Motorhome

pat1cp

I'm considering investing in one over the winter in preparation for next year. Being completely new to the whole thing (caravanning etc.) can anyone offer any tips, do's/don'ts etc..

Just Myself, the wife and a young son so I'm probably looking at a four berth.

Should I get a LHD ??

nick hanson

If you've plenty of spare cash,they seem an ok idea.
People we've spoken to on various rallys recon they're not as practical as first impressions seem.Cost of insuring,taxing & MOT ing.
When you are on a site,you've got to pack all up if you want to go sightseeing.
If you recon you can manage with a small van,& wont need a car as well,then not too bad an idea,but do bear in mind that they will cost more to run (fuel ) than a car.
We manage with a largish trailertent (with a built in fridge).
Takes about as much time to put up as most people take to fully set up a caravan,plus on the continent you can tow at car speeds without the drag.
Same as anything really,if you've got the cash,you can make an argument to suit any of the above options,van,caravan,trailer tent or tent with all the gear (we have done the tent & all the gear in a trailer option before & works well)
Happy camping!

Buggi

The one thing someone told me, is you hook it up at a caravan site to the electrics then you have to unhook it if you want to drive anywhere (i.e. to the local shop) so it's a bit of a pain in the arse. so you either need a smart car too, or get a caravan and car.

mossycp

My parents have a brand new Astria (I think that's what it is) based on a Renault Ducato. They go away a lot in it. Basically when they get to a site that's where it stays. They carry bikes on the back so can travel most place by bike but if you want to go longer distance away from the site then either public transport or hire a car. I guess you would have a motorhome in addition to the family car? A decent motorhome is not cheap

The benefits of a motorhome are mainly that you can park up quickly, hook up to electric and water and you're set. A caravan needs to be levelled, the awning put up, things unpacked etc. before you can do anything. I would say that if you like spending time touring around, i.e. only spending a few nights in each place then a motorhome is better, whereas if you go to a site and then stay there for the duration a caravan is probably better. I guess it's a different mindset when you go with a motorhome i.e. if you want to go to the local shops you use bikes or shanks pony.

Why would you consider a LHD unless you are travelling on the continent most of the time?

pat1cp

mossycp wrote:

My parents have a brand new Astria (I think that's what it is) based on a Renault Ducato. They go away a lot in it. Basically when they get to a site that's where it stays. They carry bikes on the back so can travel most place by bike but if you want to go longer distance away from the site then either public transport or hire a car. I guess you would have a motorhome in addition to the family car? A decent motorhome is not cheap

The benefits of a motorhome are mainly that you can park up quickly, hook up to electric and water and you're set. A caravan needs to be levelled, the awning put up, things unpacked etc. before you can do anything. I would say that if you like spending time touring around, i.e. only spending a few nights in each place then a motorhome is better, whereas if you go to a site and then stay there for the duration a caravan is probably better. I guess it's a different mindset when you go with a motorhome i.e. if you want to go to the local shops you use bikes or shanks pony.

Why would you consider a LHD unless you are travelling on the continent most of the time?

Firstly thank you for the responses, much appreciated.

I intend doing most of my touring on the continent so I figured it would be easier driving LHD over here than RHD over there. We also have a young son so I thought the Motorhome experience would be nicer for him rather than being stuck in the back of a car towing a van.

To be honest, I'm fed up with airports. Everything is now such a chore. All because of a minority of nut jobs.

mossycp

OK, that's fair enough. Not sure whether it would be easier or not though so can't help with that one!

Don't dismiss touring the UK though, we have a wonderful country you know

It probably is nicer to be travelling in a motorhome than being stuck in a car towing a caravan, however, you still have to bear in mind the safety aspect so you will still have your son strapped into a seat in the motorhome. Just be aware that you don't just pop down to the shops, or investigate narrow country lanes, or small local attractions in a motorhome; they are big and cumbersome and very annoying when they take up half a dozen parking spaces! As a cyclist though, they are absolutely ideal for parking up and exploring things on bikes.

alan_sherman

There is a motorhome magazine that my parents get - loads of info in there on ideas for places to go, practicalities of touring abroad etc. Also there is the caravan and camping club. They may even have foums fo you to quiz.

LangerDan

One option that may be worth looking at is the small motorhomes such as the Mazda Bongo (!), Mercedes Marco Polo, VW California etc. They don't take up much more space than a car and are as easy to drive. True they don't have as much (well, any) internal living space when compared to some of the "proper" motohome, but we are considering one as a "day-van" that can be used to travel to permanent accommodation as well the odd overnight.