Caravan Vloggers

There's a huge amount of video content available on You Tube for caravan and motorhome lovers.
We've collated some of our favorite vloggers.

The Trudgians

Caravan reviews, DIY tutorials, holidays and product reviews. This Wiltshire family has a wealth of content which is both entertaining and useful.

Popular vlogs include How to Set a Caravan Up On Site, Cleaning a Caravan Roof, and How to Level a Caravan.

Caravan Vlogger

Mandy and Graham started cavaranning in 2006 and now travel throughout the UK and France, documenting their travels, reviewing products and making useful ‘How To’ guides.

Caravan jockey wheel comparisons, getting a ferry from Dover to Calais with a caravan, caravan buying guides and sites are all compiled on their website and YouTube channel here .

Make Way with the Morleys

A family of five from the West Midlands who share their adventures throughout Europe and the UK, as well as reviewing caravan sites, caravan equipment and even crème egg challenges!

The Camping & Caravaning Club

This regularly updated channel includes a ‘How To’ series, caravan motorhome and accessory reviews, camping recipes and site tours. Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned pro, or a member of the club or not, this channel with keep you occupied for hours!

(Get Your) Legs Down

We’ve been a fan of the blog for ages, and the vlog is just as good. The site arrival videos are particularly useful, as are the site tours and there is travel inspiration aplenty. Head over to the Legs Down blog for more.

Bailey of Bristol

The Bailey of Bristol vlog does include plenty of Bailey caravan content, but there is also a wealth of useful information for new and experienced caravanners. From the grand Bristol to Bosphorus tour, to beginner’s guides and Tow Car of the Year updates, this channel is worth subscribing to.

Poshcats Camping

Trev and Sue travel with UK and further afield with their Swift motorhome all year round, and have over 35 years’ experience with both caravans and motorhomes. Expect travel tips, ideas, site reviews, days out and more.

Next Stop Everywhere

Claire and Sam travel throughout Europe and the UK recording their adventures, as well as reviewing all the latest caravans and motorhomes. Highlights include the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, a Christmas trip to Amsterdam and a drive across the Outer Hebrides. You can also follow then on Facebook and Twitter.

Caravanning with the Cox’s

The Cox’s are a Somerset based family who are weekly vloggers, sharing their travels, tips, advice, repairs and general updates. For a wealth of useful information and entertainment, including caravan recommendations, a trip to Glastonbury, and how to use a motormover, make sure you subscribe!

What Do I Need To Start Caravanning?

Towing License?

First things first, you’ll need to check when you passed your driving test. If it was before 1 January 1997 you’ll be able to tow. If it was after that date, you’ll only be able to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer (caravan) up to 750kg behind it. So, if you want to tow a heavier caravan you’ll need to pass an additional test. For more information, head over to the Camping & Caravanning Club information page.

Towbar

Choose the right towbar for your car. To do this, check manufacturer’s websites (Witter, Westfaila, AL-KO) to find one suitable for you.

Caravan Hitch Lock

Security

There are various devices on the market which can help to protect your caravan.

• Hitch lock
• Wheel clamp
• Alarm
• Tracker
• CRiS

Check out this useful guide to Caravan Security Devices for more information.

Insurance

Your car insurance will usually provide third party cover for towing your caravan, so would cover any damage to other cars if you had an accident. However, you would have to pay for any damage to your caravan, so make sure it’s protected against accidents, breakdown and theft with adequate insurance.

Caravan Awning

Awning

Extend your living space with a caravan awning. Our guide to caravan awnings may help you choose.

Motor mover

Caravan motor movers allow you to easily manoeuvre your caravan into position whether that be into a driveway, storage or touring pitch, or even hitching up. This guide gives more information.

Water Carrier

You’ll need to have a container suitable for collecting water to bring back to your caravan. An Aquaroll is a great option which can be rolled along the ground.

Caravan Water Container 

Water Pump

Connect your Aquaroll to your caravan taps with a waterpump. Popular brands are Whale and Truma.

Waste Water Container

Waste water, or ‘grey’ water needs to be collected by a waste water container, which plugs into your caravan waste drain points. Wastemaster is a popular brand.

Leisure Battery

Whilst most campsites will provide EHU (electric hook up), it’s still useful to invest in a leisure battery so you can power your fridge, heater and lights. There are several types of leisure battery, and all have their pros and cons, so make sure you do your research before you purchase. This guide to leisure batteries is very useful.

Gas Bottle

Power your fridge, heating, gas cooker and shower with gas. Bottles are typically butane or propane and come in 6kg or 7kg bottles. Butane gas is ideal for the summer months, but for winter, propane is better as it’s unlikely to freeze in cold weather.

Electric Hook Up Mains Lead

Mains Lead

To connect to an EHU, you’ll need a mains lead which costs around £50. Make sure it has an IP44 rating which indicates the level of protection given to sockets from water penetration.

Step

Don’t forget to pack some portable steps to make getting in and out of your caravan a whole lot easier.

Corner Steady Jack

When you pitch up you’ll need to lower your corner steadies. Wind them down with a corner steady jack.

Toilet Chemicals

Reduce unpleasant smells, break down all the nasty stuff, and keep your toilet working effectively with toilet chemicals. Pink chemicals are added to the fresh water tank to keep the flush clean and provide a nice aroma. Blue or green chemicals are put into the waste tank and break down waste matter.

Towing Mirrors

Caravan Towing Mirrors

If you’re towing a vehicle wider than your car, you’ll need towing mirrors. You can buy stick on towing mirrors, strap on towing mirrors or bracket style towing mirrors. Prices range from around £15 to about £150.

Easy Caravan Recipes

Essential Caravan Equipment

So, what do you need to start caravanning? Our guide should help.

Towing License?

First things first, you’ll need to check when you passed your driving test. If it was before 1 January 1997 you’ll be able to tow. If it was after that date, you’ll only be able to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer (caravan) up to 750kg behind it. So, if you want to tow a heavier caravan you’ll need to pass an additional test. For more information, head over to the Camping & Caravanning Club information page.

Towbar

Choose the right towbar for your car. To do this, check manufacturer’s websites (Witter, Westfaila, AL-KO) to find one suitable for you.

Security

There are various devices on the market which can help to protect your caravan.

• Hitch lock
• Wheel clamp
• Alarm
• Tracker
• CRiS

Check out this useful guide to Caravan Security Devices for more information.

Insurance

Your car insurance will usually provide third party cover for towing your caravan, so would cover any damage to other cars if you had an accident. However, you would have to pay for any damage to your caravan, so make sure it’s protected against accidents, breakdown and theft with adequate insurance.

Awning

Extend your living space with a caravan awning. Our guide to caravan awnings may help you choose.

Motor mover

Caravan motor movers allow you to easily manoeuvre your caravan into position whether that be into a driveway, storage or touring pitch, or even hitching up. This guide gives more information.

Water Carrier

You’ll need to have a container suitable for collecting water to bring back to your caravan. An Aquaroll is a great option which can be rolled along the ground.

Water Pump

Connect your Aquaroll to your caravan taps with a waterpump. Popular brands are Whale and Truma.

Waste Water Container

Waste water, or ‘grey’ water needs to be collected by a waste water container, which plugs into your caravan waste drain points. Wastemaster is a popular brand.

Leisure Battery

Whilst most campsites will provide EHU (electric hook up), it’s still useful to invest in a leisure battery so you can power your fridge, heater and lights. There are several types of leisure battery, and all have their pros and cons, so make sure you do your research before you purchase. This guide to leisure batteries is very useful.

Gas Bottle

Power your fridge, heating, gas cooker and shower with gas. Bottles are typically butane or propane and come in 6kg or 7kg bottles. Butane gas is ideal for the summer months, but for winter, propane is better as it’s unlikely to freeze in cold weather.

Mains Lead

To connect to an EHU, you’ll need a mains lead which costs around £50. Make sure it has an IP44 rating which indicates the level of protection given to sockets from water penetration.

Caravan Step

Don’t forget to pack some portable steps to make getting in and out of your caravan a whole lot easier.

Corner Steady Jack

When you pitch up you’ll need to lower your corner steadies. Wind them down with a corner steady jack.

Toilet Chemicals

Reduce unpleasant smells, break down all the nasty stuff, and keep your toilet working effectively with toilet chemicals. Pink chemicals are added to the fresh water tank to keep the flush clean and provide a nice aroma. Blue or green chemicals are put into the waste tank and break down waste matter.

Towing Mirrors

If you’re towing a vehicle wider than your car, you’ll need towing mirrors. You can buy stick on towing mirrors, strap on towing mirrors or bracket style towing mirrors. Prices range from around £15 to about £150.

Useful Caravan Equipment

Fire Safety
Stick

Fire Safety Stick

The Fire Safety Stick is a small, portable fire extinguisher, which is lightweight and perfect for caravans and motorhomes. Unlike most fire extinguishers, it doesn’t contain gas, isn’t pressurised and won’t make a mess. Plus, it’ll work on all major types of fire and is safe and easy to use.

Lock’n’Level

Lock 'n' Level

This is a system of air bags that levels your caravan. You’ll still be able to fit both AL-KO Secure wheel locks on a twin-axle caravan. No more transporting ramps for levelling, these wipe clean units make levelling your caravan a breeze.

Price from £119.95

Multi-tool

Why take your entire tool-box when you can take just one handy gadget which combines all the essentials. A multi-tool will combine implements like pliers, wire cutters, scissors, screwdrivers and various blades and can range in price from around £10.00 up to £200.00.

A good starting point would be the Leatherman Squirt PS4 at £45.99. Buy on Amazon

Mini Vacuum cleaner

The easiest and quickest way to keep your tourer spick and span is with a portable vacuum cleaner. A rechargeable mini hoover can be on charge when you’re hooked up, and won’t take up much space.

Wifi Booster Kit

Collapsible Accessories

Colpaz Collaps

Save vital space with collapsible version of all your caravanning kitchenware. From small bowls and mugs to kettles, washing bowls and 12-litre water carriers, the Outwell Collaps collection is a great addition to anyone’s kit.

Jetboil Fuel Guage

Fuel Guage 

Calculate how much fuel you’ve got left in the canister with the Jetboil JetGaufe Digital Fuel Canister Scales.

From around £15.

Eco-friendly Caravanning

It’s safe to say that we should all be attempting to become more eco-friendly and live more sustainably. This shouldn’t just apply to when you’re at home or work. We’ve got some advice to help you make your caravan or motorhome holidays better for the environment.

It would make sense to say that caravanning holidays reduce the need for air travel and if you’re staying in England, the ferry too, therefore saving tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and other pollution every year.

Buying a Caravan

If you’re new to caravanning, why not consider buying second hand. Save a pre-used caravan from the scrapheap; it’ll still have plenty of life left in it, and it’ll cost you significantly less than buying new.

If you’re buying new, choosing a lightweight model will mean you’ll use less fuel to tow it, whilst effective insulation will help to reduce the need for air-con in summer and heating in winter.

Try Solar Power

Solar panels can be easily fitted to your caravan roof. Using sunlight, they can then charge your caravan’s batteries when no mains hook up is available.

There are many solar powered products which you could switch to: lights, speakers, toothbrushes, cookers, and even showers!

Rather than using electric chargers for your mobile devices, try solar powered alternatives. You can pick these up online from as little as £30.00 from retailers like Amazon and Mobile Solar Chargers.

Plastic, Plastic, Plastic!

Just as you would at home, try and avoid single use plastic.

• Invest in a metal flask for your drinking water
• Store foods in stainless steel containers – they’ll be lighter than glass jars.
• Use reusable wax paper to wrap leftovers or picnics in, rather than cling film or foil.
• Use eco-friendly tableware. OLPRO Husk plates, cups and storage sets are made from rice husk which is an agricultural waste. This tableware is biodegradable and doesn’t contain any harmful substances. Other alternatives to plastic would be bamboo or recyclable stainless steel.
• Colapz make collapsible products like water dispensers, portable showers, tableware and storage containers made from eco-friendly materials, and produce a smaller carbon footprint because they take up less space when being distributed.
• Avoid buying food wrapped in plastic by shopping at local markets and farm shops. 
• Bring frozen meat from home – it’ll keep other food items cold, and you can eat it once it’s thawed.

Cleaning

Rather than using harsh chemicals to clean your caravan or motorhome, try a non-toxic alternative. Companies like Sleek Clean Care provide a range of eco-friendly cleaning products which provide powerful cleaning whilst being biodegradable and not tested on animals. Even the container it comes in is recycled. 

Remove the need for toilet chemicals and install a SOG Toilet. A low powered extraction fan draws air to seal off odours and filters them via a charcoal filter to the outside of the caravan. The naturally treated waste has far less smell when emptying the cassette. 

Eco-Friendly Caravan Sites

The David Bellamy Conservation Awards program recognises caravan sites which do their best to minimise their impact on the environment. These sites encourage wildlife, reduce their energy and water consumption, reduce and recycle the waste they produce and support their local communities. Find an eco-friendly caravan site here.

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Caravan Awnings

Kampa Leggera AIR 260 Caravan Awning 2020

Whilst an awning isn’t an essential piece of caravan kit, they can extend your living space dramatically, giving you more space to relax and eat, even dry wet clothes, particularly during wet weather.

Think about what you will be using the space for; will it just be a storage space, or so you want to be able to dine or even sleep in there?

Will you want to remove side panels so that you can use your awning as a sun shade, does it need to be lightweight if you are restricted in terms of weight you can carry, and will it be exposed to the elements a lot and need to be highly water resistant?

Porch Awning or Full Awning

Firstly, you’ll have the choice between a porch and a full awning. Whilst generally smaller than full awnings, porch styles are easier to erect and less bulky.

For longer holidays a full awning may be a better option, giving you maximum living space. They’re heavier and can be trickier to erect, but you won’t be handling them as often. 

Bailey Discovery Air Awning

Caravan Awning Fabrics

Lightweight polyester dries quickly and makes for an easily constructed awning, making it perfect for short breaks away. Heavier polyester is more robust, so is likely to last longer than its lightweight counterpart.

Acrylic fabrics are more rigid, and more resistant to UV light because of the manufacturing process it undergoes. Acrylic coated polyester provides UV, mildew and water resistance.

Caravan Awning Frames

Steel awning frames can be good for longer stays & sturdy enough for a variety of weather conditions, but heavy if you have to frequently build & transport.

Aluminium & Glass-Fibre are lightweight & easy to handle, but can be compromised in bad weather.

Air (Inflatable awnings) are easy to erect & quick, especially if you have an electric pump.

What Size Awning Do I Need?

Awning sizes are called A-measurements and the size of awning you need will depend on the length of your caravan. The A-measurement is the distance around your caravan’s awning channel plus the distance from the end of the channel to the ground.

Head to your caravan manufacturer to find out your awning size – most will have a resource on their website to help you.

How Much Should I Pay?

Porch awnings start at around £150.00, whilst you can expect to pay upwards of £600 for a full awning. If you’re likely to be using your caravan awning frequently, for extended periods of time, it would make sense spend a decent amount – it’s worth investing in a good quality product which is designed to last. If you tour less frequently, or just for a few days at a time, a budget option may be a better choice. 

Caravan awnings are covered by quality standard BS ENISO 8936 – Awnings for Leisure Accommodation Vehicles. Before making a purchase, it’s a good idea to check that your chosen awning carries this award.

Caravan Awning Tips

• Never pack an awning away when it is wet, or even slightly damp, as this is highly likely to result in mildew forming.
• Avoid storing your caravan awning in your caravan over winder, as the conditions will be too damp.
• Re-proof your awning yearly.