windings1000 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Hello everyone - I am a Newbie to Caravantalk (not yet a caravan owner. .... but hopefully this will change soon). I would be grateful for any help/advice as I am completely new to the subject of caravanning. I am researching buying a small touring caravan and have come across the Freedom range having seen a tiny one sitting by the side of a local road. I want something that is small enough to park in my small garden and is easy enough (hopefully) for me to drive around/manoeuvre (I have a 1. 5 Qashqai). My ‘dream’ is to have a caravan that I can take to the beach with my child to do some water sports or have it for an overnight of camping etc. It would be a day/weekend thing travelling only within a 50 mile radius around the North East/North Yorkshire area. I have a limited budget. ..... My husband has said this is my project so doesn’t want to get too involved with any of the maintenance/issues etc so I need to be fully aware of all of the potential issues or problems that might face me when buying one/planning a budget to ensure my dream goes ahead. Which Freedom version would be best for my needs? The smaller the better. What are the issues I need to be aware of when viewing one? Ie: areas of potential problems. Are the old ones (circa £1000-1500) a viable option – or are they trouble waiting to happen? If not what should I be looking to pay for a decent age with plenty of future caravanning. Would I get access to spare parts if it is old? Who would I ask to get an annual check to ensure it is safe/roadworthy? What are the main costs (ie: insurance, maintenance)? Would I need to inform my car insurance company I will be towing one? As I don’t envisage being on a campsite (and hooking up to a static electricity supply) how do I generate electricity independently whilst being mobile? Towing bar – I have a Qashqai 1. 5. What type of tow bar would I need to buy (I am trying to keep the costs down)? What type of electrical connection would I need to get for such a small caravan for my brakes/indicators etc? How is it all linked up? What is the typical speed I would expect to drive to be towing safely on the road? A question which could spoil my vision. ..... Laws around parking up a small caravan (ie: Freedom): When I visit Saltburn (North East England) I notice quite a few small motorhomes/VW’s parked on the car parks next to the sea. What are the laws around people parking up in this way on public/council/private car parks and roadsides? Am I able to park my car + Freedom mini-caravan in this manner without being told to move on/being prosecuted etc? Do you pay for all the spaces you occupy? If there are any other issues/problems/costs I need to be aware of I would be really grateful if I could be made aware of them. Thank you for your help. Ash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 What a lot of questions! You might get more answers if you only ask one or two at a time. The bad news is question 12, most public carparks prohibit caravans completely and almost all prohibit overnight camping. A far better bet for your dream is the kind of small motorhome or camper van that you have already seen others using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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