New to motorhomong

[abspag]

Picking up new Motor home in a couple of weeks, autotrail f70, is there any tips and advice on equipment that we will need for European travel through france, Italy and greece?

 

[johnandi]

Hi, congratulations and welcome to the forums!
Equipment requirements will depend on time of year, how long you intend to be away and whether you're staying on sites (with EHU) or on Aires/Stelplatz etc without EHU. Normally considered essential are Solar panel(s), possibly together with a second leisure battery. If you plan extended periods abroad consider refillable gas cylinders as Calor is only available in the UK. We have electric bikes which give us a second mode of transport when away as some sites are outside of towns/cities.
Happy travel

 

[abspag]

Thanks for that. Dealer has given option of butane or propane and suggested propane.

 

[Baldeagle7470]

Hi and another big Enjoy.
Propane is better in colder climates generally but with insulated van,both usually work OK.

 

[abspag]

How much for solar panels

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[abspag]

Dealer said would be £800 for refillable option

 

[johnandi]

How much for solar panels

I'm guessing, but for a 120W panel, wired and fitted with controller I'd say around £500?? Other funsters may have a better idea. It can be done yourself if you feel competent. I bought panel, cable and all requirements off Ebay, cost around £250/300.

 

[Dramfineday]

Take a few days at a local campsite to sus out what you may have forgotten to put in before you set into the wild blue etc.

 

[johnandi]

Dealer said would be £800 for refillable option

Depends what he's quoting for. e.g. 1 or 2 cylinders, 6kg or 11kg, external filler (required for EU) and which supplier (Gaslow, Gasit, etc). I was quoted £550 for 1 Gaslow 11kg cylinder and external filler, fully fitted. Pre-brexit this would have been around £350'ish.

 

[johnandi]

Thanks for that. Dealer has given option of butane or propane and suggested propane.

I'd go Propane for reason that Baldeagle has quoted (use in cold weather)

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[DerryW]

Hi welcome to the FUN. The obvious items for your travels abroad i.e. Solar, 2 x Leisure batteries, extra long 25mtr EHU cable, probably longer if venturing to Spain (a bit of a generalisation, but, we've always found EHU points few and far between on Spanish sites. We tend to stick to the minor roads and only use motorways as a last result, even so we have toll tags for France, and Spain can save a lot of faffing about at the toll booths.

 

[Richard n Ann]

You'll need a hook up adapter on some sites. About 50% in my experience.
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[David and Sally]

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[AndyPK]

Welcome from Ciren!

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[Orion]

Picking up new Motor home in a couple of weeks, autotrail f70, is there any tips and advice on equipment that we will need for European travel through france, Italy and greece?

Sign up to a subscription to the forum to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge freely given on here - it’s money we’ll spent.

 

[Wabs]

I’m just amazed at your confidence to buy a MH and go straight into Europe, with no experience,,, good luck to you,,enjoy your time,

 

[Derek’soldvan]

Welcome, I’m with Dramfineday & Orion, a few days away locally & the subs for this site, I’ve only been doing it a year this site has been a fountain of help & friendliness

 

[Blackadder]

G'day
In addition to the 2-pin adapter and 25m cable already mentioned I'd get a polarity tester and a polarity inverter (a short piece of cable with a plug on one end and a socket on the other but the live and neutral are reversed at one end. We found several EHUs in France with reversed polarity - not a show stopper but safer if something goes wrong.
We have 2 x Gaslow LPG tanks - much easier to get LPG abroad and no worries about having the wrong regulator/adapter/pipes etc.
I'd second the suggestion re toll tags, especially if you're ever going to Portugal. We didn't - what a faff!
France, and especially Spain, are great places for cycling with many towns having cyclepaths - we've found a couple of folding e-bikes a real boon though we almost never use them in UK.
Depending what time of the year you go and your luck with the weather you might invest in some traction mats - a couple of people borrowed our Milenco ones when they got stuck after overnight rain (and yes, it was in Spain!).
And yes, spend a few nights away in UK to make sure you know how (and if) everything works.

 

[DDJC]

As you are off in a couple of weeks, I guess you are limited with what you can do. Workshop time is at a premium and I would be surprised if you could get a slot to get work done.

Firstly gas. Always propane not least because you hail from Aberdeen and propane works in minus temps. Butane might not. However, get hold of spare pigtails in case you have to buy a foreign gas bottle.

Leccy, a solar panel is great but as I said, you may not get one fitted in time. If you do, you should go for a 150w or greater. A second leisure battery is a luxury, but if you use EHU or solar, then probably not necessary.. I have a full set of EHU connectors and have never needed any of them. But that my be different in Greece.

Get a Crit Air sticker. About six quid and will avoid trouble with the Gendarmes. Germany also has one. If your moho is over 3500, you will need the "Angles Mort" stickers when in France. Ugly bloody things, but currently a requirement.

Driving licence, V5C, Insurance certificate (green card if you can) and a EU accident statement. It is a good idea to carry any certificates of conformity.

Spare light bulbs, warning triangles (two for Spain), yellow fluorescent jackets IN THE CAB, torches, toolkit, first aid kit, ramps.

Don't take any dairy or meat products.

Have fun. I too am impressed with your bravery at doing this on your first trip!

Oh, and passports.

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[RobbyMClark]

Think about all the resource you would have on this forum if you become a full member.

 

[ambulancekidd]