Anyone own a motorhome?

photostar_1

photostar_1

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Carole
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I am going to retire in the autumn of next year (2009) and we are considering traveling the UK and Europe, spending our kids inheritance. We like the idea of a motor home, but how practical are they in reality, what with rising fuel costs etc? What about narrow country lanes, accessing shops etc.....they must be a pain to manouvre and park etc in town centres.

My dream is to equip it with everything we could possibly need for our photography and just head off into the sunset. After cutting our teeth "doing" the UK and Europe, we would then head off to places further afield. Australia, NZ, USA etc. perhaps hiring RV's whilst there.

Any advice?

What vehicles to avoid would be a good starting point. Is there a "Canon" or "Nikon" of motor homes?
 
Ours a ford transit 4 berth motorhome

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We have no probs with manoeuvring it, you do need to pick your parking spots carefully, as for country roads well ours isn't that large, so its OK, although it has everything we need hot water stove fridge shower room 2 double beds, dining area electric hookup plenty of storage, a home from home ours is petrol we were thinking of having it converted to run on LPG

Why don't you hire one for a few days and see what you think, to give you a idea of if their right for you.

Our is quite old (1988) 20 years old, not bad looking for and oldie, we are having a new transit smiley face front bonnet, grill and lights, put on by our son and its going for a full re-spray in a few weeks

Dave
 
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I have had motorhomes ... and will again!

Best advice is to go to one of the major resellers where you can get inside a few of them. there are only a few basic layouts and deciding which one is for you is the first step to deciding. Then what do you want to take with you (apart from camera gear). Iff you want to take bikes securely then one with a "garage" is a good option. Then how big/good a kitchen/shower/toilet etc. Do you want to step-through easily from the cab ..... and so on..... and so on.

Lots of good makes out there. Some vehicle manufacturers will not warrant a vehicle that has had it's chassis altered by the converter so that's why you see lots of Fiat/Peugot homes with great layouts but not Mercedes. Although I believe some of the real top spec makers do have agreements (or can afford to warrant themselves). Hymer comes to mind.

HTH.
 
Next saturday I pickup a hire one from Lille and driving it to Benidorm. Cost just a little shy of 2k for 2 weeks .. I have always wanted to do what the OP suggests,, next week will either put me off or ....
 
Would love a 'real' motorhome, I can really see the attraction, my mate has a Hymer, I think it is Sprinter based but could be wrong, a few of the guys I have raced with have M/homes, converted large vans with all mod cons and they really could live in them - mind you last Summer I did alright with my std van, awning, gas BBQ, safari bed and power inverter - fantastic !
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Wouldn`t be without ours, best thing I have ever bought.Gives you so much freedom to do as you want when you want.

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photostar_1 said:
I am going to retire in the autumn of next year (2009)
My dream is to equip it with everything we could possibly need for our photography and just head off into the sunset. After cutting our teeth "doing" the UK and Europe, we would then head off to places further afield. Australia, NZ, USA etc. perhaps hiring RV's whilst there.
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That's my dream too (when I can afford to go that is)

I've had mine for nearly four years now and it gets used virtually every weekend including winter as well as annual holidays :) They are superb and I would agree that the key to suitability is finding the layout that you are most happy with. The only downside I've found is not having a car when pitched up as it's a pain packing it up for half an hours drive :D

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Splog said:
The only downside I've found is not having a car when pitched up as it's a pain packing it up for half an hours drive[/QUOTE


that is my main confusion with campervans, probably explains why you see so many motorhomes towing those crappy little korean cars around behind them on Aframes
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that is my main confusion with campervans, probably explains why you see so many motorhomes towing those crappy little korean cars around behind them on Aframes
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TBH I've never seen the point of towing a car with a motohome :thinking: If I was to do that I might as well get a caravan :D

Steve
 
whitewash said:
Splog said:
The only downside I've found is not having a car when pitched up as it's a pain packing it up for half an hours drive
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that is my main confusion with campervans, probably explains why you see so many motorhomes towing those crappy little korean cars around behind them on Aframes
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Pfft...do it the German way
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Splog said:
The only downside I've found is not having a car when pitched up as it's a pain packing it up for half an hours drive :D
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Ha ha once when we were in Cornwall we'd been pitched up a couple of days on a campsite with our wind breakers and table+benches and loungers set out, we decided to go for a run out so we just left them set out, when we returned after a couple of hours ,someone had moved in to our pitch and were using our table and stuff as theirs :bang: :lol::lol::lol:
 
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davenjulie said:
Ha ha once when we were in Cornwall we'd been pitched up a couple of days on a campsite with our wind breakers and table+benches and loungers set out, we decided to go for a run out so we just left them set out, when we returned after a couple of hours ,someone had moved in to our pitch and were using our table as theirs :bang: :lol::lol::lol:
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:lol: Bet they were German.... :exit:
 
On three occasions in the past we have seriously considered investing in a new motorhome, each time deciding against the idea after having a test drive, I could never drive one of those great huge things any distance.
There will not be a fourth visit to the showrooms as we have definitely gone off the idea for good.
One good thing to note is that they do hold their prices well compared to cars so you could do your dream,come home to roost and then sell it on.
 
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photostar_1 said:
Hmmmmm........what do others think....is a caravan a better idea?
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Only if you intend to blow it up before you go anywhere!! We had a caravan between motorhomes, they are great if you want to spend 2 weeks in one place. Motorhomes are for travelling, we used ours to travel about from place to place, which means we lived in the van, only putting a table and chairs outside, and maybe a sun brolly. They pack away in a few minutes and your on the move again. Most European town and cities will have specific motorhome parking areas, as will motorway and A road rest stops

Hymers are very nice, one of the better European vans with hardly any dusky pink velour and tapestry weave cushions....

I think most of the restrictions about parking will be in the UK where nobody seems to want a vehicle over 2m high in their car parks. Everywhere else in the world seems to value and encourage Motorhomers.

Good luck with your trip, we will be doing the same in 10 years

Allan
 
From what little I know they are boiling hot in summer, freezing cold in winter, and anyone else on the road will hate you. That said, we had a wonderful time in a hired one in New Zealand many years ago. In Spain you pay way less tax, so they are cheaper to have as a home, but I am not a traffic warden, as I don't want to be hated - for a similar reason, we do not have a mobile home..
Anyway, how come you are retiring so early ??
 
steveinspain said:
From what little I know they are boiling hot in summer, freezing cold in winter
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I've been to Spain over Christmas in the mountains in Northern Spain near Pamplona with temps around minus 10C and although chilly I was still comfortable enough :D

Steve

Just do it...... You'll love it :)
 
allanm said:
Only if you intend to blow it up before you go anywhere!! We had a caravan between motorhomes, they are great if you want to spend 2 weeks in one place. Motorhomes are for travelling, we used ours to travel about from place to place, which means we lived in the van, only putting a table and chairs outside, and maybe a sun brolly. They pack away in a few minutes and your on the move again. Most European town and cities will have specific motorhome parking areas, as will motorway and A road rest stops

Hymers are very nice, one of the better European vans with hardly any dusky pink velour and tapestry weave cushions....

I think most of the restrictions about parking will be in the UK where nobody seems to want a vehicle over 2m high in their car parks. Everywhere else in the world seems to value and encourage Motorhomers.

Good luck with your trip, we will be doing the same in 10 years

Allan
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Thanks, that's really useful advice.
 
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