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

 

[Silver-Fox]

Don't eat the yellow snow!!! X

Should that be times 3

 

[JoyJoy]

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

Sensible and wise but then you have a name that suits wise, - fox!

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[denisejoe]

Don't buy anything other than essentials until you have had motorhome the at least 3 months and done 6 trips out then you could probably do without it

Joe

 

[Pausim]

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!

Other malt extracts are available. Some of them taste and look like Marmite used to before they made it spreadable and started adding stuff to it (Morrisons).

 

[reckless]

Don't stand up suddenly if your OH has left the overhead locker door open.

Don't leave the locker door open above the seat where your OH is sitting.

Don't blame your OH if you stand up suddenly and bang your bonce on the overhead locker door that's been left open for 'just a moment'.

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[dabhand]

Buy good gin
Buy even better tonic
Make lots of ice

 

[scotzsue]

1) Take a 5L bottle of water, especially if hoping to use aires in January
2)Just use your household stuff
3) enjoy yourselves
DONT
1) buy from specialist camping shops unless it is on offer, a lot of stuff available at pound shops, range B&M at a better price
2)Forget your sense of humour
3)Forget your travelling companion.

 

[dabhand]

Buy good beer
Take nice glass
Top up fridge

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[Chas17]

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!

Have you never sleepwalked to the loo.

 

[johnandi]

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.

10. Retract the step, if fitted. We're lucky enough to have a buzzer that sounds when the engine is started and the step is still down (otherwise I would definitely have driven off with the step down!).

 

[mpdcymru]

Do tape a note with your maximum height (in both metric and imperial) to your sun visor and remember to check it BEFORE you get to the point of no return
Do wave to other motorhomes
Do always carry "adequate" amounts of your favourite tipple and at least enough water to make a brew in an emergency
Don't always stick religiously to a route planned weeks before
Don't leave your sun shade (some might refer to it as an "awning") out in anything more than a slight, very gentle breeze; and
Don't leave the toilet emptying to the morning - you (and probably your partner) will need to do a number two in the early hours and there won't be enough room

Just thought of another DO which you must do and that it ENJOY.

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[Victor]

Hi When parked on an Aires don't use your outside screen's, in case of emergency from outside influence
i e yobish behavior. You need to be able to leave in a hurry.
Enjoy your travels and have great time.
Regards
Victor

 

[Malcolm Bolt]

Say 'sorry' a lot.
Say 'sorry' when it's not your fault
Say 'sorry' when you know damn fine it's the other's fault.


I SAY 'SORRY' AN AWFUL LOT.
I have a pleasant life.
Enjoy yours.

 

[Peter Sansom]

Remember to remove the Truma vent cover before you put your boiler on/put it back before you leave.
Good idea to turn the pump off when you're travelling. I had a broom handle knock the shower lever once and had to paddle back to turn it off...if you don't, at least leave the plugs of the shower basin out so it can drain.
Oh, and remember to take down the windscreen covers before you drive off...so much easier to see the road! .
Above all, just enjoy

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[Fifiwi]

Do

Smile a lot...we can't help it, when on our Moho holidays..in fact, even if we're just doing a quick "local" outing, we just smile as soon as we're in the Moho.
Remember to check for rattles...especially the cooker top..2 tea towels muffle that nicely.
Remember, you can always find a shop for "missing" items..we've just bought new bike pedals for 3 Euros..bargain!
Remember, you can change an itinerary...we're only limited by a return ferry booking, and me being expected back at work next Wednesday.

Don't
get too stressed....by anything
forget the Factor 50....sunburnt feet are no fun.
set the alarm

From a scorchio Auxerre, Burgundy.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Do see if you can have a good time without using campsites
Do as much European touring as possible
Do camp in all seasons
Do respect others
Do try to wean yourself off Marmite

 

[mitzimad]

never put the yellow cap from the toilet cassette on the edge of the emptying point
if not on sites fill and empty at every opportunity
there few place in europe you cant get supplies
enjoy

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[JackieP]

Do wave to all other motorhomers on the road

Don't ignore them when you get to your destination.

 

[Emmit]

If travelling in the 'van from a place at a lower altitude to a place at a higher altitude, crack open the cassette blade, just a little. (Have you noticed the number of 'toilet' hints?)
Doing so will prevent you 'Getting your own back!!!' when you wish to deposit 'the deposit' into the cassette.
The reduction in ambient air pressure in the hills will ensure that the air in the cassette will want to get out of the cassette in a rush:
As you will, if you fail to remember this tip.

 

[Giorgio Balatoni]

Hi all. just picked up my first ever M/H today so excited and well pleased. I see on this forum lots of toilet advice, and when the man was showing me around the van and showing me how it all works, he came to the toilet cassette and demonstrated how it all works, and I got to thinking that as there are lots of pubs, supermarkets garden centres etc... and they all have facilities.... and perhaps I could get away without using my toilet and keep it nice and clean. question.. did you all think this with your first van ? and how long was it when this was not really practical.

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[scotzsue]

Hi all. just picked up my first ever M/H today so excited and well pleased. I see on this forum lots of toilet advice, and when the man was showing me around the van and showing me how it all works, he came to the toilet cassette and demonstrated how it all works, and I got to thinking that as there are lots of pubs, supermarkets garden centres etc... and they all have facilities.... and perhaps I could get away without using my toilet and keep it nice and clean. question.. did you all think this with your first van ? and how long was it when this was not really practical.

Have to say this never entered my head if i had thought that way i would have got a camper without a toilet. Travel with no toilet with 2 vegan grandchildren and me with my 'urge' no chance. If rinsed well each time you empty and given a good clean every so often should stay nice and clean on the outside at least. I do the casette emptying and cleaning it's not aproblem.

 

[CWH]

perhaps I could get away without using my toilet and keep it nice and clean. question.. did you all think this with your first van ?

er.... no

 

[Astro]

and perhaps I could get away without using my toilet and keep it nice and clean. question.. did you all think this with your first van ?

I'm getting my first motorhome in about 3 weeks. The first thing I'm going to do is 'Christen' the toilet.

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[Camping Gaza]

and perhaps I could get away without using my toilet and keep it nice and clean. question.. did you all think this with your first van ? and how long was it when this was not really practical.

I used mine from new for six months touring Europe wild camping and on aires continually just flushing out with clean water, nothing else. On my return I then emptied the cassette as normal and rinsed it with clean water and a little detergent. I then serviced the valve unit on it and inspected the insides. TOTALLY clean.

I attribute this to the use of cheap bio laundry washing liquid as I never use chemicals. Its freaking marvellous!