Making the move from Caravan to Motorhome
Comments
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when i was looking at changing to a M/H a few months ago i found the help and advice by CT members invaluable, it made us question what we wanted and it changed some of our decisions
We went to a dealer and looked at all the M/H's and layouts, it can be a bit of a minefield, but somehow you know the layout and model that is right for you
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Kj has mentioned towing a smart car behind the M/H. Been there don't that I'm afraid, its great if you are staying for long periods but for just a couple of days (like you should with M/H's) it is a palaver to keep getting it on and off securing it turning the trailer by hand as no mover to do it. Small trailers are not as easy to reverse as say a large caravan is.
When we moved to a M/H it was because we had a bad wobble with one, OH was ok about it but it really frightened me and put me off, I won't tow now. So the move was a good one as I will drive the M/H no problem, we have had holidays with just the M/H and the ebikes and I love it like that just as its meant to be. Sightseeing/shopping on the move sometimes just a 60 -100 miles between moves then explore that area. OH however wanted to tow a car so we did that for awhile using an A frame, still do in the UK. Then he bought a trike something he wanted for awhile, so he had a trailer made so we could take it away for our longer trips abroad. OK so it is useful at times but oh what a palaver getting it on and off, no use in bad weather and it takes up room on the pitch, some sites charge extra fror having one.
Given everything that has been listed by Kj my thoughts are somewhat in the direction of keep the caravan if you are still happy with it and does it matter that its 9 years old if it still fits the bill and its not got any problems like damp etc. Replace the tow car, its still going to way less money (I know thats not a problem) but given your long list of requirements I can't see you getting everything you currently have in a motorhome.
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more wise words....
the requirements list is a daunting one to meet and i feel TG may have the answer, better the devil you know, perhaps..?
however, not to be daunted myself, if the search continues then how about the lovely Hymer T-CL 668 with across the rear washroom and twin singles, better lounge than usual and 500kg payload at 7.49m.
will need to specify around £10k of options to include auto and ALDE.
...or the similar Hymer T-SL 668 (same layout, double floor, more dosh...) with a slightly reduced payload.
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he says he gave up his 'heavy' groups when he turned 70, so i dont know how this applies to towcar and caravan weight.
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Goodness! Many thanks for all the suggestions, OH will be off researching them any minute!
The licence thing......no problem with car/caravan as I passed my test in 1970 so have the right to drive the heavier combination.
The 3500kg bit is only for the vehicle, van is not counted. It is quite confusing. I made sure the "B+E" entitlement was transferred correctly when I got the new licence.
I have tried to find out whether I can take the medical and get the C1 group back, but finding any info on that is difficult, everything just talks about training and testing.
Keeping under 3500kg would just make life easier.
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Kj has mentioned towing a smart car behind the M/H. Been there don't that I'm afraid, its great if you are staying for long periods but for just a couple of days (like you should with M/H's) it is a palaver to keep getting it on and off securing it turning
the trailer by hand as no mover to do it. Small trailers are not as easy to reverse as say a large caravan is.When we moved to a M/H it was because we had a bad wobble with one, OH was ok about it but it really frightened me and put me off, I won't tow now. So the move was a good one as I will drive the M/H no problem, we have had holidays with just the M/H and
the ebikes and I love it like that just as its meant to be. Sightseeing/shopping on the move sometimes just a 60 -100 miles between moves then explore that area. OH however wanted to tow a car so we did that for awhile using an A frame, still do in the UK.
Then he bought a trike something he wanted for awhile, so he had a trailer made so we could take it away for our longer trips abroad. OK so it is useful at times but oh what a palaver getting it on and off, no use in bad weather and it takes up room on the
pitch, some sites charge extra fror having one.Given everything that has been listed by Kj my thoughts are somewhat in the direction of keep the caravan if you are still happy with it and does it matter that its 9 years old if it still fits the bill and its not got any problems like damp etc. Replace
the tow car, its still going to way less money (I know thats not a problem) but given your long list of requirements I can't see you getting everything you currently have in a motorhome.TG, you are right, replacing the towcar is the easiest option, and probably my preferred one, it's OH who is most keen on the MH idea as she gets quite stressed when we are towing.
We already have the Smart, so putting it on a trailer is an option, but then we are back to towing! Yet OH seems to think that would be OK........
I don't think I really understand women!!!!
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Kj we have older friends (late seventies) who recently changed to a motorhome. I am in no way being ageist but they have found the changeover quite challenging. Some motorhomes have quite high access etc., there is a lot to consider, not just the general
fittings. If you want to keep stress levels down a reliable new/newish tow car and retaining a familiar comfortable van do have quite a few advantages.0 -
again, more 'sage stuff'....just goes to show why there is no single answer....i guess all any of can do is try and make our choices as 'informed' as possible...
Kjell, the continental-style lounge tables will always be a bone of contention....some love them, some abhor them.
firstly, to answer your specific question....while sitting on a fixed pedestal, the table can slid about both fore and aft, and also rotate through 360 deg, so moving past them from any seat is not too difficult.....and, yes, one could easily be unbolted
from the floor and replaced with a stand alone one.however, we were a little apprehensive about ours, having had a twin sofa arrangement previously, with a stand alone table....
but, you know what, for dining, reading, using a computer, writing, crosswords, playing cards, sudoku etc, etc, its miles better than a wobbly stand alone table that has to be got out and put away regularly.....so storage position of any such table would
need to be considered. we have a separate table for dining outside...now, OH and I are both slim and have no trouble easing round the table, but this might not be as easy for someone with a little more mobility issues.....then again, you dont have to keep lifting one out and putting it away....again, no single answer...suggest
you check one out....0 -
TG, you are right, replacing the towcar is the easiest option, and probably my preferred one, it's OH who is most keen on the MH idea as she gets quite stressed when we are towing.
We already have the Smart, so putting it on a trailer is an option, but then we are back to towing! Yet OH seems to think that would be OK........
I don't think I really understand women!!!!
Neither do I and I am one
I can relate to the stress of towing a large caravan. Towing a car on a trailer behind a M/H is way easier
in that its tucked in behind it, not sticking out above and at the sides, so no wind deflection, no swaying. Its the loading and unloading of the car that might cause so problems, as I said unlike a caravan you don't have a mover so everything is back to brute
strength. We tow a trike on a trailer total weight all up is 360kg so not as heavy as a car, but on some sites where there is not a lot of room to manouvre we have to unhitch and push it onto the pitch. It only takes a bit of uneven ground or a slope and it
can be a challenge. With a car you have an even bigger problem of weight, do you unload the car before putting it on the pitch, then taking up a lot of pitch space with trailer car and M/H. When its time to load can you load car onto trailer on the pitch and
fasten down, if so then you have to turn the trailer 180 degrees to hitch up, if not then you have to pull trailer out onto road and drive car up on trailer then fasten down, this can take time and not to be rushed. Some sites not a problem but others can
be if folk are trying to depart and you are taking up road space.
Sorry don't want to put more problems in your way but just drawing on our
own experiances.0 -
We were viewing a few MHs over the weekend and thought the table on one of the vans in particular was horrendously large. The salesman couldn't see a problem but if they were so good why aren't dining rooms in houses dominated by massive tables!
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Very helpful to be made aware of potential pitfalls, thanks to brue, TG , BB and everyone else, it will help us not to make an expensive mistake! Better compile a list of points to check if we manage to get to a few dealers for a look later this year.
Very few dealers up here, so we have only been able to look at a handful of MHs so far.Will also start looking at towcars, the prospect of a nice new towcar for next year might well persuade OH out of this MH idea!
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David, as we were discussing weights/licenses etc and how tricky it might be for Kjell to find what hes looking for at 3500kg, and i know you run your 7.45m van at 3500kg, i was just checking some payload figures as i guessed this model would be 'tight', especially as Bailey's figure of 458kg only includes 20ltr of water in their MIRO figure (so 80 kg lost with a full tank) and you still have to add Margaret (say 75kg), and i know you have a roof mounted satellite system (say 25kg) etc....so you're now down to just 278kg before you actually put anything into the van, not to mention that long overhang and the effect on the rear axle loading.
BB
Whilst your information my be correct for the newer Autograph models and would of course apply to new buyers the previous Approach models had a higher user payload of 510kgs. Also the MRO included a full 90 litres in the water tank. So least your forensic examination of my user payload leads people to think I might be over loading my motorhome I think I am within the allowance no doubt helped by my satellite dish only weighing 11kgs, and Margaret would be most upset at your suggestion that she weighs 75 kgs
David
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Very helpful to be made aware of potential pitfalls, thanks to brue, TG , BB and everyone else, it will help us not to make an expensive mistake! Better compile a list of points to check if we manage to get to a few dealers for a look later this year. Very few dealers up here, so we have only been able to look at a handful of MHs so far.
Will also start looking at towcars, the prospect of a nice new towcar for next year might well persuade OH out of this MH idea!
Write your comments here...We did 7yrs of m/vans and if as we did, only use them in the UK then we found the downside exceeded the upside ,we are now on our third c/van since returning to tugging ,if expecting to use a m/van over the water then there is vastly more space and areas to stop ,for me the new tug would be the much cheaper choice
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David, as we were discussing weights/licenses etc and how tricky it might be for Kjell to find what hes looking for at 3500kg, and i know you run your 7.45m van at 3500kg, i was just checking some payload figures as i guessed this model would be 'tight', especially as Bailey's figure of 458kg only includes 20ltr of water in their MIRO figure (so 80 kg lost with a full tank) and you still have to add Margaret (say 75kg), and i know you have a roof mounted satellite system (say 25kg) etc....so you're now down to just 278kg before you actually put anything into the van, not to mention that long overhang and the effect on the rear axle loading.
BB
Whilst your information my be correct for the newer Autograph models and would of course apply to new buyers the previous Approach models had a higher user payload of 510kgs. Also the MRO included a full 90 litres in the water tank. So least your forensic examination of my user payload leads people to think I might be over loading my motorhome I think I am within the allowance no doubt helped by my satellite dish only weighing 11kgs, and Margaret would be most upset at your suggestion that she weighs 75 kgs
David
.rather than 'think' youre under weight, why not weight it and 'know'...
....ignorance would not be a defense if found to be overweight.remember its not just the overall 3500kg that it has to meet, but also the axle weights....with the rear one particularly vulnerable in a long van like yours.
remember, brochure and website weights are 'allowed' to be out by +/-5%....see disclaimers...
5% of a MIRO of 3000kg is 150kg.....thats a lot to be out by
FYI...axle weights are 1850(f), 2000(r)
PS....I used the 75kg 'std' person weight which catalogues use...i can assure you (and Margaret) that an equal number of posters would have been delighted that i counted them at 'only' 75kg
go on, weigh it, you know you want to.....
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We were viewing a few MHs over the weekend and thought the table on one of the vans in particular was horrendously large. The salesman couldn't see a problem but if they were so good why aren't dining rooms in houses dominated by massive tables!
Write your comments here... We experienced the same thing, in a number of cases it was difficult to get into the seats because of the size of the table.
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Yeh, don't think you don't get caravan-type problems in Motorhomes - you do!
We spent over £3000 in 3 years fixing issues in ours, and in the end we sold it before it went wrong again (which was inevitable).
We have a caravan now because we wanted more space once we're settled in. Its a huge difference.
I do miss the overcab fixed kingsize bed, and driving a MH is easier than towing imo.
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It's been a while since I was 75kg ;-)
...see what i mean.....
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one big difference is the expectation for your bucks...
£20k buys you an awful lot of caravan....probably new, or thereabouts
£20k might buy you an 'awful' MH.....many years old, lots of owners......but, of course you might get a stunning bargain...
so check, check and check again.....
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Popped into Perthsire Caravans today on our way back from Dundee and saw a very nice PVC, a Warwick Duo XL. We don't normally go for PVC as they seem a bit small for our taste at the moment but this was very nice. There was a few things that I wasn't keen
on like the fact that none of the side or rear windows open, is that normal in a PVC? The sliding door window did have a slide opening window but that was the only window that did. There was 3 roof lights that opened and of course you can open the rear door
and side door. I was thinking about when away in hot conditions how do you keep the bugs out of the van (midges/mosquitos) the rear and sliding doors don't have any kind of net blinds like our current van has. What do PVC owners do?0 -
Popped into Perthsire Caravans today on our way back from Dundee and saw a very nice PVC, a Warwick Duo XL. We don't normally go for PVC as they seem a bit small for our taste at the moment but this was very nice. There was a few things that I wasn't keen
on like the fact that none of the side or rear windows open, is that normal in a PVC? The sliding door window did have a slide opening window but that was the only window that did. There was 3 roof lights that opened and of course you can open the rear door
and side door. I was thinking about when away in hot conditions how do you keep the bugs out of the van (midges/mosquitos) the rear and sliding doors don't have any kind of net blinds like our current van has. What do PVC owners do?...The Autosleeper PVCs are based on a version of the Mini bus,and in that respect have special glass windows where as most others have plastic
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JVB is right, AS use the minibus (rather than a van like most others) and replace the single glazed van windows with something they call 'athermic', whereas most other converters use a double glazed replacement window from Seitz or others, which, of course,
will open....0 -
Thanks guys
not sure if I like them not opening. Might be better security wise but in hot climates, it means you have to have the doors
open (no good if you are out) or the van is going to get really hot, 3 roof lights might help but even so. How about how to keep bugs out with no screen?0 -
Thanks guys
not sure if I like them not opening. Might be better security wise but in hot climates, it means you have to have the doors
open (no good if you are out) or the van is going to get really hot, 3 roof lights might help but even so. How about how to keep bugs out with no screen?Write your comments here...Purchase bug screen material and cut it to fit !!
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Thanks guys
not sure if I like them not opening. Might be better security wise but in hot climates, it means you have to have the doors
open (no good if you are out) or the van is going to get really hot, 3 roof lights might help but even so. How about how to keep bugs out with no screen?Write your comments here...Purchase bug screen material and cut it to fit !!
..Thought of that but the slidy door is a tad awkward to say the least, think it would be a bit naff.
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