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 Topic: Motorhome Newbie advice
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16/3/2017 at 12:17pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto2DSleeper+MHs
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Joined: 10/4/2007 Diamond Member 
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Our motorhome is 5.3 m, so we fit onto a car park space. Others with equally big vehicles as yours will advise you on whether you have to pay two fees or not. Sometimes we've have to use the lorry park, but overhead gantries are the biggest problem - all East Lothian car parks beside beaches have them, for example. As do some town centre car parks; multi-storey ones are off limits - look at your own town to get an idea.
We arrive on site, leave our EHU and step & number plate to reserve the pitch & head back out. Thereafter, it's no different than driving to the site in the first place. Bikes are handy for nipping out to get morning rolls without having to pack everything away first. Our motorhome only stays put on a site all day like a caravan if we're walking or using a bus locally - into town or along a canal to a pub or up into the hills. Otherwise, we use it like a car.
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2025=3 sites, 5 nights; 2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.
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16/3/2017 at 5:59pm
Location: Dumfries
Outfit: 2022Coachman565+VIP
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Quote: Originally posted by adehslev on 16/3/2017
So after several years of caravanning we're thinking of moving onto a motorhome, so one or two stupid concerns.
Obviously apart from bikes we won't have a smaller vehicle to get out and about once arrived on site. Do people find this an issue? Is it easy to find places to park a 7m motorhome at supermarkets or places to visit. Is there a ready source of information about motorhome friendly carparks etc.
I not seen anything in the UK which compares with France for being motorhome friendly.
Any other suggestions about easing the transition would be welcome.
Thanks, and sorry for the stupid questions.
We thought that not having transport would be a minor inconvenience but eventually we began to get fed up being stuck on site with only the bikes to get about especially in colder wetter weather . Don't like buses so won't travel by public transport , we overwintered last year in Spain and hired a car but it worked out quite expensive for short term rental . We have returned to caravanning after 2 years of Motorhoming as it does not suit us especially for longer stays when abroad . We still have the Motorhome at the moment although it's been parked up for the last 6 months so not sure what to do with it
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16/3/2017 at 6:11pm
Location: Staffs Cheshire bord
Outfit: None Entered
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Ours was 6.5 metres. Parking in entered car parks was an issue for us. We just fit in a bay widthwise but that leaves no room to open the doors, also you get a ticket if you are over the length or the back overhang goes onto a footpath. Supermarkets that were not chargeable were OK. We found it best to use other transport in UK.
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Jean
Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.
The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.
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16/3/2017 at 6:28pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Various tents
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Quote: Originally posted by adehslev on 16/3/2017
...Is there a ready source of information about motorhome friendly carparks etc....
Yes, if you put "motorhome parking" or similar into your search facility of choice you should find at least a couple of useful websites.
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20/3/2017 at 4:13pm
Location: Surrey
Outfit: Peugeot Boxer Utah + Lunar Ariva
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Adehslev.
Never think your asking stupid questions not everyone knows it all and others looking in to just read could have their own queries, fears etc answered. That is what it's all about, ask...get answered..learn...teach
Great. Happy roving and be sensible and safe.
Chrissie
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Chrissie
Be Strong-Think positive.
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20/3/2017 at 6:05pm
Location: Solihull
Outfit: Bavaria I740g
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Hi
Our motorhome is 7mtrs and we can take it to most places. You just have to be prepared to park at the edge of a carpark and either reverse so the rear overhang is over grass or similar and you only take up one space or be prepared to pay for two spaces. You do have to think ahead and plan your exit in advance as car drivers will park very close to you not realising that the rear over hang will swing out wider than the path of the wheels.
As others have said bikes are useful and we converted an old child trailer to a shopping / beach trailer.
Google earth is also useful to check if planned car parks have a height barrier.
Motorhoming is a different mindset to caravanning. We holiday differently with a motorhome and rarely stay anywhere for more than few nights . set up and break down time is just a few minutes so there is much more Freedom.
Once you have motorhomed in France- you will realise you have made an excellent decision changing to a motorhome and forget all these doubts.
Guy.
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It's only an expensive hobby when it's parked on your Drive....use it, love it , live it.
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21/3/2017 at 7:11am
Location: North Wales
Outfit: Bessacarr E540
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We've both been caravanners and I was a motorhomer. We now have a 7 metre motorhome.
In the U.K. We try to find sites on bus routes or walking distance to towns. Most car parks apart from supermarkets and retail parks and the like have height barriers. We've just spent three months in France, Spain and Portugal and haven't seen a height barrier. We hired cars at great expense because we had a fixed awning so taking the motorhome out wasn't an option.
We love the motorhome, very little setting up etc. to do, easy to overnight, but a caravan is more practical if you stay on sites for any length of time. Cheaper too, no MoT, cheaper insurance, no second road tax. I'd happily change back to a caravan but my husband says he's had enough of towing.
Nora
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22/3/2017 at 6:43pm
Location: Teesside
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Was a carvanner and now have a 6.3m motorhome. As others have said, just look for parking bays to overhang grass etc. or use park and rides. Once you start using it, you'll become familiar to looking out for parking options.
I have electric bikes and a dog trailer for the bikes too for my two dogs. but we also walk or use buses too.
There are a few Aires in the UK/Scotland, hopefully more will come.
Holidaying abroad though is excellent in a motorhome, as the continent is geared up for motorhomes and offer parking with easy access to tourist areas.
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23/3/2017 at 8:22am
Location: Anywhere & Everywher
Outfit: Hymer 584
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We have a 6 mtr Hymer and we 'A frame' a car.
We have a dog and like to travel, but what probably makes the difference is-we live in our van so a car is very useful to us, not only is it transport it is also a trailer carrying all the bits & bobs whilst on the move!
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23/3/2017 at 9:21pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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We have a 7.5 metre long motorhome and once on site we it stays there. We always look for sites that are near towns and villages or are on bus or train routes. We make use of our Bus Pass which is useful in England and saves a lot of money. There are a surprising number of campsites near to transport or walking distance. Obviously UKCampsites is a good resource that coupled with Google Earth can give you a pretty accurate indication of what is around the site. Even bus stops can be clicked on to show the bus numbers and a google will bring up the timetables.
David
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