New Motorhome
Hi everybody, we are John and Julie and have just taken delivery of our first ever brand new motorhome, so excited.
it took a while as we were due to pick up 1st March, but could not get there because of all that snow we had, but finally picked up on 5th March.
We have never been camping, never gone Caravaning, but in our wisdom decided to buy a 7.3 metre long motorhome and take to the road on various trips. I know, we are mad most probably, but what could go wrong. We will be the newbies on site that you all look at and say things like, there is a better way of doing that etc, but that also will be part of the fun.
Who knew, that you needed so much stuff in a new motorhome, as we have nothing at all to do with motorhoming, but we are getting there and that is becoming part of the excitement for us, even though we always seem to be buying things all the time.
We joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club and registered as members and look forward to being part of a new community who share a passion for the outdoor way of life.
Anyway, glad to be part of this community and will be using tips etc all the time.
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Hello and welcome to CT and our great hobby. You'll love it 😉. We did the same as you just over 10 years ago, but it wasn' a brand new motorhome, w expect still have it and still love it.
Best advice I can offer us firstly take a trip away close to home asap to see how everything works - you'll be able to nip home for anything you'e forgotten 😉
Keep your wallet/purse in your pocket buy essentials that you don't have, a kettle for the stove is great for non electric sites or Layby's where you want a brew 😃 but a milk pan will do the job. We all have cupboard/room/garage/shed which house what we'e considered necessary and weren't 😂. Do a few trips and note what you require. Eventually we became stocked and now before we go away we add contents of the fridge, clothes and ourselves.
Most importantly don'tforgot everything you add has a weight. There is a weight limit for your vehicle, also known as payload. Check your spare payload after what the manufacturer includes. That'll be passengers, fuel, water, bedding, clothes, crockery, toiletries clothes, food etc
Ask any questions on her. There's a wealth if knowledge. You'l also learn there isn't just one way to do things 😉😂.
Enjoy 😆
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Welcome John and Julie. Feel free to ask any questions and we'll do our best to help.
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Hello and welcome! Golden rule in a MH, travel as light as possible, makes life a lot easier, so think carefully about what you are buying. But you will quickly get the hang of things, and joining the Club is a good decision, because the sites are a doddle to use, and you will get lots of help if you need it! Hope you have a ball!
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Hi there John & Julie and a warm welcome to CT and the C&MC .Very exciting times for you both.We started about 22yrs ago with a trailer tent then folding camper and onto caravan of which we had 2 and for the last 15yrs we have been motorhoming.You will love it ,it’s a fantastic hobby.Good bunch on here with a lot of knowledge so ask away👍.See if you can attend the Club National at the end of May bank holiday.Anyway enjoy your Motorhome ,travel safely.
Brian & Jo
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Hi, J&J, enjoy your new van.
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"What could go wrong"? Sadly, an awful lot if you didn't do enough research before hand. Overloading, layout doesn't suit, buy things you don't need, warranty claims dependant on model bought and luck, lifestyle doesn't suit and what you've bought is an expensive white elephant. I could go on!
Fortunately, I'm an optimist and so I expect John & Julie will join the tens of thousands of motorhomers who have a long and enjoyable motorhoming life for many years in their chosen van.
Ask questions, share your experiences, sign up to a dedicated motorhome forum that suits you. And don't forget to do the washing. Most of all, have a fabulous time. We do.
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agree with Aspenshaw, what could possibly go wrong....anything between everything and nothing...
you just need to have a sensible expectation of what a van can achieve within certain (legal) parameters.....think weight, weight and weight...
now, it may be that you are going to be running this van in the 'heavy' 4250kg chassis......if so, most of the stuff below won't apply, however if you're running the van on the 3500 chassis (even with an upgrade to 3650/3850) then it is very relevant....
7.3m is not an overly large van but it's not a small van either...vans over 7m can be a bit tricky to run at 3500kg in what I call 'realistic' touring trim....2 people, tank of fuel, at least half a tank of water, 2 gas bottles, clothes, bedding, bikes, hoses, cables, tables chairs, BBQ, grill, windbreak, electrical gadgets, Chargers, etc etc.....not to mention any extras/accessories like 2nd leisure battery, satellite system, TVs, inverters, manufacturers 'packs' which all cost kilos.....as well as pounds..
i would aim for around 500kg payload minimum as just the OH, water, gas can eat 150kg before you get to putting the other stuff in....leaving only 350kg for everything else mentioned...
also, with vans on the 'light' 3500kg chassis there is a weak spot and that is the max rear axle loading of 2000 kg....longish vans with long overhangs (and a 7.3m van will certainly have one of these) will be rearward weight biased and 'stuff' added to the van in a storage area behind the rear axle (garage or large locker) will add more than its actual weight to the rear axle loading.....eg 100kg loaded might add 140kg or so to the rear axle due to the pendulum effect....
my advice, ask the dealer to weigh the van with you and OH in it, with a full tank of fuel, full water if possible and this will give you a much better idea of your starting point for calculating the remaining payload.
take both axle weights too, as the rear limit will almost certainly be exceeded before you run out of 'payload'....
if the dealer won't do this (they can go to a weighbridge or use weighing pads) I would want to know why....
what MH do you have in mind?
also, don't accept anything from a brochure or a salesman with regard to weight....see the figures with your own eyes...
some (savvy?) buyers make 'an acceptable' weight part of the sales condition, as similar vans can vary and manufacturers hide plenty by excluding fresh water from their MIRO figures and their tollerance of '+/- 5%' in brochures and in websites....
a van with a MIRO of (say) 3000kg 'could' lose 150kg of the apparent 500kg payload in this way.....then you have to add OH, water, gas, another 150kg as mentioned above.......so, your 500kg now becomes effectively 200kg before you've actually put anything in the van.....so weighing 'your' van becomes important...
im sure this sounds pretty scary but this can be the reality for the unwary, a lovely van which can't be driven legally with any kit in it....
I realise this might not be what you want to hear but it is important, vans are blooming expensive and being weight savvy is critical these days as are vans are getting wider (fatter), longer and with more and more heavy kit included......
more than happy to help with any questions, but IMHO it's far better to be aware of the potential issues than to find them out later....
good luck.
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yes, you're right..... I realised that later
.....however, the van will still need managing and the payload issues (may) remain....the focus may have sharpened somewhat....
id be interested to know what van we are talking about....
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I've made some notes (to myself) based on the technical info for the 195 which I'll hold onto for now...
however, i realise you've bought the van, but I still strongly suggest you weigh it, with both axle weights as this is going to be a tough one to run at 3.5t.. well it would be for us.....
now you have it, fill it with water, fuel, both of you, all bedding, all camping kit you would normally take..leads, hoses, fluids, chairs, tables, BBQ, electrical kit, adaptors, gas bottle, clothes, shoes, outdoor coats, walking boots, food, cutlery, crockery, bikes, water containers, tv, computers, books, etc, etc......and then weigh it.....both axles
i sincerely hope it comes in ok.....but this is the only way to be sure (Ellen Ripley, Aliens).....
the key numbers are 1850kg front axle and (the tricky one) 2000kg rear axle.....and 3500kg total...
come back with your numbers and hopefully there won't be an issue, but always best to know, isn't it?
good luck...
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