Well, we've only gone and been and done it! (1 Viewer)

[Diggerdi]

Went down to Hayes Motorhomes in Walsall today to order our new motorhome, a Pilote Pacific P650GJ, to be collected 1 March 2017. How are we going to get through the next 5 months? Much excitement in the Diggerdi household, although hubby doesn't really show excitement, but I know he is.

Because I'm an impatient mare, I'm going shopping tomorrow for a few essentials - bedding & kitchen equipment mainly. Don't want to buy too much as we're going to the NEC in October and I'm sure there will be some bargains there.

As this is our first motorhome (apart from disastrously hiring one for 2 weeks in Scotland, which I've documented elsewhere), I will have lots of questions, most of them possibly after we have taken delivery.

We've taken the optiion of having a second leisure battery and solar panel. Hubby says he doesn't want to wild camp, but I'm sure he'll change his mind, just for the odd night or two. Anyway, the solar panel will keep the batteries charged when we're not using it.

And to top it all off, having reduced my working week to 4 days this year, next year will be reduced further to 3 days. Home from work on a Wednesday, and off in the van for 4 days. Bliss

 

[Jim]

5 months, that will feel like 5 years Congratulations

 

[KeithChesterfield]

I know it's a bit premature but don't forget to join the Pilote Owners Association – www.piloteowners.co.uk – there is a very underused forum and the more new members the better.

We've had a Pilote Reference P716 for three years, and touch wood, had absolutely nothing go wrong with it.

Time will fly.

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[Jazzledog]

Good luck with the 5 month wait, we put a deposit down on our new camper at the end of July to be picked up in the first week of September....9 days to go and it feels like a lifetime!

 

[MillieMoocher]

Congratulations, I feel your pain! We had to wait from July 2015 to March 2016 for ours, as @Jim says, it will seem an eternity.

We ended up hiring one during the wait as we just couldn't bear it !

But the wait is worth it, and soon forgotten as you hit the road in your new pride and joy.

 

[Diggerdi]

We could have probably had it earlier, Hayes said they would order it to be delivered to them about January but, unfortunately, I am waiting to get my hands on my personal pensions and don't reach the magic age (55 shhh) until the end of December, so probably won't have the money until late January/February. Also, we want a brand new 17 registration plate (a bit of snobbery there).

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[Diggerdi]

Gosh, @milliethehymer, that was a long wait. I would have been crawling up the wall

 

[Khizzie]

We could have probably had it earlier, Hayes said they would order it to be delivered to them about January but, unfortunately, I am waiting to get my hands on my personal pensions and don't reach the magic age (55 shhh) until the end of December, so probably won't have the money until late January/February. Also, we want a brand new 17 registration plate (a bit of snobbery there).

Thought that all the funsters on here told me there is no such thing as snobbery in the motorhome world . !!! They lied here is the proof right out of her mouth .....suppose I had better say WELCOME to you both and happy travels in the future. Roy

 

[MillieMoocher]

Gosh, @milliethehymer, that was a long wait. I would have been crawling up the wall

In fairness we could have probably bought the one off the showroom floor, but for the same reasons as you, I needed to wait until later in the year. They naturally wouldn't hold the existing vehicle for me, and the next build slot for what I wanted was December 2015. Then it has to get finished, sent over, accessories fitted etc. Technically I could have collected it around 10 Feb but was on a hot beach and by the time we got back it was mid March before we could get it!

I guess you might be retiring too, got to say 55 with retirement and a motorhome is a brilliant combo!

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[Diggerdi]

@milliethehymer, unfortunately not retiring (not until I'm 67 - yikes), but wiill be down to 3 days next year, so Thurs, Fri off work. Quite happy with that after working full time since I was 17.

 

[pops]

Welcome and good choice of motorhome. Yes please come and join us on the Pilote Owners Association forum.

 

[Diggerdi]

@pops, I willl join the Pilote forum, but doubt whether I'll be qualified to comment until we take delivery

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[Spidey]

Cingratulations, you must be thrilled . Lots of shopping time and holiday planning is needed while you wait

 

[Mikey RV]

Good for you. Happy travels.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Great news!
Time to start planning now

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[PaulB]

Congratulations. We ordered our first MH at the NEC in February and we get it on September 7th so very excited.

 

[Murphy]

Congratulations, Happy adventures ahead

 

[Debs]

Congratulations

The battery & solar will come in handy if you come to any of the meets or rallies or if you are in the caravan & camping club ,their temporary holiday sites, or many of their certified sites don't have hook up....it just gives you so many more options, not just for wild camping

Might feel like a long winter though

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[Dognewf]

a cautionary note about the time it may take to access the pension money. if you have a defined benefits one, it can take months and cost fees to a specialist pension adviser.

 

[kip]

Just googled it,what a lovely van !!!,well done & happy travels.!!

 

[KeithChesterfield]

A second battery and Solar panel are a good idea and will be well worth the money spent.

Having the Solar panel charging both the Leisure batteries and the Starter battery is also a good option – is it already part of the spec you've got with the Pilote?

Having the engine (starter) battery charged by the Solar panel means you can forget about having to run the engine on a regular basis when you're not going away or using your MH.

No flat batteries for you!

It depends what you want to do or where you go but a refillable gas system is also a good option.

There are plenty of threads and opinions on MH forums to help point you in the right direction if you think it may be a good idea.

We have a couple of Gaslow cylinders, if we ever buy another MH we can take them with us or sell them, and on our long trips abroad we seldom need to refill them or worry about running out of gas completely.

You've plenty of time to plan, plot and decide you're adventures next year, and don't forget Santa may have some little extras in his/her sack, and going on Foreign trips will ensure you really do see the World.

Happy days ahead!

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[Diggerdi]

@Dognewf, I've already been in touch with both companies and I can deal direct with them. One is a frozen pension (nothing been paid in for over 15 years) and they said to contact them in October to start the ball rolling. The other has said to get in touch in early December and I should have the money about 2 weeks after my birthday, ie middle of January. If the worst comes to the worst, we will have to wait a little longer to pick it up.

 

[Bart]

Sweet it looks lovely , enjoy

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

Congratulations.......wishing you the good health to enjoy.

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[Anthea M]

Congratulations ! Enjoy your van and semi retirement that sounds like a great start!!

 

[Blue Knight]

Went down to Hayes Motorhomes in Walsall today to order our new motorhome, a Pilote Pacific P650GJ, to be collected 1 March 2017. How are we going to get through the next 5 months? Much excitement in the Diggerdi household, although hubby doesn't really show excitement, but I know he is.

Because I'm an impatient mare, I'm going shopping tomorrow for a few essentials - bedding & kitchen equipment mainly. Don't want to buy too much as we're going to the NEC in October and I'm sure there will be some bargains there.

As this is our first motorhome (apart from disastrously hiring one for 2 weeks in Scotland, which I've documented elsewhere), I will have lots of questions, most of them possibly after we have taken delivery.

We've taken the optiion of having a second leisure battery and solar panel. Hubby says he doesn't want to wild camp, but I'm sure he'll change his mind, just for the odd night or two. Anyway, the solar panel will keep the batteries charged when we're not using it.

And to top it all off, having reduced my working week to 4 days this year, next year will be reduced further to 3 days. Home from work on a Wednesday, and off in the van for 4 days. Bliss

It was great to meet up with fellow Pilote owners at Portpatrick today.

Have a great time,

Andrew and Nicky

 

[Kool Kroozer]

You picked a nice van and dealer, you shouldnt have nowt to worry about, they have always been very good and helpful at hayes..5 star service

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[Diggerdi]

@Blue Knight, Andrew & Nicky it was lovely to meet you too. What's the probability of us walking down the coast path at Portpatrick, spotting our first ever other Pilote mh parking up from a little distance away, managing to get to you before you walked away and then finding out you are Funsters. Our first ever Funsters at that. What an amazing coincidence .

 

[Blue Knight]

@Blue Knight, Andrew & Nicky it was lovely to meet you too. What's the probability of us walking down the coast path at Portpatrick, spotting our first ever other Pilote mh parking up from a little distance away, managing to get to you before you walked away and then finding out you are Funsters. Our first ever Funsters at that. What an amazing coincidence .

Hi guys, we returned home after lunch today, van washed, polished, stored and now ready for the next adventure. Nic and I hope to meet up with you for a glass of red at one of the meets soon enough. We'll be returning to Scotland next month for a few more days so, you never know, we may even bump into some more lovely Funsters.

Take care, and enjoy that fantastic van of yours

Andrew and Nic

 

[Diggerdi]

You wouldn't like to pop down to Manchester to clean and polish ours would you? We have the problem that we really have nowhere convenient to do ours. Our storage place doesn't have electric or water, we can't do it ar home as we live on a really narrow road and no room on our property. We either have to take it to my mum's and do it in the road or take it to the local (very good) hand car wash and insist they stand at least 10 ft away with the pressure washer!

Sometime in the future we must get to a Funster meet, would be good if there was one equidistant between the two of us.

Enjoy Scotland again next time.
Diane & Mike

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