Practical Motorhome - 20 top tips by Haymarket Consumer Media

advice

Advice Getting started

top 7 tips to get started in motorcaravanning

About to take your first steps into our fantastic pastime? We answer all your questions on licences, layouts and more

How big can you go? Consider what the largest ’van you can comfortably drive would be. How long is your drive at home and, if you plan to store the ’van under cover, how high is your garage or carport? If you live near country lanes, consider a narrower panel van conversion.

Where can I park? Check whether your home deed or lease has a covenant preventing you from keeping your ’van there. Ensure there are no parkingzone bylaws before you leave it at the kerb. Consider storage at a site. Visit www. motorhomeparking.co.uk for a comprehensive list of motorhome-friendly places to stop while on tour.

double Check your driving licence If you passed your test before 1 January 1997, you can drive a motorhome up to 7500kg on your B+C1 licence. When you reach 70, you must submit a medical form to renew your licence to continue driving a ’van over

To drive a heavy ’van, you must have a C1 licence 3500kg, and do this every three years. Those who passed their tests after 1 January 1997 must pass a C1 test to drive a ’van heavier than 3500kg.

Choose the right layout for you Look at different floor plans and consider how many belted travel seats and sleeping berths you need, whether you need a shower and a toilet, a fixed-bed or one you make up. Consider

Trying a hired motorhome before you buy could help prevent costly mistakes

96 | Summer Special 2014 | www.practicalmotorhome.com

Motorhome-specific insurance cover is a must

those who are experienced and know exactly what they’re looking for. Buying new or pre-owned from a local dealer will ensure you have a warranty, which will offer some peace of mind.

how your circumstances may change in the next few years. Read our annual Owner Satisfaction Awards (April, p70) to find out the best brands of new and used motorhomes, and the best supplying dealers.

Separate ‘likes’ from ‘must-haves’ Draw up a shortlist of preferences – any motorhome ‘must-haves’ (belted seats, beds over 6ft) and ‘would-benices’ (microwave, reversing camera). Be prepared to compromise on the wouldbe-nices, but not the musthaves. Draw up another shortlist, this time of ’vans.

Where to buy? The best prices for pre-owned motorhomes will be available to those buying privately or from an auction; but this is only an option for

Visit a show Motorhome shows are great for shopping around for a first ’van. Having a host of models in one place makes it easy to compare similar ones. Also, you’ll usually be in a good position to negotiate a deal (read our blog at http://po.st/DfmGvJ). Similarly, large dealerships may offer a selection of new and pre-owned models.

Try before you buy Rent a motorhome with the same (or similar) layout to the one you’re considering (p98). Find out how it suits your practical requirements; a number of dealerships offer try-before-you-buy discounts if you go on to purchase from them.

Take a test drive If you’re buying used, take a thorough test drive, ideally on a mix of open and urban roads. Make up the beds and lie on them, and ensure that all the components (heating, water systems, 12V electrics) work as they should.

Sort out your finances Regardless of whether you pay for your motorhome out of savings, a retirement lump sum, equity release or finance, set a budget and stick to it!

and study any breakdown cover offered as part of the policy. Are there limits on the size of the vehicle that can be recovered? Get the ’van’s contents covered, too.

Start by going local Don’t head out on an epic adventure for your first trip in your new pride and joy. Be prepared to discover the odd niggle and to return to your dealer to get it fixed under warranty. Some will encourage you to spend your first night at their on-site pitch with hook-up; it’s a sensible option.

Where to stay in the UK The BH&HPA Holiday Parks Guide lists more than 2000 independent sites; it came free of charge with the April 2014 issue of the magazine. Also, our Top 100 Sites Guide, whose listings are based on voting by our readers, is a must-read; it was

free with our May issue. The Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club have their own site networks. Our website, www.caravansitefinder. co.uk, is ideal for researching sites by region and user rating; you can even book pitches on selected sites.

Where to stay on a budget Both clubs have comprehensive networks of minimum-facility, five–pitch CS/CLs (certificated sites/ locations). They also offer cheap temporary holiday sites, which can run for a number of weeks and cost just a few pounds a night. And don’t forget our own Nightstop network of safe, legal stopovers (p21).

your First trip abroad Beginners nervous about touring abroad for the first time should consider going on an escorted tour

Get the right insurance cover Take out a dedicated motorhome policy, and go fully comprehensive. Check age limits for policyholders,

hook-up to electricity, take on fresh water and drain down waste and toilet tanks. Aires and their equivalents outside France are listed in the comprehensive guides by Vicarious Books. Caravan Europe volumes are also worth taking on tour.

The touring lifestyle is very civilised and takes some beating!

Go independent on the Continent Those who would prefer to travel independently around mainland Europe should consider using Camping Cheques (Alan Rogers) and Touring Cheques (Select Sites). These offer low-cost camping during the low season.

Search for sites by region at www.caravansitefinder.co.uk with the likes of GB Privilege or Exclusive Wine Tours. The main clubs also offer their own versions, while booking your ferry crossings and touring sites, and giving other help in advance. Take your V5C (logbook), MoT and insurance certificates when you go abroad, along with a high-vis jacket, beam deflectors, warning triangle and first-aid kit. Double-check each country’s requirements before you go.

Save euros abroad Many Continental countries offer a low-cost network of stopovers suitable for motorhomes. In France they’re known as aires; in Germany they’re stellplätze. They’re safe and legal, and for a few euros you’ll be able to

Which accessories must i have? At the very least you should take toilet chemicals, grip mats, levelling ramps, a CO detector, a fire extinguisher, a torch, camping chairs and a basic toolkit for simple repairs and maintenance.

Stick to the limit In the UK, ’vans with an unladen weight of more than 3050kg are restricted to 50mph on single carriageways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 70mph on motorways. Spain recently enacted a €500 fine for going 1km above the limit. Read more about this at http://po.st/5QHQdX.

Belt-up on board Laws mandating the wearing of seat belts in the rear of motorhomes can seem confusing. Motorhomes first registered on or after 20 October 2007 must have belts for front- and rear-facing travel berths. If a belt is fitted, it must be worn.