Top 3 Do's and Don'ts for a complete beginner (1 Viewer)

[Binkydefish]

Hi all

Little giddy from yesterday's perfect but heading into planning mode so to get ahead of the game, I wondered if you would share your top couple or so of absolute dos and donts you learned from heading out in your M/home.

All of this will be useful. I have a pad and paper ready and you guys will be helping hugely

Thank you

 

[Binkydefish]

ps, having had a bucket with a seat on it camping, I have a toilet .... now you get the giddy bit ... oh, and a door, roof, windows, seat, bed .... on wheels

 

[Richard n Ann]

Quite a boring one but check the payload capacity of the van, only take what you need and lightweight/smaller versions of things. The van will soon be overloaded if you're not careful.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Hollyberry]

Don't overload.
Don't forget to check tyre pressures, oil, water.
Don't leave your awning out when the wind gets up.

Do switch off all the stress.
Do relax.
Do travel, experience all you can.

Welcome to Fun. I so miss being able to drive a motorhome, and I'm glad I used it as much as I did while I could. Still hope I might be able to again, one day

 

[CWH]

DO #1 - enjoy it
DON'T #1 - buy every gadget going
DO #2 - enjoy it
DON'T #2 - let the doom-sayers on here put you off trying stuff
DO #3 - enjoy it
DON'T #3 - regret anything
oh, and DO #4 - enjoy every minute of your travels

 

[Brisey]

Don't tread on Supermans cape,
Don't spit into the wind,
Don't pull the mask off of the old Lone Ranger,
And don't mess around with JIM.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Carol]

Have a spray for the toilet with a Zoflora type thing mixed with water to spray the bowl saves a lot of flushing water. Use bio Washing liquid in the loo instead of blue much more expensive. Always open the blade wide if doing a number 2 and put a cross of toilet paper across the open blade. Keeps the loo much cleaner.
Remember it's a small space your in so if one of you is busy doing something don't be pushing past just chill a minute little things make life in a motorhome much easier . We have pink jobs and blue jobs we each know what we are responsible for then it saves a lot of hassle about thought you had put so and so in.
Keep asking questions and enjoy.

 

[Detnor]

Do not come off levelling ramps if it has been raining with the cab windows open and/or partner standing by the blocks. Any water on the roof will come off in a hurry.

 

[Anthea M]

Do not come off levelling ramps if it has been raining with the cab windows open and/or partner standing by the blocks. Any water on the roof will come off in a hurry.

Been there!!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tick59]

Don’t forget Wine, Beer, Spirits, Mixers, Food,Water and all the Glasses, Plates,Cooking Gadgets you need and most importantly The bottle opener, Can opener and everything else you think you need . BUT Don’t. fun!!! fun!!! fun!!!

 

[Anthea M]

1 buy comfortable sitting out chairs.
2 always ask if need help
3 never drive off with electric lead still plugged in!
Do make sure all cupboards and drawers are shut as are Windows when setting off.
Do have wine/ beer / gin or drink of choice chilling in the fridge and enjoy!!

 

[buttons]

Hi and Welcome......

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CWH]

1 buy comfortable sitting out chairs.
2 always ask if need help
3 never drive off with electric lead still plugged in!
Do make sure all cupboards and drawers are shut as are Windows when setting off.
Do have wine/ beer / gin or drink of choice chilling in the fridge and enjoy!!

That's the best one yet!

 

[PaulyP]

Don't tread on Supermans cape,
Don't spit into the wind,
Don't pull the mask off of the old Lone Ranger,
And don't mess around with JIM.

Jim Croche - brilliant music !

 

[Easyliving]

I have been trying to think back to our first motorhome trip. Seems so obvious now but I didn't do up the gas connector properly, resulting in a leak, and hadn't thought much about how I was oing to get water from the campsite tap into the van!

Top suggestion from earlier - always ask for help. Your fellow campers will be queueing up to help.

Have fun.

Paul

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Popeye]

Have a "Pilot Style" checklist permanently fixed in front of you and before setting off check each item.
Mine reads

Height 3.150 m allow 11ft
Length 8.52 m 28ft
Width 2.30 m 7' 6"


1 Aerial Retracted / TV closed and locked
2 E&P Jacks retracted / Air susp set
3 Water Off / Gas Off / EHU lead stowed
4 Grey Waste / Cassette
5 All outside lockers closed and Locked
6 Fridge locked and on Auto
7 Table closed and locked in Position
8 Windows / Roof haches closed and locked
9 Internal lockers closed and Locked.

 

[Binkydefish]

Thanks all. Love camping and hubby is very able but he did hang a light in the tent which you could have landed planes from so I plan to just ensure we have what we need. Thanks so much though. x

 

[magicsurfbus]

DO keep your mouth shut when emptying the toilet cartridge.

DON'T forget to lower the satellite dish before driving.

DO go to France, where Motorhomies are welcomed.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[obanvanman]

1. For gods sake don't forget the Marmite.

2. Remember to take the Marmite.

3. Oh Please!. DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THE MARMITE!

 

[magicsurfbus]

1. For gods sake don't forget the Marmite.

2. Remember to take the Marmite.

3. Oh Please!. DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THE MARMITE!

DO be especially careful to keep your mouth shut when emptying the toilet cartridge if anyone's been eating Marmite, as it tastes worse than sh..

 

[Debs]

Not sure it would qualify as in the top 3 but get some of the cushioned anti slip stuff on a roll from the pound shops to put between plates, cups etc. This will deaden the rattling.....and there will be rattling

I use a watering can to top up but I think that's a personal choice.

Don't buy too many gadgets to start with, go a few times, see how you use the van, make a list of what you need as you go along. Otherwise you'll likely end up with a garage full of little used things at home

If I'm on hook up (at home or away) I slip a loop of ribbon around the steering wheel so I don't do what Les did.

Most important thing is relax & enjoy

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Just smiffy]

1. Don't buy a swift from brownhills....

2. Don't press the airlock button too soon on the cassette...

3. Don't take any notice of no.1.


Welcome to the Banter......

 

[rangi]

Always!! THAT IS ALWAYS!! tell your partner when you are removing the Cassette for emptying!

Never Wee on an electric fence!

Never take a Laxative and a sleeping tablet at the same time!

 

[TheBig1]

Rule 1 ...... take it easy and enjoy the experience
Rule 2 ....... Things happen, dont get stressed as it only makes things worse
Rule 3 ....... There are shops all over the world, so as long as you have the essentials and cash, anything you forget (and you will) can be easily replaced

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ianthebuilder]

Don't eat the yellow snow!!! X

 

[Stevewheel]

DO - Have a checklist as an earlier poster suggested but for everything else DO - make it up as you go along and enjoy the process!

 

[Chris]

Don't go to Spain as a friend of a friend got gassed there and had £2000 cash taken, a laptop and an iphone 9.

If you must go to Spain bring an A frame for a quick getaway as soon as you get a whiff of gas.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bognor Saint]

Do not come off levelling ramps if it has been raining with the cab windows open and/or partner standing by the blocks. Any water on the roof will come off in a hurry.

That's one I had not considered. Added to the list.

 

[apm101]

1) Always have spare beer/ wine/ prosecco, in case you make friends!
2) Solar panels = no need for EHU
3) Avoid parking on mud!

 

[Silver-Fox]

Never take anything but memories away

Never leave anything but footprints

Keep calm, after all you are at home as you travel

Wow did I just type that, bit sensible for me