New to motorhome ownership
Hi,
I have recently bought my first motorhome (1998 Ford Legend) and would love to get any hints and tips from fellow motorhomers on how to start on the hobby. I realise that times are somewhat strange and there are unlikely to be any motorhome owners' rallies and meets this year.
Are there any informal meetings or get-togethers where members can share experiences and get to know each other?
I am a 64-year old single lady who plucked up the courage to buy a motorhome after several years of wishing I had one. The idea was to wait till I find my Guinevere (re. "legend"), and then drive off to the sunset to find new adventures, places to visit and people to meet.
Then came Covid-19.
Anyone out there in a similar situation?
Regards,
Kirsti
Comments
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Welcome to CT Kirsti, you'll find lots of useful and encouraging info on here! Firstly I'd say have a look in the solos sections as there are groups who meet up and I'm sure you'd be welcome. New Companions is one of the groups which has been running for a long time and there are others. Also look at what local CAMC centres are doing, you might like to join a rally, you don't have to be a centre member to sample what's on offer. They have meets all over the uk on an informal basis and there's always help and advice available.
Do hope you have a good time with your motorhome, the freedom of the road awaits you! Happy travels.
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Hi Brue, thanks for the warm welcome and the tips. Do those groups operate within this website? I didn't see them.
Then again, navigating the content is a bit overwhelming at first.
Kirsti
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Kirsti, hello again! Take a look in the membership section and click on centres (menu bar at top of the page.) This should bring up all the centre web sites and contacts, you can also join a centre from your profile area, you don't have to join the nearest one but it might be useful as a starter. You can also join a rally as a visitor without centre membership, let them know you haven't tried a rally before.
Groups like New Companions operate their own web sites and you'll find them on the web. With your Autosleeper you can also join the Autosleeper Forum, which can be found on the internet, lots of contacts and information on there.
Hope this is helpful, please ask for moe details if needed!
PS We run an Autosleeper too, quite a few AS owners on here.
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Hi Kirsti and a warm welcome to Club Together. Well done you for getting off your bum and following your dream.
>>> This <<< link might help you to consider the New Companions Club.
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Hi Kirsti. That's a good old Devon registration you’ve got on your AutoSleeper.
Have you discovered the AutoSleeper Owners Forum? There’s a wealth of knowledge to be had there.
https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com
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Lots of singles join the Motorhome Fun Forum. Currently over 45,000 members covering most countries especially europe and the "Fun" meets are legendary. It is not a free forum (£15 p.a.) but in my view worth every penny. It's free to try
. Here's a link: Motorhome Fun
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Hello and a warm welcome Kirsti!
Lovely Legend you have there, and I like the name choice!😁 Like you, we have an Autosleeper, ours is a Gatcombe, code name Gertie. We have owned ours around six years now, and have had some lovely cosy and comfortable tours across the UK. Tinwheelers suggestion of joining the Autosleeper owners forum is a good one. Lots of help and advice, it’s very friendly, and of course being all about AS, if you need any advice someone on there will know the answer😁
We are further North than you, up in Yorkshire, but we usually see quite a few monocoque models tootling around on our travels and there’s usually a nice shared wave amongst the owners, so say hello if you get the chance. They are a much loved type of MH, not for everyone, but those that do own them, tend to love them. Wishing you many happy adventures😁
This is us picnicking at Carew Castle in South Wales
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Thank you to all for your lovely encouraging messages. I will join the groups mentioned, and hopefully will meet some of you up and down the country on my travels, once the Covid-19 threat eases and rallies will once again be held.
I, too, would like to take Guinnevere across the channel and on a leisurely drive to Finland, where I originally come from. I have done the trip several times by car, but this would be the first time in my own motorhome.
I took the van to a garage in Bristol this morning with view to having lap belts installed in the forward-facing section of the U-shaped seat, but was told that it would not be possible. Have any of you managed to do this? If so, where?
Regards,
Kirsti
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A similar question about fitting seat belts was asked on ASOF recently. From memory, I think it was no go because you need proper chassis mounting points, or steel body members, to anchor them.
It’s not just a case of fitting the belts but of ensuring such fitting is approved or you will have an instant MOT failure in future.
The law in the UK about carrying passengers in a MH in unbelted seats is a minefield but, even if legal, carrying a passenger unbelted in a 'plastic' MH body is far from ideal.
I hope you make your trip to Finland before too long.👍🏻
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Thanks for your reply concerning the lap belts. I shall not be needing them myself, but they would have come in handy for my grown-up children.
I have now joined the New Companions Club and AutoSleeper Owners' Forum. So excited!
Kirsti
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Good for you! 😀
I'll look out for your introductory post👍🏻
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PS. Don't forget that passengers will eat into your available payload and could mean you'd be running illegally overweight.
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A good point, Tinwheeler! Thanks.
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Just out of interest: why is my chosen photo not shown next to the message, as intended? I have uploaded it, so why will it not show?
The "technically challenged" of Nailsea
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This is very likely not an error on your part and many other people are also ghosts. This forum is notorious in that and other respects.
You need Adobe Flash Player to be able to install a pic in your profile which is accessed via My Profile at the top of the page but some operating systems will not host Flash Player. Apple is one.
It is a different process from inserting pics in your posts🤷🏻♂️
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Kirsti, have a look at your local Avon centre too, they're a big friendly group offering (in normal times) all sorts of get togethers, they organise the rally every year for the Ashton Court Balloon Fiesta. Also the Illuminated Carnival at Wells etc. One to think about for local contacts although Covid has put a lot of things on hold this year. Pleased to hear you've joined up with the other groups.
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