Anyone hired a motor home - come talk to me

[itsnicetobenice]

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.

[GColdtimer]

[dazedandconfused]

We've converted a van into a camper and DCs (8 + 6) love it - they are always angling to go away. We have a tent that fits on the side which is a bit of a hassle to put up if staying only one night but beyond that, it's fab. DCs make friends with other kids on campsite and have built-in entertainment. So far we haven't done any wild camping - have stuck to bigger sites with facilities like playground and sometimes pool, but we're planning to get a bit more adventurous next year.

Camping is so fab for kids - no worries re eating with fingers and making mess, lots of interesting stuff to do - and we all fall into bed at the same time usually.

Go for it!

[PoppetOne]

We have a 1967 VW splitty which isn't as big as a modern van so we have quite a large awning which we use to eat and lounge in. Our DD absolutely loves it, she's 2 and we bought it just after she was 1.

A friend and his DW tour France/Italy/Switzerland on a regular basis in theirs. It's about 6 years old though. They buy camping vouchers which saves cash.

[littlebellsmum]

Easy ime with baby and campervan - done it when dd1 was 8 months too. Both babies seemed really at home as it was such a small space and they could always see us.
itsnicetobenice Only problem i see with your plan is that your dh will probably love it so much that he will want to buy one more rather than less after your trip

[duffybeatmetoit]

Dh is renovating a 63 splitty at the moment. Waiting to see how it works with DD (3.6), she's very keen at the moment.

[madwomanintheattic]

i'm trying to persuade dh to buy a vintage airstream.

only thing holding us back is we'd need something else to tow it with, and we haven't found one that's been reno'd for 5 people...

still looking though. i keep threatening to dh that in the summer we're going to map everything for sale on the airstream forum and then go on a road trip until we find one.

my mum and dad used to buy vw campers and reno when i was a kid. i am horrified that i might potentially be turning into my mother.

[fruitpastille]

Entertaining travel review here

[VivaLeBeaver]

Currently sat in my vw camper. You would need to prebook most sites, ESP in summer. We've been caught out before and not been able to get in anywhere and had to wild camp.

Depends on the van if you need ehu or not. My van has a three way fridge so will run on gas, it has a leisure battery that does the lights. My tv, phone chargers, etc all have 12v adapters so can charge off the cig lighter socket on the leisure battery. I also have a gadget that plugs into the cigarette lighter and has two plug sockets on the other end so can plug in my laptop, ghd, hairdryer.

[itsnicetobenice]

We have located a hirer who has the same van dh wants so have booked it for mid august woo hoo!! Just nights - £75 a night - a worthy trial me thinks. Now i need to draw up my road trip - looking at heading from teesside to Loch ness so any tips or recommendations would be great.

[littlebellsmum]

Sounds great - you've given me ideas, i think I'll watch how your trip pans out!

[itsnicetobenice]

deste how is the overhead cab in the katermerano - soem over cabs are really low i have seen but only seen the kat online - is it more lower or spacey - spacey is better as i dont want to feel claustrophobic but i like layout of yours... kids would be in bunks so its down to us unless we asse about convertig diners.....

[itsnicetobenice]

the man has emailed us for our booking and although we booked 4 nights he wants us to come over day before to pick up as he not about the next day so were getting 5 nights for the price off 4 woo hoo. It is a katermano one like yours is deste - i am thininkg if to claustrophobic i will just sleep in the table area. Dh has had me looking again today and having read the whole thread again because im obsessed lol i am now seeign advantage of a big lounge like flaime. Perhaps we will haveto hire one like that too . Apparently i have to do a cost analysis now based on how much they are to own and run and usage we would get against just hiring now and then . Me thinks dh is taking the peeeeees. I am reeeet excited can you tell ?