We are now the proud owners of a 'Caravan' wohooo !!

[Arial]

As some of you know we have been toying for ages with the idea of buying a camper trailer, but a decent one with kitchen etc in it, so we can go away on 'some' weekends and get away from it all, and to get into some sight seeing (something i haven't done for a very long time)

How ever last Sunday we finally bought ourselves a middle of the range second hand caravan !!! It's like a mini home on wheels ! (It's 93' Island Star approx just over 13 foot) :nana:

It needs personalizing and cleaning up still ( so i'm open to any suggestions ! ) :)

I am just so excited we have finally achieved one of our goals to do something constructive, that works for both of us !!

The best part of it is that is all 'Ours' !!!

It even comes with a little inbuilt lcd tv and dvd player, bonus !

So that's my bit of good news for this week!!

Another bonus is if we ever have to leave our rental house for whatever reason ( we have a back up temporary place to live in )

We introduced Joey and Renae to it last night, and they were jumping all over the 2 person cub lounge (an ideal size to be used as their beds hehe) :)

Even our cat had a nosy in all the nooks and crannies in it, and didn't want to come out after :hehe:

Any tips/suggestions on organizing a caravan would be great if anyone has any (since i am novice at this!)

We still have to get a porta loo, something we know nothing about yet :blink:

We would have liked one with a double bed (naturally), but so of the other ones we looked at were so trashy and smelly inside, and this one had so many other things that won us over and was the best value for the money we had to spend !

Some pics while still at the sale place :)

The tranfers are peeling off a fair bit, so need to do something about that later.. its not noticeable in the pic..

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o4/julesangel66/Van1.jpg

This pic of inside was taken with a wide angle lens, there fore one side of the photo makes everything look so wide ! LOL (which it isn't, i wish! hehe)
We want to change the stove top eventually to a more modern one :)
The door handles will need eventually changing over ...
The cub lounge needs re covering ! eeek hehe

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o4/julesangel66/Van2.jpg

Now i need a check list for what to stock it up with, any help appreciated ! :)

[Mad Old Cow]

Arial, it really is fantastic, we are not campers but i know there are 1 or 2 girls here that are .
My GF & her hubby love camping & they often go away for a couple months at a time travelling different parts of Aus they have a little dog so they pick all the camping areas where dogs are allowed, i know you can get a book that lists those camping spots for dogs. you will have a wonderful time in your new van & so will Joey & Renae lol

[sandydee]

loks good,have a great time with it:)

[Patricia]

Enjoy yourselves and stay safe!

So where are you off to first?

[miss kiki]

wow, i love it! very nice! :) hope you have lots of adventures in your new caravan! :)

[crashtestwoman]

very noice. Have to make sure you get wireless broardband now so whereever you are you can still chat with us and tell us what's going on. :).

[Mad Old Cow]

Deb, my GF got wireless BB for that reason but she said there are still spots where they can't use it

[crashtestwoman]

Well bugger, we will just have to make sure we get Arial to only go to places where you can get it then won't we. LMAO

[Mad Old Cow]

Yeah Deb I'll check with my GF LMAO

[Arial]

Thankyou lovely ladies ! :)

I have wireless broadband for my laptop, but i don't think it works in too many areas away from our house , unless someone has a unsecured connection (hope soo !) hehehe norty me for thinking that !

Some caravan parks do have wireless access, but i'm not sure if that would work out too expensive?

I have never slept in anything other than a house, hotel or B&B in my 41 years of life, so should be interesting ! :)

I haven't started stocking it yet, still trying to work out how to go about organizing stuff in there :)

We are just going to start with short overnight trips at first (just within our state) , when hubby isn't working.

Plus the 4 wheel drive we have is getting a bit old and not as powerful as it once was, so really long trips might be out of the question for a while.

[Supa]

oh have fun!!!! We go camping but use a tent & swags LOL

[Arial]

oh have fun!!!! We go camping but use a tent & swags LOL

Yeah DH has always just used a swag and slept under the stars.. :)

but this was a compromise for us both to do something together, that i could be comfortable with (especially since i also have spine problems)

Should be fun tho ! :)

[Susan E]

Some ideas of things for the van. :)
Plastic containers to put your food in to keep out ants.
A sun umbrella so you can always make shade
Thongs to wear when having a shower - ( We always clean our shower blocks at our Park but you can't be too careful)
A torch
Small BBQ so if you don't have power you can still eat
$ 1.00 coins for the laundry
Spare Sunblock. insect repellant, towels, toilet paper as we always forget to put it in

will think of more later

[Manda]

Its great Arial!

I lived in a caravan a few times. (with kids)
Stocking up idea's (aside from what Susan suggested):
*Washing powder
*Dish liquid
*Dish cloths etc
*Cleaning stuff
*pegs
*washing basket or even better fold up hamper (space saver)
*List of phone numbers/addresses you may want while on the road (for postcard sending and emergency contacting)
*Clean drinking water
*plates cups cutlery Etc
*Dog bowls, tinned food, leads etc
*basic tools screw drivers, Shifter (for gas bottle etc) Stanly knife etc
*Maps
*Paracetomol etc
*toiletries
*Dry store items like salt and pepper, sauces etc

^^^All of those are things you might want to consider having in the van all the time, so when you do go on the road you dont have to worry about packing. Alot of things you could pick up cheap from op shops or on sale in supermarket.

As for Personal touches:
*Curtins
*photo's/picture frames
*A few ornaments/nick nacks that can be easily pulled in and out of a draw

Uhm will probably think of more later.

HTH

[Arial]

Thankyou Susan and Manda :)

those lists are great, they will help me heaps ! :)

[jeanieinparadise]

I travelled in a campervan for a while.

A word of wisdom: Just because it is hot when you pack to go, never contemplate travelling light and leaving out alternative season clothing and bedding! If I can save someone else making that mistake, it will make that night I spent in Parkes less regrettable.

Another great thing about the "home on wheels" is that you CAN pack up stuff you like to use - such as spices, herbs and sauces (all kept in a large plastic container), nice toiletries (ditto), picnic rugs and swimming gear.

Have lots of fun!

[Patricia]

Arial does it have air-con installed?

Depending on the time of year you travel and of course where you travel we found it an absolute must.

[Arial]

I travelled in a campervan for a while.

A word of wisdom: Just because it is hot when you pack to go, never contemplate travelling light and leaving out alternative season clothing and bedding! If I can save someone else making that mistake, it will make that night I spent in Parkes less regrettable.

Another great thing about the "home on wheels" is that you CAN pack up stuff you like to use - such as spices, herbs and sauces (all kept in a large plastic container), nice toiletries (ditto), picnic rugs and swimming gear.

Have lots of fun!

Thankyou for that useful advice jeanie :)

i prob won't take any swimming gear tho, as i can't swim, and i'm not built for bathers either :hehe:

Arial does it have air-con installed?

Depending on the time of year you travel and of course where you travel we found it an absolute must.

Hi Patricia :)

no it doesn't have air con unfortunately :(

Most in our price range we looked at didn't :(

We are starting off with just overnight trips for now, and won't be going anywhere if it's too hot or cold.

Will take a small fan/heater just in case tho..:)

Later on when we save some money , will look into getting a decent air con installed :)

[Heather]

Now more importantly....what do the Furries think of it?

[Arial]

Now more importantly....what do the Furries think of it?

Good morning Heather :)

Joey and Renae have been running around in it jumping on the beds and the lounge hehe( so i think they approve)

We put Karma the cat in it, and she had a little wander in all the cupboards and nooks and crannies :)

[Stormy]

So where's the first adventure Jules??? :D

If you haven't got aircon I'd stick to going in the temperate months....or if you're coming way up to Queensland, during winter. :hehe:

[Arial]

So where's the first adventure Jules??? :D

If you haven't got aircon I'd stick to going in the temperate months....or if you're coming way up to Queensland, during winter. :hehe:

Hi Stormy :)

well we arn't planning on doing any long trips for some time, as the 4 wheel drive we have is quite old, and not as powerful as it once was, so not going to take any chances with it.. Maybe we will get a new one one day ! :)

For our first maiden voyage, we are planning on going to a town called Clayton (only about 40 mins away from where we live !) hehehe

Dh wants to just test it out somewhere not too far away, just in case we have any problems that we don't know about with the caravan, and to get used to what we need for other trips.

I'm happy with that ! It's still getting away overnight ! Plus with not being to well currently with my ears, i don't wish to be too far away from civilization :)

So we will probably go next Saturday night wohooo! :)

We got ourselves a porto loo yesterday! :y:

[miss kiki]

that sounds great arial! definitely let us know how your trip goes. can't wait to hear all about it..i'm excited for you! :)

[romana]

Congratulations on your purchase! You will have a great time on your trips! One of my sisters has one also and they have been on many great outings. She keeps it well stocked all the time and replenishes all her supplies every time they get back from a trip. She utilizes a lot of disposable items, has a pantry full of dry goods, spices, snacks etc. Basic dishes for cooking, extra blankets, seasonal clothes, etc.

We are actually thinking of purchasing one ourselves so we can join them.

Have fun!

[Arial]

Congratulations on your purchase! You will have a great time on your trips! One of my sisters has one also and they have been on many great outings. She keeps it well stocked all the time and replenishes all her supplies every time they get back from a trip. She utilizes a lot of disposable items, has a pantry full of dry goods, spices, snacks etc. Basic dishes for cooking, extra blankets, seasonal clothes, etc.

We are actually thinking of purchasing one ourselves so we can join them.

Have fun!

Hi and thankyou Romana :)

I've started stocking it ! :)

I hope you get yourselves one, one day so you can join your sister on their trips ! :)

I have been trying so hard to get some plain burgundy coloured single bed quilt covers for our beds, and having no luck ! grrr I don't want flowery and full of shapes designs ! :(

[Patricia]

Try Target Arial...they have loads of plain ones..but mind you Target isn't the bargain it once was.

[lizisme]

Looks like a good caravan Arial. Hope you have lots of enjoyable times together in it. Nice to be able to just hook it up and go away for a few days.

[miss kiki]

DF and i have a burgundy comforter..so does my SIL and brother. :yes: i love the color for a room! :) hopefully you find it somewhere..

[Di Nana]

It looks really nice, and I think you are very wise on your first trip not going to far from home, until you get used to it,
We bought a camper motor home last year,I have only been away twice so far but it was heaps of fun, hoping to go away next month,
You find with time what you need, and where things are best kept, I try to keep mine stocked so you just get up and go, Oh don't forget cork screw.
hope you have heaps of fun as I'm sure you will :clap:

[miss kiki]

ohh, toothpicks is a must! :hehe: what about shampoo and that too?! maybe it was mentioned before and i just missed it..sorry! oh and like a can opener in case you buy canned foods?! :)

[joy]

hi Arial,we lived in a motorhome and travelled/worked in it for a couple of years,anf it was our first sons 1st home as a newborn.It was great fun,a bit squashy at times,but I think you live more out of it than in it.Enjoy your travels!