Motor home help.

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Are on-board generators that commonplace now? In 'my day', anything involving much power meant using the gas, which would rather rule out a microwave...
They are on my type of motorhome. In fact there are no gas appliances at all it's all electric.
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
So in the event of a nuclear attack, the subsequent EMP will render said motorhome useless. That'll probably spoil the holiday ... :heyhey:
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Well we went, and now we’re back.

Neither of us are campers, never been on a campsite, never driven a Motorhome.
We love 4 or 5* hotels, cruises, lovely lodges and occasionally quaint cottages.

So how did we get on?
I thought I’d love it, I so very much wanted to love it, but I’m not sure that I did love it.

Within 2 hours of being there I said “Well, I’m sure we’ll recoup our money if we sell it”.

Not to be defeatist, we carried on.

The campsite was immaculate, toilets and showers kept very clean, which was good because I hated using our loo and bathroom.
It’s too too tiny.
Husband however, used the shower and had no complaints.

Bed very comfy, I helped by buying gorgeous sheets, quilts and covers.

Kitchen very small but I was ok with this, It reminded me of my British Airways days of having a tiny galley and producing food for 300 people.

Lounge area very comfortable, more space than I thought, and loads of storage.

We did have loads of fun with our Cadac BBQ, sitting outside cooking and chatting to other campers.

Initially, and probably logically, I couldn’t work out why we’d left a house with decent size rooms and a lovely garden to live in a cramped space for 3 nights.

But then suddenly I absolutely and completely “got it,”

We were totally able to switch off from everything at home that stresses us, no worries about work or horrible inconsiderate neighbours, just totally living in the moment.

The simplicity of it was lovely.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
What we did notice walking round the campsite was how much stuff and attachments people bring.

Garden fencing, blow up privacy wind break things, massive awnings, one was huge with portable shelving and huge plastic tables all around.
Outside carpet, portable wardrobe, portable drawers.

I expect the seasoned campers reading this will understand but I couldn’t get my head round it.

We has just finished our brunch outside when a lovely couple arrived with a caravan on the next pitch.
From arriving at 12 lunchtime, to attaching all the hook ups, water, then setting up his awning (which was fabulous) took until after 4.00pm.

I honestly don’t think we could be bothered to do that.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
We take a lot with the tent but it's a tent . We have a table for the stove and a table to eat at, then a tarp to cover that. I get a roll out awning on a camper but surely you have all the comfort within?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I remember camping in France in 1990 - there was a chap, on his own, of around 60 years of age, with a large frame tent - he had erected a paling fence all around his patch, and brought about a dozen large potted plants, plus some statues, to ornament 'his lawn' - and a lawnmower.

I wondered why he didn't just stay at home?
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I remember camping in France in 1990 - there was a chap, on his own, - he had erected a paling fence all around his patch, and brought about a dozen large potted plants, plus some statues, to ornament 'his lawn' - and a lawnmower.

I wondered why he didn't just stay at home?

Yes, we saw that too. Potted plants, fake carpet/lawn to lay over the gravel.
Picket fences,
I’m organised but I can’t get my head round why people would want to do this, or why it would be conducive to a chilled out holiday.
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
Pull up on the motorhome, plug in, gas on, chairs out and drink in my hand. Sit and watch a caravanner spend the next hour setting up. Better if they have divorce in a bag (an awning)
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Well we went, and now we’re back.

Neither of us are campers, never been on a campsite, never driven a Motorhome.
We love 4 or 5* hotels, cruises, lovely lodges and occasionally quaint cottages.

So how did we get on?
I thought I’d love it, I so very much wanted to love it, but I’m not sure that I did love it.

Within 2 hours of being there I said “Well, I’m sure we’ll recoup our money if we sell it”.

Not to be defeatist, we carried on.

The campsite was immaculate, toilets and showers kept very clean, which was good because I hated using our loo and bathroom.
It’s too too tiny.
Husband however, used the shower and had no complaints.

Bed very comfy, I helped by buying gorgeous sheets, quilts and covers.

Kitchen very small but I was ok with this, It reminded me of my British Airways days of having a tiny galley and producing food for 300 people.

Lounge area very comfortable, more space than I thought, and loads of storage.

We did have loads of fun with our Cadac BBQ, sitting outside cooking and chatting to other campers.

Initially, and probably logically, I couldn’t work out why we’d left a house with decent size rooms and a lovely garden to live in a cramped space for 3 nights.

But then suddenly I absolutely and completely “got it,”

We were totally able to switch off from everything at home that stresses us, no worries about work or horrible inconsiderate neighbours, just totally living in the moment.

The simplicity of it was lovely.

So glad you enjoyed it! I was getting worried half way through!
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I get a roll out awning on a camper but surely you have all the comfort within?

Yes you do have everything inside but it’s quite small whereas an awning does double or triple the space.

It was fine for us because the weather was good so we sat outside with our table and chairs but on a rainy day we might get under each other’s feet a bit, especially if for example one person might want to read quietly and the other wanted to watch sport on tv.

I wouldn’t mind an awning but don’t know if we could be bothered with the faff. Are there any that are super easy to put up?

There's definitely a gap in the market, We’d happily pay someone to put it up for us.

Having said that we won’t rush into buying one, we’ll just see how we get on.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Kitchen very small but I was ok with this, It reminded me of my British Airways days of having a tiny galley and producing food for 300 people.


The simplicity of it was lovely.

Always amazes me how cabin crew can work in such a tiny galley, stand watching them performing miracles as I queue for the loos knowing I'd be absolutely useless at it!

When me, my brother and parents went camping in France and Spain for the 6 weeks summer holiday in the 60's ,we got all ours in a motorbike and sidecar.Just took folding table, 4 folding chairs, 2 ring gas burner and gas bottle, 4 plastic mugs, plates, cutlery, saucepan to boil the water for a cuppa as well as cooking, , sleeping bags, airbeds, hanging fabric pantry, a torch , and clothes. Apart from teabags, bought rest of food there. (Oh....and a box of used match-sticks for 'tickling' the motorbike to get started )

On the sites were french families who had massive tents set up for the summer, TV's, fridges, comfy armchairs the lot ! (Posher than us, we didn't even have a fridge at home!) The father would drop them all off ,and most of their house, at the start of the holiday , leave the family camping there while he went off back home to work for a few weeks / months, and then come back down for a few days holiday himself .
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
I have that too but if I am on a site then I want POWER!!!!

We have lights, a pump for the tap (so running water) and plug sockets that can charge phones etc!

We usually download some movies and take the laptop - NEVER scary movies (which I hate anyway) but there's nothing worse that watching something creepy while in the woods in a van!!!
 
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