The BIG Change!
Comments
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my previous caravan (Luna Delta) had a MH type filler cap on its onboard tank. There was no provision to use water directly from an Aquaroll so all water had to be added via the filler cap. But, it had a 12 volt socket adjacent to the filler cap to allow you to pump water from the Aquaroll into the tank. I'm sure that I'd have worn a path between the caravan & the nearest tap if I'd used a waterer can to fill the (60litre?) tank.
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Two days fine. Three days perhaps a top up using 10 litre watering can, probably no need to empty any waste as enough used in drinking plus toilet. 4 days another couple of water cans and some waste emptied. For us at the moment much quicker than moving the van. OH holds a funnel in the water inlet, which makes it relatively easy to empty the can fairly quickly. Of course if we have a service pitch there is no issue. Just top up when we want and use my collapz tubes to empty waste. Personally, particularly in colder weather I don’t like running the engine just to empty / fill, it gets nowhere near warm.
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I've got a 20L plastic jerrycan. I rarely fill it completely as 15L is really as much as I can comfortably lift to the filler at approximately chest height. Mostly our full tank will last for a three or four day stop, topping up perhaps once if required. It's waste water that tends to be problematic as fitting a bucket under the outlet doesn't even allow filling the bucket completely. Getting a sufficient descent of pipe run( 20ft) to a hedge/waste point is often difficult as well. It's rare that the Moho would remain stationary for more than four days, so filling and emptying is usually at the relevant service point.
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OH holds a funnel in the water inlet, which makes it relatively easy to empty the can fairly quickly.
SL, The photo shows how I used to do it before I changed motorhomes and moved to watering cans, no help required to hold the funnel. More tips >here< At the time I had no space for a watering can but could squeeze in a couple of collapsable containers.
ED On both the motorhomes I have owned the filler point was waste high, no real strength needed. I have tried using a 12v pump but unless you have a 12v external outlet handy, it can be a real clat. Simple is best and for me the watering cans work.
peedee
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Steve, as PD illustrates, its relatively easy to make filling less hassle...i have a plastic guttering elbow which fits snugly into the the water inlet ( a funnel can be added to widen the brim) leaving two hands for pouring and the OH to get on with whatever she was doing before you called her over to 'hold this, dear!'....
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i (occasionally) use a 10 ltr one as i find it easier to store than a watering can.
we dont use it often but with the 'elbow' as described above its easy to manage.
i do have a (rarely used) Fiamma Roll Tank 23 ltr waste container which is compact for storage and, with the waste tank screw on short extension pipe can fit neatly under the van.
rarely used but a good compromise between capacity and ease of storage when on a CL and arent close enough to a hedge...
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I am sure that when someone designed the first MH with an onboard tank, he/she had a hose in mind😂 Never mind, the human race loves to faff around, and it makes for great viewing on a regular basis.......😎
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Not sure why you consider it a faff, or why someone tipping a watering can in a MH makes for such great viewing.The main fill is done on arrival, if we are staying more than two nights some topping up and perhaps emptying is likely to be required. As we prefer to leave the MH on site and either walk or use public transport. I would have to unplug the EHU, turn the front seat to the driving position, move odd things we shove in the footwell when stopped, possibly get off ramps and drive round the site for a couple of cans of water. Not very environmentally friendly. In the future I may have to, but currently I can manage to carry 10 litres and the exercise does me no harm. In the very rare event we are stopping for more than 4 nights we book a service pitch and then the issue does not arise.
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We have a fold up trolley for the water carrier. We tend to fill before going to a site and then refill on leaving if moving on.
Just shows the different routines going on.
Best advice for OP, get a "motorhome using this pitch" sign so if you arrive on site, choose a pitch, leave the sign there and then fill up if needed.
edit we can fill with a hose easily but if using a container we use the onboard pump switch.
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We used a trolley like that when we had the caravan but have no need of it with the MH due to not having water carriers👍🏻
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We had a caravan with an onboard tank. And a long hosepipe.😁 The trick was to fill it when it didn’t inconvenience anyone else. As we were usually on a CL, not much of an issue. We did occasionally fill up at a service point on a Club Site, but again, only if we didn’t inconvenience anyone.
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Brue, ive got an old yellow pair of Fiamma ramps.....tough as old boots...
i do carry a very loooong hose, cut 1/3 2/3 to allow the short (no faff) bit to be used on most occasions, easily joined to get to many a distant tap.
even on a CL, depending on the proximity of a van to the (only?) tap, it might be tricky to get the van close enough, so ocasionally the long hose works well there, too.
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Our water routine is to carry a short hose, an off-cut (about 3 metres) which rolled up takes up minimal space and one ten litre and one 5 litre water container. We rarely use the hose and we use the 5 litre for drinking water. The issue of drinking "tank water" or not is contentious but we don't. So a maximum of four trips to the tap is needed to fill the water but there is no point in keeping it full every day. We usually travel with minimum water unless we are going to be on an aire next. We use about 15-20 litres per day (two adults) but almost never shower in the van. And yes we do keep clean !! Managing water soon becomes easy. We also use a grey water tank to empty the grey water (usually daily) which avoids queuing at service points. In a small van a watering can takes up a lot of space and a rigid spout means it doesn't doesn't discharge quickly or efficiently compared with using a funnel. Different people have different approaches but in a small van it is possible to have water equipment to cover every eventuality (including very low amenity sites) without taking up lots of space or weight.
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even many 'small' (usually Continental) PVCs have decent (100+ ltr) fresh and waste tanks these days to give longer times between fills.
the balance is generally between size of tanks, daily usage, number of days required between fills...
we are currently on a THS, probably for 5 days (or so)....filled tank at home and, even both showering here daily, we wont need any sort of top up..
move to sites with showers and tanks can last twice as long....not usually required as we would never be on a UK site for that long...
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I travel with the water tank half full and top it up with a 10L watering can should it run low. Like BoleroBoy, I also carry two lengths of hose for bigger fill-ups.
We use a 5L wine "cubie" for drinking water, replenished as required. We never drink water from the onboard tank.
For emptying the waste, the tank usually lasts a week or so if washing up water is disposed of separately*, so all that is usually necessary is a trip to the MHSP when leaving. * which also helps reduce the tank getting clogged up with grease.
I used to carry a 23L Fiamma Waste Tank but rarely used it. I now carry a spare toilet cassette which can also be used as a waste tank in emergencies.
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Our PVC has a 70 ltr fresh and waste tank.
We don't carry containers but we do have a flat hose like BB cut to 2 lengths. We can do several days even with showers and toilet flushes without having to refill with water.
Usually carry around 30 ltrs fresh water, we don't drink water from the tank.
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Don't forget......
1. Watch out for the barriers overhead on some parking areas.
2. Empty the water tank & waste before travelling as weight means more fuel use.
3. Pack everything away before you travel out for the day from the campsite.
4. Buy a sign or leave your chairs on your pitch so people know its in use.
5. Buy some pushbikes so you don't have to do "3" above.
6. Buy a small car to attach to the rear for rainy days so you don't get wet.
7. If you intend to travel to Europe and have a car attached check the law in the countries you intend to visit as some may require the vehicle to be on a trailer.
8. Purchase two lots of insurance for both vehicles (you will not be able to use your no claims on both vehicles).
9. Remember to have both vehicles serviced and MOT'd.
10. It gets very cold at night so remember to purchase the insulation covers for the windows.
Good Look!
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Hi All,
Many thanks to all for your comments and suggestions but sadly neither I nor my husband could take to Motorhoming!
We are reverting back to a Tourer!
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Better to have tried, you now know where your heart lies👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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It's not for everyone but the important thing is that you're happy with whatever you choose, be it caravan or MH.
Happy touring👍
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A few years ago while visiting a caravan sales business I noticed a large stock of new (newly registered) MHs.
The salesman was talking to a couple who were showing interest in them and I heard him say that they get a lot because people come in and buy them new never having done it before.
They bring them back a few weeks later saying "It's not for them".
Best advice is rent first to see if it's "for you" then consider buying your own.
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