TOP TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME MOTORHOMERS

Top tips for first-time motorhomers 

It’s exciting; you’ve bought your first motorhome and are ready to hit the road. But it’s also a little bit daunting too. So here are a few tips to make your first trip out plain sailing. 

There are so many things to get to grips with when you first embark on your motorhome adventure, so just to ease the way and help you avoid the bumps, iron out the creases, and enjoy as easy and breezy a first trip as possible, here is a handy list of ‘wish I’d known that’ motorhoming tips.

 

 Getting to grips with the motorhome basics

It sounds obvious but you’ll thank yourself for familiarising yourself with the main features of your motorhome. To get you started here are some useful dos and don’ts:

·      Do read the manual for your motorhome and take time to familiarise yourself with all its main features. Better still, stay in it overnight before setting off.

·      Don’t try to figure out how your lights turn on in the dark. Locate the switch while you have daylight.

·      Do practise putting up your awning – it’s not called a divorce in a bag for nothing! This is best attempted without an inquisitive audience or too many experts chipping in.

·      Do switch on the fridge a few hours or, ideally, the night before setting off, as it will take a bit of time to get nice and cold.

·      Don’t put water in your fuel tank by accident. Make sure you know which is which (the water filler cap’s usually blue or white and the fuel filler cap’s usually black or yellow).

·      Do take a spare bottle of gas if you have room to store it properly.

·      Do check your leisure battery is working as it should and make sure you know which appliances will only work when you’re plugged into the mains.

 

 Motorhome weights and measures

Getting your head around weights and dimensions is a major milestone for the budding motorhomer. You need to be aware that there are legal weight limits for motorhomes and ensure you’re not loading your vehicle dangerously.

Check out these tips to make sure you’re doing everything as you should be:

·      Be aware of your maximum motorhome payload – that’s the maximum total weight of the vehicle (as bought) PLUS everything you’ve put into it, including YOU, and any fellow travellers. Exceeding the maximum is not only dangerous, but you’ll likely risk invalidating your motorhome insurance.

·      Make a checklist of what you need to take with you – think ‘essentials only’ but that should include a fire extinguisher, mud mats and a first aid kit.

·      Make sure you know your motorhome’s dimensions to avoid getting stuck on a narrow road or under a low bridge. 

 

 Your pre-departure checklist

You don’t want to hit the road and see a flapping hatch in your rear-view mirror or have a cupboard full of food spring open on a sharp turn.

So, when readying your motorhome, always think SCULPT. And no, this doesn’t mean getting creative with clay. It’s our handy acronym for checking your motorhome is good to go:

·      Shut it – click shut all cupboards and lockers

·      Close it – close the lid on the hob

·      Unplug it – unplug the electrical cable

·      Lock it - lock the fridge, windows, hatches and external storage box

·      Pack it – pack away the TV and the external steps

·      Turn it off – turn off the gas

 

Motorhome tips for the campsite

Once you’ve prepared your vehicle, there are some additional steps you can take at the campsite for a smooth trip. Here are a few tips for a stress-free stay:

·      Try to arrive in daylight – it makes everything so much easier

·      Fill up with water before getting settled on your pitch

·      Drive forward onto levelling chocks rather than trying to reverse onto them

·      Have an easy first-night dinner ready to take the pressure off and generally try to avoid cooking smelly food

·      Use the campsite loos and showers where you can to save on hot water and limit the number of cassette-emptying trips you have to make

·      Familiarise yourself with how to empty your loo when it’s still empty – a dry run, if you like…

·      Empty your waste water tank before leaving – most campsites will have facilities for this

 

 Defence against those first day jitters

Much like a first-time parent, you’ve got a lot to learn as a first-time motorhomer and, inevitably, you’re unlikely to get it all perfectly right. This is why it’s a good idea to have a safety net under you so when things go wrong, you’ve got protection in place.

 

 InsureMy offer specialist motorhome insurance from a range of trusted providers – lowest price guaranteed. Compare quotes and find the policy that works for you and your new travel companion.

Once you have complied with all the above the main thing to do now is ENJOY YOUR MOTORHOME ADVENTURES.

 

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