connorefc

Thank you for your advice, luckily for me other contributors have been more helpful.

Hi, travelling back north at weekend. Looking for a dog walk& refuel stop. Gloucester Services looks good for a stop but the petrol station looks not to be a drive through. But a left turn to pumps then you are facing a wall necessitating a sharp right to get out. Anyone let me know if it is as tight as Google makes it look. Towing an 8” wide caravan, thanks John

So looks like the handbrake stays on. If there is a problem at end of season with it stick, just have to deal with it then

Unfortunately the pitch is certainly not level, the jockey wheel is almost at maximum drop to achieve front & back levelling. That is a good point, I could raise the steadies when it is unoccupied in case of an air bag fail As it is a twin axle and I have Alko wheel locks the lock n level are needed to get the locks on. Can’t jack it as motor mover in the way

We have put our caravan on a pitch from July - end September. It is a twin axle and one side is on Lock n Level air bags, the other has 2 chocks per wheel. The question I have regards whether to leave the handbrake on or off? I have heard that they can stick and when coming to move it at end of season could be a problem. What do other caravaners who use seasonal pitches do and what if any problems have they had. thanks John

Meant to update 😬. we picked up the caravan 19th July and went away Saturday 20th, couldn’t have cut it much closer.

The news just keeps getting worse 😱 We have already had issues with the dealer as I didn’t feel my business was being appreciated. However that was all smoothed over and were told they never have delays !

The caravan may arrive before weekend, it is not knowing that is the problem / annoyance. We have asked for additions on caravan so a stock one not an option. Never thought about a loan 🤔

We were due to collect a new Compass Casita on Saturday 13th July, however received an email from dealer saying it had failed final inspection at factory due to shortages. I have asked exactly what the shortages were and have been told they are related to “soft furnishings”. Dealer cannot get a new delivery date from Elddis so I have emailed them myself. Have leave booked for next week so need to know will we have a caravan or to make alternative arrangements. Has anyone else had such an issue .

Put your phone behind caravan turn on video, back to car do lights stuff, come back review video. Or just ask someone

Update. I wrote to the the director of the dealership, explaining how we felt, unloved & a bit disappointed in the process. Told him I wanted to get this into a better groove for both of us. Had an excellent reply and he arranged a meeting for us with the senior salesman and we had a constructive meeting. We explained that we had said we were new to caravanning & had been looking for advice & support. That we felt salesman was not interested especially regarding any purchase options. Anyway all feels a lot better, had a run through on caravan. He will see us on collection date personally to go through everything with us. Caravan should be getting picked up around 14th July, then plan is off to Anglesey for a week.

That is all well and good if you have the knowledge about Caravanning. The “extras” such as the bbq point, electric socket al-ko locks at being fitted at the factory whilst under construction, for which I am paying the specified options cost as per the brochure. The only extras that the dealer Worksop is fitting are the motor mover for which I am paying £2099 & an alarm for £310. I doubt there is any earache being given, no special price or discount being given.

I will see what the owner or other sales guys have to say, it may be that the one I have seen is just not bothered anymore. Good tip about credit card never would have thought of that. No starter kit has been offered. will let you all know how I get on.

We told the dealer we were brand new to Caravanning. On a subsequent visit I told them I was trying to make a list of stuff to buy, I asked if the caravan had a battery, etc as I needed to know what to buy. I was told it had a battery & a water pump. No other help advice was forthcoming. They have given us a 10% discount card, but their stuff is on the dear side anyway. When I visit the dealership I don’t expect to be feted but at least a smile and a hi can we help would be nice. I am spending circa £27k there and given the salesman’s disinterested attitude I am concerned about future relationships regarding servicing etc. This is just taking a lot of the shine off our buy. i think I will try to find the owner & discuss our misgivings with them.

We have never had a caravan before & told our local dealer this when looking to purchase. We chose a Compass Casita 840, the layout suits what we want and love the decor. However we have had no advice whatsoever, no mention of the availability of options which I only found out about on the manufacturers website. Subsequently went back to have BBQ point, outside electric point added. Then through utube saw motor movers, again went back to have one added. Next was security which after looking at insurance decided to have al-ko wheel locks fitted, back dealer again. In addition we have only through the various utube blogs etc worked out what accessories we need such as water roll, waste hog, electric cable etc etc. Is this normal service from a dealer? Given a caravan is possibly after a house & car the next most expensive purchase. I am to quote a phrase “not feeling the love” . Have only made a £500 deposit & thinking should I forfeit it for a better, friendlier & appreciative dealer.

It is a 2006 TD5 90, checked on Towcar info and with the dealer both say it will be ok. Appreciate the comments on taking it easy, that will definitely be the case 😉. I passed my driving test over 35 years ago. I am going to have a motor mover fitted do not fancy trying to reverse it onto a pitch. Thinking of a Powrtouch Evolution, I have read on the site that although caravan a twin axle a single axle mover will be fine.? I will have a roof box to keep 75kg of stuff and will have my tool box and dogs in the back. Should help with the weight distribution between both. Appreciate all the comments, advice and welcomes. Think I have found a really good source of help on this site. You will all be fed up with my questions soon 😀

Thanks, when you know you know, when you don’t you don’t.

Hi, I am new to caravans, expecting to pick up my first one a Compass Casita 840 in July. When looking at making a site booking the dimensions of the caravan are needed. What I am doing sure about is what length to quote? The brochure says the caravan is 6.95m Exterior Body Length, however Shipping Length is 8.05m (assume this includes the A Frame?) . So for site booking purposes what is the length of my caravan. Apologies if this is a silly question but have looked and cannot find an answer on-line. Don’t want to turn up at a site and be told I have given incorrect figures. Thanks John 😀