Whoops... a whole motorhome... a whole RV? Holiday Rambler
Discussion
So, imagine the scene:
I'm sitting home, minding my own business, trying to work out how to drag my Race Caterham to races around the UK this year.
While still being able to park in hotels without it being a huge pain in the arse. And then it came to me, motorhome!
And so, here it is.
It's a 1998 Holiday Rambler SOMETHING
And here it is with the fleet in tow at Snetterton yesterday
I realise that this might be jumping in with a bit more than two feet, but I'm here now.
I know next to nothing about Motorhomes in general, but it's basically a big truck, right? How hard can it be?
Has anyone had one of these before? Maybe I could pick their brains a bit?
Cambridge based if that helps
I'm sitting home, minding my own business, trying to work out how to drag my Race Caterham to races around the UK this year.
While still being able to park in hotels without it being a huge pain in the arse. And then it came to me, motorhome!
And so, here it is.
It's a 1998 Holiday Rambler SOMETHING
And here it is with the fleet in tow at Snetterton yesterday
I realise that this might be jumping in with a bit more than two feet, but I'm here now.
I know next to nothing about Motorhomes in general, but it's basically a big truck, right? How hard can it be?
Has anyone had one of these before? Maybe I could pick their brains a bit?
Cambridge based if that helps
GAjon said:
That’s a fantastic piece of kit, but you know, while at the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival last year, we were parked up in the paddock which was a sheep field, camping in the back of the trailer and there were a couple of big American RVs there.
We saw the owners sat around, and I wondered for all their opulence, grandeur and style I thought “are they really having a good time, is it genuinely making them happy”
And the answer is - of course they are, they’re not freezing cold , pissing in a bucket and eating tinned chilli with crisps.
I’m not jealous at all.
The previous owner ran a few race cars around with it. So they've made a few modifications.We saw the owners sat around, and I wondered for all their opulence, grandeur and style I thought “are they really having a good time, is it genuinely making them happy”
And the answer is - of course they are, they’re not freezing cold , pissing in a bucket and eating tinned chilli with crisps.
I’m not jealous at all.
Proper fridge, better water heater, better heater heater, new front end with lights that don't suck, air line take off... A few other things! It's almost livable now... And not a teak nightmare...
Update:
Castle Combe - Totally fine staying overnight. Luckily allocated at the "back" of the paddock so plenty of room.
Also one of the upsides of having two cars in one rig (Cars 65 and 66) means that we get two paddock places usually next to each other so plenty of room to pitch up.
The other upside of having a rig like this is you attract other cars like moths to the light when they have work to do in the evening...
Cracking day out all in!
Next up Curborough Sprint... Let's see how parking goes there!
Castle Combe - Totally fine staying overnight. Luckily allocated at the "back" of the paddock so plenty of room.
Also one of the upsides of having two cars in one rig (Cars 65 and 66) means that we get two paddock places usually next to each other so plenty of room to pitch up.
The other upside of having a rig like this is you attract other cars like moths to the light when they have work to do in the evening...
Cracking day out all in!
Next up Curborough Sprint... Let's see how parking goes there!
Theraveda said:
Eek! Is the top paddock big enough?
Don't you need a HGV/PSV license to drive that?
The short answer is no. We had spots B1 and B2 so we sort of "beached it" across the grass behind the spaces and all was well enough...Don't you need a HGV/PSV license to drive that?
As it weighs 10,600 kg empty, regardless of the fact is says 3,501kg on the V5, I would imagine that you might "get away" with driving it on a C1 (7.5t) licence, however, if you were weighed it would get a lot more complicated very quickly.
With that in mind, and as I have a C+E (Anything over 3.5t and Towing more than 750kg), I should be covered regardless of who's looking at it.
No PSV as it only has 4 seats with belts.
Origin Unknown said:
Nice setup and very PH. But you're in Tents, Caravans & Arguments because the weather is s
t. More of the interior pls pal 
t. More of the interior pls pal 
I shall endeavour to get more of the interior when we're set up properly at the next race and after it's come back from getting serviced (Expecting impending huge bill...)
chopper602 said:
Forget the grey water tanks, what about the black water tank!
Take care with that big awning and be prepared to wind it back in for anything remotely 'windy' as they can make a big mess if they get airborne. Would be difficult to tie it down on paddock tarmac
Noted.Take care with that big awning and be prepared to wind it back in for anything remotely 'windy' as they can make a big mess if they get airborne. Would be difficult to tie it down on paddock tarmac
The black water tank seems to be a problem, HOWEVER, I do know the location of a sewer drain manhole on a farm...
dhutch said:
Blooming love it all.
My dream is to impulse purchase a coach and convert it with the spare time I dont have, but this is just as good and every bit more practical.
If not photos, I would love to see a roughly sketched out floor plan.
I've got a variety of photos from when I viewed it.My dream is to impulse purchase a coach and convert it with the spare time I dont have, but this is just as good and every bit more practical.
If not photos, I would love to see a roughly sketched out floor plan.
Looking forward from the doorway to the Bathroom, with the slide out (the far left sofa and entire kitchen slide approx 2ft). The sofa on the right folds out to a double bed.
Looking back down the vehicle from between the two sofas, with the slide in.
Shower toilet and sink beyond the kitchen.
Fridge/freezer and a look through to the two bunks in with the bathroom.
Double bedroom at the back.
The whole dealio is 37ft long.
dhutch said:
Epic, and such an inspiration.
So sleeps a 2+2 family, plus a additional couple on the sofa, nice. Are the bunks full length?
How many can travel in it, presumably sofas are off limits when moving, seat belts on the kitchen seating?
Looking at photos of other examples it looks like it has had a lower end re-front to give it a slightly more modern appearance and decent headlights, but had been done well.
Totally correct on the front end, from a Scania Truck, which improves a lot of things...So sleeps a 2+2 family, plus a additional couple on the sofa, nice. Are the bunks full length?
How many can travel in it, presumably sofas are off limits when moving, seat belts on the kitchen seating?
Looking at photos of other examples it looks like it has had a lower end re-front to give it a slightly more modern appearance and decent headlights, but had been done well.
I believe the bunks are full length, but I'll be honest I've not tried getting in one!
It seats 2 up front (drive and pass seat) then two on the sofa on the slide just behind the driver.
PurpleTurtle said:
Far better than expected! For perspective, my E46 M3 is only giving me 29mpg on a fairly steady cruise so given the size of this gargantuan beast, and towing, it's positively economical!
What's the deal with filling it up, do you have to look for filling stations with massive forecourts? This would completely swamp the three nearest to my house.
You pick them very tactfully...What's the deal with filling it up, do you have to look for filling stations with massive forecourts? This would completely swamp the three nearest to my house.
Height is fine for 95% of standard car canopies.
Length isn't an issue, you're just the d
head taking up 2 or 3 pumps in a row (but on another side I need a petrol pump at the front to fill the Genny, and a diesel at the side to fill the main tank. But also car pumps are slow and really the HGV diesel pump is where you want to be.Access in and out is way more important, beware the u turn round the side of the forecourt to double back to an exit etc...
poo at Paul's said:
I’d be interested to see how you get on at the uk circuits. Quite a few seem to be clamping down on where and when you can stay actually on site. Few guys moaning that donnington make you stay night before outside circuit and the local site it very expensive, and very small pitches with nowhere for the trailers.
Are other circuits more friendly?
Now here's a thing, as part of the Caterham Circus, the tracks are pretty reasonable with the clowns being in town. Are other circuits more friendly?
The Donnington security guard is famous already for say 'you stay outside'.
To add to the complications, at 37ft + trailer we are too long even unhitched for 95% of the usual caravan sites. However, blend right in at truck stops. Aided by the Scannia lower front clip for stealth...
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