Anyone nearby willing to meet to give advice? (2 Viewers)

[Sue]

We have really bitten the bullet and bought an autotrail chieftan. Our dream is to travel next year for 12 months, but now we are thinking what have we done? How will we handle this beast and are we totally mad? If anyone lives near Holmfirth in West Yorkshire who wouldn't mind meeting us (you to us, or us to you, whichever is best) we would be very grateful. We really need to meet seasoned, experienced motorhomes to help and advice. Any one please?

 

[cruiser]

the advice about the driving course is a good one.once you have a bit of practice you will wonder what you worried about.but good luck to you.hope we see you at a meet sometime.

 

[scotjimland]

This was my first big motorhome and had no previous experience of anything this size.... it was a steep learning curve..

We used a mix of Commercial sites, Club Sites, CLs, and French Aires .. For something this big it is best to do some research and call up before arriving on their doorsteps..

Aires we would just turn up and hope for the best.. many were too small.. but we always found one eventually. We would also befriend others we met and ask if they new of any good places..

I wouldn't worry, your motorhome should not have any size issues.. under 28ft is not generally a problem..

Someone once told me that motorhomes shrink.. I had no idea what they meant.. but they DO .. ours seemed massive when we set out .. after 6 months it felt like a shoe box.

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[Sue]

This is ours, it's a Mizar GTL Living Top Class . We've had 6 happy trouble free years with her.
She will be for sale after Christmas . As hopefully Ralph will be well away with our new project by then. Our "R&B" panel van conversion.
View attachment 41983

Looks great

 

[Sue]

This was my first big motorhome and had no previous experience of anything this size.... it was a steep learning curve..

We used a mix of Commercial sites, Club Sites, CLs, and French Aires .. For something this big it is best to do some research and call up before arriving on their doorsteps..

Aires we would just turn up and hope for the best.. many were too small.. but we always found one eventually. We would also befriend others we met and ask if they new of any good places..

I wouldn't worry, your motorhome should not have any size issues.. under 28ft is not generally a problem..

Someone once told me that motorhomes shrink.. I had no idea what they meant.. but they DO .. ours seemed massive when we set out .. after 6 months it felt like a shoe box.

It's 28 feet 7 inches! ....so size may be a problem ( I am definitely a glass half empty person....I need some funster injections!)

 

[scotjimland]

It's 28 feet 7 inches! ....so size may be a problem ( I am definitely a glass half empty person....I need some funster injections!)

what's 7 inches between friends..

no problems.. stop worrying

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[Sue]

what's 7 inches between friends..

no problems.. stop worrying

Brill

 

[The Dudess]

Great idea, will definitely do one...was yours run by a caravan club?

No, I did mine at a company in Leicester which is owned by a Funster. It was one on one and the course is 4 hours duration. Here is the link.
http://www.dataacademy.co.uk/

 

[Sue]

No, I did mine at a company in Leicester which is owned by a Funster. It was one on one and the course is 4 hours duration. Here is the link.
http://www.dataacademy.co.uk/

That's really helpfull...thank you

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[makems]

We have one of these:

It's 30 ft and a couple of inches long and GWEN DOES ALL THE DRIVING! I am partially sighted and unable to drive so she has to do it all. It's our third MH but the longest by far. After a couple of nervous days she now flings it around corners and manoeuvres it through narrow streets with total confidence.
For reversing I get out and we use a couple of small walkie talkie radios rather than relying on shouting and hand signals. It avoids those problems of " I can't hear you!" And "I can't see you!"

 

[Sue]

We have one of these:View attachment 41996
It's 30 ft and a couple of inches long and GWEN DOES ALL THE DRIVING! I am partially sighted and unable to drive so she has to do it all. It's our third MH but the longest by far. After a couple of nervous days she now flings it around corners and manoeuvres it through narrow streets with total confidence.
For reversing I get out and we use a couple of small walkie talkie radios rather than relying on shouting and hand signals. It avoids those problems of " I can't hear you!" And "I can't see you!"

That makes me feel so much better, and what a great idea about the walk is talkies. Have you been abroad? And any problems getting pitches?

 

[flatpackchicken]

Stop worrying just get out there with it and enjoy, best thing you will ever have done buying your mh, if you are not confident to drive it then just go on a coarse simples then you will never look back, mine is an 8.2 mtr long mh and drives lovely. Regards Garry Flatpackchicken

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[Brian and Jo]

hi sue,we owned an autotrail chieftain for 3yrs,great van and at 28ft with tag axle very stable and easy to manouver.you will love it.good luck with the fulltiming.
regards brian and jo

 

[PP Bear]

We have really bitten the bullet and bought an autotrail chieftan. Our dream is to travel next year for 12 months, but now we are thinking what have we done? How will we handle this beast and are we totally mad? If anyone lives near Holmfirth in West Yorkshire who wouldn't mind meeting us (you to us, or us to you, whichever is best) we would be very grateful. We really need to meet seasoned, experienced motorhomes to help and advice. Any one please?

Are you able to get to the NEC show next month. Lots of advice and seasoned motorhomers will be there, including me, and I'm more than happy to fill you with confidence on what's more than likely an excellent buy

The caravan club runs a campsite (no membership required), plus EHU and a marquee for entertainments etc. come in the motorhome and park up and enjoy it all

I'm sure it'll soon be like driving your car as they're really easy to handle and bring so much into your lives

 

[Sue]

hi sue,we owned an autotrail chieftain for 3yrs,great van and at 28ft with tag axle very stable and easy to manouver.you will love it.good luck with the fulltiming.
regards brian and jo

Thanks for this, and good to hear that the chieftan is a great vehicle. We loved its layout and to a pair of novices it seemed roomy with good storage.

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[Sue]

Are you able to get to the NEC show next month. Lots of advice and seasoned motorhomers will be there, including me, and I'm more than happy to fill you with confidence on what's more than likely an excellent buy

The caravan club runs a campsite (no membership required), plus EHU and a marquee for entertainments etc. come in the motorhome and park up and enjoy it all

I'm sure it'll soon be like driving your car as they're really easy to handle and bring so much into your lives

We are going to the motorhome show but only for the day and not in the vehicle. Hope we get to meet

 

[Sue]

Stop worrying just get out there with it and enjoy, best thing you will ever have done buying your mh, if you are not confident to drive it then just go on a coarse simples then you will never look back, mine is an 8.2 mtr long mh and drives lovely. Regards Garry Flatpackchicken

Thanks for the advice...seems like it may have been a good buy after all.

 

[makems]

That makes me feel so much better, and what a great idea about the walk is talkies. Have you been abroad? And any problems getting pitches?

France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Spain Portugal And Morocco.
Not had a problem getting pitches yet because of the size of the van, only when no spaces available. When we arrive at a site or an aire I usually have a walk around to find the best place to park and the best way in and to avoid unnecessary reversing.

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[Sue]

France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Spain Portugal And Morocco.
Not had a problem getting pitches yet because of the size of the van, only when no spaces available. When we arrive at a site or an aire I usually have a walk around to find the best place to park and the best way in and to avoid unnecessary reversing.

Sounds like you really enjoy your motor...you make me want to go now!

 

[maz]

My biggest worry is that we have bought a motorhome that is too big...it is stored away now till next April, so,can't go to any of the shows to stay.

If you've just bought it but are storing it until April isn't that a large chunk of the warranty period gone without you even using it?

I went overnight from driving a Honda Jazz to driving an 8m+ tag axle. You get used to it very quickly if you have to - most of it's just a matter of confidence. Get out there with it!

 

[PP Bear]

We are going to the motorhome show but only for the day and not in the vehicle. Hope we get to meet

You'll find me drooling in the Autotrail Comanche as it's my dream next motorhome at the moment

I'll look pretty stupid asking everyone if they're Funster Sue, but you never know, I may get a few hugs in the process

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[Sue]

If you've just bought it but are storing it until April isn't that a large chunk of the warranty period gone without you even using it?

I went overnight from driving a Honda Jazz to driving an 8m+ tag axle. You get used to it very quickly if you have to - most of it's just a matter of confidence. Get out there with it!

Yes, it is all about confidence...hubby feels OK about it,but I am terrified. (Warranty starts from when we pick it up, so not missing out on that one)

 

[Sue]

You'll find me drooling in the Autotrail Comanche as it's my dream next motorhome at the moment

I'll look pretty stupid asking everyone if they're Funster Sue, but you never know, I may get a few hugs in the process

I will search you out , look forward to it.

 

[makems]

Sounds like you really enjoy your motor...you make me want to go now!

Yes, we spend about 7 months a year in the van and love it.

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[Abacist]

I also have an Autotrail Savannah, bought a year ago and on the test drive it did seem big but you very quickly get used to it. I have since fitted some rear parking sensors so that when the bikes are on the bike rack, obliterating the camera view, I have an audible guide when reversing and it gives me a metre at the back before the sound becomes continuous which is enough for the extended bike rack. The kit only cost me £30 at Newbury show.

Been away for a load of weekends, 4 weeks abroad this summer and one week at home and done over 4,000 miles in the last year.

Get out and use it, you will have a great time.

Do get it on a weigh bridge when its full of all your gear, fuel, gas and water - we found ours to be easy to overload and have upgraded to 4500kgs.

 

[lou020]

Hi Sue, we changed our 7.5meter mh for a cheiftain in june and spent whole of august touring through Belgium,Austria, & France, when we found a pitch we do as the germans do, walk on to the pitch, if it is not suitable walk away. The only problem we found was the grass pitches,, very soft after all the rain.
we tried to do as little moving around on grass as possible and made sure i had an easy run off.
Also, a few sites don't like tag axles, it chews up the grass,but if they don't want my money somewhere else will.
And you'll easy fit on most aires.
Beautiful m/h the cheiftain, glides gracefully on the motorways,, a real joy to drive,,, Dont worry you'll love it.
mind,,i have driven arctic trucks for the best part of 30 years.

 

[Chris]

I'll look pretty stupid asking everyone if they're Funster Sue, but you never know, I may get a few hugs in the process

Or a few slaps

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[PenelopePitstop]

Hello! We're just down the road from you for the next 4 weeks. We're at Windy Harbour Caravan Site in Glossop. So if you fancy coming over Holme Moss and having a natter let us know! We've got quite a lot to do before we head off to Spain for the winter so best if you let us know when you're coming! PM me!

 

[jezport]

We have a large van and its never been a problem. We use ours as much as we can. There are loads of great places to visit that are quite local for your first few trips. We live in north Leeds so not too far from you.

 

[Sue]

Hello! We're just down the road from you for the next 4 weeks. We're at Windy Harbour Caravan Site in Glossop. So if you fancy coming over Holme Moss and having a natter let us know! We've got quite a lot to do before we head off to Spain for the winter so best if you let us know when you're coming! PM me!

That sounds great, I will definitely come to meet you . Being new to the site I don't know how to PM. Let me know what to do and I will do it.

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[Terry]

Hi Sue click on PP picture and start a conversation
terry