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Subject Topic: New motorhome a couple of questions Post Reply Post New Topic
Persondixie12215
16/1/2018 at 10:55pm
 Location: Plymouth
 Outfit: Rollerteam t-line 590 View dixie12215's Profile View Profile   Reply to dixie12215 Reply   Quote dixie12215 Quote  
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Hi, I’m picking up a rollerteam t-line 590 at the weekend.
1. I used a Ariel tied to the jockey wheel on the caravan. Now I’m looking for a 12 volt tv and a new Ariel. Any recommendations?
2. Apart from gas bottles and hoses anything worth keeping from the caravan?
3. When on site if you aren’t on a serviced pitch what’s the best way to fill and empty your water tanks?
4 Would anyone recommend drive away awnings?
Many thanks Dixie.


PersonGreg M
17/1/2018 at 4:27am
 Location: South Wales
 Outfit: Elddis Majestic 155 View Greg M's Profile View Profile   Reply to Greg M Reply   Quote Greg M Quote  
Joined: 27/10/2003

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Hi Dixie,
Some people keep their waste water containers from a caravan but do take up valuable space.
We use a 5 litre water bottle to drain water into.We have a plastic watering can(just for filling) to top up the tank.
A couple of those blue lightweight hoses may put you in reach of a tap.
Some people unhook from the EHU and drive over to the ever increasing motorhome serice points.
Obviously you can use your old cooking and eating utensils in the van.
Can't help with the 12 volt tv sorry,we just use a 240v and enjoy the peace when we can't use it.
I would use the van a bit before you think of a driveaway awning, we have never found the need for one but my brother finds his invaluable. It really depends how you intend to use the van.
Might be worth going through your old van with a tooth comb before you get rid of it.I know lots of people who in their excitement of swapping units have left club membership cards,and other important papers in the one they are getting rid of.
Hope you have many happy times in your motorhome.
Regards,
Greg


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Growing old is not for sissies


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Personbadger54
17/1/2018 at 8:13am
 Location: kent
 Outfit: Adria Twin 640 SPX View badger54's Profile View Profile   Reply to badger54 Reply   Quote badger54 Quote  
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I get the impression that most MH`ers, and I am one of them, tend not to spend more than 4 or 5 days on any particular site - - it is much more of a touring holiday than with a caravan.
Because of this the need to be constantly filling water and emptying waste doesn`t become an issue, most sites have a area for MH`s to dump grey water and we just do that when we leave a site, and fill the fresh water tank then or on arrival at the next site. We also use the site washing up and shower facilities, so our tanks will easily last 4 or 5 days without needing to be filled or emptied.

When we bought our previous MH, it included a drive-away awning which we never ever used - - far too much faffing about. We have a Fiamma wind-out awning and that is perfect for the job, in all honestly it is extremely rare to see a MH with a full, drive-away awning attached. The great thing about a MH holiday is that when we arrive on -site it takes us about 15 minutes to have everything in place and the kettle on, and the same to be packed up and ready to go - - I have watched so many caravanners taking hours setting up and breaking down their pitches.


Personbadger54
17/1/2018 at 8:14am
 Location: kent
 Outfit: Adria Twin 640 SPX View badger54's Profile View Profile   Reply to badger54 Reply   Quote badger54 Quote  
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This is the TV we have in our van, it works off 12 or 240 volts and has built-in DVD player. I can`t reccommend an aerial as we only really bought it to watch a DVD if we are sitting inside on a wet night.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010B879ZO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I forgot to say, enjoy your new toy.

Post last edited on 17/01/2018 09:11:47


Personpepe63
17/1/2018 at 9:28am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Toyota Granvia (Wellhouse) View pepe63's Profile View Profile   Reply to pepe63 Reply   Quote pepe63 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by dixie12215 on 16/1/2018

2. Apart from gas bottles and hoses anything worth keeping from the caravan?
3. When on site if you aren’t on a serviced pitch what’s the best way to fill and empty your water tanks?
4 Would anyone recommend drive away awnings?
Many thanks Dixie.


Hi
2.Any stuff that is obviously "caravan specific" I'd probably let go with the caravan(or sell separately) but other more generic stuff -leads? levelling wedges? water/waste containers?- I'd keep for now.
(having said all that, I tend to keep stuff "just in case"..so I end up with sheds and an attic full of stuff I couldn't possibly live without (even though I'd forgotten it was there! )

3. Other than moving the MH to a "service point"-aka tap and drain-(a lot of which aren't always set up for MHs anyway), I'd just look at topping up via suitable container and leaving the waste tap open and have it feeding into another container(left over from the caravan kit?).That's assuming you'll have somewhere to store them when traveling..

4. No!..not yet anyway . My advice would be to wait to see how you end up using the van before you shell out on one. Many driveaway awnings(and wind out canopy-"Safari Rooms")get very little use. (we bought a drive-away not long after we'd bought our first van but it got sold without ever being using in anger).

Edit-
Apologies to Greg and Badger...
For some reason I didn't see your posts before I posted!?
(in fact, I'm sure there was only one other post, by someone called deb?..maybe two threads been edited to one?.. Ah! no, thanks to Lorfal's post, I see what I've done now...I'd read the other one, but somehow(and for some reason)I had answered this one?!?



Post last edited on 17/01/2018 11:44:06


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PersonNicepix
17/1/2018 at 12:07pm
 Location: Charente France
 Outfit: Burstner T-Star 695 View Nicepix's Profile View Profile   Reply to Nicepix Reply   Quote Nicepix Quote  
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Now that you are a snail and no longer a shed puller I'd recommend a flat hose on a reel with a few different tap adapters as you can never be sure what type of tap you might find.

Don't bother with the waste tanks. Just empty the van every two or three days on site or if you are abroad at one of the many pump & dump installations. The two of us could do three days wild camping (including shower on board) before having to pump & dump. We had a nautical toilet so no need for the walk of shame every morning.

Also, a long electrical cable with the motorhome type adapter so you can hook up to the mains. As previously suggested; levelling ramps, and we also take a few flat wooden boards of different thickness to pop under the wheels if the ground is soft.

Wind out awning is the way to go for a motor home. Simple and practical.Any motorhome dealer will be able to fit you an awning and / or roof aerial or look on youtube for DIY installation advice.

Hope that you enjoy it.

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If I had known how busy retirement would be, I'd have carried on working.


Personreuben
17/1/2018 at 1:14pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Nissan Elgrand Camper View reuben's Profile View Profile   Reply to reuben Reply   Quote reuben Quote  
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I use my campervan for fishing trips a few times a year & a driveaway awning is useful then for keeping rods etc in - no room in the van. I don’t use it otherwise. Rather than a wind out job we rig a tarp from the pop up roof to couple of extending awning poles - takes 5 mins & cost less than £25.

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Carpe Cerevisi


Personfireworks
17/1/2018 at 3:06pm
 Location: Mansfield Notts
 Outfit: Avondale Dart View fireworks's Profile View Profile   Reply to fireworks Reply   Quote fireworks Quote  
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Our motorhome came without an aerial so we bought a magnetic one and simply glued a large washer onto the fibre glass roof to mount it on. We get great reception in most parts of the country.

Similar type to this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Truck-Motorhome-Digital-TV-Freeview-Roof-Aerial-Magn........

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Janet & John


PersonFiona W
17/1/2018 at 3:40pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
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Your MH may have gas bottles already. The previous owners may have moved to a MH with an LPG tank slung below.
We have a small grey water canister & used Velcro to attach the MH number plate. We leave it behind to reserve the pitch when you head off for the day. It's surprising how many folk think you have moved on & left your EHU cable behind by mistake. (Leave it unplugged at the stanchion end). Not every site has a drive-over drain, especially the smaller ones, or Temporary Holiday Sites or CSs.
You can fill your water tank with a jug but it takes a long time. A hose is much quicker. Leave your keys in the water cap - how many caps have we seen left beside the tap...
Remember that if you have the full awning, it's adding weight & there's a limit to what weight you can be, legally.
Enjoy your new toy!

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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.


Persondixie12215
17/1/2018 at 7:03pm
 Location: Plymouth
 Outfit: Rollerteam t-line 590 View dixie12215's Profile View Profile   Reply to dixie12215 Reply   Quote dixie12215 Quote  
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Thank you all very much for your excellent and informative reply’s. Cheers, Dixie


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Personchris007007
17/1/2018 at 7:49pm
 Location: lancashire
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We have a Finlux tv/DVD which is 12v and use a bucket for emptying the waste tank and watering can for filling if there's no tap nearby to connect our hose. Aerial wise an amplified roof mounted one


Personmotorhomeguy
18/1/2018 at 8:35am
 Location: Solihull
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Hi,

The two most useful bits of kit we have are a big watering can and a Fiamma waste roll.
Even if we are using aires in France and moving (fairly) regularly part of the morning routine is to fill the water tank (watering can) and empty the waste (waste roll) this often beats the queue for the service point and is far less hassle than winding the awning in and securing everything if on site just to drive a few metres to the service point.

We have a drive away awning but rarely use it. Our light weight Lilly pad wind blockers are far more useful.

I find our coil type water hose is useful and takes up little space. - you need to factor that the tap will often be on the wrong side of the van at service points and plan accordingly - and always carry a spare tap connector (both the tap part and the hose part).

Tv wise we first had a fitted status tv Ariel but have upgraded to satellite.
We also have a refillable gaslow system which are expensive but very convenient. If you change your van the system can be transferred for about £100).

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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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