Need advice about an RV

[anonymous-user]

I have a wife and 2 kids aged 11 & 13. Every year we visit the IOM TT/GP to stay in rented accommodation but it's expensive and we would like the flexibility of travelling to other places in Europe for family holidays. I like being clean and home comforts so thinking of an RV just like this one:

http://www.justrvs.co.uk/stocklist/damon-challenge...

I'd appreciate your opinions on what would this be like to live with on a 2 week family holiday and occasional long weekends away, it's not cheap so I need to know if it would be as comfortable as it looks for 2 adults and 2 (soon to be) teenagers? Can I drive it on a car license?

[clockworks]

I would imagine it will be fine to live in, but not much fun to drive on narrow roads!

[Rosscow]

I think you'll find that it is over 7500kg, so you'd need a Category C driving license (HGV).

[Rosscow]

Mind you, it's a lovely thing! And if you have £40k + to spend on one then you can afford the £1500 to get your license.

Very big for small UK and European roads though. You'd have to get a small car to tow behind it as well

Edited by Rosscow on Thursday 9th October 12:30

[clockworks]

I would imagine it will be fine to live in, but not much fun to drive on narrow roads!

[ColinM50]

Others have pointed out the main drawbacks. I'd add that they're fantastic to live in, got just about everything you need. BUT you will need to tow a small car behind it, so factor in that cost too. after all once you're established on a site you don't want to have to put everything away and collapse the extending sides just to go and get a pint of milk do you?

Secondly if you're going to take it to the I.o.M. have you checked the availability/cost of ferry crossings for it? You'll be going peak time when all the racers are taking their RV's and you might struggle for ferry space.

Additionally don't underestimate the fuel costs, I'd be surprised if it averages 10mpg and on hilly trips bet even that will drop, it makes them very difficult to sell once they get a few years old. I have a buddy with an immaculate beautiful fifteen year old RV without the push out sides and he's been trying to sell it for four years now and can't get a sensible bite.

Having said all that, they're great to live in and ideal for extended holidays round UK/Europe.

[Muzzer79]

40-odd grand gets you a lot of rented accommodation for the forthcoming years.

That's before you even maintained it, fuelled it, insured it, etc.

If you're thinking of it to save on cost, think again.

If you have a high amount of disposable £ and want your own thing then it looks cool

[hornetrider]

wormus said:

I have a wife and 2 kids aged 11 & 13. Every year we visit the IOM TT/GP to stay in rented accommodation but it's expensive <snip>

You might want to get a ferry quote for an RV of that size during TT week... it might redefine your idea of expensive

[mph1977]

Iom for the TT - how much will the Steam Racket charge to get it across there ?

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the replies, stupidly I hadn't considered navigating the thing on narrow roads so that's a very good point! So it will be comfy but a nightmare to transport and expensive.

I also need to tow a car and up to two motorbikes....

May have to rethink!

[ColinM50]

So put the bikes on the back of the RV and a Smart car towed behind and keep away from narrow roads. So forget Cornwall.