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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

Motor homes

21 replies

Icelollycraving · 22/04/2013 08:06

Dh is looking at getting a motorhome. I need convincing,I liked our holidays at villas or all inclusives.
We did go to a show with them all but we never went ahead & purchased.
Does anyone have advice on them? Do you think they are a good holiday option?
There are just us & ds who is almost two.

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balia · 22/04/2013 19:59

I HATE them. They are cramped and uncomfortable, difficult to park and claustrophobic. It's just about bearable if the weather is nice but it so rarely is. And don't listen to any rubbish about being able to 'get in and go' you have to book campsites ages in advance (and the ones with decent facilities are expensive) and you have to take everything except the kitchen sink.

When DH went through his phase of wanting one we hired one for a few days. Best way of finding out if you really want one.

We're off to a villa again this year.

deste · 23/04/2013 22:08

We have one that we bought 4 years ago and we love it. We go to different places but you do have to fill it and empty it when you come home. We have a six berth with fixed bunks and two doubles. The isn't a lot of room so you have to be very organised but you can always sell it if you don't like it. Buy as big as you can afford, I couldn't stand being in a small cramped camper van. We still go abroad for our holidays every year but I am now contemplating buying a static.

Icelollycraving · 23/04/2013 22:47

Thanks. Dh likes the layout with the horseshoe seating at the back that turns into a bed for more space if that makes sense. He thinks more space,we don't need lots of beds.

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Milliways · 23/04/2013 23:02

We have one with a fixed double bed over a garage as I love not having to make the bed every night - but it is often just the 2 of us in it now.

We have had it for a year and done several short trips (going this weekend) but still have a holiday abroad booked with DS. Next year we are going to try just using it for all hols, and eventually want to take it to France. We have bikes and a canoe so if near water we are happy!

TBH, with a toddler I would prefer a decent tent and a car to make day trips with from a site. Now, I love a "proper" bed, fridge and heating

Icelollycraving · 23/04/2013 23:16

See my idea of a great holiday is sun,nice food & cocktails. We havent had a holiday since ds was born though. Dh says those holidays are done now I am the least camping/caravan kind of girl. I asked dh if I could plug my straighteners in

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Milliways · 23/04/2013 23:28

If you are on a site with EHU then yes you can :)

Nice food and cocktails you can pack, the sun? .........

Furball · 24/04/2013 07:06

We started caravaning 3 years ago and changed it for a motorhome last year - and LOVE it.

We try and go at least once a month and last year ventured over to France for a couple of weeks, which was brilliant fun.

For us, it gives us really good quality family time together, no distractions. Also ds (11) has met quite a few buddies at sites over the years.

We also take the bikes so explore about on those usually.

and yes you can take your straightners.

It might be an idea to buy a caravan which are obviously £££££'s cheaper to see how you get on?

Clara35 · 24/04/2013 07:07

My fil has a motorhome which we borrow & I love it! We have been to France Switzerland Belgium Luxembourg south of Ireland - places we wouldn't have been if we had stuck to package holidays. I love having a BBQ & glass of wine & kids can run about. Only downside is not having car to travel about once at campsite. Try it

Icelollycraving · 24/04/2013 08:58

We used to holiday in France a lot in villas. I think dh has visions of us whizzing off all the time. In reality I think it might be a week or two & a few weekends!

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colleysmill · 25/04/2013 19:54

In my family we've had a variety of campervans and motorhomes over the years and there have been good and bad points for all of them.

Motorhome wise we used my dads most recently until he decided to sell and we then bought our own camper.

I think the key to any van is finding a layout that works for your family - we liked the double bed over the cab - my sisters family hated it. I liked the bathroom layout but it was at the back and made reversing very hard visibility wise. I would go round lots to explore what you like and don't like but you will need to compromise on some things.

One thing I do prefer about our now (significantly!) Smaller van is the parking. We had to park very carefully in carparks to make sure we had a big enough swing to get out. Height can also be an issue to consider.

A slight word of caution though - my dad religiously had a habitation check (which I thought was a waste of time) but the last one showed rising damp and needed fixing to prevent problems.

Saying that we had lots of wonderful holidays in it all year round even when ds was teeny tiny (1st adventure at 15 weeks old)

LauraShigihara · 26/04/2013 16:05

We love motor home - we used to camp but are getting to old and set in our ways for roughing it any more.

Initially, I wasn't convinced and thought a caravan might be better but it's great. I had a lovely time kitting it all out like a little house with cushions and blankets and stuff. It has proper mugs and glasses to use, and duvets on the beds, and yes, I use the straighteners

And because it's an all in one thing, unlike a caravan, we can take it out for days. We have left home at the crack of dawn and had bacon butties and naice coffee in all sorts of lovely places and are back home in time for dinner.

We chose a small one for better parking and if, we are away for a few days in this country, I usually drive the car as well, because we find it more convenient. But plenty of motohomers don't bother with a car or take bikes instead.

Icelollycraving · 26/04/2013 16:34

I like the idea of bacon sandwiches out & about! Did ask dh if we can take the coffee machine with us :)

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LauraShigihara · 26/04/2013 16:37

We cooked bacon and egg muffins overlooking the beach last Saturday! You can't do that in a caravan or a tent...

deste · 26/04/2013 19:27

We have the electric blanket set up in the van at the moment.

LauraShigihara · 26/04/2013 20:30

Ooh posh

We have hot water bottles.

Icelollycraving · 26/04/2013 22:31

Not feeling as opposed to it as I was. We were going to have a look at some this weekend but work calls now. Will let you know I we join the club!

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deste · 27/04/2013 14:51

I agree that the u shaped seating is a good idea. You also need to look at storage space. We have two wardrobes and a garage underneath the bunk beds for carrying the BBQ wind break chairs etc. I also wish I had a full oven but have only two rings plus electric kettle and toaster. We do have a George Foreman but never use it. You learn to be very inventive.

LoveSewingBee · 01/05/2013 20:50

We love our motorhome but do find it quite expensive (fuel, insurance, regular service, winter storage - it really pays off to keep it in a heated garage during the winter etc.).

We found that we couldn't leave stuff like towels/bedding/clothes in when not in use as it becomes a little too damp and smelly.

We love to have our own toilet and shower. If the camping is nice and clean we use the shower there but especially for the kids often use the shower in the camper.

We have a small portable oven which we store away when not in use but still enables us to make pizzas etc. when we want. Also, we had a brilliant fully automatic satellite system installed, which is worth every penny.

If you decide to buy a camper I would like to recommend installing a smoke alarm and even more important, a carbon monoxide alarm given that the heating, water heating, fridge and cooker all use gas (except when hooked up), also invest in levelling blocks if they don't come with the camper.

We leave kitchen stuff (including foodstuffs which do not need cooling), toys, tools (including food grade hose, levelling blocks, plastic boards for when you are stuck in the mud, buckets, cleaners etc. etc.) in the camper. This enables us to pack in about 1 hour and be on the road.

I think that especially with young kids it is nice as you can take more of their stuff with you and if the weather is bad you can still have a great time together.

Milliways · 01/05/2013 21:09

I do keep bedding etc in ours but it lives on our drive and when it gets really cold we leave it plugged in with a de-humidifier running or very low level heating tubes. We have to keep the overhead cab bed down though, or the bedding will get damp if it touches the roof. Over winter I strip the beds but leave the duvets on the bed and the covers in the wardrobe. All other camping stuff is stored in it's garage.

We have just come back from a fantastic few days on the Dorset coast and when the wind got up we moved inside, but sat outside where possible (when not walking the coastal path) and are off again next weekend and then the late May holiday w/e too.

ivykaty44 · 04/05/2013 22:44

I asked dh if I could plug my straighteners in?

Oh yes that is the beauty of a campervan

I take away a hair dryer, my dds take straighteners.

We got to the supermarket and buy ice cream and put straight into the freezer

We also have aircon which is fab when its 40 degrees in france and on electric we don't pay any extra air con stays on all night and we get a comfy sleep. In fact aircon is very nigh on my lists of cant live without

we have shower/loo room - the loo in the night is the best thing as ti is close

we have hot and cold running water and if we don't want to wash up then we put it in the bucket and do it in the morning - we eat out as well.

We take the lap top for films and internet - all the plugs in the campervan are the same as at home

we take bikes with us as we are keen cyclists so it works out well to get about when we arrive some where to use the bikes

we have a U shaped lounge that makes a double bed - a kitchen table with seats each side that makes a double bed and then the luton which is a very big double bed 7ft x7ft so a big bed - the passenger seat will swivel but never bother - as others have said though it is what suits yo so try and hire one to see how it goes then look around for ideas

Mother2many · 22/05/2013 16:07

Once I bought one, I LOVED it! Yes, you can just get up and go...everything is packed, except food.

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