June 2022
Written by Carlene
Trust me – Must read! You can thank us later 😉
First time in a Motorhome? We’ve done this especially for you. We’ve compiled a list of everything we wish we had done or known on our first outing. Because we’ve all been there.
Read on to find out what your fellow Motorhomers suggest.
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Top Tip! Do a practice run
The most suggested tip, is to use it first. Spend a night on a local campsite, or even if it’s on your driveway at home. That way you will know if you have missed anything (like that corkscrew!) or you need to buy anything additional. Its much better to find out you need a warmer blanket if it’s on your driveway than 200 miles up the Country!
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Next up – Rattles!
And by rattles, I mean it may drive you crazy if something in the cupboard is rattling. Most Motorhomes come with great storage and things are secured nice and tightly in the cupboards, but factor in a stop for sound-proofing just in case. Take spare tea towels, kitchen roll or non-slip mats in case you need them. Gaffa Tape and WD40 can also be your friend. “If it moves and it shouldn’t = Gaffa Tape. If it’s not moving and it should = WD40!” Can’t steer far wrong with that one.
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Pre-take-off Checklist – Essential
The main things to remember before taking off and swinging round the corners, is to make sure the fridge door and cutlery drawer is closed. (We’ve all learnt this lesson the hard way at some point!) And make sure you have also brought your steps in and unplugged the EHU.
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Check out your Parking Spot
When parking on sites you shouldn’t need to, but if you are going off-grid, get out and check the area you will be parking in to make sure there’s nothing sticking out of the ground or branches hanging down from overhead. You are a lot less likely to do any damage by taking a couple of minutes to do this. And if you’ve got a reverse camera – use it! It makes it a lot easier.
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Put your Info in the Sun Visor – Makes life easier!
It’s a great place to put a note of your vehicle height and weight, as it’s easily accessible. And if you see a sign whilst your on-the-road, you can have a quick check to make sure you can go through. This will come in very handy if you are visiting Scotland or Cornwall especially. Insurance details and Breakdown Cover is also something you will want to keep handy. Probably not in the visor, but find somewhere safe and accessible for those too.
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How can you charge your phone/tablet/ipad whilst not on EHU?
Ok, so I know the idea of travelling and exploring is to keep off of these things. But let’s be realistic, there are times when they are necessary or helpful. There is usually a USB in the cab which runs off the main battery, and you can get handy adapters that can charge a couple of things at the same time.
If your Motorhome has a Solar Panel fitted, this will also supply electric to your Motorhome whilst not in EHU. These are getting so much more popular, and are energy friendly/efficient.
Another alternative is a power bank which is a handy device you can charge at home, and usually has 2 or 3 in it, so plenty of options there. These are also great to take if you are going on an all day hike.
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DVD’s and Downloads for the Evenings – A blessing if you’ve got kids
Keep a bunch of DVD’s for easy watching in the evenings or down-time. My kids like to watch them before bed, and it’s a great way to unwind. Amazon Prime is also fab for downloading films. A lot of the stuff on there is free, and they have pretty much everything. If you do this before you leave home, you don’t need internet connection to watch them.
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Take a Notepad for a ‘Need to Get List’
A notepad in the Motorhome will always come in handy (even if it’s for a quick game of noughts and crosses!) But definitely to make a list of things you need to get for next time. You may just need to replace a sauce you’ve used the last of. Or it could be something new that you’ve seen someone else on a site using, and you’d like to get one.
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One word = Quishions
If you have never heard of these, follow this link and be amazed! It is a cushion that turn into a blanket and they are so handy. If you forgot a duvet, need an extra bit of warmth, or need a blanket you can use whilst you are sitting out at night. These are great! And they fold back up into a compact cushion – as we all know space saving is a Motorhome thing!
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Video your Handover
When you get your Motorhome and are shown around it to see how everything works, video it and you can refer back to it if needed. This is great for all those little hacks that you may not remember. Saves you spending hours trying to work things out or making unnecessary phone calls to get the info.
That’s a wrap! Hope that comes in handy for some of you, so you can get more enjoyment from your Travel Adventures.
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