20 days and counting

Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Posts
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Location
Blisland Cornwall
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48,426
MH
Bailey Autograph 752
Exp
Owners since 2017
Finally after many months we will be picking up our new Bailey Autograph 75-2 motorhome. We have had it on hold at Alan Kerr since April as the buyer of a property we have dropped out and we had to wait for a new one to come along. Alan Kerr have been great and very understanding while we waited and now we are just 20 days away from picking up our first van 'Bertie' (named after my Dad).
We are going to book a campsite close to Alan Kerr for our first night just in case we have any snags/questions. Can you recommend any important must have's for our first outing? We have the basics bedding,towels, kitchen stuff, gas bottles etc and we will pick up a fire extinguisher just in case. I am sure there are some 'you can't go out in the van without' bits and we bow to your experience.
Many thanks Bob and Karen
 
Corkscrew and bottle opener are now on the list along with a few coasters as we don't want to get Bertie dirty with ring marks:beerchug:

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A hookup cable, but they might throw one in.
I would suggest doing one day/night on hookup and one on battery/gas so that you can check out the systems on all settings.
A torch, just in case, like us, the handover takes so long that you arrive campsite in the dark.
Mobile data to ask the funsters if you get stuck:) and of course to let us know how you are getting on with photos!
Enjoy!
 
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Hi Riverbankannie
I think it comes with a hook up but I have one from when we used to go camping so I will take it just in case. I will be posting photos when we can.
 
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Would you suggest levelling ramps necessary as an early item to buy? As it is now winter, many sites will be a bit damp under foot to put it mildly, so we were wondering if they are required on hard standing. I guess that is bit of a silly point as it depends on the site but we are newbies and silly comments/questions is what we do:tounge:
I have also been given a couple of gas bottles by a friend who had a caravan. Do I still need to register with Calor before I can get a replacement bottle?
 
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Calor is expensive. Most have switched to refillable bottles especially if you are heading to foreign shores. Try it first before you rush out and buy anything ( You may not like it :D2 ) .. Watering can x 2 is a good idea as they fit every known tap ( We don't all use campsites ) .. I also have a pair of waffle boards and some blocks of wood so I can make my own ramps or just park the front wheels on them.

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You don't need to register with calor you just take the bottles in and a wad of cash.

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A large case of beer ( 24 cans) so you can check how many fit in the fridge.
 
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Hopefully your new van will come with a Thetford starter pack of toilet chemicals. Ask for one.

I would expect that your dealer will have filled the fresh water tank, if not ask then you don’t have to do that first thing when you arrive on site.

We carry a 5 litre container for getting fresh drinking water from the tap every day and use the tank for everything else. I just like to have a container that I can easily sterilise every trip. I don’t bother to sterilise the main tank. We fill our main tank using this container to transfer the water but if you have the storage space, then a watering can or hose can be carried to do this job.

You won’t need one right away, but we carry a collapsible bucket which is so useful. Can use to collect grey water and take to drain, I do the hand clothes washing in it as sinks abroad are usually plug-less, take too long to get enough water in, and too low. Use it for washing the van (particularly the windows) when away on trips, I can dunk my head in it to wash my hair when not on a site and many other uses.

ooh the time is ticking down now to handover!:)
 
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Thanks all for the replies. We can't wait and every day seems to be 48 Hours long. I know you shouldn't wish your life away but in this instance, the 9th of December can't come quick enough. We are having that weekend away in the van and a few days over Christmas visiting family so that will be our first real test.
 
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Pencil and lots of paper for snagging lists ... :rolleyes:

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Do what we all did lean as you go along. :) It's a great learning curve and a great adventure. How ever you ask they have been there and done it before.(y) Enjoy
 
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If your're going to stay on any sites in winter I'd suggest a doormat for outside and one inside. Other items: hose, levellers, air filled plastic (the sort you get from packaging) to pad the overhead lockers with to stop rattles, food and drink, small tool kit, cleaning stuff, your clothes, boots, shoes, hair drier, etc.

You must be so excited! I hope the time passes quickly for you :)
 
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The wife has just brought some non slip material at a well known shop that you can buy by the Metre and she is going to cut this in to circles to put between plates etc to stop the rattling as we go along. It is a lot cheaper this way £5/Metre, than those expensive plate dividers that you can buy. We can also put some under the grill pan/lid for the same effect.
 
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Already been mentioned, but you can't beat a clean plastic watering can for starters, for putting some fresh water in the tank during your first outing.

We fill up with a hose at home, and although we had a food-grade hose for our travels, in six years it never came out of the box. Use the watering can all the time for topping up with water, so no faffing around with connections. But everyone has different preferences for how they take on water.

The watering can just works for us, and certainly ideal for your inaugural trip; although I guess the dealer should handover the van with some in so the hot and cold plumbing can be demonstrated.

Good luck and enjoy! (y)

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Thanks
We will have a Whale filler fitted to the van but a watering can will be on our must have list.
 
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We generally move every day or two and just fill up when we get to where we're going. Never used a watering can, although do carry an old aquaroll with 12v pump connection but don't use very often.

Denise
 
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Roll the carpets up and put them away. The attract MUD ..
 
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Thanks for the tips. We have brought some small rugs to put over the carpets so hopefully they will stay fairly clean, fingers crossed.
 
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This does appear to be your first MH? I would highly recommend at the handover that you Video on a Tablet the complexities of the Systems so you can quickly refer to it ie: Water,Gas,Electronics etc.
You may on the day simply nod along at the explanation,however,something simple but new along with all you’ll be taking on board will be lost in mist when you come to need some knowledge of how it works.
I along with many on this Forum have 30/40 years of MH experience but you never stop learning.

Enjoy.

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Hi there, woohoo a new motorhome!! wow, from my experience, ive never had a new one mind you, but id have a good tool kit, jubilees, see what size the water fitting are, ie: water hose size or other, make sure there not the silly push fit water connections as these can blow off, couple of tubes of mastic, aroldite i cant spell,fuses see what ones yours uses wheel jack oh and a good roll of gaffa tape :) Just in case,
 
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Hi
This is our first motorhome and we looked long and hard at what to buy, new or used. We eventually settled on the Bailey 75-2 after looking at dozens of makes and models as it gave us what we wanted. We will take the advice of videoing the handover as we will be, no doubt, over excited at getting our new toy.
Our list of 'must haves' is getting longer thanks to you guys it is just as well that we have uprated the van from 3500 Kg;).
 
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Thanks
We will have a Whale filler fitted to the van but a watering can will be on our must have list.

(n) Cuh! My first thought before re-reading the title was why on earth a new romance required a Whale filler and watering can:
'20 days and..... courting' ?
 
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