Motorhome

[packardbell]

we are hiring a motorhome for our summer holiday this year in the UK...can anyone send us some tips on how to have a worry free holiday? are they easy to cook in ? are they easy to understand all the water / gas/ electrics.

hope to hear from anyone soon

[KARL]

Assuming the motorhome is reasonably modern, you will be pleasantly surprised how comfortable they are. You should be issued with an instruction manual on how to use it sensibly and safely. The main thing is to check all external connections are undone and cables, etc. stowed and not left behind, gas turned off and doors, hatches, windows etc. secured before driving off, as well as closing drawers, cupboards, etc. and stowing loose items. If a check list is not provided then make up one of your own. The electricity side of things is largely automatic, there being little chance of running down the accommodation battery and none at all of draining the motor starter battery. The gas system works rather like a domestic one except that you have a bottled supply which is finite.

[VHG]

Surely the people who are renting it to you will explain how it all works.

It is in their interests to make sure you know what you are doing or you may wreck their motorhome.

If you dont understand after the first explanation then ask them to explain it agan before you drive off in it.

[Andyvon]

Hi packardbell,

We are British and we had a two week holiday in a camper (a small motor home) here several years ago. We toured Scotland and northern England.

You might be following a pre-planned route or just pottering around ending up wherever you find yourself. Either way, there are many camp sites all around Britain where you can stop overnight. Most sites are surprisingly modern with facilities to hook your motorhome up to electricity, water, toilets and gas. Most sites now have a central building with showers, laundry, a shop, bar, restaurant etc. Camping sites are well-marked on almost all road maps and they also indicated along the road by Brown Signs (tourist signs which are brown in colour).

Road and town/city maps are easy to find in most newsagents, supermarkets and service stations around the country. Compared to somewhere like Australia or the USA and you can reach most places in the UK in just a few hours. Wherever you are you will have no trouble finding maps and overnight campgrounds.

Do bring lots of money though. The UK is one of the most expensive countries in the world and the cost of food and fuel has become horrendous. If you are travelling for a couple of weeks then you will spend a great deal of money fuelling a motorhome, especially if you are used to the low cost of fuel in the US or Australia (they might think their fuel's expensive but it's nothing compared to here!). You might like to bring a coat too as the UK is known for it's rain. The wettest month of the year is August but we do get lovely weather too - it's just pot luck.

Hope you have a great time.