Posted on 05/09/2016 10:24
Mornign all (Afternoon if the timezone shades you into it)
Just ordered our first ever MH Swift Lifestyle 686. Cant wait to get it and start on the endless adventures we have planned already.
One question if you would be so kind as to help with, as this is first motorhome what should i definetly have to start us off and what is the nice to haves which makes life that wee bit easier?
Posted on 05/09/2016 11:44
Hi and welcome to the wonderful world of motorhoming. As you may have already discovered you can spend whatever you like on accessories, some you will use often, some will end up in the loft after you sell your new motorhome, empty it and realise that you've never used said loft fodder!
My best advice would be to camp close to home for the first couple of times and take a pen, paper and a car with you. (Of course beer and wine with glasses go without saying) That way you can start off light and then quickly and easily pop out to get anything you feel you're missing and really need. It's far better to do this then buy lots of expensive and heavy items that others think are a good idea for their lifestyle that won't suit yours. Park up, sit back and relax!
Posted on 05/09/2016 11:50
Hi and welcome to the wonderful world of motorhoming. As you may have already discovered you can spend whatever you like on accessories, some you will use often, some will end up in the loft after you sell your new motorhome, empty it and realise that you've never used said loft fodder!
My best advice would be to camp close to home for the first couple of times and take a pen, paper and a car with you. (Of course beer and wine with glasses go without saying) That way you can start off light and then quickly and easily pop out to get anything you feel you're missing and really need. It's far better to do this then buy lots of expensive and heavy items that others think are a good idea for their lifestyle that won't suit yours. Park up, sit back and relax!
Thanks thats good advise, i am totally clueless on what is essential and dont want to be ripped off when i pick up the MH by the delaer.
We are planning on staying local for our first trips just to get used to the MH and to make sure evertyhing ok, iunfact my in laws have a static on the site we will stay at so makes things easier if anything goes wrong. I think i have all we need for our first stay, but just wondered if anyone had ideas for making it that bit easier.
Posted on 05/09/2016 13:57
I'm really intersted in this thread too...we pick up our M/H on 16th September - and completely agree with what Hallsontour has
said...I cannot belive the amount of "stuff" we've just cleared out of the caravan in order to get it ready for part ex. I didn't even remember buying half of it!
I can certainly answer what I have found invaluable when caravanning...but it's horses for courses - what I like and consider a must have, others may say absolutely not for them!
So, in no particular order...
A clothes drier of some kind - whether rotary in the ground or suspended out of the window
A small table for my wine, gin, beer haha (this should be first) - we have an uber lightweight one that is perfect and stops having to get the "big" one out
A little pop up bin or teeny swing bin for my kitchen area and bathroom
A crate type container for my wellies, muddy shoes etc for when static
Posted on 05/09/2016 14:20
Auchtavanner, i see you have bought a six berth MH which either comes in with a 473kg payload of on a 3500kg chassis (almost certainly excluding ANY fresh water, so read 373 straight away) or on the upgraded chassis to 3650kg giving you 150kg more payload...
two questions...
one, if you are a couple, why a six berth van or are you planning to take kids with you?....which leads directly to....
two, if you have a young family, do you have the necessary license to drive the up-plated van?
if you have to run at 3500kg then this will be very, very tight on MTPLM if you are taking kids with you...
Posted on 05/09/2016 15:58
Yes It is myself and family, young family so i can offset the 75kg per person to the 4 of us as a start (daughter weighs in at 21kg at moment)
It is a 3500Kg, i had to have a belt removed and downplated to 3500kg to fit within licence laws
I have calculated I can stay within legal limits albeit only just. This has been the biggest bug bear for me these restrictions.
With the water, i was planning on having limited amount in the tank when setting off, enough for a flush of toilet or a cup of tea type thing, then just filling up onsite. Mistake maybe, i will learn in due course ha ha. But the mass in running order allows for 90% full tank. This is same for diesel and gas capacities. It also allows for 10kg of luggage and 75Kg for driver.
I also dont plan to ever tow.
Posted on 05/09/2016 19:03
From the Swift brochure....
"2. The Mass in Running Order is the mass of the unladen vehicle
including a 75kg allowance for the driver plus engine coolants and 90% of the fuel tank capacity and 1 x 6kg Calor Lite LPG cylinder.
The MRO is calculated with the fresh water tank empty. If you travel with water in the fresh water tank then the payload will reduce accordingly."
this is the latest 'wool over the eyes' method of enhancing payload.....suddenly 100kg more....just dont mention the water...
even with your small passenger, beware.....it does NOT allow for any luggage for passengers.....everything you carry, people, their kit, clothes, bedding, second gas canister and of course water, will be (effectively) taken from ypur payload...
vans the,selves are also subject to manufacturing tollerances..upto 5% either way......
i strongly suggest you speak to your dealer and, as soon as the van arrives (and before you sign) you get them to weigh it (in your presence) in 'naked' form to see how much heavier it is than the brochure says...it will almost certainly not be lighter....
i dont say this to scare you when so close to your purchase, but a van has to be fit for purpose...your purpose, not the salesman's......
good luck....
Auchtavanner
Motorhomer