First outing

New To Motorhomes But when we go on holiday to a cottage say in Wales the car is loaded to the max cannot see out of the back window.
having nightmares what the motorhome will carry? its a lot bigger I am pleased it only has a small door on the side trying to make a list of what to carry/ require for our first outing next month
Sorry I think I have posted in the wrong section.

Hi Don't worry .Put what you take in the car.
Most of this is clothes.Its volume not weight in this case.

regards

Mike

Cheers Mike just had some bad news my van will not be ready till 13th next month??
has to have a MOT a valet and full service.thought I was getting it for the 1st of October 
hope the weather does not change before I get it.

Hi, Taking their time over that.  I think the weather will be colder. 
I am going to Florida, as its always warm.

regards

Mike

Taken there time you might be right.its all right for some going to Florida for the winter. I hope you have a good time I am sure you will taken the camper?

    That's taking coal to Newcastle. 


Regards

Mike

Hi Kenj, don't forget tin opener, wine bottle opener and a mat for outside to wipe your feet on.

Love your avatar, our Jack Russell looked like that 13 years ago.
We too are off to Benidorm in our Broadway in 2 weeks, hoping on 7 weeks of sunshine.

John.

Will add that to my list looks like I will not be able to see out of the back window.

Hi, there's some useful pdf downloads on the CC website, especially for those new to motorhomes (& caravans) with a handy checklist of things to take. Its way over the top, but you can use it as a starting point at least. all of the downloads can be found from this page here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Mid-October can still be perfectly OK and at least its quiet everywhere! Good luck & enjoy

Cheers John
She is now three and still points should have been a gun dog  but does not like guns runs back to the car if one is fired and if she see a gun.
Thank you Nigel will have to have a look 

Kenj.  Dont worry we use our van over the winter months the old saying comes to mind.There is no such a thing as bad weather just wrong clothing.

Shuggiegreen.
I think I will be using my van also until the novelty wears off had a bad accident at work and I have been indoors a long time now is the time to get out and get some fresh air and try and loose some weight which I have put on sitting around the house and get the dog exercised.instead of my wife getting all the exercise

Kenj. I dont think you will get fed up finding new places to see and new things to do and its great for the dog as well.I hope this is the start of the new you.

Ken...go through a day at home; what sort of things do you use to sleep, wash, cook, eat, read, drink, add and remove liquids in the van and so on. You'll be doing that in the van so will need all the basics.
It does help to have a set of everything you need kept in the van so that you don't forget something vital when you get to the stage where you can go off without months of planning.

A good rule of thumb to avoid taking too much is to try to make everything you take at least dual purpose. It is also important to know your payload and to visit a weighbridge while you are away. Each county has a list of weighbridges open to the public if you google for them.  Being overloaded or incorrectly loaded ( too much weight on the rear axle for example)  can affect your tyres and steering and have legal implications.

Remember everyone had to have a first day in their van and other motorhomers are usually eager to help if you can't work out what to do next when on a site. The handover that your dealer should do when you collect the van tells you how each system works but it is usually too much for one brain to take in and often lasts a couple of hours. I'd suggest taking a notebook with you or a voice recorder.

If the weather has turned cold next month when you collect the van then it is a good thing to drain all the water ( that the dealer should have put in to show you systems working) from the boiler, waste and fresh tanks and toilet reservoir. Leave the taps in the up ( open ) position and half way between hot and cold setting. This prevents the water freezing and cracking things and should be done between trips in winter.  Also leave all lockers and cupboard doors open inside, and the fridge open and allow maximum air movement around the inside of the van.

Enjoy !

Q

All noted I did suggest to my wife to go to a camp site about half a mile where we live and if we had forgetting anything we could walk back and get it.  she did not like the idea I wanted to go to Sandringham but there is a problem in the forrest for dogs?do not want to put my dog at risk.will probably end up going to Cromer for my first outing will have to try and get the van weighed before I set off drained the main tank as it had a funny smell and flushed it out a few times with Milton as recommended and left it empty did make the mistake of filling up with diesel there is nothing in the van yet  will buy food when I get there did not think I would have to watch the weight on the motorhome but there is so many right ups about it have bought solar panels  which is a fair weight but there will only be two adults and a dog so I think I will be OK
Thank you for the good advise.
Ken

Cromer is good, I went there a few weeks ago, well Woodhill site East Runton, lovely exercise area on the site, for the dogs where they can be off lead, easy walk along the beach to Cromer.

I travel with a full tank of diesel, full tank of fresh water, fridge full and other food, buy fresh when away as and when needed. I had plenty of weight to spare, had it weighed at a weigh bridge.


Enjoy exciting times ahead. take a note book, then you can make a note of anything you have forgotten, any thing that needs doing or repairing etc.


 I made a booklet with a page for Motor home items, pots and pans crockery cutlery  and cooking items, kitchen towels, rolls anything that stops in the van, another page for personnel items, toiletries, etc and clothes.towels,
another one for documents, cameras ,phones, books , maps, telephone numbers.etc, another one for food and cleaning materials, these are in column format, with squares across the page and the I tick off when checking before going away. I find this method works for me, going back to caravan days I have always used this method.

Happy

Kind regards,
Margaret

Many Thanks Margaret thats is where we will go. we often go to sunny honey for a day out in the car so its not to far for the first trip out my wife is a good packer alway takes things we don't want or need  joking honest  just waiting for half term to Finnish so the kids are back to school will look on the site to see if I can book a few days.just looked on bookings the only one there is Norfolk broads caravan site ??

Hi Ken, I have just checked, there are 29 sites within 5 miles of Cromer.
I would just go. Some may shut after October end.
Don't worry about weight or what you might forget this first time.
enjoy.
If I was home would come and take you.
best regards

Mike

Many Thanks Mick hope its not to hot for your winter break?
I am just looking at the Caravan club site and can only find one will have to explore.

Woodhill is not a club site, be warned  the Camping and Caravan Club site down  a lane has a narrow steep winding potholed road to it and if you read the reviews not good especially for a first outing. The Caravan Club site is in the village,
There is also Forest View, the other side of Cromer, a lovely site, has some park homes so will be open, a very good site was recommended to me .

If you go on line and Google touring sites  Norfolk you will be able to take your pick can read the reviews so at least you will know what to expect.

Good luck, how exciting for you. Keep us all posted how you get on.
Margaret

Many Thanks Margret I will keep you posted I will look at the reviews and check out before I book

Our first night in our Legend was spent outside the home of the vendor (private sale) they took us to their local pub for a meal, then we slept well in the quiet cul de sac, with electric hook up from their garage....Then we drove her home 

Our first outing was to a lovely small camp site just eight miles away (only 4, as the crow flies), with Dave driving the little car behind so we had transport to go home for anything we had forgotten (and we had!)

Thereafter, we made lists and laminated them...One each for ourselves, one for the dog and one general on for the van...Plus a separate one of things to do before setting off (like: lift the steadies, remove and stow the silver screen, lock the fridge. set the fridge to 12v, lock ALL the cupboards, close all windows and skylights, stow everything securely in the loo... etc etc

We keep a log of all trips, mileage, fuel bought etc..and on the opposite page, we list things we'd forgotten, or need, as well as jobs to be done...It makes a lovely record to look back on in your doteage, too!...Happy camping!

Cheers Swansea Jac
That is what I said to Ruth (wife) our nearest is about 1-2 miles away but she would not have any of that. Ruth is so well organised. not like me we have been going to Wales for about 23years and always look forward to going back but I think its about time we traveled about looking forward to meeting people that can give advise and tips of where to go and to avoid.