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Happy new year and all that as i haven't posted for a while.
Just a quick message, someone has recently sent me a PM which has prompted me to post this!!
I know it will be a small minority, but how many people on this forum actually own a American Motorhome (RV)?, just curious as i know this is mainly a forum for european motorhomes.
Also i have noticed that admin have been putting new forum categories in, maybe a new one for American RV's?
Regards
Alex J
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me to start with.We have a 33ft Allegro slide. This is our third American- likes are : space, big fridge ( especially when all 4 kids came away with us), large refillable lpg tank, large waste tanks so no daily potti emptying. Seeing the pathetic slide out on that Frankia that was posted recently makes me wonder if the European manufacturers ever look at whats available in the USA.
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I've got an imported Safari (now Monacco) RV "motorcoach" - 35ft... needed something big+equipped for full timing....
The coach has everything -- walk around queen bed, full size shower, domestic washer/dryer, minibar, full size fridge/freezer, three a/c units, underfloor heating, vast water/waste/fresh/LPG/diesel tanks, mega generator etc...... can run everything without hookup for days if necessary
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I've really enoyed it so far - but do have some Spain/RV specific comments for you - mainly relating to the "SE corner" as many of the more northern sites seemed to be seasonal.
- do some research first and have an idea of your route roughly in mind - if your RV is big (30ft+) you WILL NOT fit into all sites, and some you can get into will have metal frames for shade which you wont fit under!
Plus electrics can be weak/poor, drainage not provided etc etc -- to fully utilise the RV
you'll probably want 15amp+ electric, a drain/sewer pipe on the pitch and a threaded tap also for "city water"
(hard to find all of these - esp the further south you go)
Some sites I've seen (www.vayacamping.net) as "good for large vechiles" would just about manage a 20ft MH !
That's for longer stays of course, to avoid moving the RV for more water/waste emptying etc
If you are travelling, moving on every few days these considerations are less important, you can use the RV
un-hooked as necessary and esp smaller site owners will probably let you park across 2 picthes etc if they aren't busy or
during winter (in fact some winter deals are for 2 pitches)
I've yet to find by the way in Southern Spain a garage service point (so common in Frnace) where you can dump tanks
get more water etc
- Spain isn't America (where these were menat to be used!) so do beware of some appauling side roads, tiny village
streets and limited access to and inside of sites. Be prepared for an unhelpful audience when you arrive and depart - and be very confident in your driving (for pitching) -- I've had "helpers" happily waving me backwards towards parked cars etc on on number of occasions!
- One of the joys of course is to be able to move around as you want - but some of the better sites for RVs
(there aren't too many) get very busy in winter and expensive in summer - but there are deals to be had,
for example last winter I found a site I could just get onto - I would only fit on one of the pitches one the whole site! - but got a good rate for a several month stay
Also unless you are 100% sure I would not "wild camp" - an RV does attract attention -- I've had kids taking pictues of mine with camera phones whilst I'm stopped at petrol stations and "buzzed" by brats on scooters! Best bet I think if you need night stops travelling down is "in with the trucks" at autoroute service stations.
- You can refill with LPG now at some special stations (used to just be for buses I think) -- I would recommend an
extend-a-stay system for your gas so that you can run off an external bottle too -- you can buy butane bottles at
pretty much any garage or hardware outlet (you need to 'contract' your first one using passport/driving licence and
campsite address - then you can swap empty for full - about 9 euro)
This saves driving the RV out for more gas if you are parked up for a while, and the LPG-refilling stataions are sparse
If you are long staying I would recommend esp for Spain carrying a scooter or bicycles so that you can get around without having to move the RV, hiring cars or limiting yourself to your immediate vicinity
Another general point - inland in winter it does get cold, even snow at higher altitude!
Beware of that if running on Butane/using city water etc
Finally I would carry a selection of drain hoses, loo chemicals, any American specific fuses/bulbs etc -- there are some (a few!) camping shops here but do seem to have quite basic/limited lines. Finally finally do you have a spare? Mine doesnt (no chance of a DIY-change!) --- be sure that your tyres aren't American specials (eg Cooper C120 or similar) - you can get them in England, Germany etc but try here!!! hahah (personal experience!) Worth carrying a spare tyre if you can -- or get the whole RV switched to commonly available Euro equivalents.
Hope this is useful, if I can help any more send a message
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Here sits another one on the drive way in Klingnau- Switzerland: a Winnebago Brave 25ft with a Chevrolet Diesel Engine. Have seen a few American motorhomes with a GB license plate in the Albufeira Portugal campground(fifth wheels and big rigs). Seems a popular place for some of your countrymen and women it looked as if they were there for quite a while at least the fifth wheel I have seen there before. I am also a member of the USA based "The Diesel Page" which is dedicated to the 6.5 and 6.2 liter diesel engines of General ^Motors so if someone wants to know a little bit more on his GM diesel engine please let me know I may be of some help because there are some weaknesses in the design owners should know about.
John.
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