D ATA SH EET #3 #3 C h o o sing a m o to rh o m e T h ere's greater ch oice th an ever in th e m otorh om e m arket, w ith a w ide variety of m an u factu rers h avin g represen tation in th e U K. W ith su ch a ch oice of w h at w ill be both you r m ean s of tran sport an d accom m odation, it pays to take tim e, do you r research an d h ave a good look arou n d before you m ake th at fin al decision to bu y. This Da ta She e t is a im e d prim a rily a t tho s e w ho a re ne w to m o to rho m e s. W he the r yo u're buying ne w o r s e co ndha nd, a nd w ha te ve r yo ur budge t, the Da ta She e t is a s ta rting po int, giving ba s ic guide line s o n the ke y a s pe cts invo lve d in m a king s ure yo u buy the right unit fo r yo u. T y pes o f m o to rh o m e Y o u'll ha ve a lre a dy no tice d m o to rho m e s co m e in m a ny diffe re nt s ha pe s a nd s iz e s. H e re a re a fe w o f the m a in type s : P a ne l va n co nve rsio ns: The s e a re va ns w ith little in the w a y o f e xte rio r m o difica tio ns (s a ve the a dditio n o f e xtra w indo w s, us ua lly) w ho s e inte rio rs ha ve be e n kitte d o ut fo r ca m ping, w hich is w hy the y a re a ls o ca lle d ca m pe rva ns. Most pa ne l va n co nve rs io ns ha ve lim ite d he a dro o m unle s s the o rigina l fixe d ro o f is re pla ce d w ith a high-to p ro o f o r a n e le va ting ro o f w he re hinge d ro o f s e ctio ns, w ith ca nva s o r s o lid s ide s, lift up fo r e xtra he a dro o m a nd/o r be ds w he n o n s ite. The a dva nta ge o f e le va ting ro o fs is the y ca n ke e p the ve hicle a t a he ight to e na ble it to a cce s s ca r pa rks w ith he ight ba rrie rs. T y pes o f m o to rh o m e (co n tin u ed)
C o a chbuilts: The s e s ta rt life a s a ca b a nd cha s s is to w hich a co nve rte r a dds a ca ra va n bo dy. The s e a re e ithe r lo w -pro file s o r o ve rca b m o de ls - the fo rm e r o ffe ring a lo w e r, m o re s tre a m line d ro o fline o ve r the ca b a re a, the la tte r ha ving s ufficie nt inte rio r s pa ce fo r a do uble be d o n to p o f the ca b. A-cla ss: H e re, a cha s s is co w l (jus t the e ngine a nd cha s s is ) is the s ta rting po int, w ith a full ca ra va n s he ll a dde d to m a ke o ptim um us e o f the inte rio r s pa ce. Fo r e xa m ple, a full-s iz e, dro p-do w n do uble be d a bo ve the ca b a re a is a co m m o n A - cla s s fe a ture. R V (R e cre a tio na l V e hicle s): B igge r a nd pricie r tha n m o s t U K m o to rho m e s, RVs us ua lly o ffe r do m e s tic qua lity fa cilitie s in m o re s pa cio us s urro undings. Many a re im po rte d fro m A m e rica, tho ugh the re a re s o m e Euro pe a n m o de ls a va ila ble. O the rs: Most m o to rho m e s fit into the s e thre e ca te go rie s, a ltho ugh the re a re niche ve hicle s s uch a s ca r-de rive d m o to rho m e s a nd de m o unta ble s - the la tte r w he re the ca ra va n unit is fixe d to the ba ck o f a pick-up fo r tra ve l. A ls o, s e lf-built m o to rho m e s a re no t unco m m o n. If the ve hicle is no t fro m a w e ll-kno w n co nve rte r, it s ho uld co m e w ith a n e ngine e r's re po rt pro ving a ll ga s a nd e le ctrica l ins ta lla tio ns a re to the re quire d s a fe ty s ta nda rds.
W h o m akes m o to rh o m es? Jus t a s the re 's a m a s s ive cho ice o f m o to rho m e s, the re is a n e qua lly be w ilde ring a rra y o f m o to rho m e co nve rte rs. The s e ra nge fro m la rge m a nufa cturing co nce rns ba s e d thro ugho ut Euro pe a nd be yo nd w ith ne tw o rks o f a ppo inte d re ta ile rs, to s m a ll co nve rte rs, s o m e o f w ho m w ill build to individua l re quire m e nts a nd s e ll dire ct to the public. A m o ng the bigge r bra nds, ke y na m e s to lo o k o ut fo r include A uto -Sle e pe rs, A uto -Tra il, B a ile y, Elddis, Rom a ho m e a nd the Sw ift Gro up (Sw ift, B e s s a ca rr a nd A uto cruis e bra nds ), a s w e ll a s a w ho le ho s t o f m a nufa cture rs fro m m a inla nd Euro pe including A dria, B urs tne r, Cha us s o n, De thle ffs, H o bby, P ilo te, H ym e r. B ut no te tha t s o m e im po rte d m o to rho m e s m a y ha ve the ha bita tio n do o r (the e ntra nce to the living qua rte rs ) o n the U K o ffs ide. Sm a lle r, U K-ba s e d m o re be s po ke o utfits include the like s o f B ilbo 's, Murvi, IH, N u V e nture, Re im o a nd m o re. O ne ke y thing to re m e m be r is de pre cia tio n ra te s. Moto rho m e s ge ne ra lly ha ve high re s idua l va lue s, but s ta nda rd m o de ls fro m m a ins tre a m m a ke rs a re e s pe cia lly like ly to ho ld the ir va lue. C abs Typica lly, m o s t m o to rho m e s be tra y the ir co m m e rcia l ve hicle o rigins in the ca bs. A ltho ugh m o s t built s ince the la te 1990s ha ve co m e w ith po w e r-a s s is te d s te e ring, it's o nly re ce ntly tha t ite m s s uch a s tw in a irba gs a nd a ir-co nditio ning ha ve be co m e m o re re a dily a va ila ble. P lus, if yo u w a nt a be tte r-tha n-a ve ra ge s te re o s ys te m (a ltho ugh a ga in be a r in m ind m o s t m o to rho m e s a re a lo t no is ie r tha n m o de rn-da y ca rs ), yo u'll pro ba bly ha ve to s pe cify it a s a n o ptio n. The m o s t po pula r m o to rho m e ba s e ve hicle s a re the Fia t Duca to (a ls o m a rke te d a s the P e uge o t B o xe r), the V o lks w a ge n Tra ns po rte r, the Me rce de s Sprinte r, the Fo rd Tra ns it a nd Re na ult's Tra fic a nd Maste r. Ea ch co m e w ith a n a rra y o f e ngine, o ve ra ll s pe cifica tio n a nd e ve n pa ylo a d o ptio ns - be s ure to che ck the s e o ut ca re fully to e ns ure yo u kno w e xa ctly w ha t yo u a re ge tting. Y o u ca n re que s t a te s t drive if yo u a re clo s e to m a king the de cis io n to buy. If yo u're driving a m o to rho m e fo r the firs t tim e, re m e m be r m o to rho m e s a re ba s e d o n co m m e rcia l ve hicle s a nd ha ve diffe re nt driving cha ra cte ris tics to ca rs. La rge r m o to rho m e s ca n ha ve co ns ide ra ble ta il o ve rha ngs (the dis ta nce be tw e e n the re a r w he e ls a nd the e nd o f the ve hicle ) tha t ne e d to be ta ke n into co ns ide ra tio n in ge ne ra l ro a d us e a s w e ll a s fo r tight m a no e uvre s. Lay o u ts an d facilities
In the ir ro le a s - ho m e s o n w he e ls, a ll m o to rho m e inte rio rs a re a co m pro m is e be tw e e n s pa ce a nd s pe cifica tio n. Ta ke into a cco unt the num be r o f o ccupa nts, w ho w ill s le e p w he re a nd w he the r the y ca n tra ve l in s e a ts de s igna te d fo r tra ve l, a s w e ll a s yo ur prio ritie s fo r kitche n a nd w a s hro o m e quipm e nt a nd s pa ce. Sm a lle r m o to rho m e s ca n be e a s ie r to pa rk a nd s to re, w hile o bvio us ly la rge r units o ffe r m o re inte rio r s pa ce tha t ca n be s o vita l, e s pe cia lly if yo u're co ns ide ring us ing yo ur ve hicle o ve r lo nge r pe rio ds o f tim e. Most m o to rho m e s ca n a cce pt a n a w ning, w hich a dds e xtra living s pa ce. Sim ila rly, s o m e o w ne rs like to m a ke the ir ve hicle s e ve n m o re ve rs a tile w ith the a dditio n o f bike ra cks, e xtra s to ra ge bo xe s a nd s o fo rth. Cons ide r a ls o w he n yo u'll be us ing yo ur ve hicle. Fo r e xa m ple, if yo u're pla nning e xte ns ive w inte r us e yo u'll ne e d to e ns ure the lo ca tio n o f w a te r ta nks a nd plum bing a re ca pa ble o f co ping w ith e xtre m e s o f co ld. In ho tte r clim a te s yo u m ight co ns ide r a n a ir-co nditio ning unit fo r the living qua rte rs. The m a jo rity o f m o to rho m e s ha ve the ir o w n m a ins ho o k-up, a llo w ing yo u to plug into a 230V e le ctricity s upply o n a U K s ite. This is o fte n a llie d to a cha rging s ys te m a nd a 12V le is ure ba tte ry s upply. H e re a re s o m e o the r a s pe cts to co ns ide r: Sle e ping be rths a nd e a s e o f be d m a king. Re ce nt tre nds po int to w a rds the incre a s ing po pula rity o f fixe d be ds, w ith bunk be ds be ing e s pe cia lly po pula r w ith childre n. Make s ure yo u're ha ppy no t jus t w ith the s iz e, but the lo ca tio n o f the be ds, e s pe cia lly the o ve rca b be d w he re he a d s pa ce ca n be lim ite d a nd a cce s s no t a lw a ys e a s y. V e ntila tio n a nd he a ting ca n a ls o be is s ue s he re. Kitche n fa cilitie s. Y o u ca n e xpe ct to find fridge /fre e z e rs, full co o ke rs, m icro w a ve s a nd ho t a nd co ld running w a te r in a m o de rn m o to rho m e, o r jus t a co uple o f ga s rings. A s w e ll a s the lo ca tio n o f s uch ite m s, che ck a ls o fo r w o rks pa ce a nd o ve ra ll s to ra ge. W a s hro o m fa cilitie s. Expe ct a nything up to plum be d-in, w a te r-flus hing to ile ts a nd la rge s ho w e r cubicle s. Spa ce is o fte n a t a pre m ium he re, e s pe cia lly if the w a s hro o m is to do uble up a s e xtra s to ra ge s pa ce o r drying ro o m s fo r w e t clo thing a nd the like. Lo unging. Se a ting is a no the r m a tte r o f pe rs o na l ta s te. If TV-w a tching is a prio rity, co ns ide r w he re the TV w ill go a s w e ll a s w he the r the s e a ting a rra nge m e nts a re s uita ble. Sto ra ge. La yo ut o fte n dicta te s ho w m uch s pa ce is le ft fo r s to ra ge, a nd the o the r ite m s yo u w a nt to ta ke w ith yo u m a y de te rm ine yo ur s to ra ge pre fe re nce s (bike s, fis hing ge a r, o uts ide cha irs a nd ta ble s, ba rbe cue s a nd m o re ). Flo o r pla ns tha t include fixe d be ds o fte n m e a n la rge s to ra ge a re a s unde r the be ds the m s e lve s, w hich m a y be a cce s s ible fro m o uts ide. A no the r fa irly re ce nt tre nd is fo r "ga ra ge " m o de ls, no rm a lly a co a chbuilt m o to rho m e w ith a la rge e xte rio r-a cce s s s to ra ge a re a a t the re a r. W inte r tra ve l. If yo u're like ly to ca m p in co lde r w e a the r co ns ide r cho o s ing a unit w ith a n ins ula te d w a te r s ys te m s o it w ill s till w o rk o n a fre e z ing m o rning.
T o p tips Tim ing is im po rta nt. P rice s a re like ly to be a t the ir highe s t im m e dia te ly be fo re Ea s te r, w he n the to uring s e a s o n s ta rts. The y'll ge ne ra lly be lo w e r a t the e nd o f the s e a s o n but if yo u buy in the quie te r s e a s o n be s ure to fa cto r in a ny po s s ible a dditio na l co s ts incurre d o ve r the w inte r pe rio d, s uch a s s to ra ge. A fte r de te rm ining yo ur budge t a nd pre fe rre d la yo ut, m a ke a lis t o f fe a ture s a nd fittings yo u w a nt in yo ur ide a l m o to rho m e - the n de cide w he the r yo u co ns ide r the m e s s e ntia l. Cons ide r hiring. This give s yo u a ta s te r o f the to uring e xpe rie nce a nd w ill he lp yo u m a ke a n info rm e d cho ice o n the type o f la yo ut yo u m a y w is h to ha ve. The Club's w e bs ite ha s a lis t o f m o to rho m e hire co m pa nie s thro ugho ut the U K, yo u ca n find the s e in o ur he lp a nd a dvice s e ctio n. Make no te s o f the e xa ct m a ke a nd m o de l yo u vie w a nd e s pe cia lly like. Y o u'll be a m a z e d ho w e a s y it is to fo rge t. Che ck if a s e co ndha nd m o to rho m e ha s a ny o uts ta nding pa ym e nts due o n it by co nta cting H P I (0845 300 8905, hpiche ck.co m ). Lo o k into the lo gis tics a nd po s s ible co s ts fo r re pa irs. Spa re s a va ila bility m a y no t a lw a ys be go o d - ite m s o f e quipm e nt s uch a s he a te rs a nd fridge s ca n be e a s y to s o urce, but o fte n re pla ce m e nt bo dy pa ne ls a nd ite m s o f trim a re tricky to tra ck do w n - e s pe cia lly o n ve hicle s no lo nge r in pro ductio n. W h ere can I bu y a m o to rh o m e? The re a re a co ns ide ra ble num be r o f w a ys to purcha s e a m o to rho m e : Spe cia list re ta ile rs. U s e a bus ine s s dire cto ry, the inte rne t o r lis tings in m o to rho m e m a ga z ine s to find de a le rs ne a r yo u. A s w e ll a s be ne fiting fro m pro duct kno w le dge a nd the a bility to ca rry o ut a ny s e rvicing a nd re pa ir w o rk, purcha s ing fro m a s pe cia lis t re ta ile r give s yo u m o re le ga l rights - a ll the w a y up to re je cting a ve hicle if it's s ubs e que ntly fo und to be "no t E x h ib itio n s can p ro vid e an id eal o p p o rtu n ity to s ee a ran g e o f u n its fit fo r purpo s e ". A ls o, yo u'll pro ba bly ge t a w a rra nty o f a nything fro m thre e to 12 m o nths o n s e co ndha nd ve hicle s tha t us ua lly co ve rs bo th the m e cha nica l a nd the co nve rs io n w o rk o f the ve hicle. N e e dle s s to s a y, the ne a re r a de a le r is to yo ur ho m e ba s e, the be tte r in te rm s o f tra ve l tim e a nd co s ts s a ve d w he n a ny s e rvicing is re quire d. P riva te purcha se. Ke e p a n e ye o ut fo r the s m a ll a ds in yo ur lo ca l pre s s a s w e ll a s s pe cia lis t m o to rho m e a nd Club m a ga z ine s. The re 's us ua lly a ge nuine re a s o n fo r s e lling a nd price s s ho uld be le s s tha n fro m a s pe cia lis t, a ltho ugh yo u fo re go s o m e le ga l rights a s w e ll a s a ny kind o f o fficia l w a rra nty w he n yo u buy priva te ly. The s a m e a pplie s fo r m o to rho m e s put up fo r s a le priva te ly o ve r the inte rne t. Auctio ns. The s e te nd to be the pre s e rve o f tho s e w ho a re "in the kno w ", ye t ne ve rthe le s s o ffe r the po te ntia l to pick up a ba rga in.
Sho w s a nd o the r spe cia l e ve nts. The re a re ple nty o f o utdo o r a nd indo o r m o to rho m e e xhibitio ns. The y're o fte n ide a l fo r ge ne ra l "s ho pping a ro und" a nd a dvice ga the ring - a nd yo u ca n s o m e tim e s pick up e nd-o f-s e a s o n ba rga ins he re. B e fo re yo u buy a t a n e ve nt, che ck w he re the s e lle r is ba s e d a nd w he the r yo u w ill ne e d to tra ve l fa r if yo u ne e d to ge t s o m e thing che cke d unde r the w a rra nty o r fo r s e rvicing. M akin g y o u r pu rch ase The re is us ua lly s o m e le e w a y o n price, but yo u'll pro ba bly s trike a be tte r de a l if yo u a s k fo r e xtra s a nd incre a s e d w a rra ntie s ra the r tha n jus t ha m m e ring do w n the a dve rtis e d price. If yo u're ha ppy w ith e ve rything - fro m price to de live ry tim e s - yo u're in a po s itio n to pa y a de po s it, the a m o unt o f w hich is ne go tia ble. Re m e m be r tha t de po s its a re ra re ly re turna ble. W he n yo u co m e to co lle ct yo ur ve hicle, yo u s ho uld ge t a full ha ndo ve r w he n a ll the e quipm e nt is e xpla ine d. So m e de a le rs e ve n o ffe r the fa cility to s ta y o n a ca m ps ite lo ca lly - a n ide a l o ppo rtunity to m a ke s ure e ve rything w o rks a nd tha t yo u kno w ho w to us e it. A nd re m e m be r, a lw a ys ge t a re ce ipt fro m the s e lle r w he n yo u buy o r pa y a de po s it. V iew in g seco n dh an d m o to rh o m es H e re a re s o m e ha ndy vie w ing tips to co ns ide r w he n lo o king a t pre vio us ly-o w ne d ve hicle s. A lw a ys m a ke initia l vie w ings during da ylight ho urs. It's to o e a s y to m is s things in the da rk. It's no t ha rd to find pre vio us ly-o w ne d m o to rho m e s tha t ha ve o bvio us ly be e n w e ll lo o ke d a fte r. Exte rio rs s ho uld be fre e o f a ny da m a ge o r s igns o f m a jo r re pa ir w o rk. Che ck le a ding e dge s e s pe cia lly a nd s cra pe m a rks o n w ing m irro rs. Slight cha nge s o f co lo ur ca n indica te pa ne ls ha ve be e n re pla ce d. W a te r ingre s s ca n be a pro ble m w ith co a chbuilt m o to rho m e s. Che ck the e xte rio r s e a la nt co nditio n a nd a s k fo r the re s ults o f a ny da m p te s ts. Exte rio r lo cke r do o rs s ho uld o pe n a nd s hut e a s ily a nd lo cks s ho uld w o rk. Che ck ite m s s uch a s co rne r s te a die s a nd re tra cta ble s te ps, if fitte d, a re fully o pe ra tio na l. Tyre co nditio n. Many m o to rho m e s ha ve lo ng pe rio ds o f ina ctivity a nd tho ugh the tyre s m a y lo o k s e rvice a ble the y'll ha ve a ge d. It m a y s e e m co unte r-intuitive but a n idle tyre a ge s m uch fa s te r tha n o ne fre que ntly us e. Fo r m o re de ta ile d info rm a tio n a bo ut tyre s a nd tyre ca re, s e e Da ta She e t 15. Ins ide, a ltho ugh yo u're unlike ly to be a ble to us e the living e quipm e nt, do go thro ugh the m o tio ns o f be dm a king (this w ill a ls o e ns ure no cus hio ns a re m is s ing), us ing the kitche n (co o king, w a s hing-up), w a s hro o m (s ho w e r, to ile t, ha ndba s in) a nd us ing o the r fa cilitie s. Is the re e no ugh s pa ce? Do m a jo r ite m s fa ll e a s ily to ha nd? Try a ll the s e a ts fo r co m fo rt. Fo a m ca n lo s e its s pringine s s o ve r tim e. This, a nd inde e d upho ls te ry, ca n be re pla ce d, but a t a price. In the ca b, try the driving po s itio n fo r co m fo rt a s w e ll a s e rgo no m ics, pa rticula rly the e xte rna l vie w s via the m irro rs. It m ight s o und o bvio us, but m a ke s ure yo u a re ha ppy w ith inte rio r co lo ur s che m e s a nd furnis hings (o r fe e l ha ppy yo u ca n a da pt the m to yo ur ta s te s - e xtra cus hio ns, ca rpe t runne rs a nd s im ila r ca n m a ke a big diffe re nce ). A s k to s e e a ll do cum e nta tio n - full s e rvice his to ry (co ve ring bo th the ba s e ve hicle a nd the co nve rs io n), uninte rrupte d re co rd o f MO T te s ts, re ce ipts fo r a ny s e rvice, w a rra nty o r re pa ir
w o rk a s w e ll a s the ve hicle 's o w n his to ry (num be r o f o w ne rs, e tc). Moto rho m e de a le rs s ho uld be a ble to o ffe r up to o ne ye a r's MO T te s t ce rtifica te a nd ta x, a s w e ll a s e vide nce tha t the ve hicle ha s be e n fully ins pe cte d a nd a ny m a jo r re pa ir w o rk unde rta ke n. W a rra ntie s ra nging fro m thre e m o nths to a ye a r o r m o re a re a ls o like ly to be o ffe re d a nd ca n be a go o d ba rga ining po int. Moto rho m e m ile a ge is ra re ly a n is s ue. Cons ide r a nything be tw e e n 4,000 a nd 6,000 a typica l a ve ra ge a nnua l m ile a ge. MO T te s t ce rtifica te s w ill ve rify a ny m ile a ge cla im s. S eco n d h an d m o to rh o m e d ealers will o ften o ffer a warran ty o n th e veh icle If yo u buy priva te ly, the a ddre s s a t w hich yo u vie w s ho uld co rre s po nd w ith tha t o n the ve hicle 's V 5C ce rtifica te (lo g bo o k). Give yo urs e lf ple nty o f tim e to ins pe ct a ve hicle in yo ur o w n tim e a s w e ll a s ge tting the s e lle r to ta ke yo u thro ugh it. N e ve r a rra nge to vie w a ve hicle a t a lo ca tio n s uch a s a m o to rw a y s e rvice s ta tio n. Cons ide r us ing the s e rvice s o f a n inde pe nde nt s pe cia lis t m o to rho m e ins pe cto r. If yo u ca n't find o ne in yo ur lo ca l te le pho ne dire cto ry, yo ur ne a re s t m o to rho m e re ta ile r s ho uld be a ble to o ffe r a co nta ct. A s k a bo ut o ptio ns - de te rm ine w he the r the y a re fa cto ry-fitte d o r re tro fit ite m s. If the la tte r, e ns ure the y've be e n fitte d by a s pe cia lis t. O w ne rs - m a nua ls a re us ua lly va gue, but ca n be a us e ful s ta rting po int. A ny m o to rho m e s ho uld a ls o co m e w ith o pe ra ting m a nua ls fo r a ll m a jo r ite m s o f e quipm e nt in the co nve rs io n. A lw a ys le a ve ro o m fo r ne go tia tio n o n price, fo r e xa m ple o n a dditio na l ite m s s upplie d a nd e xtra w a rra nty. If yo u're co m ple te ly ne w to m o to rho m e o w ne rs hip yo u'll pro ba bly ne e d ite m s s uch a s ga s cylinde rs, le ve lling ra m ps, e tc. T rav ellin g in London If yo u a re pla nning to ta ke yo ur m o to rho m e into Gre a te r Lo ndo n yo u'll ne e d to co ns ide r the a re a 's Lo w Em is s io n Z o ne (LEZ ). The re s trictio ns o f the LEZ a re gre a te r s ince 3 Ja nua ry 2012, m o to rho m e s w ith a Gro s s V e hicle W e ight o f m o re tha n 2,500kg ne e d to m e e t s pe cific e nviro nm e nta l s ta nda rds. A ll ve hicle s re gis te re d a s ne w a fte r 1 O cto be r 2006 (1 Ja nua ry 2002 fo r ve hicle s be tw e e n 2,500kg a nd 3,500kg) a re a s s um e d to m e e t the s e s ta nda rds a nd tho s e re gis te re d be fo re 1 Ja nua ry 1973 a re e xe m pt. O the rs m a y ne e d to pa y a cha rge o f 100 o r m o re fo r e a ch da y the y drive in the LEZ, w ith high pe na ltie s if yo u do n't pa y. Fo r m o re info rm a tio n s e e w w w.tfl.go v.uk/le z o r ca ll 020 7310 8998.
T rav ellin g If yo u've no t drive n o ne be fo re, yo u m a y be ple a s a ntly s urpris e d ho w e a s y it is to drive a m o to rho m e - w ha te ve r its s iz e. Ke y be ne fits include be ing highe r up (fo r s upe rio r vie w s o ut) a nd la rge w ing m irro rs. O the r fa cto rs include : Die s e l o r pe tro l. Fo r e co no m y re a s o ns, die s e l ha s be e n the pre fe rre d fue l o ptio n in re ce nt ye a rs, us ua lly w ith the a dde d pe rfo rm a nce tha t turbo cha rging brings. Fue l co ns um ptio n va rie s fro m ve hicle to ve hicle a s w e ll a s w ith individua l driving s tyle s. Engine s iz e is n't a lw a ys the be s t indica to r o f its s uita bility - co m pa re po w e r a nd to rque o utputs. Most m o to rho m e s ha ve a m a nua l tra ns m is s io n tho ugh a uto m a tic is m o re w ide ly a va ila ble no w. F u rth er readin g Ke y m a ga z ine s a re : Moto rca ra va n Moto rho m e Monthly (MMM), P ra ctica l Moto rho m e a nd W hich Moto rho m e. A ls o, Moto rho m e & Ca ra va n Tra de r a nd Ca ra va n, Moto rho m e a nd Ca m ping Mart. B o o ks include The Moto rca ra va nning H a ndbo o k a nd The Moto rca ra va n Manua l, bo th by Jo hn W icke rs ha m. M o to rh o m e safety an d th e law The re a re s e ve ra l ke y a s pe cts w hich co uld ha ve s ignifica nt im pa ct o n yo ur cho ice o f m o to rho m e : Y o u'll ne e d to che ck the lim its o f yo ur driving lice nce be fo re yo u ta ke to the ro a d w ith a m o to rho m e. Da ta She e t 40 - driving lice nce s ha s de ta ile d info rm a tio n a bo ut the lim ita tio ns o f a lice nce. Se a t be lts. Y o u w ill s till s e e s o m e ne w m o to rho m e s w ith m o re s le e ping be rths tha n be lte d tra ve lling s e a ts. Since 20 O cto be r 2007 s e a t be lts ha ve no t be e n pe rm itte d o n s ide fa cing s e a ts be ca us e the ir us e in the e ve nt o f a cra s h ca n ca us e injury. It is no t re co m m e nde d fo r pa s s e nge rs to tra ve l w itho ut s e a t be lts o n the gro unds o f s a fe ty a nd in s o m e circum s ta nce s it co uld be co ns ide re d ille ga l. P a ylo a d. A s o w ne r, it is yo ur le ga l duty to e ns ure yo u do no t o ve rlo a d the ve hicle be yo nd its ra te d gro s s w e ight o r a xle lim it. Re m e m be r yo ur a va ila ble pa ylo a d re duce s w he n ite m s a re a dde d a s fitte d e xtra s s o che ck tha t s ufficie nt pa ylo a d is a va ila ble fo r the num be r o f pe o ple a nd kit yo u inte nd to ca rry. Fo r de ta ils s e e be lo w. Spe e d lim its. If yo ur m o to rho m e ha s a n unla de n w e ight o f le s s tha n 3,050kg no rm a l ca r s pe e d lim its a pply, unle s s yo u a re to w ing. A bo ve this (o r if yo u ha ve m o re tha n 9 s e a ts ) in m o s t ca s e s yo u'll be re s tricte d to 50m ph o n s ingle ca rria ge w a ys a nd 60m ph o n dua l ca rria ge w a ys, tho ugh the lim it is s till 70m ph o n m o to rw a ys. Loadin g y o u r m o to rh o m e
It's te m pting to think yo u ca n put a s m uch a s yo u like into yo ur m o to rho m e be ca us e it's ba s e d o n a la rge va n tha t ca n ca rry he a vy lo a ds, but this is n't a lw a ys the ca s e. Y o ur unit w ill ha ve a s e t us e r pa ylo a d - the a m o unt o f e xtra kit yo u ca n tra ns po rt - tha t de pe nds o n its co ns tructio n. In s o m e ca s e s this m a y be re s tricte d be ca us e o f the cha s s is it's built o n. In o the rs it m a y be a r tificia lly lim ite d s o tho s e w ith s pe cific driving lice nce s ca n drive it o r fo r o the r re a s o ns. In the s e ca s e s yo u ca n a s k yo ur m o to rho m e s upplie r to upra te its cla s s ifica tio n s o yo u ca n ca rr y a la rge r pa ylo a d. It's a ls o im po rta nt to co ns ide r ho w yo u po s itio n the pa ylo a d in yo ur unit. Ea ch a xle ha s its o w n lo a ding lim it, w hich yo u m us t no t e xce e d w he n yo u're o n the ro a d. In m o s t ca s e s, the m a jo rity o f the w e ight o f the e ngine, fue l a nd pa s s e nge rs w ill be o ve r the fro nt a xle s o yo ur lugga ge a nd o the r lo a ds s ho uld be po s itio ne d o ve r the re a r a xle (s e e the dia gra m a bo ve ). The be s t w a y to m a ke s ure yo u're m o to rho m e is co rre ctly lo a de d is to pa ck it a nd ta ke it to a w e ighbridge to che ck the lo a ds o n e a ch a xle. Conta ct yo ur lo ca l Tra ding Sta nda rds o ffice o r go to w w w.go v.uk/find-w e ighbridge to find yo ur ne a re s t public w e ighbridge. If yo u ha ve fe e dba ck o n o ur ne w fo rm a t Da ta s he e t, ple a s e le t us kno w, us ing o ur s ho rt Fe e dba ck Fo rm.
C o ntacts W eb : The Ca m ping a nd Ca ra va nning Club Gre e nfie lds House W e st w ood W a y Cov e nt ry CV4 8JH This w ebsite w orks best using cookies. To improve your experience w e use cookies to remember login details and Tel: provide secure log-in, 024 to 7647 collect 5442 statistics to enable us to continuously improve the w ebsite and deliver tailored content to you. You can manage your Cookie Preferences or view our Cookie Policy. MANAG E