Got our new motorhome!

[Tony68000]

Hi All,

We collected our Rapido 999M yesterday!! Two and half hour drive up the A1 and safely home on the driveway.

Wasn't half as bad driving it as I feared. Lots of visibility, nice spritely engine (3.0 auto). Did a lot more overtaking than I expected, there's a lot of slow vehicles on the A1! I need to invest in some blind-spot fixers (mirrors, cameras, ?). A couple of junctions I needed help looking left, so would probably struggle on my own. Got a fresnel lens ordered (£8) that might help, we'll see.

The good thing about this MH is that I don't think anyone expects it go fast, so the times when I had to go slow on the roads leading to the A1, I didn't feel any pressure from the cars behind me.

Biggest achievement was that I managed to get to a petrol station, fill it up, and get safely out again. A little pre-planning, and checking the route around the kiosk was clear, but all was good.

Keeping position on the road was easier that I thought too. Lots of mirrors and after a short while being in the right spot seemed natural.

Reversed it on the driveway, nice and straight, but need to move it back a touch so the neighbour can see out of their window (into our garden) again. It was dark and there's a lot of walls (and cars) in the way, so I'll sort it this morning.

First trip on Saturday I think. We'll just take it for a ride around, then plan an overnight in the new year... it's Christmas in two weeks (eek!).

 

[orridge]

Enjoy your new van.

The A1M is a pain to drive when you get lorries doing 60 trying to overtake a lorry doing 59 mph and it hold up the traffic for everybody although if you can get in behind and slipstream a reasonably quick lorry thats a bonus.

 

[599]

hi tony68000. pleased for you enjoy . our first was a F reg lefthand drive hymer 7 m/h's ago but bill didn't like the steering wheel on the wrong side val

 

[Southdowners]

Congratulations!

 

[bigtwin]

Congratulations on the new van and getting it parked up safely too.

Ian

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[Baldeagle7470]

Enjoy,sounds a lovely van to drive,enjoy lots of miles and smiles.

 

[Mikey RV]

Happy travels and miles of smiles.

 

[Tony68000]

I've just checked, and looks like I can only do 60mph on the A1 (not M). Oops.

 

[RedFrame]

I've just checked, and looks like I can only do 60mph on the A1 (not M). Oops.

Your speedo will read approx -10%, and the rozzers give you 10% plus 2, so with the speedo indicating 70 you'll be at 64, and the rozzers won't bother you until 66.

Personally I use the GPS for speed indication as ours is fitted with undersized wheels and tyres, so speedo is way, way out.

Cheers
Red

 

[MisterB]

i think i would be camping out tonight and over the weekend on your driveway, just to get used to things !

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[Tony68000]

Your speedo will read approx -10%, and the rozzers give you 10% plus 2, so with the speedo indicating 70 you'll be at 64, and the rozzers won't bother you until 66.

Personally I use the GPS for speed indication as ours is fitted with undersized wheels and tyres, so speedo is way, way out.

Cheers
Red

Yeah, good call. My car speedo is well out too when compared to satnav. Next time I'm out I'll see what the MH is like.

 

[Tony68000]

i think i would be camping out tonight and over the weekend on your driveway, just to get used to things !

Yeah, we're going to practice a few things on the driveway first. Got some gadgets to fit (internet, dash cams, new radio, TV, etc), and the stereo is pretty poor, so that needs updating.

Also going to check out the leisure battery and charge controller. The controller looks cheap, and I'm not sure of the state of the leisure battery, but looks a little small. Lots to do!

 

[deleted79651]

Your speedo will read approx -10%, and the rozzers give you 10% plus 2, so with the speedo indicating 70 you'll be at 64, and the rozzers won't bother you until 66.

Personally I use the GPS for speed indication as ours is fitted with undersized wheels and tyres, so speedo is way, way out.

Cheers
Red

About 2 or 3 years ago, a string of Constabularies declared, via ACPO, if memory serves, that they would be operating a zero tolerance of speeding, irrespective of speedometer accuracy. I remember Bedfordshire & Leicestershire, and, IIRC, one of the Yorkshire Police Forces 'signing up' to this Safety Initiative.

Pragmatism may have reappeared, but I no longer rely upon the '10% + 2mph' 'Allowance'. I use the SatNav for vehicle speed, not least because it is stuck onto the rear view mirror, so in easy eye line viewing, rather than staring down at the dim orange instrument lighting

Steve

 

[jdk62]

Enjoy christening your van tonight…..

 

[Popty]

About 2 or 3 years ago, a string of Constabularies declared, via ACPO, if memory serves, that they would be operating a zero tolerance of speeding, irrespective of speedometer accuracy. I remember Bedfordshire & Leicestershire, and, IIRC, one of the Yorkshire Police Forces 'signing up' to this Safety Initiative.

Pragmatism may have reappeared, but I no longer rely upon the '10% + 2mph' 'Allowance'. I use the SatNav for vehicle speed, not least because it is stuck onto the rear view mirror, so in easy eye line viewing, rather than staring down at the dim orange instrument lighting

Steve

Northamptonshire boys in blue also won't give 10% speed errors, the 10% is discretionary anyway not a law, l got done in Milton Keynes doing 31 in a 30 limit, said also my sat nav said 30, boys in blue said "don't rely on sat nav, as its not a calibrated device" so all be aware, now l drive at least 2 or 3 mph under the limit

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[599]

Yeah, we're going to practice a few things on the driveway first. Got some gadgets to fit (internet, dash cams, new radio, TV, etc), and the stereo is pretty poor, so that needs updating.

Also going to check out the leisure battery and charge controller. The controller looks cheap, and I'm not sure of the state of the leisure battery, but looks a little small. Lots to do!

yes check the bed out its surprising what you here standing in the queue waiting to buy bread from the van at honfleur talk about dont come a nocking when the van is rocking it was embarrassing especially it being an autotrail an all

 

[mitzimad]

my work van has a wide angled mirror on the passenger side sun visor which works surprisingly well congratulations on the new van

 

[f6c]

Enjoy

 

[dazandandrea]

Enjoy your new van.

The A1M is a pain to drive when you get lorries doing 60 trying to overtake a lorry doing 59 mph and it hold up the traffic for everybody although if you can get in behind and slipstream a reasonably quick lorry thats a bonus.

When you say a quick lorry , i take you mean the 60 mph one , not the 59 mph one.

 

[royandsharont]

Congratulation, just be extra careful of any overhang you have past the rear axle when turning. Mine could easily hit pedestrians road furniture etc if I didn’t position the van right for the turn, it was about 2m I think

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[Podney]

Good choice Enjoy!

 

[TONCAZ]

Sounds great, enjoy...

 

[davidbaldam]

Now the adventure can begin.