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airguitar

Hi everyone

I'm new to this site (it's great by the way) and am looking for some advice/information from all you experts.

I've never been in a motorhome, so why am I on this site you ask, but I'm looking to hire (hope I havent offended anyone) a motorhome to experience it.

We're looking to drive from Swindon to Scotland over the Christmas period.

A few questions spring to mind:

What are the rules about parking a motorhome i.e. do you have to go to a campsite?

If you don't have access to a campsite, how do you get water, empty waste, etc?

How long can a motorhome be self sustaining i.e. before you have to empty waste, replace water etc (I appreciate it will depend how much you use, but what is the norm)?

What are the laws on passengers, i.e. do all motorhomes have seatbelts for all passengers, are people allowed to sleep as your travelling?

I apologise in advance if they are simple questions, but I am clueless at the moment and just trying to understand how this works before we venture out.

Thank you in advance

airguitar

Barty

Wild camping - you dont have to site on Club sites, many like to get the feeling of camping wild. However you will usually feel safer on a site, you dont need to join a club there are many five van sites however these are listed on Club magazines. My advice would be to buy an Alan Rodgers site book I found them to be excellent for first timers. Hiring is the best way of trying out before spending up to £50K for a new van. You can buy s/hand from £4,000 though depending on your needs.

Waater can be replaced from some filling stations, just ask first.

I found that usually a week was about the length of time between filling with water, emptiying toilets, tanks no problem really this can be done while camping. Depends on your usage.

Seat belts- most hire companys have them fitted to 3 including driver, but some converters fit for 4 in total.

As in cars you must wear them if they are fitted.

hbib

It's good to beguin in the motorhoming hiring a motorhome, it's the cheapest way to know if you like this; If you like, probably you'll buy then one; if you dislike this you only had wasted a few money in the hire.

do you have to go to a campsite?
That's a personal thing, I don't go always to campsites, if I'm tired of driving or I found a lovely and secure place to stay I park and sleep.

how do you get water, empty waste, etc?
I refill water in gas stations and drain the black waters in the wc.

How long can a motorhome be self sustaining i.e. before you have to empty waste, replace water etc
Ok, evidently it depends of the use and the number of people in the motorhome. I.e. 3 people having short showers everyday, cooking, cleaning dishses..., 100 litres (I don't know in gallons) 2 days. In the wc, 3 people, a deposit of 25 litres, 2-3 days.

What are the laws on passengers, i.e. do all motorhomes have seatbelts for all passengers, are people allowed to sleep as your travelling?
Now I'm going to talk the laws in Spain, because that's I know; all places for passengers have seatbelt, if not, that's not a place for passenger. And people aren't allowed to sleep as you traveling (specially the driver LOL). I meant laided down in bed, if people can sleep seated with the seatbelt on there's no problem.

I hope to have helped you.
bye.

dodger148

Barty,
dont know what size van you have but on average Toilet Cassettes last about 2 to 2.5 days! Water-Fresh, our tank is 18 gallons and again needs topping up say every 2.5 to 3 days, Grey Water - well, let it dribble a bit whilst driving !!
Regarding seat belts. UK law requires forward facing seats with passengers to have seat belts, side facing seats are a different matter

twooks

[quote:430df529b7="dodger148"]Barty,
Grey Water - well, let it dribble a bit whilst driving !!
[/quote:430df529b7]

oooh dodger!

but back to airguitar: the 5 van sites mentioned are [supposed] to be only for members of either caravan Club or Camping & Caravanning Club, it costs about £30 to join, so that decisin to join will depend on whether you think you will use them enough - also both clubs have a surcharge of about £5 per night at their main sites for non-members.
If you are hiring you should find that all the technical stuff is included, you can decide for yourself what you are likely to use from experience when you take the plunge and buy [NOTE: when not if Wink

]
You say Christmas period - I presume you mean Easter? Confused

An advantage of using campsites, there will be someone there to help out if you get stuck with something [not necessarily in the mud], so I would recommend using them until you get a bit more comfortable with the van.
Also, remember that carrying full tanks of water / waste, will degrade your fuel consumption, we normally empty before leaving a campsite and fill on arrival.
whatever you do just go and enjoy yourselves,
just remember some money and a corkscrew! Wink

check out the rest of the site for info on wild camping spots and what to take.
Cool

Anonymous

Re this question of seat belts etc.

In one of the Motorhome magazines I read recently there was an article on a couple who had 2 young kids & they said one of the things they liked was that they could put the kids to bed & then set off on their journey.

As I read it I thought - this can't be legal surely?

Don't worry, not thinking of doing it as son's bed is only there when the roof is up & daughter's uses the front seat!

Even if it is legal, would you do it?

Since getting Frisky in October & switching from caravan mags to motorhoming ones I've been interested when reading the reviews to see that many 4 berths do not have seat belts fitted in the rear, conversely many 2 berths do! Confused