Motorhomers running engines whilst dumping water

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  • RangeRoverMan
    RangeRoverMan Forum Participant Posts: 125
    edited September 2017 #32

    I don't have a motorhome but the climate control in my car has a program that clears the screen, windows and mirrors of any ice or condensation. It doesn't work without the engine running and nor do the heated seats.

    I always run the engine for 10 minutes or so in the winter and summer if I need it cooling down.

    I usually have a cup of tea while it's warming up.

    I like to set off safe and warm.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,304 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #33

    I do / did the same. Now I am retired I try and give the sun a chance, before resorting to scrapers etc.😀

    It is in fact a legal requirement to have a clear field of vision. Those peering through a small hole in a misted or frozen screen are not meeting that requirement.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2017 #34

    "Just had another thought... When we had a caravan, we used to crack open some side windows at night to reduce condensation... Our van has NO opening side windows so that I imagine makes the condensation worse...."

     

    justus, cant you slide down the side door leccy window just an inch or so if this would help?smile

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2017 #35

    When we had our panel van conversion (slammer/wizbang!)we had the "plastic?" moulded ventilation strips that fitted in the top of the door frame which enabled the side cab windows to be partly opened without rain getting in

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2017 #36

     It's not a good idea to leave a car engine ticking over while warming up  ..... best to get in & drive it ..... obviously with mechanical sympathy due to it being cold. 😉

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #37

    They walk among us!wink

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #38

    When hitching up we often leave the engine running, 3 minutes to check lights, fridge is working (engine required) and last check that doors are closed and locked.  Maybe a wave to neighbours.

  • RangeRoverMan
    RangeRoverMan Forum Participant Posts: 125
    edited September 2017 #39

    Not when you can't see out of the windows it isn't!

  • silverhurc
    silverhurc Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited September 2017 #40

    We  recently returned from France and on one of the sites we stayed at the dumping point was next to a pitch and whilst dumping our waste  we were politely asked to switch off our engine by a German couple who spoke to us in broken English; to which we did so and there was no offensive language, just apologies and smiles! To be honest we just hadn't thought it through and were just concerned with our routine for travelling on! Having had this drawn to our attention we will not be future offenders! Perhaps if more people spoke to each other whilst on site (eg a cheery good morning rather than turning the other way!) mouthful of abuses wouldn't occur! After all we are supposed to be like minded people.cool

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #41
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #42

    Very common abroad to be asked politely to switch off engine, never known it to come to fisty cuffs winklaughing 

    We have a m/h and like when we had a caravan try not to linger with the engine running, lets face it no one wants to sit breathing in fumes do they.

  • Lunarcpl
    Lunarcpl Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited October 2017 #43

    We have just returned to what is now The Caravan and Motorhome Club after a few years break. We are now caravaners, but when we were last in the club, and it was The Caravan Club, we were motorhomers.

    The reason we left last time is that we found we weren't using  our membership, and the reason for that was the stuffy attitude of  a lot of caravaners. It would appear that a name chang hasn't had much effect.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #44

    So you're the one that leaves their engine running when dumping water!! Disgraceful!wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #45

    Reckon some folk are a tad over-sensitive 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2017 #46

    Another motor caravan leaving sites with the waste tap open so the engine can keep runningwinksurprised

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited October 2017 #47

    Aye,  Micky  &  they  breed  as  well frown  !!

  • Hedgehurst
    Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
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    edited October 2017 #48

    I'm no authority on this bit, but there is a myth that it's better to leave a diesel engine running. Apparently with modern engines this is no longer the case, it damages them more to be left idling, and shortens their lives.

    Not my  authoritative information, something I learned while looking into the matter of the parents who park for our local school & leave engines idling for up to 45 minutes while poisoning the air their children are about to walk into.

  • Lunarcpl
    Lunarcpl Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited October 2017 #49

    We hardly ever used the MH service point when we had ours. I used to empty the grey water into a carrier every few days. And fill the water tank by hand, that way there was less chance of over filling and driving around with umpteen gallons of water sloshing around adding to extra weight.

    Oh, and we were in the "ignition keys on the same ring as the locker keys camp". 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2017 #50

    with largish fresh/waste tanks that most MH have these it shouldn't be necessary to fill/dump water very regularly.

    if we are showering/washing up etc in the van (perhaps on aires, THS sites, CL or its too darn cold to go to the block) we can run for 5/6 days without filling or emptying.

    if we are using site showers, this extends to 9-11 days, so for most of our stays (certainly in the UK) we would only need to fill once on entry (if not done on previous site) and once on exit.

    water doesnt 'slosh about' in properly designed water tanks. they are either irregular shapes (many joined 'cubes') like ours or (like most UK vans) underslung rectangular shaped, presumable with baffles.

    incidently, we also have our ignition keys on the same ring as our locker key.....and our bike lock key and our bike battery keys and our home keys and.....

    am i in the right (or wrong) 'camp'?

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