Forums

tonyt

Print this thread and keep it handy.

teemyob

Hello,

Do not believe everything fellow motorhomers tell you. What is good for them may not work for you. You can only learn by experience, your own judgement, trial and error.

Trev.

Ginamo

Keep a small card on a clothes peg by aerial or satellite dish and when you raise it, clip the card to the sun visor to remind you to lower it before driving off.

Gina

RVNUT

No time to do washing or wild camping, no facilities?
Have a bucket with a lid, fill with water, pref hot and some washing powder. Fasten on lid and drive off, the swishing around as you drive is just as good as a washing machine.
Don't throw away those perforated rubber outdoor door mats, they work beautifully if you park on them in soft ground conditions.
If you have a very wide vehicle stick two pieces of masking tape to the dash board near the windscreen to show where the outer limits or wheels are. Keep between the lines!
Mini bungees to hold up locker doors. In fact get one of those assorted packs--invaluable, extra steadies for bikes etc.
Stick on a many mirrors as you can, there are a lot of idiots about, make sure you can see 'em.
Tyre pressures and suspension airbags check at least weekly, particularly if doing large distances, no RV wheel is easy to change.
Use Astroturf on steps for wiping feet, stick down with Velcro for easy removal.
Rolls of none slip rubbery stuff or dash board mats, so you can leave 'stuff', toothpaste, serving trays etc on flat surfaces. If you have a cooker and no top on it, stick some of that rubbery stuff under a wooden board and put it in top, more working space and travelling space for kettles etc if you put some rubbery stuff on it's upper surface. You will have loads more useful surfaces with rubbery stuff!
Don't throw away that polystyrene packing stuff you get with laptops, phones, electrical equipment, it's great to use as packing material, or to stop plates rattling whilst driving, and you know when the mugs/glasses fall out of the kitchen cabinet- yep if they are in a suitably shaped container they either bounce or you catch'em. Bubble wrap works too.
If you buy glasses keep the original packaging, it was designed to protect them.
Just get a SATNAV of some sort, it saves money (fuel), you don't have to surrender and ask for directions (or have your wife do it in a fit of peke), so you retain your manhood (or personhood), no shouting, and you are still speaking to each other at the end of the day. Yes they make mistakes, but now you have someone else to blame.
Microsoft Autoroute software with GPS ariel converts your laptop into a SATNAV way cheaper way, some cheap speaker and you are gone.
Loads of velcro, innumerable uses.
Carry PTFE tape great for leaks, or that squirting water tap connector.
Cheap airpump that runs from cigarette lighter, great for tyres, footballs, airbeds-stuff.
If you are fortunate enough to have ovens & microwaves, they make good extra storage for bread, biscuits etc.
ALWAYS, always carry WD40, for locks, steps, anything that sticks.
All the other stuff about doing a walk round, kids, steps ariel, connections should come with the motorhome instruction book, but it doesn't.
Last tip, (for now) if you haven't seen it hire the DVD 'RV' with Robin Williams, been there done that!

devonidiot

If you have a stand alone awning ensure that you have at least two tie down straps. Experience talking, brand new Harrison Hi-Top first trip unexpected gale force winds whilst off site, came back to find awning down. Five supports damaged, quoted £170 to replace!

Small adhesive convex mirrors to fit onto side mirrors, to give wider view whilst on continent.

As above, a pocket size notebook to list problems and ideas for next trip ( remember pen/pencil).

passionwagon

Fill a flask with boiling water before moving off. En-route you can have a hot drink without starting up gas or having to go outside to turn it on. Wink

Stapeler

A 5litre garden sprayer, Great for cooling down on those hot days in France, also handy for lugging water around.

Inflatable sofa and an Inflatable dingy.