thidwick
Free Member
OK, so I'm soon to retire (about 120 attendances to put in yet), and my wife & I had decided that UK and European travel is on the agenda.... and somehow we had decided that a motor home is the way to go.
We've never had one, and neither of us had ever been in one. (We once stayed in a static caravan for a week.... and we can do tents)
So, whilst visiting away from home, we looked at a Motorhome dealer place (Lowdhams nr Nottingham). Loads of them. Very confusing. Lots of names we'd never heard of, with lots of differing layouts, and lots of things we didn't understand. The prices, even well second-hand, were also a bit of a shock. We gave up.
Easy decision: put it all off until I've actually retired.
Fine, except that, by chance, I found that some folks we vaguely know in the next village were selling their motorhome. Too old to look at we said.... oh what the hell, we'll go and look anyway as its a nice evening...... and somehow we have agreed to buy a motorhome.
It is a Mercedes-based Rapido 779 LeRandonneur dating from 2000 with many (many) knobs & whistles and extras included. I's apparently in good nick, with everything working, and hasn't done excessive mileage.
It's all a bit scary. Research now required in "how to motorhome".
Myriads of things we've never thought about.
My wife's happy. After some thinking and research she has decided the van is to be called Bertha
Oh gosh....
Any advice and suggestions gratefully received.
We've never had one, and neither of us had ever been in one. (We once stayed in a static caravan for a week.... and we can do tents)
So, whilst visiting away from home, we looked at a Motorhome dealer place (Lowdhams nr Nottingham). Loads of them. Very confusing. Lots of names we'd never heard of, with lots of differing layouts, and lots of things we didn't understand. The prices, even well second-hand, were also a bit of a shock. We gave up.
Easy decision: put it all off until I've actually retired.
Fine, except that, by chance, I found that some folks we vaguely know in the next village were selling their motorhome. Too old to look at we said.... oh what the hell, we'll go and look anyway as its a nice evening...... and somehow we have agreed to buy a motorhome.
It is a Mercedes-based Rapido 779 LeRandonneur dating from 2000 with many (many) knobs & whistles and extras included. I's apparently in good nick, with everything working, and hasn't done excessive mileage.
It's all a bit scary. Research now required in "how to motorhome".
Myriads of things we've never thought about.
My wife's happy. After some thinking and research she has decided the van is to be called Bertha
- Where do we stay?
- Where can we stay?
- Will we have to book well ahead to stay anywhere?
- Is a Britstops book something to invest in?
- What about becoming Caravan Club members? It's 48 quid every year! Is it worth it?
- What about breakdown cover? Best buys?
- How long will gas last?
- Will we be warm enough at night?
- Sleeping bags or duvet?
- Will the bikes be OK on the back?
- What's that thing with the wires?
- Can we safely drink the water from the internal tanks, or will they need sterilising occasionally?
- What are all the switches for....?
- 3-way fridge? How does the fridge know what its doing?
- Will a 3 bottle wine rack be enough?
- Will I forget that it hasn't got a clutch?
Oh gosh....
Any advice and suggestions gratefully received.