Should I sell it.

Post by **trickydicky** » 30 May 2007, 17:25

The caravan that is.
We have a dirty great 20ft Bailey caravan in Cornwall but after changing jobs the storeage charges are a bind. Unfortunatly we tend to go away off season so I am wary of the insulation of a tent and heating it.
I am thinking of getting a caranex tent or a big awning, has anyone got any thoughts our van is a poptop Autosleeper with gas heating and mains hookup.
The van is faultless for a day on the beach, but with me, my wife, a 4mth old and two big dogs space is an issue.
I am trying to get away from storing the Caravan and having more options on where we go. Any ideas or experiance on the issues.

Post by **billymaya** » 30 May 2007, 17:52

awning wise we have a easy camp 200 with our van and slept in it for the first time at the bashtie theres a lovely lot of room in it plus a sleeping section and me and the gf had no problems moving around in it we have yet to try it with the kids mind the only thing we did find a bit of a annoyance is the ground sheet not being attached to the sides which let a fair bit of draft in, this however could be down to the fact we didnt quite have it alined with side of awning, id def suggest an awning tho as gives u that extra bit of space and i didnt get cold sleeping in it, hope that helps a bit

Post by **trickydicky** » 30 May 2007, 17:58

Thanks for the speedy reply, draft at the ground sheet would be an issue as we have an elderly GSD with hip issues (GSD is the dog

)

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 30 May 2007, 18:08

Get an awning with a sleeping compartment and the draught is not an issue. We've got a Westy Pop Top and a7 month old, but no dogs. Even with the 2 of us we wouldn't go away for more than 1 night without putting up the awning.

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 30 May 2007, 18:28

We have two Cabanon tents which we use as awnings.
Small one for short stops, four berth one for longer stops.
Camped in Weymouth ovr the weekend in an isolated location and it rained bucket loads, high winds too.

Caravaners with awnings were on site and two awnings got blown away.
Our awning tent was dry and secure.
Warm in the sleeping compartment but breezy in the main area.
You could maybe stop on sites with electric hookup and put a blow heater in the tent.
Elderly GSD looks happy enough. We had one about 15 years ago, died at the age of 9 with hip problems, legs went.
Everyone who met him for the first time was scared of hime because he was Huge. Wouldn't hurt a fly though.

Post by **trickydicky** » 30 May 2007, 18:57

Where can I get these awnings and what should I expect to pay?
If you look carefully at the Avator their are two dogs

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 30 May 2007, 19:03

Sorry, didn't mean to mislead you.
We use a freestanding Cabanon frame tent as an awning, the van being parked up close to it near the sun canopy. So, it's not connected to the van as such, but far better quality than any awning I have ever seen.
Pricewise, anything upwards of £350 depending on model but about £500 is right for a four berth version.
Lasts for years, just not connected to the van.

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 30 May 2007, 19:05

I just thought it was a two headed GSD

Our one had a massive sized head, no brain inside it though.

Post by **trickydicky** » 30 May 2007, 19:11

To be fair two heads one brain, the boys a bit thick. Parked up at Oxford services on Tuesday and he decided he would tell the Police GSD walking past who was boss

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 30 May 2007, 19:21

Our one was a police dog reject, he was too friendly and too thick.
We got him when he was 9 months old, he had done the training for disarming a man with a stick .................
Wave a stick in the air and he would grab it and never let go.
Only thing was, if you told him a small tree was a stick he would grab it and try and fetch it you, could go for a walk, leave him attached to a small tree and go back and collect him 30 minutes later

Post by **trickydicky** » 30 May 2007, 19:39

If of interest my wife is involved with a charity that specifically looks after GSD's the web site is http://www.gsd2000.com/ hope it brings back happy memorys.

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 30 May 2007, 20:03

Looks like a load of good work going on there.
Dalmations have a thriving rescue network as well.
People only often see them as the cuddly Disney dog, very bad mistake.
Four stones worth of strong willed permanently coat shedding animal that likes to run in excess of 7 miles per day given the chance, soon sorts out the fairytail. Unfortunately it's the dogs that suffer when reality hits home.
But, like GSDs Dalmations can make very faithful friends with the correct handling.

Hope all goes well with the awning search.

Post by **trickydicky** » 30 May 2007, 20:22

Sorry no offence to Dalmations (I cringed in horror when the Disney film was remade) but wife brownie points for the GSD link.
As this thread has bounced of in a new direction their will be a dog show in aid of the GSD's on the 2nd September in Cheltenham all breeds welcome!
P.M. for more info if you or anyone fancy the drive for a top family day out.

Post by **lloyd** » 30 May 2007, 22:42

dalmationman wrote:Our one was a police dog reject, he was too friendly and too thick.
We got him when he was 9 months old, he had done the training for disarming a man with a stick .................
Wave a stick in the air and he would grab it and never let go.
Only thing was, if you told him a small tree was a stick he would grab it and try and fetch it you, could go for a walk, leave him attached to a small tree and go back and collect him 30 minutes later

I just blew beer out my nose on that one!! Instead of pointing down and saying "stay!" you point at tree and say "stick!" ... and he "sticks" to it.

Can't stop myself

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 31 May 2007, 06:56

That was exactly the way it worked.
I can never forget the number of times when he was being walked in the woods and some poor unsuspecting person would pick up a stick to throw for their dog, or a child would pick up a stick to wave around in the air.
The first thing they would see was a gigantic GSD running towards them at full pelt followed by manic shouts from us of "put down the stick!!!!!! "
Even more funny was when he would pick up a 6ft long branch and balance it between his jaws before running around with it, taking out anybodys legs who got in the way !
Trying to get him off the stick to put him bck in the car involved lifting his body off the ground, by the stick, until eventually his jaws gave way, followed by grabbing his colar and throwing the stick before he got chance for a second grab at it, or substituting gthe stick for a smaller one that would fit in the car.
Now, wabing two sticks at him at once used to cause distress, he would cry because he couldn't decide which one to get

Completely brainless, but lovable oaf.