Abbey gts 416 2008 first time buyers

Si-monogram · 26th February 2016, 06:21

Hi guys and gals. We've decided to buy a caravan and on our budget and layout requirements, the abbey gts 416 gives us the best layout for our needs. However, we are complete virgins to this caravan lark and wanted to know once we've bought the van, apart from servicing, is there anything else we need to keep on top of during ownership? We have a td4 landy to tow it.

Cheers

ashleywood.ash · 26th February 2016, 10:10

Welcome to caravaning.

Routine maintenance/service. Check tyres are 8ply and these are suppose to be changed every 5-7 years.

Through winter ensure all tanks are empty, I also open cupboards leave taps open and lift cushions to aid air circulation and prevent mould.

Abbey are fibreglass as oppose to aluminium so check for cracks.

Get breakdown cover, the freelander definately needs it😂😂

Si-monogram · 26th February 2016, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashleywood.ash

Welcome to caravaning.

Routine maintenance/service. Check tyres are 8ply and these are suppose to be changed every 5-7 years.

Through winter ensure all tanks are empty, I also open cupboards leave taps open and lift cushions to aid air circulation and prevent mould.

Abbey are fibreglass as oppose to aluminium so check for cracks.

Get breakdown cover, the freelander definately needs it😂😂

Lol, the freelander is a good truck. Been greenlaning in it for a while now and it's always done well. Even towing out the big boys in their defenders!

wmick · 27th February 2016, 15:04

I've got an Abbey GTS 214 and it does fine for us. It's also light enough to be easily towed by our 75s.
I store it at home and because it's ancient, 1993, and has a few leaks, I park it slightly nose down. No water ingress even during the heavy rain around Christmas.
Also, try to get a hookup so that you can leave your battery on charge all the time, flat batteries freeze and split, not a good experience and expensive to replace.

Mick

RPWC · 27th February 2016, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashleywood.ash

Welcome to caravaning.

Routine maintenance/service. Check tyres are 8ply and these are suppose to be changed every 5-7 years.

Through winter ensure all tanks are empty, I also open cupboards leave taps open and lift cushions to aid air circulation and prevent mould.

This is what I do ,if it's going t stand for a while during the winter,move t back and forward a few times a couple of times during the standing period,helps to stop the tyres getting flat spots,. Another thing I do is once in a while put the heating on for about 10 minutes, all helps to prevent damp ingress.

Si-monogram · 28th February 2016, 03:56

Many thanks for the advise guys. It'll be going into storage on a farm undercover local to me so I can visit whenever to do routine checks etc. In fact, chris65, a member on here lives not 3 miles from me and has a caravan in the same place so I'm sure we can help each other out in terms of keeping an eye on each others vans.

Many thanks.

kc13661 · 28th February 2016, 17:46

Two things, if getting a service use a reputable caravan engineer, Get in touch with the Approved Workshop Scheme for a list of current approved engineers.

Also if standing buy some moisture traps, all caravans suffer a build up of moisture when stood, this is due to condensation in an enclosed space.
something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-X-DEHUMI...sAAOSw-zxWofGp

jackatesme · 1st March 2016, 14:29

A bit of advice i was given,when emptying tanks run a weak mixture of antifreeze through pipes.

Mark060457 · 3rd March 2016, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR190

Many thanks for the advise guys. It'll be going into storage on a farm undercover local to me so I can visit whenever to do routine checks etc. In fact, chris65, a member on here lives not 3 miles from me and has a caravan in the same place so I'm sure we can help each other out in terms of keeping an eye on each others vans.

Many thanks.

You say you are storing it on a farm ,one little other recommendation is to cover up all the little inlets into the van,we had an experience when ours was in storage of MICE getting into the van and chewed a few things,but have heard from a few other people that they have totally destroyed things,and eaten thru pipes and electrics

26th February 2016, 06:21	#1
Si-monogram Banned MG ZTT TYPHOON 180, PPD 75 CDTI 160, METRO 1.3 A+, ABARTH TURISMO 595, MG ZS V6, 75 duotone tourer Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Kenilworth Posts: 1,498 Thanks: 448 Thanked 405 Times in 284 Posts	Abbey gts 416 2008 first time buyers Hi guys and gals. We've decided to buy a caravan and on our budget and layout requirements, the abbey gts 416 gives us the best layout for our needs. However, we are complete virgins to this caravan lark and wanted to know once we've bought the van, apart from servicing, is there anything else we need to keep on top of during ownership? We have a td4 landy to tow it. Cheers

28th February 2016, 17:46	#7
kc13661 I really should get out more....... Freelander Td4 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gateshead Posts: 2,332 Thanks: 704 Thanked 909 Times in 419 Posts	Two things, if getting a service use a reputable caravan engineer, Get in touch with the Approved Workshop Scheme for a list of current approved engineers. Also if standing buy some moisture traps, all caravans suffer a build up of moisture when stood, this is due to condensation in an enclosed space. something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-X-DEHUMI...sAAOSw-zxWofGp __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Growing old is compulsory.... Growing up is Optional

26th February 2016, 10:10	#2
ashleywood.ash Loves to post ZT-T Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sheffield Posts: 475 Thanks: 0 Thanked 36 Times in 23 Posts	Welcome to caravaning. Routine maintenance/service. Check tyres are 8ply and these are suppose to be changed every 5-7 years. Through winter ensure all tanks are empty, I also open cupboards leave taps open and lift cushions to aid air circulation and prevent mould. Abbey are fibreglass as oppose to aluminium so check for cracks. Get breakdown cover, the freelander definately needs it😂😂

27th February 2016, 15:04	#4
wmick Avid contributor R75 Club Tourer CDT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Craven Arms Posts: 135 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 16 Posts	I've got an Abbey GTS 214 and it does fine for us. It's also light enough to be easily towed by our 75s. I store it at home and because it's ancient, 1993, and has a few leaks, I park it slightly nose down. No water ingress even during the heavy rain around Christmas. Also, try to get a hookup so that you can leave your battery on charge all the time, flat batteries freeze and split, not a good experience and expensive to replace. Mick

28th February 2016, 03:56	#6
Si-monogram Banned MG ZTT TYPHOON 180, PPD 75 CDTI 160, METRO 1.3 A+, ABARTH TURISMO 595, MG ZS V6, 75 duotone tourer Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Kenilworth Posts: 1,498 Thanks: 448 Thanked 405 Times in 284 Posts	Many thanks for the advise guys. It'll be going into storage on a farm undercover local to me so I can visit whenever to do routine checks etc. In fact, chris65, a member on here lives not 3 miles from me and has a caravan in the same place so I'm sure we can help each other out in terms of keeping an eye on each others vans. Many thanks.

1st March 2016, 14:29	#8
jackatesme This is my second home rover 75 saloon.Renault Captur 1.5 diesel. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: rhymney Posts: 3,661 Thanks: 2,269 Thanked 1,242 Times in 702 Posts	A bit of advice i was given,when emptying tanks run a weak mixture of antifreeze through pipes.