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Hello and a happy new year to you all. Well we have finally converted to a house on wheels after a few years caravaning.

Us being Paul, Nikki- George 9 and Harley 7.

We have wanted a motorhome for as many years as I can remember and have splashed out on a 2003 Carrioca 5 model (fixed end bunks). I have to say biasedly that it is really mint with only 6k miles and 1 owner who was next to tears when we drove off in her early New years eve.

We have been like big kids since we knew we would be buying. I hope the members on here are as helpfull as the guys in the caravaning section, and I am sure that is the case.

We particualy liked going abroad with our caravan and plan to do some serious touring with our MH.

Are there any other young families with MHs using this site? and just as a matter of interest any wild campers out there?

Paul

Sounds absolutely fantastic!

Sounds like a real bargain.  Roll on the better weather so we can get some serious touring done.

Look forward to seeing some pics of your new addition.

What a brilliant way to start the New Year Paul. Good luck to you and the family and many miles of happiness to you all.

Don

Hope you have loads of happy outings in your new MH and don't forget to wave, we are as friendly on the road as we are on here.

We wild camp all the time, just arrived home after spending the new year in Scotland and not a site insight ( secuse the pun ) Went up last Friday and just arrived home ( as work in morn ). We have had no problem wildcamping as long as you leave where you stayed the same as you found it. The other thing is  IF IN DOUGHT just ask people really don't mind if you ask. We find Forestry commission picnic sites are ok after the day trippers have left. The rangers I have spoken to say that by us being there stops any vandalisum..One last thinglorry drivers are a great source of stop-over places they are a friendly bunch to

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOURSELVES AND ALL ON HERE

We've owned a Carioca 656 for about 18 months. It's the later version of the Carioca 5 with pretty much the same bunk bed layout. We've found it quite exceptional so far and our kids (14 year old girl and 9 year old boy) very much enjoy going away in it.

We've used it all year round and also for the occasional wild camp - usually either for overnighting to break long drives or proper wild camping on hillwalking and mountainbiking trips.

We've been round most of Scotland (including all the way up the west coast, John O'Groats and over to Orkney) plus the lakes and other parts of the north of England several times. We've not been overseas with it yet but a Germany & possibly Italy trip is in the planning stage for this summer.

The layout works very well as the kids each have plenty of space in their own bunk area. The kitchen and washroom layouts are also good (the shower is perfectly useable). The 2.0JTD is a little on the underpowered side for the size of van although it will cruise at 70mph on the motorway (until you come to a hill!) and it's managed the mountain roads in Scotland fine - we're thinking about getting it chipped before this summers overseas trip though.

BTW you did very well to find a decent used van with permanent bunk beds as they seemed like hens teeth when we were looking so we eventually bought new. Enjoy your purchase as I'm sure you'll have great fun in it.

Thanks Steve and others for your replies.

Looking at your gallery steve yours looks the same as mine!

Looks nice in Glenco, Lovely part of the world. I am hoping to visit north of Scotland for our first trip in End of Feb. (weather permiting).

As for the bunk beds, I think that they will be for my wife and I as the kids seem pretty excited about pretending to be lorry drivers and sleep in the overhead cab bed!!

On the short journeys that we have done thus far. I would to agree that the engine unit is underpowered for such a big van,  but didn't realise a chip was available but anyhow lifes not a race and cruising at 60-70mph has got to be better than traveling through France with a caravan behind you worrying about the wind.

"Looking at your gallery steve yours looks the same as mine!"

I think they are almost exactly the same other than the change in model numbers and some graphics etc.

The north of Scotland should be interesting(!) in Feb, however there does seem to be a shortage of open camp sites in the far north (and north-west in particular) at this time of year so you might have to wild camp. The insulation on these vans seems pretty good and ours has always been warm and toastie in winter.

The standard motor is fine most of the time - I don't want to go all that fast anyway as fuel consumption does drop a fair bit the faster you go as these things aren't particularily aerodynamic. The reason I'd like a bit more power though is for maintaining speed on motorway inclines and to have a bit more overtaking punch. I don't tend to spend all that much time on motorways but when I have made longer trips using them (including a couple of overnight drives down to the Great Yarmouth area). This summer we're planning a trip to revisit the Munich area where we used to live, and that's going to mean trips on the way there and on the way back of over 1000 miles, almost all on motorways.

I've had some correspondence with the folks at www.turboboost.co.uk in Lancaster after seeing some recommendations on here. They can do a basic chip upgrade (approx. 15% more power, £450, 4-5 hours to fit) or a more comprehensive one including an intercooler (approx 30% more power, £995, full day to fit). We're considering the one with the intercooler but haven't decided for definite.

Hi paul,

Congratulations on your new aquisition, I'm sure you'll absolutely love every minute you spend in it.

We wild-camp mostly and only generally use sites for topping up water, emptying chemi-loo e.t.c. when on longer trips. This would usually be every third night, though occasionally we will use a site for just one or two nights if it happens to prove more convenient at the time.

Happy motorhoming

Phil