Things to consider before buying your first Motorhome.

With the appearance of the recent pandemic, and the resulting restrictions on overseas travel, an astounding 36% of Brits went on their first motorhome holiday in 2020.

But with top of the range models costing anything between £50,000 and £100,000, it may be wise to get the low down before taking the plunge and investing in what will probably be, your biggest investment after your home.

It’s easy to romanticize the idea of motorhoming.

‘We can take off whenever we feel the urge’

‘It will be so cosy’

‘We will save a fortune on holidays’

In reality, it’s a little more chaotic and a lot more hard work than it seems.

The idea of hitting the open road and stopping whenever the mood takes you, is not quite as simple as it should be. Make sure you’re prepared for every eventuality; are you ready?

PREPARATION: Get to know your motorhome. The best way to do this is to spend a night on your drive.

• Practice making up the beds. The first time converting seating areas to sleeping areas can be a bit tricky.
• Work out how to use your hot water and heating system. Will you need to pack extra blankets for the winter?
• Fill up with water and make sure you know how to open your waste valve.
• It’s not the nicest job, but it is essential. Work out how to remove and empty the toilet cassette. It sounds simple, but it can be messy if you’re not careful.
• Take a shower. Short and sharp. It’s all about conserving water and energy.

PLANNING: Planning your trip, even loosely, will make the experience much less stressful. Here are some things to consider;

• Local Authorities are increasingly becoming opposed to overnight parking and installing height and width barriers in their car parks. If you are planning on staying ‘off-grid’ then you will need to plan ahead. Apps such as www.searchforsites.co.uk and www.park4night.com are a great resource for finding public motorhome and camper parking.
• With the rise in ‘staycations’, many campsites require pre-booking. At peak times, often months in advance. Depending on the season, think about whether it is wise to book a grass pitch as opposed to hardstanding. Getting stuck in the mud is no fun!
• How long can you stay ‘off grid’ without having to empty the toilet, fill up with water or re-charge the leisure battery. Think about booking a campsite every few days in order to use their facilities.
• Know the dimensions of your vehicle and display them clearly on your windscreen/dashboard. You do not want to be performing a U-Turn with a queue of traffic behind you when you come across a low bridge! There are GPS apps that are specially designed for large vehicles and trucks such as www.sygic.com. Download one before you head off.

PACKING: Pack light but sensibly. You will need to add kitchenware as well as bedding, clothing and outdoor gear such as camping chairs, but don’t go overboard. Only pack what you will need. In addition, you will need some motorhome essentials;

• 230v electric cable with 13a adapter for electric hook up points.
• Hose and adapter for refilling water.
• Gas bottles. Depending on the size of your storage cupboard, take a spare. It’s not always easy to find the right size when you’re on the road.
• Tools -Screwdrivers, a spanner for removing gas bottles, spare fuses.
• Levelling ramps for uneven pitches. Not only is being parked on a slope uncomfortable, it can also affect the performance of your fridge.
• Battery operated lights. Fairy lights are a great source of low energy lighting and your most precious commodity is your 12v battery supply. If you are going to be staying off-grid with no EHU, interior lights are the biggest drain on your leisure battery. Use battery lights whenever possible.

BEFORE SETTING OFF: Check, check, and check again. Invariably, no matter how many times you do it, there will always be something that you’ve missed. There isn’t a motorhome owner in the world that can say they have never had a door or drawer swing open when they go round their first corner.

• Lock down all cupboards, doors and electric point cover.
• Switch off the gas supply.
• Check that the fridge control is set to 12v.
• Secure anything that could move in transit and pad anything that can rattle with tea-towels etc. Rattling glasses in transit is enough to drive you insane.
• Check that your satellite dish and aerial are down.

…..and you’re off…..

ON ARRIVAL: Whether you’re staying on a campsite or off-grid, there are a few things to remember when you get there;

• Upon arrival at a campsite with electric hook up, connect your cable and change the fridge control to 230v. If there is no EHU, switch on your gas supply and change the fridge control to gas. Never leave the fridge connected to 12v when you’re stationary. It will drain your leisure battery within an hour.
• Even when you are connected to 230v mains electric, don’t overload it with anything which provides heat. Electric kettles, hairdryers and microwaves use a lot of power, and you don’t want to be searching for the campsite fuse-box in your pyjamas.
• If you’re staying off-grid, don’t drive into a space. Always park with your front facing outwards so you can make a quick getaway if you need to.
• If your motorhome has an awning, beware of wind. Keep a close eye on the weather and roll it in if it becomes particularly windy. A flyaway awning can cause a lot of damage.

And if all of that hasn’t yet put you off, then you may just be ready for your first adventure.

Happy Motorhoming!

https://www.webuyanymotorcaravan.com/how-to-buy-your-first-motorhome-the-ultimate-guide/