Motorhome questions/tips please

[Alabasterangel6]

Probably should post this in camping but just after traffic for now. We’re off on our first (hired) motorhome holiday on Saturday and although we’re well seasoned campers this is our first time on wheels.

Just after any essential tips really.....if you’ve got a motorhome what couldn’t you do without?

Kids are belted into seats in the dining area but the van does have a TV and DVD player. Can you run the DVD player while in transit? We have portable DVD players for the car but they need a lighter socket. Just wondering if they can use the main DVD player on the long stretches of journey so they don’t kill each other?

Anything else I need to plan in advance?

Thanks

Im of no help - but where did you rent it from? is there a nationwide franchise?

We’re using a local company but there are nationals yes. I think Priory Rentals is one?

We let our grandchildren finish watching a DVD while travelling but I can't say that it's somethings that we'd do regularly. The fixings for the TV are not designed to be used when the van is moving and (with hindsight) it probably wasn't one of our better ideas.

Also if you're seasoned campers you probably have a list of must haves - pillows, corkscrew, etc. I find hamman towels good as they don't take up too much space and dry quickly.

I also have a silicone ice cube tray with a lid so I don't splash water everywhere when refilling. Make sure they explain water tank, pump, toilet and hot water systems to you as well as how to empty waste tanks

Hope you have a great trip

Are you touring round, or parking up and leaving it in situ for the duration??

We’re travelling to four sites over 10 days so a couple of 3 nights stops and then a mix breaking the journey up either way. One leg is a 5.5 hour drive hence the question about the DVDs. They are 8 and 10 and have basic tablets that do t have enough room to download a move on so they’ll have to kill each other quietly in the back while we travel. The rest is shorter legs.

Comes equipped with cutlery and so on but we have to take bedding and outdoor furniture so will take the camp chairs and table and portable bbq. Wondering where we put shoes - should I take a pop up basket to leave outside the door?

It will have some form of wardrobe so you could put shoes in there. We have a small shoe cupboard under ours. Does it have a garage under the rear bed accessible from outside - this is wear we keep wellies etc. But a basket under the van could work. We limit ourselves to 1 pair of trainers, 1 pair of sandals and wellies. Slippers and flip flops stay in the van. Without knowing what van it is it's difficult to advise on storage as there are so many variations. Some vans have good under seat storage and the more expensive ones have little hidden cubbyholes built into the floors

Take a "shoe box" low enough to go under the van to keep them dry if it rains
Doormat.
Small spirit level as the fridge won't work well if the van isn't level.
If the beds are not fixed and so need erecting every time you move then sleeping bags will be quicker.
Rubber gloves for dealing with the Elsan
A really good map. Don't rely on sat nav which may take you along unsuitable roads. Make sure you know the height and width of the van and keep an eye on bridge heights and widths. Passenger needs to keep an eye on the route.
Unless you are accustomed to driving large vehicles have a practice reversing and manoeuvring before hitting the road.
Make sure the van company give you a good tour of the vehicle and how everything works.
Any time you set off to drive do a checklist. EHU disconnected, TV antenna put down, gas turned off, fridge turned to battery power.
Site wardens and fellow Motorhomers will be friendly and helpful if you have any problems.
I hope you have a lovely time, we love our MOHO!
Where are you going?

Ah that’s great tips and quite different to my camping ones. I’ll swap the wellies and flip flops to a plastic box!! We’re going UP - west coast Scotland up trough the highlands to some hopefully beautiful coast.

I am packing smidge!!

Beautiful area.
I'd take antihistamines as well as Smidge, we were up there last year and the little varmints wear big boots on the west coast, let's hope it's windy!
Another thought-we never drink the water from the internal tank, so take plenty of water for drinking, making tea and coffee and cooking, it is probably safe but tastes horrid. It's fine for washing, cleaning teeth etc.
You can refill on campsites with fresh water.

It's the right time of year for haggis spotting, they are usually high up on the hills in August.

The motor home we hired was really noisy on the road as they provided china plates, mugs and proper glasses so they rattled as we drove along. We put a layer of kitchen paper between each plate and it stopped the noise. The same for the saucepans. If you have bottles of squash, wine, water etc those cardboard wine holders from the supermarket are good as they keep the bottles upright in the cupboards.

Not too many clothes, I pack all dark clothes and towels that can go in the same wash and do a load at campsites. A jumper and good waterproofs each. Make up beds long before you are tired, nothing is more irritating than having to juggle cushions when you’re tired. Keep everything tidy, so packing up and moving on isn’t a chore

We have just joined the kids tablets to our phones so they can stream while we are on the move, this only works if you have a stupidly high data allowance like we do.

We have packed up the camper and are heading out tomorrow only need to pack suitcases and bedding. First time out but have followed the same for camping 🏕

DH and I have been RVing for 20 years (in the US). Your black tank is always smaller than you think it is!!! Check the level frequently and dump accordingly. Same for your fresh water tank if you're dry camping.

Good points from across the pond on the black tank.
We've had 2 vans now and neither had level checks on that, only for freshwater and grey tank. Maybe US vans are different?
We only know it's full when a warning light comes on and of course it's always in the middle of the night!
bakingberries mentions bottles in cupboards. Make sure that the heavy stuff goes in lower storage for better weight distribution.
Also when packing the overhead lockers, only put things in there that won't hurt when it falls on your head!
Stuff moves about when on the road so I'd rather be hit by socks or crisps than a tin of beans.

Brilliant thank you all!! I have no idea if it’s proper crockery but I’ve put aside a thick kitchen roll and I’ll also take our camping water carrier and a 6L supermarket one to get us started.
Kids have permanent bunks so their beds can stay made up.

I am dreading the midges! They always eat me alive. Will go now and add piriton and anthisan to the bag.
And binoculars for Haggis spotting.

microfibre cloths are the answe to rattling crockery/jars/wine bottles. when you have arrived yoou can use them as dishcloths, tea towels, hand wipes etc,easy to wash out and dry and use on the next road trip.

Raera Most US RVs have indicators for all the tanks. We have 3 (fresh, grey, black) and all 3 have them. Ours are different lights for empty, 1/3, 3/4, & full. Problem is, the gauge-thingys they use in the tanks aren't always reliable after a few years so it's best to do a 'visual' of the black tank as well every few days. I leave that one to DH!

Pond55 do you have one of those huge RV's and do you tow a car and boat?
Seen this in the States and am in awe of the brave people who drive them.
We were waiting to cross the James River on a ferry, their was a sign at the entrance to the ferry port "no RV's", a huge one drove in, way too big for the ferry. The 95 point turn they made was really entertaining.

My DF has one too he lives in Texas. They took it out for 7 weeks this spring! The sides pull out and it has a full sofa suite and kitchen and the TV is on a pivot so you can swing it round and watch it from outside. It’ll make our 7 berth hire look like a mini!!!

They sound wonderful, very luxurious.
However, they would not do too well on Scottish roads!

We did this last year for the first time, also Scotland. My top tip would be: bags for life! You know the big sturdy Sainsbury's/ Morrisons type? We used them to pack clothes/ bedding/ food, so that once we were unpacked in the motorhome they folded away. Came in really handy for transporting dirty clothes to laundry/ dirty dishes to washing up station/ clean clothes and toiletries to shower block, even stashing shoes under the van- easier to pack than a box!

we didn't use the DVD player in transit, kids played games on tablets and we did a bit of singing .

Take cleaning wipes- less bulky than bottles of cleaning products, but more expensive. Get the kids involved in the routine of setting up/ setting off- someone sorts the fridge, someone couples/ uncouples the power etc.

I did it out of love for DH, expecting to hate it, but found I loved it! You will have great fun! But yes, you will need smidge!

I live on the West Coast. Bring lots of waterproofs. It hasn't stopped raining here! You'll have lots of fun though. We are off to the Outer Hebrides in four weeks in our van. We have a self conversion. Best thing we ever did.

The cardboard wine holders from supermarkets are handy to put (wine), bottles of squash, water etc as it keeps them upright and stops them leaking.

Ooops sorry I had already written that!