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Hello all,
as you can guess, this is all new(ish) to me, we hope to buy our first mh soon. After much searching and debate we have sort of settled on what we need in terms of layout. Could you experienced types help me on one thing that I am struggling with. How important is it to be able to park in the drive or nearby?
Our drive is a bare 6 mtrs long, and that is almost to to the road ( no pathways). it is a the gate is approx 2.5 mtrs wide. We "might" be able to squeeze in a small a class. That of course gives as a limited choice etc.
There is motorhome storage nearby but we would have to go fetch it whenever we wanted to go away and of course maintenance and the like would be more of an isue.
So, could anyone help with giving us a steer as to just how inconvenient not having it local is?
in simple terms, should I buy a small van that fits, and deal with space issue, or a longer van that does not fit, and deal with storage issue.
many thanks and I do appreciate your help.
Willy
One very important thing to consider is the insurance cost and maybe additional security systems required if stored on the road.
The other thing is you rarely see people saying their motorhome is too big. It's surprising how much stuff you do actually take. Over 7.5 meters may be difficult on some small CL or CS sites and may be more expensive on Ferries.
One very important thing to consider is the insurance cost and maybe additional security systems required if stored on the road.
The other thing is you rarely see people saying their motorhome is too big. It's surprising how much stuff you do actually take. Over 7.5 meters may be difficult on some small CL or CS sites and may be more expensive on Ferries.
sorry should have been clear, cannot park on the road, it's either the drive ( small mh) or a storage site.
will even have difficulty stopping outside the house as the road is only wide enough for one vehicle.
We have moved house often and since the last two times we have owned a motorhome.
We have been adamant that we should be able to park our motorhome on the drive and bought (the house) accordingly!
We now have a Sprinter conversion - 5'68m long and there is room to spare - in fact, Kittycamper's van is sharing the drive as I write!!
We feel comfortable knowing where it is and being able to see it. It is also very convenient being able to clean it, load it and unload it right outside our front door. And, of course we don't pay to store it!
Good luck and hope you get the van that fits all your requirements!
M&A
We have no alternative but to park our van in storage about 3 miles away. It is not all that convenient:
Packing to go away has to be " load up car and drive to farm" rather than do it gradually as things occur to you. You can't borrow things either- a good thing perhaps !
At the end of every trip we have to go home, get car, drive van and car to farm and unload. At the end of a long day this is tiring. If we have bikes on the back we have to go make sure we call at the house to drop them.
Any tinkering/ cleaning/ mods/ additions to the van have to be planned and all the tools and bits gathered together and taken to the farm- where there is limited power and space to spread and no shelter. It's not so easy to check on the van to make sure batteries are not flattening and so on.
We tend not to simply get in and drive off for a weekend or day trip because it is more of an effort.
On the plus side: no-one notices that the van we might have had parked in the drive has gone -ie we leave fewer clues that we are away. We also get a reduction in insurance as it is in a secure compound well away from passers-by.
We can't park a van of any size in the drive but, had we had a choice, we would have gone for a smaller van if that meant we could have parked at home. I'd not leave it on the road however under any circumstances.
I think I'd look at a small coachbuilt first. A Starfire or similar will fit (just) on your drive and will give you a taste of motorhoming. There is a saying that you only get your ideal motorhome when you purchase your fifth one! It's true because until you actually use a motorhome a lot you won't be sure of what's most important to you. At the moment you might have decided, for example, that you need a large van so you can have a fixed bed but a fixed bed normally means a compromise in lounging space or bathroom space etc. Start with something that doesn't fit your drive and those spur of the moment weekends are less likely (see Grizzly's comments above).
If, after a few months, you decide you want something bigger you won't have spent out on storage etc and you'll have a clearer idea of what you want. Just for the record we've owned a Murvi panel van, a Talisman coachbuilt, a Hymer 544 A Class, a bigger Hymer 660 A Class, a triple-axle Hymer 640 A Class, an Autosleepers Duetto panel van and (currently) an Autocruise Starfire. We've loved all of them but each was bought to answer a need at the time. The Murvi, our first van, was changed quickest when we realised we wanted something with a separate bathroom. The Talisman gave way to the 544 when we had done a lot of travelling and wanted a permanently made bed. The 660 was purchased because we were living in France and renovating a house so we wanted more room and a separate shower cubicle. And so it goes on. You WILL change your first van - just make sure you give yourself every chance to use it to the full first.
We store ours about 12 miles away from home. It is nice and secure (cheaper insurance) but it's a pain to do little jobs. Like I have a new aerial to put on and if I want it to work before we go away I have to make a special trip and remember all tools that I might need. We tend to pack car with all we need and then drive to MH and load up. Swap car and MH and then off we go. We do leave the MH as ready to go as possible.
Things that we have come across.
Cleaning the exterior is difficult on storage site.
No 240v so need to hoover interior when on hookup.
Fridge can't be pre cooled, so food isn't as cool as could be. We have found the fridge/freezer on 12v when driving isn't great at making things cool, it's OK at maintaining temp but not at chilling.
Need to think about every little thing, can't put bits and bobs in as and when you remember them.
When we move we will buy a house where we can store Motorhome.
I wasn't quite a stuck for space as you but my MH had to be 6.50m total including towbar and ball (I was prepared to bolt/unbolt the ball if needed).
As it was my measurement was very slightly out by about 4 inches (reverts back to English ) and so I modified the gates to include an extra hinge at the ends so that they now sit flush to the end of the pillars and can be opened 180 degrees outwards for clearance when I exit the drive. It's 'kin tight but manageable, although the garage door does have a recess now where the towball clips it.
Then, as said by others, it's there waiting for me whenever wanted. On hookup at all times, ready to go.
______________________________________________________________ Blue Merle Border Collie - Meg - she´s got the brains
Chocolate Labrador - Jewel - about as daft as a daft thing can get
If it aint broke, break it
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Then life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly
We have had 3 x 6m Motorhomes as we were limited by the length of the driveway. As we used ours most weekends as well as holidays we didnt go for a longer motorhome with the storage option.
We have never been stuck for space for the two of us.
However we have moved house and have bought a longer (by all of 3ft) motorhome.
(If youre quick you could have our Rapido 709f for £26k before we px it on Monday )
______________________________________________________________ If it aint broke - fix it till it is!
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France
) and so I modified the gates to include an extra hinge at the ends so that they now sit flush to the end of the pillars and can be opened 180 degrees outwards for clearance when I exit the drive. It's 'kin tight but manageable, although the garage door does have a recess now where the towball clips it.
