Hello all
Hi everyone I just wanted to take a few moments to say hi from me (Liam) and my partner Lizi.
recently just bought a custom 5th wheel motor caravan and we are so excited to get exploring the UK.
we are both young only 26, I have done bit of touring myself but never have I been a member of the club so cant wait to try all the lovely sites and meet like mined people on the way.
so our first trip is planned for august, rough route is over 2 weeks and will include: Pembrokeshire,snowdonia,chester,dales,whitby,york and home. if anyone has recommendations for sites on route please don't be shy. cant wait to read up on some of the posts on here for tips, hope to chat to as many like minded people as possible who share the touring bug.
best wishes
Liam N Lizi
Comments
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Beaut looking piece of kit L&L
, enjoy your tours.0 -
That's a fantastic outfit you have, from what I have seen/experienced though, access & egress to sites may be a problem and a suitable size pitch could prove interesting.
Hope you have a great time
Ian.
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Hello, LnL.
Sorry, but my tip is that you don't bring it to Cornwall. Otherwise, welcome to CT.
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Have seen similar large unit on Sandringham site & I am sure there will be other club sites you can use but as already said perhaps phone 1st to ensure they can accommodate. Also seen some owners of similar vehicles post on CT but can’t unfortunately remember in which thread. Enjoy your touring.
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Out of curiosity Liam, do need to hold C+E entitlement to drive it ? Do you have to use a Tacho?
I let my professional entitlements lapse when I retired early in 2012 as it was too much hassle to keep my CPC updated and I was due my next 5 yearly medical. would have cost me a fair bit for something I was unlikely to need ever again.
Would love to see some more pictures if you can post them. It's certainly a thing of beauty in my eyes. Is the Unit/Tractor a F7 or F6
Ian.
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Hello and welcome to CT and our great hobby.
Boy that's a biggy
. I can't help with sites or routes but as others have said check that the club sites you fancy can accommodate your size. Will it be suitable to drive in the dales? I have no idea, but I think routes would need serious consideration. That said I bet it will attract some attention on site and you may want to charge for tours 
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Evening all,
Thank you for the Supportive comments and advice. I will say a little more about the truck as I feel it will answer some of your questions.
So the truck is a volva FL6 urban tractor unit which started life at wincantons before been bought by the previous owner. he choose this make and model due to it been a urban tractor unit, all this means is its smaller then your conventional truck you see on motorways.It sits lower and is the same height as my friends high roof transit van plus the width is just bit wider then a Range Rover so not too bad on the country roads.The trailer started life as a yacht trailer so had no sides just a flat bed,It all came about when the previous owner wanted to travel with his son doing cycling competitions in Europe.He was a canal boat builder by trade and you can see the quality of his work throughout. due to the trailer been 34ft it doesn't require a MOT (36ft) legal limit and is registered as a motor caravan. Good points with this is one it does say on DVLA website you can pull this on a normal car license with grandad rights but it is dodgy ground, the 2nd been only the truck cab needs a MOT and if it does pack in then you can just replace the cab unit. I normally use a website called 5th wheel friendly sites, this lists all sites willing to take on such vehicles and surprisingly most are club sites which is nice but I would ring in advance as I have more then once to be told they don't. The plan for us is to tour for 7 months in North Yorkshire while working I've found 7 to 8 sites willing to have us which involved lots of visits comes good some not so good. So the august trip will be our first blow out of the year making sure the truck has a fresh service, MOT and isn't going to fall to bits anytime soon before we start touring in October this year. Anyone wanting to know more about these sort of vehicles just ask I could talk for hours
Many thanks from LNL
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Maybe this is something we can start haha. with it having a 3 axle trailer it does turn rather easy when reversing, all i would say is practice before you try to reverse onto a pitch for the first time with half the site watching you
someone mentioned earlier about it attracting attention the previous owner had many incidents including one where he was asked which band he was driving for haha.1 -
I wish you good luck, LnL. I think you might need it.
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Hi LiamnLizi Welcome to to the Club, I look forward to seeing you on a site.One of the Wardens drives a bigger rig than that but has other members have said he phones ahead.Always takes the last pitch in a line so he doesn't block anyone's view. Good touring
Steve
PS Your not going up Scotland next month are you
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It’s certainly an innovative way of recycling & it looks great inside. I guess the problem you’re having finding sites to accept your outfit is not only due to size/manoeuvrability but weight also if only grass pitches are available. Good luck to you both & enjoy you outfit.
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Where in South Yorkshire are you from? I'm currently deployed away and not back until august so won't be heading anywhere soon.
any advice on storage locations in South Yorkshire ?
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Thanks for the info and pictures Liam, Wish you both all the best for a great summer exploring the UK in your new toy
Ian.
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We just back from the Buxton site for a week , we had a TABB trailer in the next pitch to us ........it looked tiny .
Ive a feeling most caravans / motorhomes next to your unit will look tiny too , welcome & hopefully we may catch a sight of you ...........👍
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Evening all, routes now set just need to book sites any info on sites would be much appreciated.
Day1 lydney to Chester
Day 2 Chester zoo
Day 3 Peak District
Day 4 Peak District
Day 5 Clumber park
Day 6 Clumber park
Day 7 Yorkshire dales / Whitby
Day 8 York
Day 9 York
Day 10 Home
like I said above any info on sites in the areas would be great especially with the size of my unit 👍
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I can't help with the sites as I have no experience of using such a large unit on them, LnL, but I'd suggest choosing sites and ringing the wardens to see if your unit will fit.
It puzzles me that you describe it as a motorhome when it seems to be a trailer caravan albeit of the 5th wheel variety. 🤔
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Evening Tinwheeler,
With something like this been a self build and the size it's very grey on what rules apply and what classification it should have. On the DVLA website you kind of have to read between the lines mostly common sense really. So this one is registered as a motorcaravan but this is where it gets tricky, because it still has a GW of 23000kg it's tested as PLG and taxed the same. Unlike you normal motorhomes which would be a category 4,The even funnier bit is the only part that is tested is the truck it's self. The trailer is left alone as it doesn't require a rest due to 1 been shorter then 36ft and 2 it's private use. I've even asked for the trailer to be tested previously and it can't be done but they do have a quick look over it for me but nothing official. Now I don't agree with it but that's what DVLA states so that's how it is I suppose.so really it's just a giant caravan pulled by a truck and if the truck rattles into nothing I can buy a new one and attach it to the trailer and then re register as a motorcaravan with the new registration haha. Reference the trip I like to call and book over the phone to avoid any nasty surprises. By the way has anyone been using a snooper sat nav system on here ?
Thanks
LnL
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Also while I am on this evening I wanted to ask your opinions on the truck, if it was to pull onto a site you was at, would you think what the hell is this monstrosity it spoils the site? And would it effect your stay if you was a nabour or do you think it wouldn't matter?
I am looking into other methods of towing it for example pickups like the Americans do as they look less imposing plus it gives me a easy run around when I arrive.
Many thanks
LnL
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To be perfectly frank, LnL, I think you are going to have great difficulty trying to use that unit on C&MC sites. You might fare better on C&CC or privately owned sites.
With regards to seeing it on site, I've no problem with it at all. Sites are to be used and aren't there for their aesthetic beauty. Having said that, I would find it intimidating and overbearing to have a unit of that size parked next to me on a typical club site. However, I doubt very much that will happen as the majority of normal size pitches simply won't cater for it.
I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but you did ask and I think a hefty dose of realism is needed especially concerning the use of club sites. I wish you good luck and hope you enjoy your travels.
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Saw these 2 & another [no photo opportunity of that 1] on Sandringham Club Site in Feb this year [out of season]. No idea of their length/weights etc . 1 pulled by a truck cab, the other pulled by a pickup type vehicle.
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No problem at all, either visually or as a neighbour
. I'd probably bug you to let me see inside mind0 -
I wouldn't have an issue either, like R2B said I would be asking to have a nose around
I was going to reply to your insurance post but it's locked ?
Maybe worth contacting Lancaster Insurance, I have my Classic car insured with them and they will insure most types of specialist Vehicle.
Ian.
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