Buying a caravan is one of the most exciting purchases in life, not least because the preparation process represents the upcoming freedom you’ll soon be experiencing when you know you have a hotel on wheels to take you wherever you want to go in the country.

So, for beginners and would-be caravan enthusiasts, here’s a beginner’s guide to caravanning.

Your Tow Car

First and foremost, contrary to popular belief, to successfully tow an average-sized modern caravan, there’s no need for you to go out and buy a Range Rover, and indeed, many normal-sized motor vehicles are perfectly adequate for the job.

Obviously, it’s not recommended to attempt to pull a heavy caravan with an old-style Mini, but if you have a family-sized car or people carrier, it’s more than likely to be able to comfortably tow your new caravan.

Choosing the Right Caravan for You

Make sure you search high and low, both online and by contacting reputable suppliers of new and used caravans by telephone and in person, to find the best deals and more specifically, the right make and model of caravan to suit your individual needs.

Instead, of course, of investing in a brand-new, latest model of caravan straight off the forecourt, you could alternatively look into secondhand models, some of which are available on the used market for an impressively affordable price.

When looking at a secondhand caravan, make sure you bear the following tips in mind:

• Use online forums for real-life information on different models.
• Make sure all the paperwork is in order before completing the sale.
• Check for misted or scratched windows.
• Inspect each tire, exterior and interior light, the spare wheel, and the handbrake.
• Look for any signs of delamination of the plywood floor.

The Essential Caravanning Accessories

Once you’ve signed on the dotted line and brought your caravan back home, while it’s still parked safely on the driveway, your next step is to invest in the right accessories, some of which are wholly essential, including:

• A brand-new spare wheel
• One or two spare gas cylinders
• A container for freshwater
• Mirrors for towing
• Pipes or a pump to connect the water supply
• Wastewater containers and pipes
• Bedding and soft furnishings
• 12V leisure battery
• A lead to hook up your caravan to the mains

Get to Know Your Caravan Inside & Out (Literally)

When you first tow your caravan back home, unlike when you hitched the vehicle to your car when the seller or garage owner provided assistance, unhitching for the first time is entirely on you.

Make sure that you not only learn how to quickly and safely unhitch and hitch your caravan to the car, but that you also take your caravan for a local test ride during a quieter part of the day to learn how to navigate corners.

Lastly, do remember that you’re going to feel a substantial difference to the quality of driving when your car isn’t towing anything, so learn how to brake with much more time to spare and find out about safe caravan towing in adverse weather conditions.