Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go
    The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go
    The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go
    Ebook161 pages1 hour

    The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go

    By Ali Kingston

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    This book could have an alternative sub-title - 'What They Wish They'd Known, Before They Set Off' because when Ali and Mike Kingston left the UK in their first motorhome, with the intention of living in it full-time they didn't have any of the information in this book. They just chucked what they thought they needed into the back and learned what to do as they went along. Now with 12 years, 4 motorhomes, 40 countries on 4 continents and 130 000 miles behind them, they have clocked up a ton of learned experiences and the time has come to share with you.

    Ali has written this book to show anyone interested in a motorhome what it is like to own one and live in it. She has included everything she can think of, based on what she's done, and where she's been with Mike. She thought that the technical stuff could be a bit dull and has livened it up with forty personal photographs and a few anecdotes gathered during their years on the road.

    Subjects covered include; choosing a motorhome, everyday life, safety and security, where to stay, full-time living, how to manage on a budget and some coping strategies for sharing a confined space with a life partner. She has included bullet point lists to help you prioritise the important parts in life and her ideas inspire the uncertain to leave the rat race and live the dream.

    If you're interested in motorhomes for any reason; a friend may own one, you may be thinking of renting or buying one for a holiday or a road trip. Even if you're knowledgeable about motorhomes, you will still pick up useful tips.

    There are over 90 web links included for continued research, you don't even need to leave your armchair to find out more.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAli Kingston
    Release dateOct 24, 2014
    ISBN9780992961237
    The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go
    Author

    Ali Kingston

    Ali Kingston has spent the past twelve years travelling the world with her husband Mike in their motorhome, blogging about their experience along the way on their website. They have lived in four motorhomes, each one a different type. Trips have taken them to the USA, Mexico and Canada, on two separate occasions. For the first visit they imported their British vehicle into the States on a Temporary Import Bond. The second time they purchased a Recreational Vehicle (RV) in Florida. In Europe they have had three motorhomes and currently live full time in a van conversion, the smallest of all. Trips have taken them beyond Europe to Morocco, Turkey, Belarus and Russia. Their only problem is trying to decide where to go next.The best way to find out the latest news or if you wish to make contact is through her website, www.motorhomelifers.co.uk

    Related to The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go

    Related ebooks

    Outdoors For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Of Light And Space

      Jun 25, 2023

      Of Light And Space
      4 min read

    • Article

      October News

      Sep 9, 2021

      October News
      2 min read

    • Article

      Tom Cunliffe

      Aug 27, 2021

      Tom Cunliffe
      5 min read

    • Article

      High Flyer

      Aug 4, 2022

      High Flyer
      8 min read

    • Article

      Try Before YOU BUY

      Aug 8, 2023

      Try Before YOU BUY
      1 min read

    • Article

      Wild Ways

      Aug 4, 2021

      Wild Ways
      1 min read

    • Article

      Fast Forward

      Jul 18, 2023

      I was just a kid riding shotgun in the family Egg Harbor when I was introduced to the world of marine electronics. To me the red blobs dancing on the enormous radar looked like a Rorschach test or a bad version of Pac-Man. On my boat today, on the ri

      3 min read

    • Article

      Working to Wander

      Apr 22, 2022

      Working to Wander
      3 min read

    • Article

      Adventure Motorcycling Handbook

      Nov 17, 2020

      Adventure Motorcycling Handbook
      2 min read

    • Article

      When It Gets Bumpy

      Oct 28, 2022

      When It Gets Bumpy
      10 min read

    • Article

      I Wish I Knew What Alpha And Beta Were, But I’m Too Embarrassed To Ask

      Aug 12, 2022

      Alpha is the amount of value an investor adds or takes away from an investment portfolio. In other words, it measures how their stock- or asset-picking skills affect the portfolio, above and beyond any returns that are simply down to what you’d expec

      1 min read

    • Article

      First Test X-yachts X43

      Jul 20, 2023

      First Test X-yachts X43
      10 min read

    • Article

      Leader Of The Pack

      Apr 13, 2021

      Leader Of The Pack
      4 min read

    • Article

      Photo Of The Year

      Jun 1, 2023

      Photo Of The Year
      2 min read

    • Article

      Binoculars 101

      Apr 13, 2021

      Binoculars 101
      4 min read

    • Article

      Time To Go Shopping In France

      Sep 30, 2022

      At the rate French investors are moving into the UK, Eurostar will soon have to increase the number of its trains between London and Paris. Last week, Schneider Electrical agreed to buy Cambridge-based industrial software company Aveva, one of the fe

      3 min read

    • Article

      How To Tie The F-Fly

      Nov 18, 2021

      How To Tie The F-Fly
      3 min read

    • Article

      Some Like it HOT

      Feb 6, 2024

      Some Like it HOT
      4 min read

    • Article

      The C8 Corvette is the Best Car I’ve Ever Driven

      Nov 5, 2021

      Editor-in-Chief @john.mcgann I was afraid to drive the 2021 Corvette after it was dropped off at the warehome. Not because I feared it’s power or performance potential, but rather, I was afraid I wouldn’t like it. After more than a year writing about

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Best Deal In Rimfire

      Oct 15, 2020

      The Best Deal In Rimfire
      9 min read

    • Article

      Welcome

      Sep 16, 2022

      The news over recent weeks has focused the UK water companies’ seeming willingness to pump as much sewage into the sea around the coast as they can get away with in the pursuit of higher profits for their shareholders. Faeces, sanitary products and c

      3 min read

    • Article

      More Tales Of Ball Lightning

      Feb 24, 2022

      More Tales Of Ball Lightning
      5 min read

    • Article

      Fatal Boat Capsize MAIB Report

      Nov 25, 2021

      Fatal Boat Capsize MAIB Report
      1 min read

    • Article

      Seakeeper Ride Test and Review

      Aug 23, 2022

      Seakeeper Ride Test and Review
      6 min read

    • Article

      Smiles Per Gallon?

      Aug 2, 2023

      Smiles Per Gallon?
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Motorhome...What You Need to Know, Before You Go - Ali Kingston

      The Motorhome...

      What You Need To Know, Before You Go

      Table of Contents

      Copyright Notice

      Introduction

      Chapter 1 Choosing a Motorhome

      Chapter 2 Everyday Essentials

      Chapter 3 Safety and Security

      Chapter 4 Where to Stay

      Chapter 5 Full-Timing

      Chapter 6 Budget

      Chapter 7 Friendship and Family

      Chapter 8 Further Afield

      Where is Home?

      Conclusion

      About the Author

      Keep in Touch With Ali

      Web Links

      Acknowledgements

      E-Book Disclaimer

      The Motorhome...

      What You Need to Know,

      Before You Go

      Published by Ali Kingston at Smashwords

      Text and Images Copyright 2014 Ali Kingston

      All Rights Reserved

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Keep in Touch With Ali

      Check the website www.motorhomelifers.co.uk for updates; or choose your favourite way to follow:

      •Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorhomelifer

      •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Motorhomelifers

      •Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/motorhomelifers

      •LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/motorhomelifer

      •Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+AliKingston/posts

      Introduction

      •Chapter One. I explain the types of motorhome and how to choose one to fit your needs. You have worked hard to be able to afford this expensive investment and don't want regrets if you have made the wrong decision.

      •Chapter Two. Information for everyday living. This chapter covers aspects of life we take for granted at home, such as how to obtain fresh water, deal with waste and cope with temperature fluctuations. Utilities, such as water, electricity and gas can be a limited resource when you're away.

      •Chapter Three. Safety and security issues. It's not all doom and gloom but you need to be aware of some hazards and pitfalls. Learn how not to become a victim of an opportunistic crime.

      •Chapter Four. Save time while you're away with guidance on where to stay and how to find suitable stop-over spots.

      •Chapter Five. You may have planned to 'live the dream' for many years, but not spent extended periods of time up close and personal with your life partner. Gain insight into relationship management on the road.

      •Chapter Six. How do you know how much it all costs to live full-time in a motorhome? To help point you in the right direction find out how we work out the finances.

      •Chapter Seven. Keeping in touch with loved ones on a long trip away is a necessity. Loneliness could become a real issue and I share some communication methods.

      •Chapter Eight. A few tips if going beyond European borders.

      This book should be used as a general guide, not an exhaustive 'how to' manual. To help you with further research I have provided over 90 hyperlinks throughout the text to external websites. If you're not online while reading this, I have listed them in alphabetical order after the acknowledgements at the end. This will enable you to search from your browser. I have chosen these sites because I have found them useful for our research. They aren't recommendations for products or services.

      When we set off on our first adventure, we chucked what we thought we needed into the back of our new motorhome and set off, then we learnt through experience. I have written this book to help fellow motorhomers on their journey. At times our learning curve was steep, and by sharing some of our anecdotes, I hope you can avoid some mishaps. Please bear in mind that the information doesn't constitute advice and is given for guidance and in good faith.

      This book may mark a new beginning, or could put you off motorhomes entirely and save you a considerable amount of expense and heartache. Then you can get on with life and enjoy your home comforts. Who knows how you will feel? This will give you an idea, so what are you waiting for? Put your feet up and get reading. This is a window into our world.

      Chapter 1

      Choosing a Motorhome

      I recently met a young couple on a campsite who had borrowed their friends' campervan. I was struck by how thrilled they were with their overnight accommodation. The owner had thoughtfully stocked the cupboards with snacks, treats and a bottle of bubbly, which must have enhanced the sense of occasion but their response to their campervan almost had a childlike air of innocence. They couldn't believe that everything they needed was with them, or that it was so warm, dry and comfortable compared to a tent, which was what they were used to. On the flip-side I have also chatted to those who find our nomadic ways confusing because they cannot believe anyone in their right minds would even consider living in a metal box.

      If the delighted couple went on to choose a motorhome they would probably find it all quite bewildering, as there are several types available with endless styles, shapes and sizes to suit all tastes and budgets. Once you know some of the jargon and identify what your needs are, making a choice becomes easier.

      When we bought our first motorhome, my husband Mike made the decision on what would be best for us. He had owned a caravan when his children were young, and although they aren't exactly the same, there are many similarities, so I thought he was well qualified. When he did the research my only stipulation was that I didn't want to be cold while we were away. My ideal winter would be to crawl into a nice warm airing cupboard at the end of October. It would be stocked with clean, fresh smelling laundry and I could sleep there until the beginning of March when I would be ready to return to the real world for the spring. Clearly, this fantasy is unattainable and a solution is to head for a milder climate during these months. What better way than with mobile accommodation?

      The spell checker underlines motorhome in angry red, as though motor and home shouldn't be combined into one word. As it provides a little home on wheels, I think they go together perfectly. There aren't many words for motorhome. I looked up the DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency) definition and found that they refer to one as motor caravan, motorhome, campervan and camper van. In magazines and reference books you may notice this abbreviated to 'van. The apostrophe denotes the missing 'cara' before van. This ensures that the reader doesn't get confused with commercial vans. I have seen the abbreviation 'moho' used, which has a catchy ring to it and makes a change from formal sounding terms.

      Owners often christen their vehicle. Our friends, Jon and Linda, have a car, tandem and motorhome and each one has a name. When our motorhome was new they challenged us to choose a name, but how could we come up with anything as good as Tilly, Taffy or Pumpkin? The colour of our van is listed as Pearlescent Grey by Citroen. This must be a naughty fifty-first shade of grey because the spell checker picks up on Pearlescent as well. Anyway, I shortened it and created the girl's name, Pearl. However, the only people who call her Pearl are Jon and Linda and we still refer to her as the van or the motorhome.

      Coachbuilt Motorhome

      The living accommodation on this type of motorhome is bonded onto the chassis of the vehicle and this is done at a separate manufacturing facility. In Europe the engine suppliers include Ford, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen, MAN, Iveco, Volkswagen and Mercedes. There are many different configurations for the layout of the living area. There may be bunk beds for children, a garage to store a scooter or a car. We once saw one at the Düsseldorf Show in Germany with a built in sauna.

      'A' Class Motorhome

      The motorhome is built around the chassis, which is integral to the vehicle and so you don't see a separate cab. Some of these are big and look like a coach from the outside. If you can afford one of the large ones you must have the funds to maintain and run it. Spare parts, servicing and maintenance are all more expensive and because they have a big powerful engine they use a lot of fuel. I have included this link to a photo of a high end Carthago because this model has a picture of a car driving up into it and I think this demonstrates the 'sky's the limit' point. Most European companies manufacture a full range of motorhomes.

      The following picture, is of an 'A' Class motorhome. It belongs to friends of ours, Jackie and Bill Payne. I think it should have a sign on it saying 'I'll take you to the Magical Kingdom'. If your e-reader is in greyscale, you can see this photo in colour on our website and you'll see what I mean.

      You may see American 'A' Class motorhomes, imported from the USA and registered in Britain when they arrive. When we owned an American 'A' Class our consumption was 10-14 mpg (miles per gallon), but the European manufacturers advertise the new ones at 18-24 mpg.

      An American motorhome is sometimes referred to as a Winnebago. This is a trade name that has become generic, similar to a Hoover which should correctly be called a vacuum cleaner, but we generally refer to one

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1