Any advice welcome

C

Cathie316

Free Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2019
Posts
6
Likes collected
0
Location
Isle of Man
Funster No
63,072
MH
Just looking
Exp
I’m a newbie
We are newbies at this and are hiring a Motorhome for a few days next month. I know the hire place will go through everything on the van and we have the campsite sorted. This is a ‘is this for us and the dog’ thing while we are doing our research in buying. Is there anything we should/ could do that will help the experience. Thanks
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Takes loads of photos of the van outside and inside. Note any damage no matter how small and record it before you sign for the van. There have been some folks posted on here that were screwed over by the hire company and fought to get their deposits back.
 
Upvote 0
Just remember that a Hire motorhome will give a different impression to what could be your own !
There are a number of things you will ask and a lot that you will forget. The important thing is that you enjoy what it is you are doing. Dont get bogged down by stuff on here or any where to be honest. We are all learning still! Some of us have been doing it a long while yet...rookie mistakes are often made.
Take the hire one out and think of it as a holiday like you would a weekend away. It will give you an insight into what you want and what you dont need.
The important thing is that you enjoy the trip. You wont look back honest. It opens up a world of dreams and promises.

Kev and Carolyn
 
Upvote 0
Hi Cathie316 welcome to this fab forum, nice to see some more Manxies joining if I can help in anyway maybe meet up somewhere, me in the Motorhome so we can run through some things to help you with your hire vehicle.
We live in the West of the Island but can arrange a meet if you like where ever on Island.
Steve.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Take a note pad and make a list of any thoughts you have while away. I always make a list of things that need doing to the van and ideas for next time etc.
 
Upvote 0
Jimbohorlicks said:
Takes loads of photos of the van outside and inside. Note any damage no matter how small and record it before you sign for the van. There have been some folks posted on here that were screwed over by the hire company and fought to get their deposits back.
Click to expand...
Particularly the roof/top of the van. Just to be safe. Also if they see you taking pics they would be less inclined to attempt to lift your leg! And not all hire companies are dirty rotten shysters!!
Apart from that just enjoy it. We hired twice prior to buying and had no issues with the hire company or damage, just the first handover could have been more comprehensive. We were unable to fill with water and through trial, error and Google discovered the frost stat had been triggered, once reset it was fine.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
The handover, just as if it was your own van, will include all the essential equipment, which can differ from one van to another. For the trip to be trouble free make notes on how to operate everything. Does the fridge work with the van 12v system switched off? How to operate the various heater options are just two of the many control details to make a note of, then relax and enjoy your hired hotel on wheels.
 
Upvote 0
Just enjoy and try not to get stressed....

It will not be perfect, things might not work, the camp might not be great.... but am sure you will be seduced...
 
Upvote 0
We hired before we bought to see if we liked the lifestyle! Had a week in Scotland !
Needless to say we loved it !
Like others have said take notes or video handover showing how to set the fridge , heating , emptying the cassette toilet , water how to plug in the electric cable! Etc .( and always do a look round the van before setting off inside and out ! Making sure all cupboards and drawers are locked and electric cable has been withdrawn!!?)
Above all enjoy ! It will be nerve wracking driving a big vehicle after a family car but enjoy and we still make rookie errors like filling up the tank and not closing the valve!

Have a great time and keep the hire company’s number handy so you can phone them if need help !
 
Upvote 0
Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome. All the advice has been really helpful and I have actually printed of the thread so that I don't miss anything, thank you.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Red Dragon said:
Hi @Cathie316 welcome to this fab forum, nice to see some more Manxies joining if I can help in anyway maybe meet up somewhere, me in the Motorhome so we can run through some things to help you with your hire vehicle.
We live in the West of the Island but can arrange a meet if you like where ever on Island.
Steve.
Click to expand...
Thanks Steve, hope we can arrange something. We go away on the 14th March, busy the next couple of weeks but maybe after that??
 
Upvote 0
Already mentioned,but videoing the handover will be very useful,especially the bits about heating/hot water/control panel.
Enjoy!
 
Upvote 0
Red Dragon said:
Hi Cathie316 welcome to this fab forum, nice to see some more Manxies joining if I can help in anyway maybe meet up somewhere, me in the Motorhome so we can run through some things to help you with your hire vehicle.
We live in the West of the Island but can arrange a meet if you like where ever on Island.
Steve.
Click to expand...
How kind,an opportunity not to be missed,I guarantee you will be hooked on Motorhoming after a meet and better equipped for you holiday experience.enjoy and welcome.
 
Upvote 0
Cathie316 said:
Thanks Steve, hope we can arrange something. We go away on the 14th March, busy the next couple of weeks but maybe after that??
Click to expand...

No problem Cathie316 if you quote my forum name with the @ in front it will alert me to a post, so if you want to meet sometime before you go give me a shout. (y) :giggle:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Hi Cathie316, welcome to the forum. I'm in a similar position to you actually. I would second the notebook idea...take a small one and use it to jot down any thoughts relating to either the entire experience or, maybe more importantly, the layout of the van you are hiring. Was the shower big enough? Could one of you cook and the other move around without playing Twister with each other? Was there somewhere for the dog to relax and get away from people if it wanted to?
A few days ago we went to view a van we thought was very possibly "the one", based on our research and what we thought we wanted. It turned out to be quite different to how we had imagined it, so was a really valuable learning experience for us.
 
Upvote 0
Hi Red Dragon

Hoped to catch up this weekend but I have had a really bad cold and laid up in bed. We are away next Saturday so no time now but we figure we will probably have more questions when we get back so if it is okay we will give you a shout to meet up.
 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top