Caravan to Motorhome newbies (1 Viewer)

[tallulah]

Hello Everyone, we are new to this, having had a caravan and toured most of Europe for the last few years. We have hired a motorhome between Christmas and new year. looking to go to Liverpool and wales on a tour, however trying to find campsites near train stations, or bus stops to see major towns is difficult, or do you all just not over think it and get up and go? - would be good to get some advice. ! xx

 

[Howard H]

And . Do not over think it but a little research and planning is part of the fun,so just get out there and enjoy the experience ?

 

[JonHG]

Hi and welcome. Try Apps like 'search for sites' etc. You can then see what is close to the places you want to visit and then check them out on line before you book or go. There are some good club sites in York (Rowntree) and Bristol (Baltic Wharf) for example within walking distance of the city centres.

Old enough to know better, young enough not to care.

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[Lenny HB]

I think you have found out why a lot of us don't bother with the UK & hop across the channel where we are welcome.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

 

[MisterB]

Wildcamping

lots of great cheap stopovers at various prices/ we like to use the pub stopovers where you get a free night if you use the bar/restaurant

and welcome to the madhouse, hope you have a sense of humour …..

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[Wendo55]

 

[Vipar]

Greetings peeps ?

Park4night is worth a look

 

[Stealaway]

Bus Park and Ride sites in many big cities - especially at weekends

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[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[Riverbankannie]

When we visited Liverpool, we stayed on the seafront at Southport and then drove to the Mersey Ferry port in the morning where you can park for free in their carpark. Used the ferry, of course, to get to central Liverpool and back and then drove to a CL for the night. (CL is a certified location available to members of the Caravan and a Motorhome Club).

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[MichaelT]

Try search for sites lots of ideas on there, if you subscribe to the APP you can use it offline, the web site is free and you can filter.

https://www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[Snoopy]

Hi and welcome ?

 

[tallulah]

Blimey thanks guys very helpful , will get searching, this is the holiday we will decide if we stick with the caravan or go and buy a motorhome. we have been toying with the idea for ages..

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[JonHG]

Good Luck! We caravanned for 20 years when the family were young then switched to a motorhome and never looked back, would never tow again! We do like to get off the beaten track and wild camp which cannot be done with a caravan. When we do go to a campsite its great to drive up, put the kettle on (or open a bottle!) and watch the caravaners unhook, lower steadies, fetch water, put up an awning..... (and its raining!)


Old enough to know better, young enough not to care

 

[tallulah]

That's good to know, but sorry if this is a stupid question, don't you need to "hook up " and charge the battery every day? So you have enough power to watch TV at night and use the heating etc?

 

[tallulah]

Because if we don't need to do that, because there is enough power etc, and basically we can just choose a lovely place to park and wander around, or catch the bus into the towns then that's great!

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[JonHG]

Yes, ok I exaggerate a bit, if on site you do have to plug the EHU cable in and turn the gas on but hopefully you get my drift! It also depends on your 'style' of course. Ours has changed with the MH in that we now like to explore and tend not to spend long in one place (which is easier to do with a MH) so more travel means batteries are continually charged sufficiently to spend a few nights off grid before moving on. We have also added second battery and solar to our current van. We don't watch much tv unless we have a grandchild with us in which case we are on a site with hookup! Heating works off gas if we are off grid.

 

[Jo662]

 

[Clarky]

That's good to know, but sorry if this is a stupid question, don't you need to "hook up " and charge the battery every day? So you have enough power to watch TV at night and use the heating etc?

A couple of solar panels on the roof and you can forget all about campsites, although perhaps not at this time of year.
We spend 5-6 weeks at a time in France from March to October and never use EHU. Solar replenishes the batteries well before lunch time.
In the UK (or northern Europe) in winter you will need to either have some EHU or be driving every couple of days to keep topped up.
Changing from a caravan to a motorhome means a very different way of touring and holidays, particularly if you get across the Channel.
You will love it once you change over from caravan mode.

Richard.

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[peterc10]

You can be much more flexible and self contained with a motorhome than you ever can with a caravan. Although, as Lenny has said, it is much more difficult in England and Wales than it is over in mainland Europe. I personally use an phone app called Campercontact to find places to stop for the night, but make sure you pay the yearly subs (£5 or so) to get all the info. Or you can look for free on their website.

But, with a hire van, my guess is you will not have any Solar and will only have one leisure battery, so you are probably going to need to have EHU, and that means you will need to find some sites that are open. Once you get your own motorhome get some solar and another leisure battery and you will have much more flexibility.

Others have mentioned the seafront at Southport. There is a club site that you may be able to get in on, although they may be closed for winter. When we visited there we stayed on the Pleasureland car park. No need to book as they will have plenty of room at that time of year. And I think they do have some EHUs, but they may need to be booked. Look on the Campercontact site to find details

Or you can pop over the Channel and have your choice of thousands of French and Belgium Aires or German Stellplatz. Some will have electrics at an additional charge. But make sure that you are allowed to take the hire van abroad.

One final thing. You only have 5 free posts on this site, after which you can read posts but not post any. If you want more you will need to pay the subs. I always say it is the best £15 I ever spend each year, just for all the good advice I get.

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[two]

Welcome.
The UK is overcrowded. You will need to plan and book if your destination is popular.
There is much more space (and to explore) on the continent. And you can usually go as you please.
Caravans are good for the UK: Grab a space and keep it, using all the electricity you can.
Motorhomes are for touring further afield. Regular movements and little need for services.

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[St Ivian]

 

[buttons]

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