With so many campsites to visit in your motorhome, you’ll be tempted to get away at every given opportunity and tour the length of the breadth of the UK in your home on wheels. Think carefully if you are new to motorhome ownership though, those first few trips can be a challenge, but you will soon become a bit of an expert when it comes to travelling, and everything will then be second-nature.
When you are planning that first eventful trip in your motorhome, it’s important to get the basics right as you choose places to rest overnight. To get you started on the right foot, we suggest taking this plan of action to make the journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Take Time Planning Your Route
Thanks to satellite navigation, it’s easy to become a little lazy and merely rely on electronic directions when you are driving to a destination. You have to remember that motorhomes are larger than average cars, and routes your humble hatchback might be able to navigate with ease could be more of a challenge for a recreational vehicle. When choosing campsites, always look at maps and check with the campsites you have chosen to see if they recommend a motorhome-friendly route. Sat-navs are useful, but they can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help for larger vehicles. Read guides to campsites and see what they say about routes for motorhome and caravan owners. You can always email the site or phone them in person if you have any doubts to find the best route for access.
Quick checklist:
- Plan the route in advance
- Check maps
- Don’t rely on sat-navs
- Look for friendly routes for larger vehicles
- Speak to the campsite in person if you need to
Find the perfect pitch
Getting to a campsite in one piece is one thing. Finding the ideal pitch once you are there is a totally different story. Most seasoned motorhome owners find this easy, and they are experts when it comes to arriving and setting up on-site. Depending on how busy the site is, consider this if you have a choice of pitches:
How far are the facilities?
When it comes to facilities including amenities such as toilet or shower blocks, you might have a different stance depending on your personal feelings. If you prefer to use public loos, do you really want to be parked far away from them and have a massive walk in the middle of the night? Some people prefer to park quite close to the amenities, but others prefer a quieter location where there are fewer people walking to and from the facilities.
Are you exposed to the elements?
Certain sites leave you totally exposed to the elements and wind, rain and everything else that Mother Nature can throw at you will have an impact on your motorhome break. Other sites have natural hedges and shrubs acting as windbreaks, so you might want to park close to them to provide shelter during your stay. Be wary of parking close to trees though. Not only can this lead to birds leaving deposits on your motorhome or trees dropping sap, if the weather takes a turn for the worse and the wind picks up, you could be at risk from falling branches.
Is the ground level and as dry as possible?
Try to park on level ground where possible to save you having to use a ramp under the wheels. This might not be possible depending on the site in question but it can be useful if this is an option and you have a choice of pitches. Also, make sure the pitch you choose doesn’t act as a harvest for rainwater. If your pitch still looks damp but other pitches look dry, you might have a problem when it rains due to water flowing over the land. This might cause complications, especially if you plan on using an awning.
You’ll soon be an expert!
Once you have used your motorhome a few times and stayed at a variety of campsites you’ll be a bit of an expert at planning the route and setting up on-site. Should you require any type of repair on your motorhome before you set off on a break, don’t hesitate to contact us here at DMR Motorhome Body Repair or call us today on 01302 711377.
