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

Original poster

Anyone hired a motor home - come talk to me

37 replies

itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 17:43

Thinking of hiring one in august - seen one for 650 for a week inc insurance and am quite tempted but really anyone who has whats it like? do you have to pre book in sites so its not that free and easy - is it a fortune to pitch with ehu and fuel costs - are they a bomb? DH dreams of owning one but it will never happen so thought of suprising him with a weeks hire for his 40th.

we have a 5 and 8 yr old so were thinking of driving up to loch ness and up yonder scottyland.

OP posts:
FlorenceMattell · 28/05/2011 19:52

Hi
We did this with our DD then aged 6, what great.
Was almost new model and was good opportunitely to try one without committing alot of money.
Was great, for example, at a Castle, we pulled up early in their car park and cooked our own breakfast before exploring.
We didn't pre book camp sites but was Autumn.
I think your boys would love it.

Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:12

ooo i have emailed a couple of hirers locally thinking for costage a long weekend would be best fri- mon or a mon - fri. How did you get routes without low bridges as i have concerns of knocking a roof off Grin

OP posts:
JetLi · 28/05/2011 20:14

Fecking nora that sounds like a bargain! We investigated for a trip to the Tour de France in 2005 & they wanted £1000 a week & then a charge per mile over 500 miles.

Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:17

really? they was on ebay and are local to us, another has said they can do 4 days for £360 12-16 august btu that would be coming home on dh birthday and he wants to be home for it to open his presents??!! FFS how old is he ? Grin. its a 5 berth looks new, some look a bit skanky on ebay mind.

OP posts:
Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:20

this one can do the short break do you think it would be to small for 4? it has a double above the cabin and another double and a single. dh fancied a 7 berth but i is thinking this would be more economic and less likely to crash into a bridge.

OP posts:
FlorenceMattell · 28/05/2011 20:21

Hi
Our hire was very reasonable for week too. Especially compared to Cottages etc. DH is a HGV driver so I didnt worry bridges, dont think they are that high though. But car parks can be a problem. We went to Newcastle and I did check out which car park we would be able to use. Not many. They put a barrier at top to stop illegal camping I think,
Is lovely packing with all your own bits and bobs and having freedom to go where you like, Can put Bikes on back too.

Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:23

a bit bigger but not so local

OP posts:
FlorenceMattell · 28/05/2011 20:24

OOh looks lovely Camper, we are off camping next week, wish we had a Camper now not a tent Envy

Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:27

tbh i am losing my tent mojo - might tentatively mention to dh selling our tent eek. I am ebaying at the moment so will see how flush i am by friday!

OP posts:
Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:28

would you defo need ehu on a site? im thinking it would be easier to rock up to any ol site if i didnt need ehu but then i do want to have the luxury of a fridge and heat and light.

OP posts:
JetLi · 28/05/2011 20:38

Oooh thanks for the link - Richmond not bad for me at all. Will show DP now Grin

Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 28/05/2011 20:41

its probs about 40 mins from us but tuther one the smaller one they would deliver though that said we would probs be best collectign then bringing back to load up as dh would be worried they would come back and burgle us or if we left car somewhere unknown like the richmond one someone would touch his precious car. oooo i am going to pin dh down tonight for dates e can defo do

OP posts:
flaime · 28/05/2011 21:05

We don't always book our sites when we are touring as we like to be a bit flexible if we are going a long way as traffic can make a big difference to how far you get - but we do look at the ones along the route before we leave and shortlist ones we like. Never had a problem getting in one yet.

Ehu only adds £2 or £3 to the site prices so not a problem and it is lovely to have the fridge, TV, hairdryer Blush etc.

Never had a problem with low bridges but have had a problem with weight limits on bridges but I guess this depends on where you go!

Diesel consumption is about 28 to the gallon for ours but it's a pretty big one so not cheap but hey you're on holiday.

Hope that may help?!

deste · 29/05/2011 22:12

We have a katemerano 1 but it is very similar with the bunk beds and the bed over the cab. I think you would have plenty of room. Stick the kids on the bed over the cab and give them games to play with if you have to keep them in the van while you are cooking etc. There is a curtain to close off the bunk beds so that they can get to sleep and not be disturbed. We use the bed over the cab and the bunks so that we have the table up permanently. You will have fun go for it.

Original poster
itsnicetobenice · 30/05/2011 17:17

oh we had moved on slightly today - we went to discover leisure and if i hadnt reined dh in i think he would have bought one! we saw the smaller one we were conciderign hiring and the cab over top was v claustrphobic - i didnt like that at all then we saw a transit ch??? or something which had bunks at the back for kids and table area with seats which could be made into a bed and then the over cab area which was alot more height and space than the potential hire one - anyway dh has declared he wants this so im trying to find somewhere to hire same one before he goes and lows our non existent retirement fund. I have concerns of going down road and pots n pans falling out all over mind. I also couldnt beoeve some dont have seat belts for kids just side benches - seems madness - anyway they were cheaper which was a shame. Discovery was £megas

OP posts:
Choufleur · 30/05/2011 19:53

I'm watching this with interest as I would love to hire one.

flaime · 31/05/2011 11:25

We went through all this last year when we bought ours!

The kids really wanted bunks but I couldn't face the idea of us sitting round the diner in the evenings or bad weather (there are 5 of us!) so we got a diner and rear lounge which was indulgent but gives us loads more room and comfort.

We stick 2 kids in the over cab bed, one sleeps on the diner and we have the lounge to relax and stretch out in for the evening which then turns into our bed.

I'm sure when the kids are a bit older they will be packing up off to bed over the cab and stealing the lounge for themselves so they'll forgive us then Grin

flaime · 31/05/2011 11:27

Oops, I mean packing US off to bed over the cab!

goodname · 31/05/2011 11:53

Hi we went campervaning in NZ a couple of years back and we stayed one night on site, then one night wild camping to keep costs down and give us more freedom. Was great. I live in Scotland and there are places you can camp for free next to rivers and such like as long as you dont mind going off the beaten track. Glen Ettive is particularily nice and it is such a peacful way to camp and an adventure for the kids

littlebellsmum · 31/05/2011 13:15

We've just got back from 2 weeks in a campervan in Oz with 3 dc's - 7,6 and 1. Was brilliant - some nights we found free sites and just used the stored power. Some of the best bits were moving before breakfast to fab beaches and having breakfast there when there was no one around. TBH, we were tent camping last weekend and had breakfast at a national trust place as we needed to buy the eggs on the way, so you don't need a van to do this but there is something very lovely about getting up in the morning, from a comfy bed, unhooking and taking your home with you - must be my inner snail!

nunnie · 31/05/2011 13:41

Hi I used to won one Sad sold it just under 12 months ago. Before that we went away in it quite a few times with DD, and found it great, we had a lovely big awning too, but if only stopping for a couple of nights, we never bothered using that.

nunnie · 31/05/2011 13:41

own not won sorry.

nunnie · 31/05/2011 13:42

Mine was a vw bay, so not as roomy as some compers you can get, but loved it personally.

busyboysmum · 31/05/2011 15:01

We have a touring caravan and it is the most amazing way to see this gorgeous country of ours and let the kids have freedom to play and make friends and have adventures. Would totally recommend the lifestyle - we go away most weekends at this time of year and all of the holidays we can manage. It's like having a holiday every weekend. My brother comes with us in his classic VW Camper and we have other friends with campers and caravans and tents who join us on different occasions.

GColdtimer · 31/05/2011 16:33

littlebellsmum, how did you cope in a campervan with a 1 year old? Love the idea but DD2 is a manic 15 month old so not sure it would work....

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