing capacity weights soon 😀😀
@@tristanmorgan8407 Reckon you're right, I think hey are trying to make the caravans lighter and lighter too. Cheers, H&D.
Hi Dave and Helen,
Fantastic vlog and very helpful,
We have had 4 vans in 16 yrs but this has been our choice with family and kids but always enjoyed every one 😊.
We are loving our latest van a 4 berth but just for us two with a fixed bed lovely.
The sleep on it theory is great unless you go back the next day and it's gone 😢, but we always say then it was not meant to be.
Our current storage fees are £550 for a gold cossoa site 😢.
We have booked Incleboro for September, wondering if we could call in for a van clean 😂.
Take care and enjoy your next trip away.
Paul and Joanne 👍 😊
Hi Paul & Joanne, great to hear from you as always. A new van every 4 years is good going lol but get where you're coming from and clearly you're both still loving the experience. We reckon if you get 2 years under your belt you're probably caravanning for life! Drop by and I'll run the chamois over it when you come to Norfolk lol. Take care and thanks. Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave
Thanks, we'll message you nearer the time, I'll fetch the sponge lol,
Great sense of humour you have and appreciate the comments. 😁
P and J ❤️
@@Meggy6571 no probs, safe travels and fingers crossed for good weather when you get here. Cheers, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave
👍😊
Hi Dave, we keep ours in a CaSSOA gold standard site, cost is £240 per 6 months. We are based in Bolton area
Great channel by the way, very informative.
Hi Phil, thanks for watching and the lovely feedback, we appreciate it. Storage costs seem very reasonable indeed, well done. Stay tuned, Helen & Dave 👍
I agree, it's security is second to none and there is a security guard and owner lives on site too. Think we've been really lucky finding this. We are newbies, having only bought the caravan in March.
Keep up the good work 👍
Good video DAVE👍
Cheers Ronnie, much appreciated 👍
We pay special offer £45 per month then in December it will increase to £90, Dorset area, Gold CASSOA. We were quoted nearly 2k at another that isn't CASSOA rated.
Hi Claire, thanks for sharing this info. Storage does seem to vary so much in price. Initial offer seems very good indeed but the £2k sounds very excessive. Appreciate you watching and sharing. Take care, Helen & Dave
We're in our 4th year of caravanning. Our set up is OK, but would like to change if we can
Thanks for watching. Some lovely caravans out there and some good deals too. We think it pays to shop around and if you ask you might be surprised what you can negotiate too. Good luck, Helen & Dave 👍
Good information there Dave. Just to add just some of the observations from my own experiences:
I would say that kerb weights and the 85% guidance is a bit of a mess, especially when looking at insurance, there is little common agreement as I can vouch for from my own experience. 🙁
My advice is always read the small print in insurance ( including looking for changes at renewal time☹️☹️☹️) and warranty documents and use a credit card to pay a deposit, as along with taking out finance there is a level of protection available should there be issues getting warranty work done, or the dealer goes bust. Also, the selling dealer is also the only one who is obliged to do warranty work, very unlike it is with car main dealers.
Ultimately, caravanning is - and is meant to be enjoyable, avoiding some of the pitfalls from the outset can help ensure it stays that way.
Hi Mel, thanks for sharing this invaluable added info. very helpful and appreciated. Small print, is small for a reason I reckon but again, if you're signing agreements of any kind you really need to be sure you understand what you're signing. Like you we love it, even when it's wet, windy, muddy, toilet cassette red light comes on at midnight, EHU trips when you put the kettle on, drivers cut you up on the road and when you cannot resist the urge to keep buying needless accessories ha ha ha ha. Stay tuned, see you soon. Helen & Dave
Prior to getting a caravan last year we had a folding camper for 3yrs which we loved. Apart from weather watching when packing away! However we could store it on our driveway. I decided to get a caravan so we could go away more of the year and have a bit more space. First year storage was £650 in Hampshire/Berkshire area. I had to get a new storage site, which is now £400 per year.
Love the ease of going away on the caravan as I can set up on my own.
Anthony
Hi Anthony, many thanks for watching and leaving a comment. £400 seems much more reasonable to me. Glad you’re enjoying your new caravan and we hope you have many fun adventures. Cheers, Helen and Dave 👍
@HelenandDave We do love it and I'm always planning weekend or long trips away in the caravan!!
@@anthonyregan5008 well done 👍 you
Perfect down to earth,
Thanks a lot Jim, always appreciated, Helen & Dave
Hi D & H, some great information there, a couple I didn't follow out, however I've been very lucky.
We pay £40 a month for secure storage, which just happens to be our favourite site, personally we don't go for club houses or shower blocks, we tend to like small, quiet sites, ours is about half way between Canterbury and Folkestone, great stop over point for going to or coming from both, channel crossings, and then there's always the cost at £22 p/n including hook up, all the best, and safe travels, Neil
Hi Neil, always good to hear from you. Sounds like you have a good price for storage compared with some and being on your favourite site is a real bonus especially at £22pn. Thanks for sharing, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave you're welcome to join me any bank holiday,
Sleep on it dave😂try and tell my mrs that joking aside great informative video by the way we stayed at the grange a couple of weeks ago fantastic food and drove past your house would’ve stopped if I’d seen you all the best martin
Hi Martin, it must be a female thing, Helen is just the same. Hope you had a good stay at the Grange, weather is up and down and makes such a difference. Would have put the kettle on if I had known lol. Take care, Helen & Dave
Great advise in this vlog 👍
Glad you think so Steve, thanks as always for watching and your comment. Cheers, Helen & Dave
First consideration for me, as a dog owner, is a stable type door.
Eliminates lots of brands straight away
That's true but a really important consideration. Our Bailey had a stable door and it was great for the dogs. Cheers, Helen & Dave
We pay £470 per year storage for a 7.5 metre caravan. We bought a 2011 sterling Eccles Quartz 4 berth fixed island bed, second hand, we were like you and didn't know whether we would like it and didn't want to splash much cash, on what was our first caravan. It came with a full one year warranty from the dealer. It has developed water ingress after circa 10 months over the winter, which we found on our first outing this year. No worries said the dealer, took it in and is sealing it and repairing water damage as we speak ( leakage from awning rail fixing area from original construction ) and the repair comes with a year's warranty as well. The caravan originally came with a motor mover, solar panel and a starter kit with water, waste barrels and an inflatable awning.
Interesting read Steve and thanks for sharing. That sounds like the sort of dealer we all need, great service there! Deffo advantages for picking up used, especially when you can get all of the kit in the price too. Take care, Helen & Dave
We bought a new Bailey Unicorn Madrid last week. The most noticeable thing for me was there was no new caravan smell like you get in a new car, the seats weren't covered in plastic sheet, nor the carpets, it never seemed like it was brand new and to top it all off the PDI man scuffed our wheels when doing the torque-up.
I lost £4K in value in a year of owning the previous one so wasn't happy about that especially as it was spotless.
No battery was included nor gas bottle but they did swap over our old battery and motor mover which they also refurbished.
We intend to keep this caravan for a long time :D
Just started a new channel: Caravan Hepcats, first video is rubbish but it'll get better...hopefully. Take care both :)
Just subbed to your channel, needed to put a face to a name lol. Thanks for sharing your own experience, very interesting in terms of how new is new and what you actually get for your money. Even our first second hand caravan came with only a battery from the dealer. PDI man is in the wrong job!! Thanks as always and good luck with the channel. Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave Thanks for the sub, much appreciated, I try to keep my face out of it, I'm not as photogenic as you both :)
@@HepcatHarley Nice legs though (on the caravan I mean lol). Take care, H&D
You see so many people saying just tow and go in their ads how many folk jump in and buy without doing some research about weights etc police wont accept that as an excuse would be costly
Spot on Cameron! There's a lot to think about and you need to do your homework because can go very badly wrong. Thanks for watching, stay tuned! Helen & Dave
Somebody said in an ad their roof was cracked above the window but they had been told this can be fixed with a fibreglass patch i dont think thats quite true as far as i know roof repairs are quite tricky and require removal of the roof section inside and out
I bought a sodastream to take to the cvan site you get 60 litres out the syrup and gas its cheaper than buying cans as most site shops are quite expensive with cans of coke etc mention this in your next video to make other caravanners aware of this thanks
I’ve seen people say this on Facebook groups for new owners, don’t worry about that. We just ignore it!
We pay £500 per year for covered storage in Gloucestershire
Thanks for sharing, sounds like an average price for storage but some are extortionate. Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDavemy niece lives in Stoke pays £700 per year for the same thing. We’ve got a 2010 Lunar Clubman so are anxious about damp throughout the year.
While talking of weights etc. GTW is very important! Possibly more so than mptlm. Deduct the weight of the car from the gross train weight and that is the max caravan weight you can tow. It can be less than the mptlm or whatever the arrangement of letters is?
Hi David, thanks for sharing, hadn't heard of this before but one I'll look into. Yeah, I get confused with all of the acronyms lol. ATB, stay tuned, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave. Great video. However I would add one more. You should make sure you have the correct Driving License. Anyone who passed their test after 1998 will not have a towing entitlement. That’s B+E. You can tow but only up to a maximum of 750kg. So you may have to pass another driving test. Worth considering. My wife says that she loves your parrot. 👍
Hi Rob, You will find the law changed on this a couple of years ago, mainly because test centres were getting clogged up and they needed to get HGV drivers through tests, and we are now back to not having to do a towing test, licence entitlements are automatically changed and get physically updated as and when a licence is renewed. As a result our daughter is now allowed to tow her horse trailer with our previous caravan tow car without doing the test. While it saves me doing the towing, I still am allowed to fill it with diesel etc etc apparently
Hi Rob, thanks for watching and glad your wife likes Co-Co, he talks more than Helen and makes even more mess lol. I thought the law changed again in 2021 to allow anyone with a normal licence to tow a caravan. Just found the below on Auto Trader website
'With the latest changes announced by the DVLA, you’ll be allowed to tow trailers weighing up to 3,500 kg MAM from autumn 2021 onwards. Category BE, which allows you to drive any vehicle towing a trailer and weighing up to 3,500 kg MAM, will be automatically added when you get a new driving licence'.
Pretty annoying for all of those who had been on courses and sat a test prior to this. Cheers, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave Hi guys. Co-Co looks gorgeous. He can’t be as messy as our children Lol.
I wasn’t aware of that law change, as a Class 1 HGV driver I probably should have been. I’m glad you know it though. Cheers
@@robwallace266 Cheers Rob, I'm not sure that many people are aware of tbh. A bit like many of the new Highway Code changes, apparently we have to give way to push bikes and pedestrians, now where's the fun in that lol. Take care and thanks as always. Cheers, Helen & Dave
Hi Dave, towards the end you touched on the per night cost, perhaps while travel is more difficult another chat video subject could be the comparative cost of a long weekend? In round numbers since September last year Taylor (Swift 580) has saved us £900 - £1100 in Hotel bills, something like £75 - £80 per night in restaurant bills. Breakfast and lunch is arguable depending on your preferences, but at least a meal deal?
Perhaps you could do a 3 way comparison? Helen could do a weekend in a lovely Spa Hotel with meals, Champagne and treatments, while you do a spit and sawdust B+B, compared to nice moderate weekend in the 'van? I'm sure Helen would be game for that? 🤣🤣🤣
Loved the first part to your comment but Helen needs no encouragement when it comes to spending money lol. Must say though, we are due to go to a family wedding soon. Everyone is booked into a hotel, we are taking the caravan, nuff said. Hope you're well and thanks as always for your contribution. Helen is on the phone to The Ritz!!!!! Cheers, Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave The Ritz is over priced, try Champneys, much better value for a Spa. Caz is the same as Helen, loves Michellin stars, me? Well I'm a Ginsters and a Pint sort of bloke, looking for my dinner under a few micro greens is not for me!
I bought second user last year from a dealer. I got 6 months warranty.
My storage. Cost is £390 a year.
Hi Paul, double win there, thanks for sharing. £390 seems very reasonable compared with many. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
We made the mistake of buying the first caravan we saw. Being that we rarely socialise it was hard for us to go and look in the first place, but we managed to find the place and he had set it up for us to take a look at. At first glance it looked clean and tidy although the fire had been clearly taken apart and had not been put back completely. Then there was the tap on the sink; it leaked badly but he said it was an easy fix. We had a quick look at the bathroom, again it was clean and tidy so we did not take too much time in it. What we had failed to notice was that he had covered the shower basin cleverly using a white, rubber mat. Under which, I might add was a gaping hole where the plug hole should have been! He said that he had hardly used the bathroom as he always used those on site instead. Then came the motor movers or lack thereof; this wasn't a deal breaker for us but we should have made sure he supplied them as he had removed them because they made a noise - apparently. I think he just wanted to make more money selling the whole kit and caboodle. He showed us the TV working and radio, then made the bed quickly in order to show how experienced he was using his caravan. With all the negative things about it, the interior was relatively clean apart from the roof vents that he had screwed into place, because the brackets had broken, no doubt because of age/heavy handedness. I could see that my wife was happy with it, so I asked him the lowest he would take £4250, and with a little pushing I managed £4k cash. The Elddis Avante 2006 we have is now mostly done. It has taken a further £600's to put most things right and I am in the process of painting a motor mover that we bought from Ebay, before I fit it. All in all it has been one heck of an experience for us and knowing what I now know, I would have given this a wide berth as the owner was just out to make some money from unsuspecting muppets - like us. We have seen similar caravans going for less in excellent condition, which kinda pisses me off really, but the outside is almost unmarked - thankfully, and my polishing skills have not been wasted, as she now sits shining like a diamond, all ready for the road. A great many man/woman hours have gone into refurbishing it, and rather selling it off, we are resolved to using it for this year at least.
Hi there Dave, many thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like you’ve had your hands full but you’ve persevered and ready to roll at last. There are some unscrupulous sellers out there, private and dealers who don’t have a conscience. On the plus side if you’ve managed to get your caravan serviceable for £600 then you’ve done pretty well. We hope you can now enjoy many happy trips away in her. Best wishes, Helen & Dave 👍
I’m hoping to buy a cheap caravan next Spring (being a window and so on my own now). Reading your experience makes me wonder if I should buy from a dealer with a warranty knowing it’ll probably be a couple of grand more! 🤔
@@barbsdee3831 Do yourself a favour and use a reputable dealer. Yes, they do add on a little more but you know that you are getting a decent caravan with a warranty.
We pay £840 for storage , last year we bought a 2015 Bailey and we got a year's warranty from a dealer
Hi Rusty, thanks for sharing! 12 months warranty is good. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
North Wales £500 p.a, indoors. Excellent security.
Hi Karen, thanks for sharing. £500 seems reasonable for indoor, secure storage. ATB, Helen & Dave 👍
what app do you use for the car towing on the map ?
Hi Colin, it's called Travel Boast.
Hello just bought a 2014 Swift challenger 580 from dealer and got 6 months warranty
Hi Colin, hope you’re enjoying your 580, thanks for confirming 6 months warranty. Cheers, Helen & Dave 👍
Looking for a 750kg MTPLM outfit. Single beds and Washroom. That limits our choice. (Great vids btw)
Thanks for watching Chris, there’s always plenty of caravans for sale and we hope you find a nice one! Stay tuned! Helen and Dave 👍
60 pounds a month. For our storage site.
Hi Craig, thanks for sharing that. Fees seem to vary quite a bit. Someone saying they have been quoted £2k a year!. ATB, Helen & Dave
We got a two year warranty on our second hand van from Raymond James Caravans
Hi Paul & Jo, well done, that’s a fab result to get two years warranty and peace of mind. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
I really do wish that people would stop calling this 85% thing a rule. It isn't a rule it is guidance. My vehicle is legally allowed to tow 3500kg but only weighs around 2250kg which is way beyond this 85% "rule". I wouldn't recommend a total beginner to tow at that ratio until they have a bit of experience or at least done a lot of research.
Technically you're correct but the 'Rule' which is what the RAC, Practical Caravan and many other reputable sources call it, is there for the very reason you have put in the 2nd part of your comment. Maybe they should call it a 'rule of thumb'. I wouldn't advise anyone to tow outside of the 85% 'rule of thumb' even if their vehicle is legally allowed to.
Great video Dave. We'd like to dive in on the storage question as being ripped off by some is easy done. We had our caravan at a Caravan and Motorhome Club Site which was CASSOA Gold, had limited access and very lax security which in County Durham is best part of £600 a year. We swapped to a CASSOA Platinum site a few miles away, security is fantastic, fob, camera and lock coded access. It's like having the caravan in a bank vault and it's over £200 a year cheaper. Buyer beware, do the homework and don't think the clubs are gonna be doing the best deals. Storage with a registered company to the best standard does make a difference to caravan insurance and for us it was cheaper than keeping the caravan at home but a lot less convenient.
Hi there Alan & Ali, hope you're both well. Very interesting and something that doesn't surprise me at all but non the less is still very alarming and a massive saving with CASSOA storage site. Agree also on your advice ref clubs. We found that out when purchasing insurance through one of them in the past. We do like the convenience of the van being outside of the door. Best wishes, Helen & Dave
Hi dave Most cvan dealers around here wont give you anything for free you dont even get a gas bottle with a new van which i think is ridiculous
Hi Cameron, I think that's the big watch out when buying a caravan, especially if it's a new one. You will have to fork out more for what you might think would come as standard so it needs to be budgeted for. Hope you're well and thanks as always for watching. Cheers, Helen & Dave
Was trying to sell mine last week to buy something newer had a cheeky pig came to see it wanted 2k off the price pulled out a damp meter said had damp when i said no kept pestering me with messages wouldnt take no for an answer why was he so desparate to buy if was damp so is blocked now some people have a nerve got weekend away booked next month for prestwick hp and silverdyke hp anstruther both are excellent sites with friendly helpfull staff am a regular at both
@@cameronstevenson7138 some people just try it on don’t they!! Will check out both sites, thanks. Helen & Dave 👍
Prestwick has a pub and restaurant food is good prices are reasonable if going just follow signs for the airport and you cant miss it last planes good for planespotting too are at 8 pm is a signpost at main gate and is only a short walk to the beach ask for pitch in front of the mansionhouse or in courtyard at toilet areaif going both sites are all owner only they dont hire out and are clean and tidy silverdyke doesnt have anything its only a short walk to the nearest pub
@@cameronstevenson7138 Brilliant Cameron, that sounds right up my street. Love the planes as you know. Enjoy your Sunday. Helen & Dave 👍
Current storage cost in Cassoa Gold facility £500pa
Thanks Clive, that seems a very fair price. Cheers, Helen & Dave
Nearly 800 and that's on a secure club site
Hi Lynda, that's more than I had imagined, think we paid around £400 but that was some time back. Take care, Helen & Dave