Welcome to Motorhomefacts, we are a thriving motorhome community (Largest in Europe). Why Not JOIN NOW and get instant access to more of the website. It costs nothing to join and only takes a few minutes. We have 200,000 different people visiting our site monthly and this amount of motorhomers in one place guarantees a fast response to any questions you may have. We also have unique facilities not found elsewhere such as our Online Logbook, stopover tracker, Motorhome directory with Ebay type feedback and the largest repository of motorhome campsites reviews found anywhere
Just joined this site and I think it is going to be really useful
We are renting out our house from February and leaving the country - it's climate and the economy - behind us and traveling Europe for at least 6 months.
We have been told by friends that we should be looking for a CV that is no longer than 24', has a fixed bed, is diesel and to watch out for the emissions which are just beginning to take effect in cities. I would be very grateful for any other tips or advice that anybody would like to offer.
This is a great site to gather loads of information by searching and viewing of peoples advice and assistance to other members, however you need to be a member to do so.
Debbie,
Probably the most important factor in buying a motorhome is to choose one with the layout that matches the way YOU want to use the motorhome. This is one area where I don't think you should take any advice from others!! Instead you need to go and look at as many different motorhomes as you can and think through the way you want to live.
In particular, what layout suits the way you want to:
1) eat
2) lounge around
3) sleep
- and then, of course, there's the bathroom!
We bought our first MH last year. We thought we knew what we wanted but made a basic mistake of not testing out our thoughts on one of the items above. Consequently we are now replacing our motorhome! I gather that first timers often make such mistakes.
All good advice. We have just completed a five month trip in ours. You can follow the whole trip at www.hankthetank.co.uk then blog and summer 2011.
Definately see as many vans and layouts as you can and consider payload for a long trip. Many vans have poor payloads which means you cant take much stuff with you!
The layout is key though as you will need to live with it for a long time. We were not fussed about fixed beds as we prefer the space in the van and a fixed bed takes a lot of room so we wanted a rear lounge and a front lounge / dinette so I could work at the table or write etc while Mrs D sat in the back doing something else or vice versa. Then of course others will hate our idea of layout so you need to see as many as possible. Its a personal choice.
Definately join up here though. Well worth it.
______________________________________________________________ Hank the Tank has a website. Follow our adventures at http://www.hankthetank.co.uk
It all depends if your 6 months around europe are going to be spent driving / sleeping / exploring in which case a small van with a fixed bed is a massive plus. If you're going
We're 7 months in to a 12 month tour and there is very little about our 6m panel van we would change. Under 6m brings benefits with ferries and tolls (especially Scandinavia) but it all depends on your proposed route.
Check out our blog in my signature below for more info on our trip - best of luck with yours, its the best thing we ever did!
Hi Debbie
Welcome
Bill's right, you need to make your own decisions about what is right for you but, you won't get it all correct the first time. For that reason, nearly new, may be better than new, in case you change your minds about one or more features?
The larger one of you should stand in the shower and try to pick up an imaginary soap from the floor, that can be revealing
With a fixed bed, is it a double or twins? Is it long enough and, more to the point, wide enough? Some are really narrow, doubles and twins. If one of you needs to get up in the middle of the night, can they do it without doing something unmentionable to the other
Those seats that you're going to sit on to eat, play scrabble, watch telly, or read. Are they comfortable enough?
Who's going to drive? are you/they happy with the length. Could you/they reverse it when faced with a bus in a narrow street?
I could go on, and on .............
So much to think about, but that's half the fun. Visit lots of dealers, listen to their advice, some of it's not just sales patter. Read lots of forum posts (try them all), look at the Caravan Club's advice sheets etc. etc.. And keep asking questions. Lots of us here love to spout on about our experiences
Good luck!
______________________________________________________________ John
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
Austria
