To Motorhome or not ?
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Hi, thanks for some great replies alot to think about now, the van size/weight for driving is not an issue as I have my class 1 license, the one thing that's come to light for us about loading the van and easily being overweight, I would have hoped this was something the manufacturer would thought about in the design, maybe I'm just a bit naive never having had a M/H before, once again thanks to everyone.
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PJMEG
We swapped from a caravan about five years ago and we like the ease of use that it provides for us. We have a forerunner of the Bailey Autograph a 740 SE Approach which is 7.5 metres long. Like others with Bailey motorhomes we have never found the extra width to be a problem, I always take the view that if a bus can navigate along a road so can I. One advantage is the extra room inside the van. What you have to think about carefully is length as the bigger the motorhome the less easy it is to take out for the day. We always leave our van on site and select locations within either walking distance or near to public transport. Not so much in this country but abroad we also use our electric bikes.
If you are worried about the weight/payload of the Autograph range it might be worth having a look at the Bailey Advance range which is going to be relaunched at the NEC next week. It is a lower spec that the Autographs but the second series has a much improved spec over the original and the payloads, depending on model, are better.
David
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The amount of storage space you need is a very personal thing. Do you want to carry bikes, sun loungers, outdoor cookware, aquaroll and so on. All I can say is that when we tour on the continent we see many “garage style” motorhomes where people have just filled the available space with non essential junk. Of course, if you want to take bikes or you travel with pets then you need the space. Sun loungers, picnic table and chairs for four? The list could be endless.
At the other extreme is us, and others like us. Two relaxing fold-up chairs and a small cover groundsheet to go under the wind-out canopy and not much else. No water carrier, no loungers no picnic table (we ditched the one we bought when we realised the Motorhome table worked fine outside).
There are plenty of Motorhome styles to choose from to suit every conceivable need.
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What I would like to see in this thread is some useful comments about how those, like yourself, who have smaller vans, cope on a day to day basis, travellling around Europe, without much storage space. And that is intended as a genuine request for someone who struggles to see how the other half manage.
BillC
A small van doesn't necessarily have "little" storage space. The key is to think carefully about what is needed and that extends to clothes, food tools, spares, equipment, leisure equipment, on-board water, crockery cutlery and utensils etc.
We use packing cubes and microfibre towels and mainly technical clothing which is lightweight and easily washable. Apart from coping with climatic factors e.g Artic Circle to southern Europe in same trip you need the same amount of clothes and footwear for a ten day trip or a sixty day trip you just need to wash it !
We have reduced the amount of crockery cutlery pots pans etc but still have enough to cover any cooking scenario we are likely to encounter.
We carry a good range of tools and spares appropriate to our mechanical competence a comprehensive first aid kit and a serious fire extinguisher.
We don't carry a huge range of outdoor stuff mainly just two folding chairs our needs are covered by a built in awning and built in outside table.
We rarely watch TV abroad but take a selection of DVDs and books on i-pad (Kindle Ap and on paper) so we don't need satellite gear. We have a Mi-fi for urgent news and communication.
We don't carry an aquaroll, a wastemaster or a big hose. We have a folding bucket a small grey water container a 10L and a 5L carrier for drinking water. These items cover all fresh and waste water scenarios on full facility sites and aires even though an extra trip or two to the tap is needed (the exercise is welcome).
We have grip mats and a tow rope and a washing line.
We have a good range of paper maps and guidebooks to suit the particular trip which may range over several countries.
With foresight organisation and ruthless pruning of the unnecessary we can comfortably carry all of the above, logically and conveniently with space and payload to spare.
Our choice of a small and relatively light van is entirely about mobility not competence.
On account of a personal emergency I drove 1850 miles in three days to get home from Eastern Hungary. I don't fancy doing that in a big van !!
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Like BVM, we pruned out the unnecessary. Why carry a whole set of pans if you only ever cook with two, for example.
Items like collapsible buckets can save a lot of space and we don't carry our free standing table as we find we can manage with just the little one.
A plus in MH storage is that the overhead lockers tend to be larger than those in caravans and there’s often overcab storage. Door pockets in the cab are roomy and all our papers and maps travel there. Some shoes can be packed under the cab seats but bulky items such as jackets are kept to a minimum.
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Deleted User User.The OP wasn't asking about small vans, but some of the comments lacked understanding of small vans and the fact that many people like them. We never felt cramped in our first pvc, good design helped with that and even smaller vans are loved by many. These double as daily vehicles for some and on sites can be extended with good awning use. I think there are people out there who don't want to replicate home and just want the easy freedom of a small van. Each to his own.
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Same here. We tow an Eriba Caravan which has is 4.20 metres x 2.0 metres internal space. I should think a 5.5 metre panel van conversion would have about the same internal space. Is that about right?
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Hi hg, BVM, WTG,
I dont think we are too far off your methods of packing inside the van, but, yes we have a garage for the extras: spare wheel, full size CADAC, 2 Isabella loungers, 2 dir chairs, coffee table, empty aquaroll, G&T, beer, wine and many bits from inside the van to rid the clutter. We also carry one e-bike in the garage and one on the rack because of their weight.
We do vary our load considerably depending on what trips we are doing. We are doing three longish trips of 6-8 weeks pa abroad and many 7-10 days in the UK. In two years with the new van we have done 15,000 miles and a few hundred on the bikes.
For me, I wore a green uniform for 24 years and learned how to travel light, pack sensibly, live out of a rucksack and be mobile. But now I am retired I like my comfort pack. Maybe in 3/4 years it might change.
If any of you see me around on camp sites, give me a knock and we can have a drink; we also have glasses for all occasions!
We are off to Beni' on Thursday for six weeks, with all the extras.
BillC
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Oh! Nearly forgot, for BB, we intend to visit the Wellington weighbridge before we leave!
BillC
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After nearly 20 years of caravanning, we have just put down a deposit on a motorhome, Lunar Roadstar EL. Our reasoning is that we are recently retired, and instead of 2 or 3 weeks on site (UK and/or France) recharging our batteries, we would like to do more touring - maybe 3 or 4 nights before we move on. A lot has been said on the forum about size and layout. We are all different, but we have gone for a 2-berth coachbuilt as it feels comparable to our 2-berth caravan. The only compromise is the small kitchen in the Lunar. We think we will buy e-bikes. Good idea?
The gas locker door will only accommodate a 7kg bottle because of the diameter. Our bottle is an 11kg re-fillable bottle which we will have to change. You have no idea of the issues to work around until you own a MH (and we don't even own it yet!}. If you hire one, the hire company will have sorted everything and anything which you haven't even thought of.
It's a leap of faith! Good luck.
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I had PM fitted last November - we went to France in the MH over New Year and it shouldn't stop you doing everything you want to do.
Just don't raise your arms too high for the next few weeks - we don't want the leads popping out, do we ?
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