Bought a Hi-top now competely lost Forums

hilary1

Sorry if this is the wrong place but...

We've bought a Talbot Avalon 1992 as our first venture into camping but no handbook so a bit lost. For instance We thought that the sockets worked of the leisure battery but the dealer says not etc etc so any help or anyone that can tell us where to get a copy please.

we spent an hour yesterday working out the bed lol.

Also any advice on 'cheap' campsites as we've looked in the caravaning club and a lot of the sites work out very expensive and as we're doing mainly 1 or 2 night breaks at weekends for a bit we want to try and cut costs. Dont mind a bit more for our 10 days in august but odd nights need to be cheap

And we've been told not to fill our water tank before going anywhere due to the extra weight but ive read on here about poeple filling up before they go away - so whats right?

Point me in the right direction please anyone? Is there an Avalon club by any chance?

xx

Grizzly

Hi Hilary and welcome...

Someone on this site seems to be looking for the same thing ( ie handbook) as you and there is an e-mail address. right at the bottom of this page:

http://www.motorhoming.com/wanted.asp

Perhaps they've now got one and would copy for you - ?

Another useful book is the Haynes MotorCaravan Manual in the Haynes range - Amazon or any camping shop.

As for cheaper campsite, the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club have a network of Certificated sites ( CS) and CL ( can't remember what this stands for) which are usually small 5 van sites and charge a lot less than the bigger all-singing club sites. You don't always have to be a member but see their websites to find them. There are also pub car parks - many pubs will let you overnight if you have a meal there first.

We try to travel with tanks - waste and clean- not totally full. There are conflicting views on this but, in the days of high fuel costs, I reckon every little weight reduction helps. That said, you can't always bank on filling up when you arrive at a new site, or you might want water en route, so we always have some in the tank.

I don't know about the Avalon owners club but bet there is - just google for them.

G

moblee

Hello hilary1,Welcome to mhf Very Happy

Your dealer is correct concerning the sockets these are for hook-up(a cable attached to the mains).
Your leisure battery is mostly for lights,water pump you can use it for heating & hot water but its far better to use gas for the last two especially if not on hook-up.

Cheap campsites Question

How many of you & whats your rough location.

We used to travel with nearly full water tanks (just in case theory)but now with the price of diesel & the extra weight we had quarter of a tank on our last trip.

Hope i've helped.

hilldweller

>> Also any advice on 'cheap' campsites as we've looked in the caravaning club and a lot of the sites work out very expensive

Lots of moaning about this in here, but we are spending the WE in London for pennies compared to normal London prices - special case I suppose. People seem to forget these places have overheads.

Try Google for UK camp sites.

Try Google for Certified Locations ( there's another name too ) these are 5 unit camp sites ( something to do with planning regs ) behind pubs, in farms etc and cheap. Problem might be that you have to join CC or CC&C to get on some of them.

We fill up with water though it could save a few bob if going up a lot of hills to set off empty. The cheap sites may not have water or electricity.

Wizzo

Hi Hilary,

I can't help with your specific van but can offer some general pointers.

Your 3-pin sockets will only work when connected to an electric hook-up and the circuit breakers switched on.

The cheapest form of camping is to use either Certificated sites or Certificated Locations - run by the Camping and Caravan Club and the Caravan Club respectively. You will need to join the relevant club to use them. Many of these have electric hook-up points but not all. They are supposed to be restricted to 5 vans only but I have been on some where this restriction does seem to be ignored.

If you can manage without electric hook-up then both clubs run weekend rallies which are often held in places other than normal campsites. The Camping and Caravan club also run Temporary Holiday Sites, many in seaside locations but you would need some way of topping up your battery to be able to survive more than a few days.

I fill my water tank if I am going somewhere where it may not be convenient to fill it - i.e. rally sites etc. In the scheme of things I don't see it as that important to save a few kilos of weight as long as it does not mean that I am overloaded.

JohnW

bandaid

Bagshanty

Some years ago I did a trial of tank full vs tank empty, and there was no real difference in mpg. Now I always fill up before we go, because I know we'll get all set up on site then realise we need water.

We are members of both clubs, but much prefer the camping club - much less formal and, as they say in their advertising, they seem friendlier. This time of the year we use their "sites for holidays", no booking involved, cheap (£5-7), and you don't get turfed off at midday, so you can arrive at 9 am, leave at 8 pm the next day, for the cost of 1 night. Generally minimal facilities - but you have all those on board.

These only last a month (max) for legal reasons, but worth looking out for. You need to be a member, obviously, but can join on site.

rowley

I would not fill my water tank more than half full. Anymore than that and you will lose some out of the overflow pipe when it starts sloshing about on the journey.
The Clubs are worth their subscription in my opinion.
And of course it is worth subscribing to mhf!