Our first RV / Motorhome Holiday

Our first RV / Motorhome Holiday

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Discussion

Allanv

Original Poster:

3,540 posts

200 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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As it is my 50th I wanted to do the RV thing in Canada so the wife relented and this is what we are doing, I hope you like my madman adventure.

I will post pictures when we go.

The Route:

https://tinyurl.com/y8wzrlu3

The reason for the weird detour to Whistler:

http://www.whistlershooting.com/packages-and-price... - We are doing the big boomer which is last on the list.

Vehicle of choice:

https://www.canadream.com/rv-rentals/mh-a/

So Alberta and British Columbia with guns / Bears / Hiking / Mountains and plenty of miles.

We go to Canada every year as I am from Calgary but this is the first time Caroline has let or agreed to the RV.

We have done the cross province routes before in cars but this allows a slightly more sedate drive.

And no I can't take anyone in my suitcase except "Mrs Ted"



C0ffin D0dger

3,440 posts

159 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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That's on my list of things to do one day.

Having spent a month in a much less luxurious camper van touring both islands of New Zealand I can safely say it was the best holiday I've ever had. Enjoy.

e30m3Mark

16,449 posts

187 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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My Mrs and I are buying and doing a similar jaunt around mainland Europe within the next couple of years. I'm sure you'll have a great time and look forward to seeing updates. smile

louiebaby

10,653 posts

205 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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Hope you have a great time, we went to Calgary and Banff (mainly) a few years ago, and took in the Stampede to. We had a great time.

The layout of having two singles over the driving seats really appeals. We have a young family, and am seriously considering some kind of RV, but it would need two single beds or bunks really. (And a garage ideally.) Looking at the second hand market, these things don't seem to be very common. Perhaps we'll have to bring one back from the USA instead.

MrOrange

2,037 posts

267 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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I spent a week or so in pretty much exactly that van and I found it was right on the limit of being usable on wide US roads. The minute we were on smaller stuff it was too wide (8.5 ft is ridiculous and wider than a semi) and too long.

It also rattled like a good ‘un - they are cheap to buy and rent for a good reason. Oh, and a 7 litre petrol engine in a 7 tonne brick makes for some eyewatering fuel stops. Many of them. I think we spent more on fuel per day than the daily hire charge!

Enjoy. But we wouldnt do it again, we’d rent a nice car or minivan and use motels.

Allanv

Original Poster:

3,540 posts

200 months

Friday 17th August 2018
quotequote all
MrOrange said:
I spent a week or so in pretty much exactly that van and I found it was right on the limit of being usable on wide US roads. The minute we were on smaller stuff it was too wide (8.5 ft is ridiculous and wider than a semi) and too long.

It also rattled like a good ‘un - they are cheap to buy and rent for a good reason. Oh, and a 7 litre petrol engine in a 7 tonne brick makes for some eyewatering fuel stops. Many of them. I think we spent more on fuel per day than the daily hire charge!

Enjoy. But we wouldnt do it again, we’d rent a nice car or minivan and use motels.
It is a one off as we usually have a car when we go each year, but this time it was something we wanted to try.

I do have a class 1 / C+E license and you should see some places I have taken one in this country so hopefully we will not die in a ball of flames smile

MrOrange

2,037 posts

267 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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Sorry Allan, re-reading my post again and it's come across as super negative.

It wasn't that bad - we had an excellent holiday but I think I had higher expectations of self-contained luxury and go-anywhere, stay anywhere meanderings which is wasn't. No ball of flames, hopefully.

Allanv

Original Poster:

3,540 posts

200 months

Friday 17th August 2018
quotequote all
MrOrange said:
Sorry Allan, re-reading my post again and it's come across as super negative.

It wasn't that bad - we had an excellent holiday but I think I had higher expectations of self-contained luxury and go-anywhere, stay anywhere meanderings which is wasn't. No ball of flames, hopefully.
No worries, I will try to keep the ball of flames down as we have a guest with us.

Mrs Ted - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...




Super Slo Mo

5,370 posts

212 months

Saturday 18th August 2018
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I hired one about that big in the us a few years back. Covered California, Nevada, Utah, going into the national parks.
It was great, we loved it. The thing was easy to drive too and as you’ve an hgv licence you won’t have any issues.

The only slight thing that I didn’t really like was that the engine was a bit gutless in the lower mid range, pretty much right where you need power on the tight mountain roads.

Overall it achieved 9 mpg, which at the time was a cost equivalent of about 18-20 mpg in the U.K., which isn’t much different to what you could expect to get with a big motor home here.


oblio

5,490 posts

241 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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About 9 years ago we did 3 weeks in a similar sized RV with slide outs in Florida - Georgia - SC - Alabama - Florida. The best holiday ever...

We made our lad who was 11 or 12 at the time, keep a daily journal of our travels. We got him a disposable camera for photos and some glue to stick ticket stubs etc into it. He didnt enjoy doing it at the time but now we all look back through it and it brings back great memories smile

smile

Essel

527 posts

160 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
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We did a very similar route last year, but hired a car and did hotels (all pre booked). Looked at a motorhome, but I recall the car/hotel way worked out cheaper once you added all the costs in. Having said that, I'd love to do it in a motorhome next time, as the country is so set up for them, and you're not tied to a schedule so much.

And i'd avoid Prince George - it smells. I think its the papermills. Nice park though. wink