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[Bigron]

It’s a long story, but I have a caravan in storage on a site near Wareham, Dorset. It has been in storage for a couple of years due to a combination of health and financial difficulties which prevented me from enjoying it on pitch for leisure.
The site (Lookout Holiday Park) has been taken over, and the new owner wants most caravans removed from the site by April 1st. this year.
The biggest problem I have is that I no longer have any means of towing it back home to Witham, Essex – about 180 mile trip.
I realise this is a big ask, but could anyone help, or suggest a solution, please?
I have not had much notice from the new owner to arrange removal/transport to my home.

Ron.

[Kate]

Have you tried Shiply Ron?

[Bigron]

Who or what is Shiply, Kate?

Ron.

[biggriffin]

Cant you do it Kate with your new estate, I can even sell you a detachable towbar, £50 collected.

So drive up to hoof'land, get towbar, then drive to Essex, pickup Ron, then drive to Dorset'shire, see sir tiggers, pick up pikey house
 , drive back to Essex, then back home.... 
Keep you bizzy,

[Lazydocker]

PM me Ron

[Entwood]

Might be able to help .. depending on size/weight of van (max 1700Kgs) .. and .. might "seem" an odd question .. but has the van "moved" in the "couple of years in storage" ?? If it has not .. then the brakes might well need looking at before it is towed any distance as they have a tendency to seize if not used periodically ... quite common for them to be corroded "on" if the handbrake is left on for a few months .. let alone years ...

If it is all working then for the price of a couple of tanks of LPG ........ 

[Lazydocker]

Might be able to help .. depending on size/weight of van (max 1700Kgs) .. and .. might "seem" an odd question .. but has the van "moved" in the "couple of years in storage" ?? If it has not .. then the brakes might well need looking at before it is towed any distance as they have a tendency to seize if not used periodically ... quite common for them to be corroded "on" if the handbrake is left on for a few months .. let alone years ...

If it is all working then for the price of a couple of tanks of LPG ........ 

Basically my questions too Nige. Plus state of tyres etc... But, in reality, it might be more cost effective to use a site like Shiply/Uship to get it done instead of round trip for one of us. Alternatively, we might be able to "Relay" it if that's easier too

[TheBoy]

Might be able to help .. depending on size/weight of van (max 1700Kgs) .. and .. might "seem" an odd question .. but has the van "moved" in the "couple of years in storage" ?? If it has not .. then the brakes might well need looking at before it is towed any distance as they have a tendency to seize if not used periodically ... quite common for them to be corroded "on" if the handbrake is left on for a few months .. let alone years ...

If it is all working then for the price of a couple of tanks of LPG ........ 

I guess tyres are probably worthy of good inspection as well?

[Entwood]

Might be able to help .. depending on size/weight of van (max 1700Kgs) .. and .. might "seem" an odd question .. but has the van "moved" in the "couple of years in storage" ?? If it has not .. then the brakes might well need looking at before it is towed any distance as they have a tendency to seize if not used periodically ... quite common for them to be corroded "on" if the handbrake is left on for a few months .. let alone years ...

If it is all working then for the price of a couple of tanks of LPG ........ 

Basically my questions too Nige. Plus state of tyres etc... But, in reality, it might be more cost effective to use a site like Shiply/Uship to get it done instead of round trip for one of us. Alternatively, we might be able to "Relay" it if that's easier too

Now thats  a decent thought if it is ok tyres/brakes/lights wise ...

[Entwood]

Might be able to help .. depending on size/weight of van (max 1700Kgs) .. and .. might "seem" an odd question .. but has the van "moved" in the "couple of years in storage" ?? If it has not .. then the brakes might well need looking at before it is towed any distance as they have a tendency to seize if not used periodically ... quite common for them to be corroded "on" if the handbrake is left on for a few months .. let alone years ...

If it is all working then for the price of a couple of tanks of LPG ........ 

I guess tyres are probably worthy of good inspection as well?

Good thought 

[Bigron]

Thanks for your thoughts, Mr. Entwood.
In more detail, I doubt if it has been moved much whilst in storage, so you could be right. My plan is/was to go to the caravan site on Friday (18th. March) and inspect the caravan for water damage, as I did some major repair work 3 years ago, replacing ALL the front end timbers and sealed/proofed things, which then made it fine for the last time I visited - but I need to check again this time, obviously.
If the caravan is sound, it is worth recovering home, but otherwise it would really be a write-off, sadly.
Site management cannot be asked to inspect and report on any damge for me, but they will have at least moved it onto a pitch before I get there.
Forgive me for not responding fror a while as I now have to go and keep a hospital appointment - signs of old age creeping on!
Similarly to Lazydocker, I'll PM you later, but the extra detail here might help?

Ron.

[Lazydocker]

Yes Ron. We need to know its roadworthy and safe for the trip (obviously) and it's worth getting a couple of quotes for a shipper to move it, although they won't treat it with as much care.

[Entwood]

I'm away from 24-28 March, but other than then, as I don't work I should be able to help if needed .. here to Wareham is just under 2 hours IIRC 

[05omegav6]

Perhaps Terbert or Sir Tig might be able to assist with the pre inspection both are local and have caravan experience 

[Nick W]

Might be able to help .. depending on size/weight of van (max 1700Kgs) .. and .. might "seem" an odd question .. but has the van "moved" in the "couple of years in storage" ?? If it has not .. then the brakes might well need looking at before it is towed any distance as they have a tendency to seize if not used periodically ... quite common for them to be corroded "on" if the handbrake is left on for a few months .. let alone years ...

If it is all working then for the price of a couple of tanks of LPG ........ 

I guess tyres are probably worthy of good inspection as well?

Tyres, brakes and wheel bearings. Any of those failing leaves a trail of kindling and often a damaged towcar.
The recovery driver won't be happy either, as it will mean finding his broom