Brand New Motor home owner

We collect our new MH on Monday so all these comments are very useful.  We have a two hour training session apparently, but forewarned is forearmed.

We have negotiated a solar panel in to the price. I will check there is a regulator to ensure there is no overcharge, but I wondered whether there should be some sort of gauge to show us it is working properly?

Good luck Sie477, although I think you may have the wrong impression, God's own country is obviously Gloucestershire.

Sorry to go off topic BB but why did you down grade to a slimmer lighter van, was there a particular reason?

Michael....yes, several.....

its slimmer, lighter, shorter.....three good reasons for (much) easier driving and parking.....in towns and on site.

many towns on the continent are restricting traffic to that under 3.5t, we want to able to go (pretty much) wherever we want without thinking about things.

we are only 6cm wider than a PVC which means its a much easier job bowling along, especially when away from Mways and A roads....all trips are far more relaxing, not specifically for me, as driver, but for OH who felt she was being squeezed too tightly towards walls and hedges on occasion.

inside we now have a huge (1.5m wide) transverse bed, which actually suits us better (we werent massive fans of sleping separately....despite the singles being extremely comfortable.

lounge pretty much the same, a tad slimmer but no real difference

the kitchen is slightly smaller, but we have swapped a storage drawer for a Thetford Duplex oven, so no Tec Tower anymore, OH prefers the lower oven. still plenty of deep drawer storage and large fridge/freezer

bathroom pretty much the same, more than large enough for us...

same large garage, takes bikes and all else with ease.

had gaslow, twin batteries, solar, inverter and satellite systems swapped over, so the van runs pretty much as previously.

of course, i am now not speed restricted as i was at 4.25t.smile
ferries are cheaper, too

so, all in all, we think we have all the best bits of the larger van (quality build, a class cab, double floor, self sufficiency) without the bulk and weight.

......oh, and we got a stonking deal......wink
in summary, we are delighted.smile
ps, if i ever wanted to up-plate, with the fitted16" wheels, i can go to 3850 as a paper change.

also apologies for the OT posting.....why, oh why cant we PM each other with asides like this?undecided

Cheers BB, interesting we do not find the size to be an issue but not been over there yet (roll on next Friday) and we like the TEC tower with the extra drawers but who knows for the next van but we are thinking maybe a traverse bed next but not sure about climbing over in the night for the loo, we had that in a caravan and changed to the island bed which is 1.5m as well

Yes why cant we PM each other 

Back on subject about what to buy, if you have caravanned before you wont really need much else in fact much less, yo wont need the Aqua Roll (keep waste for sites with no MHSP), step, awning (if you had one).  But you will need a hose, maybe some levelling ramps.  And I echo other comments regarding weight, if you do not have C1 licence then you are restricted to 3.5t make sure the van is only plated at that and not been uprated and get it weighed ASAP with everyone in it, full tank of fuel and water and packed for a fortnight holiday.

We found it very useful to have a laminated sign behind the sun visor or somewhere up front with the height and width of our motorhome re the bridges etc.  Enjoy your experience it's a great life.

I found the checklist to be much "shorter" in a motorhome , compared to the caravan checklist , when moving on to another site :) mrs bc