Difference between caravan and motorhome

[surveyor]

Any practical difference between the way the equipment works? I’ll be driving the latter for a week (work related).

Particularly interested if I can keep warm water available. With a caravan that would be a non starter unless stopped for ages.

It’s a 2012 ish swiftl. I think.

[Eric Mc]

The water is normally heated in a motor home using the gas bottle. Therefore you would not drive the vehicle with the gas still on. If having hot water on your journey is essential (I can't see why it would, to be honest), heat the water before you leave and then turn off the gas. You should have hot/warm water in the tank for an hour or two.

If you need BOILING water, use the kettle.

[surveyor]

Eric Mc said:

The water is normally heated in a motor home using the gas bottle. Therefore you would not drive the vehicle with the gas still on. If having hot water on your journey is essential (I can't see why it would, to be honest), heat the water before you leave and then turn off the gas. You should have hot/warm water in the tank for an hour or two.

If you need BOILING water, use the kettle.

Not essential, but I would like to be able to wash my hands in warm water and soap after i finish work, which takes 30 mins per location.

[Bill]

Eric Mc said:

The water is normally heated in a motor home using the gas bottle. Therefore you would not drive the vehicle with the gas still on. If having hot water on your journey is essential (I can't see why it would, to be honest), heat the water before you leave and then turn off the gas. You should have hot/warm water in the tank for an hour or two.

You can get auto cut off regulators that allow you to use gas on the go. (For heating for example.)

[SimonTheSailor]

Does it not heat up water on demand ?

[journeymanpro]

When I fitted out my sisters vw crafter conversion we used a 6 litre surecal calorifier with 12v immersion so if engine was running the immersion was powered and making hot water.

Was an awesome little setup and stored enough hot water so that when mixed with cold you could have 2 reasonable showers without the engine running.

[Eric Mc]

Bill said:

Eric Mc said:

The water is normally heated in a motor home using the gas bottle. Therefore you would not drive the vehicle with the gas still on. If having hot water on your journey is essential (I can't see why it would, to be honest), heat the water before you leave and then turn off the gas. You should have hot/warm water in the tank for an hour or two.

You can get auto cut off regulators that allow you to use gas on the go. (For heating for example.)

Are they standard fits these days? There certainly isn't something like this on my 2005 van - and the manual tells you to ensure that the gas supply is off when on the move.

[surveyor]

I can tell you one difference. The racket when you hit a bump form pots and pans.

[Bill]

Eric Mc said:

Are they standard fits these days? There certainly isn't something like this on my 2005 van - and the manual tells you to ensure that the gas supply is off when on the move.

I have no idea but it was easily retrofitted to our 2007 van. http://www.southdownsmotorcaravans.co.uk/accessori...

[Eric Mc]

Might look into that, although having hot water when on the move isn't a major priority for me.

[Eric Mc]

surveyor said:

I can tell you one difference. The racket when you hit a bump form pots and pans.

Tea towel... tea towels are the answer - and smart packing.

[Bill]

Eric Mc said:

Might look into that, although having hot water when on the move isn't a major priority for me.

We have a big overcab with three kids in the back and go away in winter, so it's vital.

[mini95]

Truma do a gas valve that allows you to leave the gas on while moving. I specified it on my van as it was not standard, it is called a Truma Duocontrol CS. It also links 2 bottles and has an auto change over with a crash sensor that turns off the gas if in an accident.

I suspect older vans won’t have this as standard but I found with a previous motor home it didn’t take too long to get water warm enough to wash hands etc.

[oblio]

Later Autotrails come with the 'en route' duocontrol as standard. Check your MoHo as it may have it (from memory my 2008 Bessacarr had it too).

Failing that if you are able to pt the water on for an hour or so first thing, it should stay very warm all day.

[surveyor]

To finish this up..

I could not use gas while on the move. And noise cancelling headphones resolved the rattling, although I did also miss the front of the heater crashing off.