Planning your motorhome holiday

You should always try to plan your route in detail before you set off, maybe make a list of questions you need to ask yourself such as:

1. have I got my breakdown cover details ready?
2. have I got credit cards to buy fuel?
3. do I want to take a longer scenic route or the fastest motorways?
   
4. what attractions do I want to visit?
5. what breaks am I going to take at each point of the journey? (especially if you have young kids)
6. does the driver need to take driving rests periods?

These websites can help you plan your journey Google Maps AA Route Planner

Can I stop somewhere on the way and where can I park my motorhome

It is well worth investing in a good map of the UK and a SAT NAV system before you set off on your motorhome holiday. I usually plan ahead and decide where we are going to stay for at least the first night which becomes even more important if you have a long journey ahead, believe me the last thing you want is to be driving around an unfamiliar town late at night looking for a place to park up your motorhome.

If you do find yourself in a difficult situation with nowhere to stay then you may have to consider parking in the heavy goods area of a Motorway Service Station areas which although noisy can offer some advantages such as convenience and food, toliet and fuel facilities, be aware that fire regulations do not permit use of gas appliances on a service station.

“Wild camping” is also an option, we have done this on several occasions and have stayed at some great places, but technically this is not really allowed as in theory you need the permission of the landowner to do this. So if you are feeling a bit cheeky then in most cases as long as you are sensible and do not block anyone’s driveway or make a nuisance then this perfectly acceptable in the holiday motorhome world.

Motorhomes – choosing a good pitch

Choosing a good pitch can be a very important factor, but the first thing you should do is find a campsite that has all the facilities you need, this is very easy these days with the internet giving you a wealth of information, and websites such as Trip Advisor and Holiday Watchdog give you real peoples experience of these sites so that you can make comparisons quickly and easily.

The actual pitch you choose should be hard-standing as if it is soft you can find that a motorhome can sink into the ground and you can also find it difficult to drive on/off the pitch.

Also think about your positioning, where can you hook up to the power supply and would you want to be close to the disco or communal toilets for example, also be careful when you drive on and off a pitch as this is a time where you can damaged your motorhome by hitting an object.

This might sound OTT bit also think carefully about parking to close to large trees, as in high winds the branches can break and cause damage to a motorhome that is parked below, parking close to other motorhomes who might clip you in the rush on the first or last days of their holiday is also another factor to consider.

Water For Your Motorhome

As you will know, it is pretty hard to live without water!

Motorhomes need drinking water and water to flush waste and for washing etc, most of the time people will choose to use the communal campsite toilets rather than their own toilet when available for obvious reasons.

Most motorhomes will come with a pre filled on-board fresh water tank and there will be gauges within the motorhome that will idicate when levels are getting low, you then have the option of filling up on site or at a garage with the water hose that should have been provided.

You will also have a seperate grey water waste tank with about the same capacity.

The toilet must be emptied at a chemical disposal point or toilet and a special fluid must be added such as supplied by the company Maypole who have introduced a range of toilet fluids that are truly eco friendly toilet fluid and rinse combinations.

Fridges and Food For Your Motorhome

Motorhome fridges can operate on a 12 or 240 volt power supply.

The 12 volt feed is supplied by the alternator when the engine is running and not by the leisure or engine battery as some people think.

When you are hooked up to the mains at a campsite you can easily switch to the higher 240 volt supply. If you are on a campsite with no mains supply or somewhere en-route you can switch to operate the fridge by gas instead as a temporary measure.

If you are heading abroad and have a long ferry trip ahead my advise would be to buy your food on arrival where possible as you will not be able to power the fridge during a crossing. however the high level of insulation of the fridge will keep the contents cool for a few hours so short crossings are not too bad in this respect.

Tip: You are not allowed to use any Bottled Gas supplies during any ferry crossings due to the danger of an explosion and this is illegal, it always amazes me how many people do not follow these safety rules!

Enjoy Your Holiday and have a safe Journey!