Motorhome essentials

[size13]

Tonsko said:

I've seen a couple of people turn up (we run a campsite) with some kind of arrangement that attaches the car directly to the tow-bar. Also a small frame that simply lifts the front wheels off the ground. Not seen a full trailer as yet.

There is some talk about A frames not being legal (not sure why - just heard 2nd had)
If we were to tow a car, I'd get a lightweight trailer too.

[chopper602]

Vladimir said:

We made a decision not to take bikes despite being keen cyclist; I hate bike racks, didn't want to worry about them and ran to and from some shops when needed.

Thats one of the reasons we got a MH with a garage

[Vladimir]

chopper602 said:

Thats one of the reasons we got a MH with a garage

Ours is rather smaller! But quick enough to keep up with most cars and can do light off roading with AWD. Plus it has the footprint of a large estate car so easy to park.

Using it this weekend for an NTB race though!

[find me a name]

GAjon said:

Seperate water bottle for brewing up water.

We fitted a separate tap with water filter, had it on two vans and wouldn't be without for drinking, cleaning teeth and washing salad. No more chlorine tablets or bottles hanging around. Bit more expensive than when we got ours but well worth it

http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/Nature-Pure-QC.ht...

Jx

Edited by find me a name on Saturday 13th July 08:10

[GAjon]

find me a name said:

We fitted a separate tap with water filter, had it on two vans and wouldn't be without for drinking, cleaning teeth and washing salad. No more chlorine tablets or bottles hanging around. Bit more expensive than when we got ours but well worth it

http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/Nature-Pure-QC.ht...

Jx

Edited by find me a name on Saturday 13th July 08:10

Good piece if kit, but it negates the opportunity to suggest if the bottles a bit low "I'll have a beer instead".

Edited by GAjon on Saturday 13th July 13:07

[find me a name]

GAjon said:

Good piece if kit, but it negates the opportunity to suggest if the bottles a bit low "I'll have a beer instead".

Edited by GAjon on Saturday 13th July 13:07

Like your style

Jx

[tescorank]

Garage, why would you buy a mh without one!

[Super Slo Mo]

size13 said:

There is some talk about A frames not being legal (not sure why - just heard 2nd had)
If we were to tow a car, I'd get a lightweight trailer too.

A-Frames are fine provided you have the car you're towing modified so the brakes operate with the camper's brakes. There's a company in Stoke that does it, it's a few hundred quid IIRC.

Basically your limit for an unbraked trailer (which is what a car on an A-Frame is, without coupled brakes) is 750 KG's. There aren't many cars that weigh less than that these days.

[chopper602]

Super Slo Mo said:

A-Frames are fine provided you have the car you're towing modified so the brakes operate with the camper's brakes. There's a company in Stoke that does it, it's a few hundred quid IIRC.

Basically your limit for an unbraked trailer (which is what a car on an A-Frame is, without coupled brakes) is 750 KG's. There aren't many cars that weigh less than that these days.

I was thinking of towing a Citroen 2CV - about 600kgs - so would be fine with an unbraked A frame. But from reading on the 'net, it seems fine everywhere apart from Germany who don't like the idea at all. I wonder if a towing dolly (front wheels off the ground) would be any better?

[sheepdip]

Wait until you have had your MH a few years and then decide to sell. Then you see how much you have added over the years as 'must have' but never used. Just changed ours this year and I am detemined not to add too much back into the new one but you just cannot help added stuff!

[Bill]

chopper602 said:

I was thinking of towing a Citroen 2CV - about 600kgs - so would be fine with an unbraked A frame. But from reading on the 'net, it seems fine everywhere apart from Germany who don't like the idea at all. I wonder if a towing dolly (front wheels off the ground) would be any better?

A Mehari jeep (and a decent tonneau) would be ace

[Super Slo Mo]

chopper602 said:

I was thinking of towing a Citroen 2CV - about 600kgs - so would be fine with an unbraked A frame. But from reading on the 'net, it seems fine everywhere apart from Germany who don't like the idea at all. I wonder if a towing dolly (front wheels off the ground) would be any better?

Sorry for the late reply, been out of internet coverage for a couple of days....

A towing dolly is not a bad idea, the only snag is they're quite wide as they have to be able to fit a car between the wheels. They're quite expensive though (new), it's cheaper to get the car converted (circa £900) to have over-run brakes with an a-frame which should, I'd hope, keep the Germans happy.

However, it's your choice, you might be able to hire a dolly for the few times a year you'll use it.

[TIGERSIX]

GAjon said:

Levellers.
Decent hose pipe & quick fittings, plus one of those push over and clamp types.
Some kind of water carrier for when your on a pitch and don't want to move the van to top up, I use those 15ltr fold away types with a funnel.
Seperate water bottle for brewing up water.
Some hose for your greywaste to reach drains I also carry a wastmaster.
Cadac carrychef BBQ.
Plenty of power cable and plug adapters.
Beer
Shorts
Flipops
A cushion for the wife to sleep while your driving.
Small generator IMHO

[K4TRV]

Super Slo Mo said:

chopper602 said:

I was thinking of towing a Citroen 2CV - about 600kgs - so would be fine with an unbraked A frame. But from reading on the 'net, it seems fine everywhere apart from Germany who don't like the idea at all. I wonder if a towing dolly (front wheels off the ground) would be any better?

Sorry for the late reply, been out of internet coverage for a couple of days....

A towing dolly is not a bad idea, the only snag is they're quite wide as they have to be able to fit a car between the wheels. They're quite expensive though (new), it's cheaper to get the car converted (circa £900) to have over-run brakes with an a-frame which should, I'd hope, keep the Germans happy.

However, it's your choice, you might be able to hire a dolly for the few times a year you'll use it.

Towing dollys are only allowed to "recover" vehicles for repair.

It's your choice to be "tugged" by VOSA.

Buy a trailer and put the car on it. Not the cheapest option, but if within your "Train-weight", it totally legal.

T

[Super Slo Mo]

K4TRV said:

Towing dollys are only allowed to "recover" vehicles for repair.

It's your choice to be "tugged" by VOSA.

Buy a trailer and put the car on it. Not the cheapest option, but if within your "Train-weight", it totally legal.

T

That's not true. Their 'intention' is for the use of recovery, but if you are using them for transporting a vehicle, they must be fitted with operational brakes. The car's wheels that are in contact with the road must also operate to 50% efficiency or more.

There's a bigger headache with using a dolly, which is that they're subject to very low speed limits - 40 mph on motorways, 20 mph on other roads.

Fitting the car with an A-Frame is probably the most cost effective method of transporting it, although not particularly flexible as it isn't easily transferrable between vehicles.

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

GAjon said:

Levellers.

here you go...

[GAjon]

Obiwonkeyblokey said:

here you go...

He He! They might make a better noise if you drive on them.

[sulli]

All the Aires book for France and anywhere else you plan to go. Invaluable, and saves you a huge amount finding free and cheap sites that are usually significantly better than £30 a night sites in UK!
Spare gas bottle or adapter to fill up at LPG station.
Solar panel.
Check age of tyres ( had 2 high speed blowouts on last France trip, think due to age of tyres)
We have a spreadsheet now, that increases every time we go, start one

Edited by sulli on Sunday 8th September 16:28