Why would you buy a motorhome?

[BigBlack]

Ive got a 'van, and we love it (and I was only 26 when we bought it!!!) :augie

Grew up caravanning, going on rallys every holiday and made loads of friends - now want the same for my kid. Also generally use CL's for main holidays, we (group of 5 of us) book a whole CL for the fortnight to ourselves. Kids can play out cycle round field, have a game of cricket - have there own play tent set up, major BBQ's on a night, up all night drinking and dont upset anyone! :thumb2
(dont get me wrong, we aint larger swilling loud 'chavs' who dont control ourselves or our children!!!) :lol

Father-in-law had a caravan - great big twin axel, now all his kids no longer go with them he had 'upgraded' to a motorhome. Reasons:-

No need to store it
No need to shove and push it in/out of storage (twin axel took 4+ of us to turn it round)
No hassle or worries about towing it on motorways, snaking etc
No worries about hitching it up
Litterally if you fancy going away for a weekend/couple of nights just get in it and go

.... and if we are away together he goes everywhere in my car with us!

Reason I dont have a motorhome.... couldnt afford one even if I wanted one!

 

[Terranosaurus]

LOL!

Scratch my comment about the Smart being possible; apparently its the GVW that has to be used, and thats higher than kerbside weight (the 730kgs I mentioned for the Smart.

Read this interesting extract (I'll post the link for anyone interested below):

I have a motor home and want to tow a Fiat Seicento behind it using an A-frame. This car has a kerb weight under 750 kg so am I legal with this outfit?
Sorry no is the answer. The law regards this as an unbraked trailer and you are allowed to tow up to 750 kg Gross Trailer Weight, not a car’s kerb weight. The figure you have to use is the car’s Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Permitted Weight. This is usually at least 300 - 400 kg more than the kerb weight. We have no knowledge of any car sold in the UK that has a GVW under 750 kg. The only vehicle we know that is completely legal to tow with an A-frame is the French Aixam small "car". This is a full four seater and details can be obtained from Aixam UK on 01926 886100. An A-frame or dolly can only be used to recover a broken down vehicle to a place of safety. Transporting a car is, therefore, illegal. A-frames may be offered with a braking system that applies the car's brakes. These do not conform to the law as the car then becomes a "braked trailer" and has to conform to European Directives contained within the Construction and Use Regulations. It does not conform to the European Directive 71/320/EEC and amendments regarding braking requirements in any way. The use of this A-frame for transportation is illegal. It is still OK for use to recover a vehicle to a place of safety.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=61469

Honest John obviously isn't up on his construction and use stuff then.

Yes some cars are under 750kg so don't need to have brakes if you re towing them. However as they are fitted with brakes they have to be operational. UK law is a little unclear about how they should be operated though, in the USA an electrical overrun device can be used to operate the brakes using an electric motor/servo to depress the pedal. Some people think this wouldn't do over here and you would need a mechanical/hydraulic system (operating on all 4 wheels - so pulling handbrake cable isn't enough) - they are available but don't appear to be widely used.

 

[tezzer]

getting back to leveling, where i keep my van there are several large motorhomes, and speaking to the owners, it came up regarding leveling, and was told when you spend £30-50.000 you only have to push a few buttons and it,s done, self leveling system i suppose, "flash gits",

and i have a transit camper and i would'nt part with it for the world, it's to handy, days out, fishing, best thing we done was to throw a few clothes in and just set off, ended up in cornwall for 4 days, this was 3-4 years ago now when we had the hottest day, bbq, wine, good weather what more do you want??



tezzer

 

[lacroupade]

sounds the biz tezzer <envious!>

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

and i have a transit camper and i would'nt part with it for the world, it's to handy, days out, fishing, best thing we done was to throw a few clothes in and just set off, ended up in cornwall for 4 days, this was 3-4 years ago now when we had the hottest day, bbq, wine, good weather what more do you want??



tezzer

sounds great, thats what appeals to me about owning one, just get in and go!

 

[lacroupade]

ah yes, snaking.

reminds of long ago when I borrowed my mates Austin 3-litre (the one like an overgrown Maxi) and drove my Beetle on to the trailer nose first.

You can imagine what happened next...

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

i did something very simmilar once when i was young and foolish, as opposed to middle aged and foolish

I loaded a marina pick up onto a trailer and it looked too heavy for the springs on the diesle granada tow car, so we then hit on the brilliant idea of reversing it on to take the weight off the back of the car, and set out on a 200 mile journey!

we managed about 8 miles and gave up!

 

[Deleted account DD]

However as they are fitted with brakes they have to be operational.

Are you sure?

I'm not to be honest :lol, I'd have to check up :augie but I do know that there is a lot of confusion over when a car under tow ceases to be a motor vehicle and becomes a load or a trailer.

I believe (and its quite a while since such an obscure point cropped up) that providing its ok weight and loading wise (which is unlikely unless under recovery) and under suspended or controlled as in steered tow (ie no one required in the car to control it on the end of a rope) it does not have to have brakes etc functioning so long as it is safe in other respects ie running on inflated legal tyres or bodywork not hanging off.

Having said all of that its unlikely it would be under 750kg so it would need either it or the trailer braking anyway. The only ones I can think of that may come in under 750 are kit cars but they seem few and far between these days.

Are we debating an almost academic point I reckon so. :thumbs but interesting.

I'll try and find out tomorrow.

 

[mrbliss]

Carvans have thier place so do motor homes.

I used to have a transit motorhome. Went all over the country stopping in laybys view points etc untill all the "no over night parking" signs went up all over the place. Stopping only one night in each place.

Dont see the point in having one if ya going in site.

Cant be asked with a caravan... unless you got land or loads of money to pay storage.

Better off with a tent. You cant take a van up lane.

Mark

 

[lacroupade]

i did something very simmilar once when i was young and foolish, as opposed to middle aged and foolish

I loaded a marina pick up onto a trailer and it looked too heavy for the springs on the diesle granada tow car, so we then hit on the brilliant idea of reversing it on to take the weight off the back of the car, and set out on a 200 mile journey!

we managed about 8 miles and gave up!

we got two miles before we ended up pointing back the way we came...involuntarily!

 

[lacroupade]

Carvans have thier place so do motor homes.

I used to have a transit motorhome. Went all over the country stopping in laybys view points etc untill all the "no over night parking" signs went up all over the place. Stopping only one night in each place.

Dont see the point in having one if ya going in site.

Cant be asked with a caravan... unless you got land or loads of money to pay storage.

Better off with a tent. You cant take a van up lane.

Mark

you can't take a dump in a tent

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

interesting idea te smart car at 720k but is that kerbside or gross?

with trailer law it all hinges on gross weight, for example, i have a small (ish) ifor williams trailer with a gross weight of 1250 kilos but empty it probably weighs around 200 to 250 k giving it a payload of 1 tonne, it does of course have brakes.

now, if you have recently passed your test you can not tow a trailer with a gorss weight of over 750 kilos GROSS so even when towing this trailer emtpy you would be breaking the law.

So fomr this example it would be fair to assume that the smart if capable of carrying 2 average adults at 70k each plus luggage and fuel would, as a gross weight be way over 750k!

ther are some breaking systems around now for cars towed behind motor homes but i dont think they operate the brakes on all 4 wheels. I'm sure some one out there knows better?

I am still of the opinion that it still leaves you with two insurance policies two lots of road tax, two mot's etc and you are still towing something so there is no saving over having a car and caravan combination, but then many people seem to love doing this so there must be some benefits too it.

NOT QUITE CORRECT PLANK,

if on a new post 97 b ticket, and no +e trailer the gtw is 3500kg.
a car can tow a trailer with a gross of less than the cars unladen/kerb weight.

so a 2000kg car can tow a 1500 kg trailer,

also a 3500kg car?? well van maybe can tow upto 750kg trailer.

the unladen weight of trailer is irrelevant, its the MAM max auth mass that
applies.

similar for c1 big vans/small trucks/7.5tonners train limit 7500, or 7500+750
so suspect lot of c1 tickets break law towing mini diggers and the like around.

if you have c1+e, typically grand father rights the train is 8250 subject to
trailer not exceeding kerb of truck. if +e test taken can have train of 11000kg.

 

[zippy]

A motorhome gives a safer drive as there is no risk of snaking. Even if the MH is towinf a car, the weight ration is such that the chance of a snake is low.

A MH is good if you like day trips out in it. Bro in law would not have a caravan near him since this is all he would want from a MH.

If a MH is less prone to damp and is the costs of repair are unlikely to exceed the value of the vehicle.

A caravan gives better accommodation. It is easier on the pocket and gives you a car back once you have set up. It is definately not as safe as driving a MH. Snaking is always a consideration and with heavier new vans the issue is greater now than ever.

Regards
Lee

 

[tezzer]

sounds great, thats what appeals to me about owning one, just get in and go!

i have done this a couple of times, just over nighters, but they seem to be more fun than a 2 week holiday that we spend hours making sure every thing is loaded, saving up so you dont have to scrimp for a fortnight, i reckon as the crunch takes affect i will be having a few more quickies. :augie



tezzer

 

[lacroupade]

i reckon as the crunch takes affect i will be having a few more quickies. :augie



tezzer

like i keep telling my wife....

 

[millie2]

YOU TAKE EM WITH YOU or at least her that must be *^*** with the purse does, its not a terrano i need its a scania.

 

[willow]

Hello all
I have just had my caravan nicked:doh:doh:doh

If I had had a motor home I would have been using it to get to work

My old mum and dad 84 85yrs of age have been caravaners all their lives and only just gave up their caravan for a small motor home because it is easier to go abroad with!!!!:lol:thumbs

No one wanted to insure them

Sad
so they are touring England stopping loads of places for free and having the odd b+b when they want

They are having a great time:thumbs

 

[lacroupade]

that sucks Willow - nice to see you back though!

 

[willow]

:lol:lolThanks nice to know i have been missed:thumbs

Yes its awful just got it all sprused up
ok its not a new one but it all worked and nice and dry and very comefy
Had a good shower I liked it
It seems so did someone else

I had pulled it out of its winter parking to give it a good clean and check over.
Took it for a short drive to make sure things were working.

Pulled it back onto my land and left it by the gate to go and get something from the house when I got back it was gone

We live in a very rural area very quiet:nenau:nenau

Well never mind its a funny old life

So a tent it is then:lol:lol

 

[NSV257]

somebody missed the point along the way........................

you need a caravan just to get away from the wife without having to drive,anywhere,so while it is on the drive make use,it may be cold at night but it sure is peaceful:lol:lol:lol