Me and the Mrs bought a caravan !!!

its a twin axle Swift Conqueror 580 with a Mass in Running Order weight: 1339 kgs.
We've got a TD4 2.2 SE. any hints and tips on towing as I've never done it before (well apart from my 4 foot trailer)

Cant wait !!

Hi,

Well 3 months ago, we were you Thought at the time it would be the best thing we'd ever done......or the worst!

As it happens it was most definitely the former, and we're sure the same will apply for you! Its a new experience and a change of lifestyle in many ways, made all the better by the people you meet at the sites, both wardens and fellow campers.

As for towing, I was a 'virgin' too, somewhat thrown in at the deep end travelling to some selected sites with narrow bridges, tight bends, and a few more challenges.....just take it steady and all will be fine! The towing for me has just become part of the fun.

Enjoy your van, and as we do now.....decide to holiday at the drop of the hat! Kola is the big solid black German Shepherd, Dobbie is.......a breed you've never heard of......yet;)

Enjoy and feel free to ask anything that might puzzle you  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Thanks chaps, we know absolutely nothing about this caravan malarkey...but we both looking forward to it.

We tow with a van max weight of 1450kg. No problem at all. Have just returned from a trip to Norway via Denmark & Sweden. Door to door 2,900 miles and 34 nights in the van. The Freelander did not miss a beat - still on original clutch too.  10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

wiggy is your Freelander manual or auto, if its a manual like mine they don't like reversing with van on the back it's just too high a gear for it,you end up riding the clutch to keep the speed down then you get the burning smell,that why its best to have a motor mover fitted to the van. I tow max weight of 1675kg. Before owning the FL2 I never kept a car for more than 2 years. I've had mine now coming up to 5 years in Nov best tow car to date. (a part from reversing)

We've got manual, I'm crap at reversing so I'll get the Mrs to push the caravan!

Not done it myself, but have a look in to

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/expert-advice...ng-courses Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Try putting it into grass/gravel/snow mode when reversing with the van on it feels like i didn't have to slip the clutch as much

Welcome to the club! You'll find your van is easier to reverse than your diddy trailer. The bigger the better 'cos you can see it so much better in your mirrors. Get yourself some good towing mirrors - I like Milenco Grand Aero.

Don't worry about towing - it's a lot easier than folk make out. Just take it easy, remember the lower speed limits and no third lane on motorways.

Don't forget - if you see a tractor coming up behind you make sure you move out in the lane and slow down  Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

npinks wrote:

Enjoy and feel free to ask anything that might puzzle you

Where's the best place for a service Nick??  2013 Dynamic Santorini black
2011 XS Lago grey
2007 HLS Stornoway grey
sometimes towing an Elldis AVANTE 574.

If you find anywhere for servicing recommended around the Birmingham area let me know (I have been warned off Guy Salmon Coventry- where I bought the car from).
I have had my manual for 2 months now and pull a caravan and it is almost as if it is not there. Completely different to the CRV I had previously.
You will soon pick up the reversing thing - not as hard as you think!
we have been caravanning for 5 years now and should have done it years earlier. 2011 XS SD4, Indus Silver (Getting to love it more and more)
2012 HSE Manual, Santorini Black (Loved it and did not want to let it go)
2011 Honda CRV EX IDTEC (Gone and never really loved)
2007 HONDA CRV CDT-I Exec (Gone and really missed)

I have just done a 1,000 mile trip with the van and FL only second time out with the combo and the car pulls really well. Just one bit of advice don't shout too loudly or you will awaken ChickenGeorge. Audi A4 Avant 2.0 tdi 05 Liquid Blue
LFR 2.2 XS 07 Stornoway Grey
And a dedicated caravan puller CG

Well we done it...drove 25 miles to ingoldmells...got our pitch. Took two hours to set everything up (come on its our first time)..
The drive was ok. 25.2 mpg. Never went about 50 mph. Car pulled it as if nothing was there. I actually enjoyed the drive for once.
When packing up it took about an hour, then drove straight to storage farm..I had to get the owner to back the car in the hole..lol.
We really enjoyed the two days. Planning next years drive about the uk already.

Join a decent organisation such as the Caravan Club and take one of their caravan handling courses. It is easy BUT there is still a lot to consider such as correctly loading the 'van and so on and so on. I have been driving 35 years and driven/owned over 55 different cars but I still learned a lot from their course last yearw hen we started. There is one thing though at least you are starting with one of the very best towcars there is which will help. eh tu?