Dissertation on The Motorhome (1 Viewer)

[ben daughtry]

I am a final year BA Architecture student at Westminster University and new owner of a 1989 Pilote Talbot Express Motorhome. After enjoying a few trips in the UK, I have decided to write my dissertation on the social aspect of ‘motor-homing’ in the UK.

The subject of motorhome living particularly interests me as the home is a mobile space and the choices people have been making for many years.

I aim to examine the choices made by motorhome users and it would be invaluable to hear from experienced communities. I intend to speak to manufacturers and dealers regarding sales figures, design and manufacture but the most interesting conversations come from the people that experience motorhome travel and living.

I hope that you would be willing to share your thoughts. I have had informal chats with fellow motor-homers which have been incredibly insightful but require a wider scope of information for my research.

I have attached a questionnaire (this is just a guide, i want to hear your thoughts in general) which I would appreciate if you could complete and forward to any relevant person(s). Apologies it wont allow me to upload a word document only a PDF!

My email address is benjaminpjdaughtry@googlemail.com

If you are able to send any further information such as meetings, rally agenda’s, feedback in any form I would be extremely grateful.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,


Benjamin Daughtry

 

[big map]

Hi Benjamin

What does
romtascism
mean please?

 

[funflair]

Hi Ben

You might get on better asking questions on the forum rather than in a PDF format, if you are a motorhomer yourself it would certainly be worth your investment of £15 to join and then you get access to all our members views and opinions for your dissertation, as well as advice on any aspect of your own van.

Martin

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[ben daughtry]

Hi Big map,

not much! romanticism is what i meant!

thanks

 

[The Dudess]

Hi Ben,
I will complete your questionaire when I have a few minutes, however in the meantime you might find these blogs useful.
http://motoroaming.com/
and
https://followourmotorhome.co.uk/

Good luck with the dissertation.

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Ben, it would be a lot easier if your PDF was an editable form then members could just fill it it. I looked at it and thought too much hassle where as it I could have just filled in the answers I would have done it.

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[magicsurfbus]

Ben

You might get more responses if you save the questionnaire as a .rtf (Rich Text File) which will open in virtually anything.

For some reason I've always found .pdf files a bit of a faff to deal with, and I taught ICT for many years. I found .rtf to be trouble free when setting online tasks for others.

I'll answer it in a spare moment.

 

[Zigisla]

Replied. Copied PDF and pasted onto word

 

[ben daughtry]

Thank you all for the replies and suggestions they are very helpful!
Having problems with uploading as an RTF as well so will post questions below
also having problems with subscribing, seems to be a problem with Paypal with try again later!


How long have you been motor homing?

What inspired you to buy a motor home?

What factors were important when you made your choice? Size? Brand? Mod-cons?

Who do you go with and where?

What do you do once you reach your destination? Are there activities, seeing the local area and sites? Simply relaxing?

Do you treat going away in the motorhome as a holiday? Do you also go away without the motorhome? Has the financial element ever played a part in your decision?

If so, what are the differences between the two? Is there a preferred option?

Is there a community aspect in motorhoming which you don’t benefit from in whats now a traditional holiday?

In your own words, what are the main reasons behind you choosing to continue to use the motorhome?

There’s a feeling of romanticism with a motorhome with the ease of seeing beautiful parts of the UK and abroad, is this more of an appeal of a city break or busy hotel?

Please add any other comments:

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[chaser]

You have probably only got to read through posts on this forum for most of your answers.

 

[Dogeared]

Might be worth adding,
Do manufacturers of motorhomes, meet motorhomers needs
How many motorhomes did you buy before identifying what was right for you, and why.
You would get a whole dissertation on how poor the quality control is in the motorhoming industry.

 

[PaulW2]

This may not be exactly what you had in mind, but I've answered your questions below.

How long have you been motor homing?

- 7 years

What inspired you to buy a motor home?

- The flexibility it offers in respect of travel and accommodation

What factors were important when you made your choice? Size? Brand? Mod-cons?

- Size, build quality, facilities, ability to make the changes/upgrades I wanted.

Who do you go with and where?

- Always with wife. Sometimes with other family members too. Go to:

Music festivals (Glastonbury)
Literature/arts festivals (Hay)
UK Tourist destinations (Lake District. Peak District, Wales, Cornwall)
UK short breaks
European long and short breaks (including most countries in Western Europe so far). Visit friends and family and see local area and sites.

What do you do once you reach your destination? Are there activities, seeing the local area and sites? Simply relaxing?

Depends on location - see above

Do you treat going away in the motorhome as a holiday? Do you also go away without the motorhome? Has the financial element ever played a part in your decision?

Yes, it is a holiday. Rarely without motorhome, but sometimes to Med Islands so no motorhome. Financial? Not really in deciding between motorhome or non-motorhome trip.

If so, what are the differences between the two? Is there a preferred option?

Is there a community aspect in motorhoming which you don’t benefit from in whats now a traditional holiday?

Probably. There is obviously a community aspect to motorhoming. And there is obviously a community-oriented way of doing a traditional holiday. I am community-agnostic on this question: mainly do it for non-community reasons.

In your own words, what are the main reasons behind you choosing to continue to use the motorhome?

Hate flying. Like being independent.

There’s a feeling of romanticism with a motorhome with the ease of seeing beautiful parts of the UK and abroad, is this more of an appeal of a city break or busy hotel?

Not much given to romanticism generally. But city breaks with busy hotels are not really my scene.

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[Ex-caravantugger]

You have probably only got to read through posts on this forum for most of your answers.

Seriously? His kids will be at Uni by the time he’s done that.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Survey Monkey?

 

[ben daughtry]

Hi Dogeared,
thats a very interesting point, in your opinion is this a relatively new issue?
are manufacturers not listening to their customers? this is something i would like to bring up with a manufacturer if i get the chance.

Paulw2 thank you very much!

i have been through the forum previously and found lots of interesting posts which contributed to wanting to write the essay in the first place, it seemed a lot of people are trying to escape something in one way or another! (this isn't a psychoanalysis! i just found it interesting) I even included some in a presentation last week!

thankyou

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[Foxy1956]

How long have you been motor homing?
8 years

What inspired you to buy a motor home?
We used to be caravanners but switched to motor homes when Sue became ill with MS. It is much easier for me as carer to be able to pitch and get straight on with cooking etc.

What factors were important when you made your choice? Size? Brand? Mod-cons?
End dinette, under 6 metres so we could park easily, swivel passenger seat and accessible wc.

Who do you go with and where?
Just the 2 of us, Holland, France. UK

What do you do once you reach your destination? Are there activities, seeing the local area and sites? Simply relaxing? National Trust, we read, listen to music, cook, and chill.

Do you treat going away in the motorhome as a holiday? Do you also go away without the motorhome? Has the financial element ever played a part in your decision? Our van is our only vehicle so we either walk locally, or use the van and often feel on holiday here in north Norfolk. We love our moho and dislike hotels intensely.

If so, what are the differences between the two? Is there a preferred option?
We have adapted our van to suit the MS with a wheel chair access to the rear lounge and wet room, 12 volt hoist to the passenger seat. Anywhere else is usually fraught with difficulty for access.

Is there a community aspect in motorhoming which you don’t benefit from in whats now a traditional holiday? We like the club sites for the welcome and friendliness from both wardens and members.

In your own words, what are the main reasons behind you choosing to continue to use the motorhome?
Independence, we do enjoy Holiday property bond holidays but tend to be spring and summer campers.

There’s a feeling of romtascism with a motorhome with the ease of seeing beautiful parts of the UK and abroad, is this more of an appeal of a city break or busy hotel? Definitely. This year we have been to the Netherlands, Keswick and Shetland. All lovely places.


Please add any other comments:
Enjoy your own holidays. Our van is a 2005 model with 103,000 miles on the clock. We hope to keep on going as we love the layout and spare cash.

 

[Lenny HB]

How long have you been motor homing?
9½ Years.

What inspired you to buy a motor home?
Natrual progression from tents/trailer tents/caravans.

What factors were important when you made your choice? Size? Brand? Mod-cons?
Had to be German built I've had too many problems with poor quality on UK caravans.

Who do you go with and where?
With my wife, to France/Germany/Belgium/Italy/Greece/Spain/Portugal basically anywhere that takes our fancy. Don't bother much with the UK too unfriendly towards Motorhomes.

What do you do once you reach your destination? Are there activities, seeing the local area and sites? Simply relaxing?
Walking, cycling, site seeing no time for relaxing.

Do you treat going away in the motorhome as a holiday? Do you also go away without the motorhome? Has the financial element ever played a part in your decision?
Yes always a holiday but keep spending down to enable more & longer trips. Have the occassional break without the Motorhome also visit our daughter who lives in Thailand.

If so, what are the differences between the two? Is there a preferred option?
Prefer the Motorhome more relaxing.

Is there a community aspect in motorhoming which you don’t benefit from in whats now a traditional holiday?
We get more out of Motorhoming as we get off the beaten track and aviod the tourist hot spots.

In your own words, what are the main reasons behind you choosing to continue to use the motorhome?
Just love the lifestyle.

There’s a feeling of romanticism with a motorhome with the ease of seeing beautiful parts of the UK and abroad, is this more of an appeal of a city break or busy hotel?
Just a great experance in mainland Europe, UK is difficult can't park anywhere hard to find places to spend the night compared to mainland Europe.

 

[ben daughtry]

Thankyou Foxy1956 and Lenny HB
some very interesting and varied responses so far

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[Speve]

@ben daughtry Questions answered and emailed back to you

 

[Pausim]

I have emailed my answers to you. Perhaps at some time in the future you will be able to share your findings with us all. Good luck with the dissertation @ben daughtry .