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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Oh crap holiday motorhome disaster- what do I do?

168 replies

IHeartKingThistle · 23/08/2017 15:48

I'm such an idiot but I didn't check. We're supposed to be going away on Friday in a hired motorhome. It's all paid for. It's a 4 berth. I assumed this meant 4 seat belts as it has when we've hired motorhomes from other places. But I didn't check. It has 3. And a side seat with no belt.

Is this normal? I understand that new vans have to have belts but older ones aren't under the same laws. But it's not safe, surely? We've been told an adult has to sit in the side seat. So I have to travel unsecured, sideways (which will make me feel awful) and not next to my husband on our family holiday?

There's no way to get the money back at this stage. Campsites and activities are all booked for the week.

I'm actually in tears. Tell me it'll be fine.

OP posts:
HiggeldyPiggeldy · 23/08/2017 18:45

it is difficult to know if it would qualify for credit card charge back because its not what you would expect from a safety point of view, i would speak to the credit card provider before speaking with camping car company. I wouldn't want to travel in a motor home with one of the party not strapped in, you are not likely to have an accident but if you do you are more likely to be seriously hurt.

One thing that I did think of, could you get a seat belt extender and use that

StarlightExpress5 · 23/08/2017 18:47

I don't think you're being melodramatic, I wouldn't want to travel from Surrey to Scotland with no seatbelt (or expect anyone else too).
We're thinking of hiring a motorhome next year and I assumed 4 berth would mean 4 seatbelts. I hope you can find a satisfactory resolution.

RandomMess · 23/08/2017 18:51

Have you got travel insurance?

IHateUncleJamie · 23/08/2017 18:53

OP at any point when booking did you have to specify how many people in the party? Or even how many adults/children? Because if so, you would have thought that the hire company would at that point have specified only 3 seat belts, and even suggested a different vehicle.

TestTubeTeen · 23/08/2017 19:02

It is not remotely melodramatic to worry about travelling on motorways etc without a seatbelt.

I was the first person to use the word, specifically about not being seated side by side with her DH.

But I am astounded that whatever the law is about ancient privately owned vehicles that it is legal to hire out vans without a seat belt for every passenger.

calmanban · 23/08/2017 19:02

Jeez that company has such a cavalier attitude to safety. Surely a 4 berth is most likely to be hired by families . No way would I allow a child to ride in any vehicle unrestrained.

junebirthdaygirl · 23/08/2017 19:10

Could you and one dc travel up by train and dh drive with other one. Know its not the ideal but its on that long journey that l would hate to be without a belt.

FrancisCrawford · 23/08/2017 19:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrancisCrawford · 23/08/2017 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Motherofterriers · 23/08/2017 19:25

I think you should check that your insurance would cover you with an unrestrained passenger. And talk to the camping car company. Maybe take a car as well.

MargotsDevil · 23/08/2017 19:27

No-one is arguing that not wearing a seatbelt in a car is sensible or acceptable however there is a difference between a forward facing passenger in a car and a side facing passenger in a motor home. OP is there a table at the bench? If so then you will be reasonably well wedged in by that. A motor home is also higher than most cars or vans which offers additional protection. I'd have no issue with an adult using that seat.

Motherofterriers · 23/08/2017 19:27

Department of transport guidance - "Although side facing seats, with or without seat belts, are not illegal, we would not advise that they are used. This is because seat belts are not designed to be used with such seats. In the event of an accident, seat belts on these side facing seats may help to prevent the wearer being thrown around the vehicle or from being ejected, but in a frontal crash they can increase injury risk by subjecting vulnerable parts of the body to higher loads than seat belts used on forward facing seats. "

TennisAtXmas · 23/08/2017 19:36

Some hirers specifically state that they don't think you should travel with out a seatbelt for every one, and this one :

www.leisurerentalsdirect.com/pages/motorhome-hire-law

mentions that tho its not illegal to have unrestrained passengers, the police may prosecute you if they think its dangerous!:

"The advisability of carrying unrestrained passengers is another matter, to quote the DfT spokesman: "... the police can already act where people in the rear of any vehicle are considered to be carried in a dangerous manner because they are unrestrained."

Seems a really odd area of the law..

ChangeElectricSupplier1 · 23/08/2017 19:36

Stretch limousines I've seen them on the motorway I don't think any of the side facing seats have seat belts

LakieLady · 23/08/2017 19:44

A lot of people don't seem to be getting that seatbelts for side-facing have been found to be more dangerous than a side-facing seat without. Talk of seatbelt extenders etc would make it less, not more, safe.

I'm also a little surprised that so many people were unaware that side-facing seats never have belts, but perhaps riding around in the back of old land rovers with bench seats is less common than I thought!

If you're not prepared to travel without a seatbelt, OP, could you do the driving and let DH sit in the side-facing seat? It seems crazy to lose all that money and disappoint the kids.

TestTubeTeen · 23/08/2017 19:59

" but perhaps riding around in the back of old land rovers with bench seats is less common than I thought!"

Yes, perhaps it is.

Whizbang · 23/08/2017 20:10

Bad luck OP, I can see why you're concerned. How frustrating after you checked out all the other little details. It wouldn't have occurred to me to check this either.

If I were you I'd try to get a last minute return flight to Scotland and meet DH and DCs there. Then you avoid the long motorway trip at higher speeds (which would really frighten me without a seatbelt). Then you could still sit by DH and enjoy Scottish magnificence for the best part of the road trip when you're all there, but on slower roads where you can lower speed and reduce risk. Perhaps get one of the temporary harness jobbies that PPs have suggested for this part of trip too.

Hopefully short hop internal flight shouldn't be too pricey, might get a last minute deal?

Hope you find a solution and have a great holiday. Scotland is so beautiful.

slartibartfastsfjords · 23/08/2017 21:00

If you're not prepared to travel without a seatbelt, OP, could you do the driving and let DH sit in the side-facing seat?

I think the OPs problem is that its dangerous for whoever sits there - I suspect she'd be just as concerned about safety for DH, or any family member!

MusicForTheJiltedGeneration · 23/08/2017 21:19

Normally I wouldn't be too worried - spent lots of time in the back of vans, landies etc. with no belts on shortish trips - but Surrey to Scotland is a different matter. Hope you get things sorted one way or another OP.

To be honest, a 4 berth is pretty small for a family of 4. Not sure why they market them for families (apart from the £££'s). I spent a long weekend at a festival with 2 boys (11 and 8) and it was actually quite cramped. 2 of the 'berths' were in the over-cab bed and that was very claustrophobic, also difficult to access without disturbing everyone!

We also only had 3 belted seats (in the front) as it was an older motorhome.

Ropsleybunny · 23/08/2017 21:28

Although not illegal in motorhomes manufactured before 1988, the police could consider it an offence to carry a passenger in a rear seat without a seat belt when travelling over 60mph as it would be deemed dangerous.

Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 23/08/2017 21:54

DH is being lovely. I think we've found a couple of options to hire in Scotland, still working on it! Thanks to the PP who suggested this. It's a lot more money to rebook but I just can't go in the other one.

Hire lady still ignoring my strongly worded email.

OP posts:
Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 24/08/2017 00:19

Argh except Scotland isn't going to work due to where our campsites are. Now looking at Lancashire. My eyes are going funny...

OP posts:
SeashellHoarder · 24/08/2017 03:36

As mentioned above Small claims is a great idea to recover your money if she refuses you a refund.

You can fill out the forms very easily and she'll have to defend it which will cost her time at least and possibly money.

Good luck.

Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 24/08/2017 10:29

Apparently 'very many' families of 4 have hired this van and travelled safely. I'm amazed any of them were happy in that configuration. She's surprised that I've only raised this now. Well I'm surprised too.

Anyway, I've booked another one in Scotland. Re-jigged the holiday a bit and massively out of pocket but I feel a lot better.

We'd already paid the massive security deposit so goin g to make sure that comes back before tackling any other issues, though I haven't much hope there anyway.

Thanks for your support yesterday, was much needed.

OP posts:
Ellisandra · 24/08/2017 10:35

Good for you - I'd choose safety over money too Flowers

With regards to the existing booking.., sounds like they have other motor homes, just not available now? As a compromise, perhaps they would agree to moving your money to a booking for next year, in a suitable motor home?

That way they don't lose money now, so their cash flow isn't suddenly hit.