The BIG Change!
We were Caravanners for 26 years but have now taken the plunge and we are now proud owners of an Autocruise Starquest EL 2003.
Ok so it is getting on a bit but we hope to have many adventures!
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
My niggles are filling with water, being used to Aquarolls, travelling with the fridge on and levelling the 'MH' ('Mave' ) as my husband likes to call her!
We are about to have our first trip out this weekend.....!
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Unless you have a "crashproof" regulator fitted (unlikely), you'll be switching to 12V for the fridge when travelling.
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I thought so, many thanks
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Moderator Edit:
Duplicate post removed.
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To fill with water, drive to tap, remove filler cap, connect hose to tap, bung other end of hose in filler, turn on tap, turn off tap when water runs out of the overflow. You'll find it much simpler than faffing about with containers.
Levelling is simpler than a caravan. Ramps will rarely be needed if you avoid slopes or pits but, if they are, you simply drive up them.👍🏻
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We have a crash proof regulator and were told the fridge was not supposed to be used on gas when travelling, although the heating can be. Indeed if left on automatic (as we do) the fridge switches to vehicle battery / alternator when I start the engine, then back to gas 15 minutes after it’s stopped.
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A 5ltr watering can and a 60ltr tank, that'll sure give you a lot of exercise, PD😀.
One of the reasons we swapped from caravan to MH was to do away with the need to manhandle water containers around the site.
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I agree, this is what I used to do before I acquired a van with an external 12 volt socket.
Interesting though that in a thread a few weeks ago, in one of the myriad caravaners v motorhomers threads, someone implied that using a watering can was somewhat barmy. It is, however, an extremely effective way of keeping the tank topped up and thus avoid moving the van.
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I used a 10 litre watering can and you only do it to top up not to fill the tank from scratch. I found I used an average of 30 litres a day (and I remember being surprised by a thread many moons ago where most seemed to use less than that - and I am on my own) so a maximum of three trips a day was all it took. No bother at all and much easier than driving the van to the motorhome service point.
However, now I use an aquaroll and a submersible pump because my current van has an external 12 volt socket whereas my previous one didn't. I find this a better option, personally.
Moving the van once pitched is anathema to me.
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Of course, I should have added, that if you only stop on a site for three or four days, as is often the case for those in motorhomes I think it is fair to say, you can probably get away without any need to top up at all. You just fill up at the service point on arrival at each site. Then you do away with any need for Aquarolls or watering cans. I would always have a watering can though, just in case.
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This is a good example of how we do things differently.
PD said to refill/top up which implies filling from empty as well as topping up.
I could not carry a full 10ltr container these days and would not attempt to do so. To me, the whole point of a MH is to use it and move off site - making a stop at the MHSP on rhe way. Leaving the van pitched and using water containers was what we did with a caravan and, to my mind, negates the benefit of a MH.
Horses for courses, eh?
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Now we have a motorhome with a standard water filling point I also use a 10lt watering can to top up at regular intervals. Our previous motorhome had an Aquasource connector where you can use an Aquaroll which was quite convenient on site but was more storage on the move. We always travel with at least half a tank of water so it's not so onerous to top up with the watering can, and good exercise!!!!
As to levelling I couldn't get on the wedge type leverelers. I made my own flat boards out of scaffold planks which nest together. If I am on a standard Club site I will often look for a hardstanding pitch which has a slightly rearward slope. Most Fiat/Peugeot based motorhomes are slightly nose down so I find a pitch that slopes backwards gives me a level van without other aids.
David
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Not easier for me, PD. I could not do it.
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I'm like GdJ, only carry them for emergencies. I have ample water storage for up to 5 days. The most use they get is usually when I have one day or a few hours left on site and the level is getting low. Rather than move off pitch it is easier to put 20 litres in to insure I have water for the last few hours on site.
peede
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I find it hard to understand why people find it such a chore to fill or empty water containers i.e Aqua roll or Wastemaster. I...... like many others I have been doing it for years it is a 5 minute job that has to be done when needed, like the emptying of a toilet. It has to be done like many other things, so just get on with it. I would think that if compared to other jobs we do like cleaning Barbeques or washing up it would pale into insignificance.
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It's good to hear you're still physically able to do these things, ADP. I'm sure many of us wish we were as lucky and able to "just get on with it".
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We're all entitled to our opinions, ADP, but in my book you are lucky to still be fit and able to carry out those chores at your vintage. Be glad of your good fortune.👍
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You know nothing about me Tinman of any consequence. Again your opinion and again your assumption of me having good fortune. Once again your values are very different to mine. I consider this matter closed regarding my so called good fortune.
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It is just a question of routine as you say. Given that being on a campsite is unlike having a very busy type job all you have to do is set aside, 15 minutes perhaps, per day to do what needs doing. I always try to get a pitch near a service point which makes things a little easier. Because we use our own facilities I suppose I need more water and collect more waste water. OK I am not as young as I was but I still seem to manage reasonably OK. If I started to struggle I think I would be questioning how much longer I could go on and still enjoy the hobby.
David
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I'm finding it shocking that some posters do not recognise that we are not all as fit and able as others. Some, like ADP can still manage physical tasks at 80-ish, others lose the ability earlier. It is not just a matter of routine, as DK said but of being physucally able to do these tasks. I'm not seeking sympathy but a little understanding of my words would be appreciated.
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Although I would prefer to not to continue with this thread or to sympathise with you Tinman, I will explain why we are of a different opinion. Because I can roll an Aquaroll or pull a Wastemaster you have come to the conclusion that I am physically fit and healthy and that is the wrong conclusion. You have also used that as determining my good fortune, but that is how you evaluate your life. I evaluate my life and good fortune about having my family and their love ,but they are no longer with me. To me Good Fortune is being able share my life with the people I love and care for not fill an Aquaroll !.
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It’s perfectly possible to have good fortune in one area of your life but not in others, ADP.
However, to return to the subject and for the benefit of Talktourer who asked about it, one reason we gave up tugging was due to the faff. With a MH it’s a simple hose in the hole and a few minutes later I have a tank full of water. Job done!
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the 'water ritual' and how its dealt with will depend on a number of factors including how much is used per day, how many days are you staying on site prior to moving and how big are the fresh and waste tanks.
if a single fill on arrival covers all usage and the waste tank can support the output then happy days, a single empty on way out...
this is how we operate mostly as our usage seems pretty frugal compared to some, our tanks are large and we dont stay for weeks on end on UK sites.
however, if the equation doesnt work quite as well then actions will need to be taken...
again, those actions will be different ones as things like taking van off site regulalry will influence.....passing the MHSP makes things easy.
however, all that needs to be managed, once the initial fill is used up, is the daily requirement....if this is 10 ltrs a day then a watering can (or two) full will suffice.
if usage is more than this then perhaps more trips or larger containers might get involved.
these in turn create their own problems....storage (water containers are quite large and awkward and often storage is tight) and then getting water from a large container into a filler nozzle requires more gadgetry....not necessarily the most reliable bits of kit...
our tanks last us 5/6 days when using tank water to shower, or 10-12 days when on a site with showers, so one fill is very often all thats needed.
we all use our MH in different ways and taking the van off site every day is just another personal preference.....we dont usually, as we have an 'explore range' of 40 miles with our enikes from where we are sited....of we are looking further afield than that then this would be covered on the next stop.
we may have more, shorter stops than some users....
we also call into villages and NT places en route from one site to the next.
no one way suits us all, our very long winter/autumn trips are equipped with water on the pitch.
main thing......enjoy the van.
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Is sympathy needed? You have your way of doing things which takes into account your physical capabilities. I have no issue with that, nor should I. The original question was what do people do which I think I have answered. I went on to suggest it was a matter of routine which it is. From what you have said your routine is to go out regularly off site with your van and make use of the motorhome point facilities on the way in and out of the site which seems like common sense to me. We prefer to have the van as a base and explore either on foot or by public transport. I could still visit the motorhome point but find it more convenient to use my method whilst I am still able to do that.
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Of course sympathy isn’t needed! I think you misread my post if that's what you think.
My point was that I was being told to "just get on and do it" or that it's a "matter of routine". My words of explanation as to why that’s not possible were overlooked. To be argued with as if it’s my lazy or wimpish choice not to do water carrying chores was not appreciated.
Of course we all do things differently and the OP is being given a good cross sample of different ways to exist on site but surely we should all be able to choose our own ways without being belittled for our choices? To be continually mis-addressed and made to feel small is not a good place to be.
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