1st Motorhome!
Discussion
Best tip is to join Motorhome Fun forum, there’s over 21,000 members and loads of experience that gets shared. Ok, it’s £15 a year to subscribe but I’ve saved many times more than that by being pointed in the right direction !
You can of course look at a restricted version the site for free to see what it’s all about.
For the record, I have no financial interest in the site, just a happy/satisfied member.
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/
You can of course look at a restricted version the site for free to see what it’s all about.
For the record, I have no financial interest in the site, just a happy/satisfied member.
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/
Congrats! So exciting and I wish you many happy miles and holidays in it.
Don’t worry too much about the driving. It’s a tiddler that one!
Just take it easy - remember not to turn to soon to allow the rear of the van to come around and don’t be afraid of getting a passenger to hop out and act as banksman when reversing. Also familiarise yourself with height and width measurements. But looks to be relatively compact - presumably around 3.5t and 7-ish metres long? You shouldn’t come across too much in there way of restrictions.
Enjoy!
Don’t worry too much about the driving. It’s a tiddler that one!
Just take it easy - remember not to turn to soon to allow the rear of the van to come around and don’t be afraid of getting a passenger to hop out and act as banksman when reversing. Also familiarise yourself with height and width measurements. But looks to be relatively compact - presumably around 3.5t and 7-ish metres long? You shouldn’t come across too much in there way of restrictions.
Enjoy!
You can’t just be posting a single picture of the outside, we need to see the inside layout too!
As for driving, I find ours quite easy but there are a couple things to be wary of - if there’s a big overhang at the back then as you turn one direction it will stick out on the opposite side. Also, given the width, you’ll be a bit further over to the right than you’re used to on the road so watch a natural inclination to move left when facing oncoming traffic as your nearside will be scraping the hedge/wall/parked vehicles. With a van being higher too again watch being too far left - trees don’t grow dead vertical, and also posts overhang too so whilst you might have clearance at ground level your roof might be mighty close to whatever you’re trying to avoid.
Finally I found I use my mirrors a lot more than with ‘normal’ driving as it helps massively with the increased width. Oh, nearly forgot, as you’re touring and not rushing to a meeting or sales call there’s no hurry so if you think that gap might be a bit narrow then wait for the other vehicle to pass so the gap’s wide enough, it’s not a race so wait until your happy before proceeding.
Good luck!
As for driving, I find ours quite easy but there are a couple things to be wary of - if there’s a big overhang at the back then as you turn one direction it will stick out on the opposite side. Also, given the width, you’ll be a bit further over to the right than you’re used to on the road so watch a natural inclination to move left when facing oncoming traffic as your nearside will be scraping the hedge/wall/parked vehicles. With a van being higher too again watch being too far left - trees don’t grow dead vertical, and also posts overhang too so whilst you might have clearance at ground level your roof might be mighty close to whatever you’re trying to avoid.
Finally I found I use my mirrors a lot more than with ‘normal’ driving as it helps massively with the increased width. Oh, nearly forgot, as you’re touring and not rushing to a meeting or sales call there’s no hurry so if you think that gap might be a bit narrow then wait for the other vehicle to pass so the gap’s wide enough, it’s not a race so wait until your happy before proceeding.
Good luck!
Lovely van. From the photo it looks like it’s a 494, so about 7.4m long?
Ours is that length and it’s fine; you just have to remember the rear overhang is quite big and bear this in mind when negotiating junctions, parking spaces etc. Print a piece of card with the overall length, height and width (inc mirrors!) and attach it to your sunvisor for quick reference when you are negotiating narrow gaps or restricted spaces is also a good idea.
Make sure you’ve got adequate security measures too. Motorhomes are attractive to the undesirables and Transits have a reputation for poor security (not sure about your model). We fitted after-market replacement door locks and a locking OBD port box to our Mk 7 Transit, and still use a Clutch Claw and Disklok on our current van. We’ve also got a Vanbitz Growler alarm (Outsmart The Thief is also a very good system).
Hope this doesn’t put you off; enjoy your adventures in your new toy
Ours is that length and it’s fine; you just have to remember the rear overhang is quite big and bear this in mind when negotiating junctions, parking spaces etc. Print a piece of card with the overall length, height and width (inc mirrors!) and attach it to your sunvisor for quick reference when you are negotiating narrow gaps or restricted spaces is also a good idea.
Make sure you’ve got adequate security measures too. Motorhomes are attractive to the undesirables and Transits have a reputation for poor security (not sure about your model). We fitted after-market replacement door locks and a locking OBD port box to our Mk 7 Transit, and still use a Clutch Claw and Disklok on our current van. We’ve also got a Vanbitz Growler alarm (Outsmart The Thief is also a very good system).
Hope this doesn’t put you off; enjoy your adventures in your new toy
Antony Moxey said:
You can’t just be posting a single picture of the outside, we need to see the inside layout too!
As for driving, I find ours quite easy but there are a couple things to be wary of - if there’s a big overhang at the back then as you turn one direction it will stick out on the opposite side. Also, given the width, you’ll be a bit further over to the right than you’re used to on the road so watch a natural inclination to move left when facing oncoming traffic as your nearside will be scraping the hedge/wall/parked vehicles. With a van being higher too again watch being too far left - trees don’t grow dead vertical, and also posts overhang too so whilst you might have clearance at ground level your roof might be mighty close to whatever you’re trying to avoid.
Finally I found I use my mirrors a lot more than with ‘normal’ driving as it helps massively with the increased width. Oh, nearly forgot, as you’re touring and not rushing to a meeting or sales call there’s no hurry so if you think that gap might be a bit narrow then wait for the other vehicle to pass so the gap’s wide enough, it’s not a race so wait until your happy before proceeding.
Good luck!
Thanks that’s all great advice. Here are some more pictures.As for driving, I find ours quite easy but there are a couple things to be wary of - if there’s a big overhang at the back then as you turn one direction it will stick out on the opposite side. Also, given the width, you’ll be a bit further over to the right than you’re used to on the road so watch a natural inclination to move left when facing oncoming traffic as your nearside will be scraping the hedge/wall/parked vehicles. With a van being higher too again watch being too far left - trees don’t grow dead vertical, and also posts overhang too so whilst you might have clearance at ground level your roof might be mighty close to whatever you’re trying to avoid.
Finally I found I use my mirrors a lot more than with ‘normal’ driving as it helps massively with the increased width. Oh, nearly forgot, as you’re touring and not rushing to a meeting or sales call there’s no hurry so if you think that gap might be a bit narrow then wait for the other vehicle to pass so the gap’s wide enough, it’s not a race so wait until your happy before proceeding.
Good luck!
Is that a wet room with the toilet?
Girlfriend and I were looking at some in a dealers in Kent at the weekend. S/H 2 to 3 year old models but still looking at £50/60k. Not affordable for us but some lovely stuff, nice design.
She was definitely only interested in separate toilets and showers though. Funny as she only let me into the dealers to please me, she had no interest at all but suddenly she was rushing around comparing models and making a shortlist
Girlfriend and I were looking at some in a dealers in Kent at the weekend. S/H 2 to 3 year old models but still looking at £50/60k. Not affordable for us but some lovely stuff, nice design.
She was definitely only interested in separate toilets and showers though. Funny as she only let me into the dealers to please me, she had no interest at all but suddenly she was rushing around comparing models and making a shortlist
Anthony Micallef said:
Spuffington said:
Lovely internal layout.
What’s with the partial false floor in the toilet area though?
I’m not sure why it’s like that What’s with the partial false floor in the toilet area though?
As an aside, what is the cost of insuring a motor home?
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