General Info – Motorhome Insider

What are the most common questions and answers asked about owning a motorhome? The lists seem never-ending, so we have gathered together here 41 frequently asked questions and gives our own one or two sentence answers. What Do I Need to Know About Owning a Motorhome? Not as much as you may think at the start, but you will have plenty of questions when you have your first motorhome. We have brought together some of the most common ones. Let’s pitch in with some Q&A and aim to give a single sentence answer. Some questions lead to a full article. In no particular order . . . 1. Can I Travel with Fresh Water in My Tank? Yes, motorhomes are designed to carry water and it is ready for that all-important cup of coffee when you arrive at your destination. Consider if you need to be running with a full water tank, as it will affect your MPG. 2. What is the Most Important Accessory? That’s an easy one to answer. No trip is worthwhile without - a corkscrew 😊 3. Is It OK to Travel with a Full Wastewater Tank? It is, but aim to dump your waste grey water before you leave a site, as there is no point in hauling weight around unnecessarily. 4. What is Grey Water? This is the wastewater from your sink and shower. Stored in a tank under the vehicle, aim to empty it whenever you have the opportunity. 5. What is Black Water? This is the contents of your toilet cassette which should only be disposed at properly recognised points. Never use places such a public toilet to empty the cassette. 6. Do Motorhomes have Awnings as Standard? Many have wind-out awnings or canopies fitted to the side of the van, although they are often an optional extra. Stand-alone awnings are like a tent and fix to the side of your van. 7. What does EHU Mean? Electric Hook Up, where you connect your van to a mains power source at a campsite. Check the number of amps supplied at the camp’s electric point, so you don’t overload the circuit by running too many items. 8. Can I Travel Full-time in a Motorhome? Absolutely, what’s stopping you? Many people travel all the time by motorhome, visiting countries across Europe. 9. Can I Park Overnight in a Supermarket Car Park? Generally, no, as these are private property and there are usually signs restricting a stay to two or three hours. 10. What Is the Longest Motorhome That Can be Driven in the UK? This is restricted to a vehicle of 14 metres in length, usually an American style R.V. 11. Is There a Maximum Height for a Motorcaravan? No the isn’t a maximum height for a van but watch for those pesky low bridges. 12. How Many People Can I Carry in My Six Berth Van? This depends on the number of fitted and legal seatbelts. If you only have four belts, then four is the maximum number of passengers you can carry when you are on the road. 13. Does my Campervan Need an MoT Certificate? Yes, it exactly the same way as a car, you will need to MoT your van when it reaches three years of age. Not all MoT stations can manage a motorhome, due to the height or weight being too much for their inspection ramp. 14. I’m Travelling in Europe, Do I Still Need an MoT? If your vehicle is three years or more old, then yes. If you drive in Europe without a valid MoT, you are driving illegally, so think points on your driving licence and your insurance may be invalid. 15. How Much Does My Water Weigh? One litre of water weighs one kilo, so a 100-litre full tank, weighs 100 kilos, which is a fair chunk of your payload. Consider if you need to drive with a full water tank, especially if your next stop is at a campsite with standard facilities. 16. Can Someone Sleep in a Bed While we Are Travelling? No, everyone must always be secured with a legal seatbelt while on the road. Anything otherwise is both illegal and dangerous to all. 17. How Much Do Campsites Cost? Every campsite will be different, and it depends on the facilities, use of electricity, number of people, whether you have pets, time of year, discounts or premiums and a host more variables. Prices can be anywhere between £8 and £50 a night. 18. Are There Any Android or IOS Apps for Motorhomes? Yes, we have reviewed over 30 different apps, covering everything from maps and sat-nav, to campsite lists and even one listing public toilet – well, you never know! There’s is a full article here. 19. What is a Motorhome Pitch? A campsite will allocate you an area to park-up, which is called a pitch. These can be on grass or hard standing depending on the site. 20. What is Hard Standing at a Motorhome Campsite? Hard standing can be solid concrete block set in the ground or made up of loose stones and shale. Pretty much anything other than grass. 21. Is to Safe to Park on a Grass Pitch? Unless the weather is bad and rain makes the grass difficult to drive on, so keep an eye to the sky. Always carry a strong enough tow rope with the correct fitting, in case anyone needs to tow you out of a sticky spot. 22. Are All Campsite Pitches Dead Flat? Not by any means, especially on grass. You may find you’ll need to use leveling ramps on some pitches to keep your van level. 23. On a Dead Flat Pitch, Why Do Some People Still Use Ramps? Certain vans are engine heavy at the front and the beds are not exactly level. Using a leveling ramp under the front wheels provides a more comfortable sleep. 24. Is Fresh Water from a Campsite Safe to Drink? This is debatable, and most folks won’t drink the water from their fresh water tank unless boiled for tea and coffee. Bugs can build up over time in a water tank, although that doesn’t mean the water is dangerous. 25. What is the Best Insurance Company for a Motorhome? There isn’t a best, as those companies who cover our vehicles will rate the cost based on many factors from the age and value of the motorhome, age of the driver, where you live, how many miles you drive, and what security you have fitted. There are about a dozen companies offering motorhome insurance, and it pays to shop around. 26. Is There a Best Company for Breakdown Insurance? This will depend on the age of your van and whether you want to travel in mainland Europe. Some breakdown cover is restricted to the UK only, others provide up to 30 days in Europe, although 365 days can be found - it is just a case of shopping around. 27. Do I Need a Television Licence in a Motorhome? Yes, in the same way, you need one at home and you can use your home licence while you are travelling. If you are travelling full-time and don’t have a home address, you still need a TV licence to watch in your van. 28. What is a Three-way Fridge? A three-way fridge which can run on gas, 12-volt DC, 230-volt AC mains electric, depending on what works for the moment. 29. Can I Leave my Fridge Gas on When Travelling by Ferry? When you arrive at the port, your motorhome will have an inspection to make sure the gas is switched of. It can’t be turned back on when you park on the ferry. 30. Can I Leave my Fridge Gas on When Travelling Through Eurotunnel? No, the same rules apply as for travel by ferry. Your gas must always be turned off when using the tunnel. 31. Does my Motorhome Need a Tracker? Your insurance company may demand one which meets a certain standard, otherwise, the choice is yours. It is wise to check your insurance policy, as you could be uninsured if your motorhome is stolen and you don’t have a tracker fitted. 32. Will I Lose my Campsite Pitch if I Go for a Drive? Possibly, yes, unless you leave a marker on the pitch. This can be a board perhaps with your registration number or name, although many sites will allocate specific pitches to campers, so you could be safe. 33. What is a Grey Water Grate? Many motorhome sites have a special drain in the form of a grate for you to drive over and let out your wastewater. This grate not the one for use as a toilet dump. 34. Do I need to Pay UK Vehicle Excise Duty While in Europe? You will need to have an up to date ‘tax disc’, not that they are called that, when in Europe. You can renew your VED online to keep it up to date. 35. Can I Sleep in a Lay-By or on the Road? Well, there isn’t a law which says you can’t, but do pick your spot carefully. Websites and apps such as Search for Sites and Park4Night list plenty of free places where you can stop. 36. There’s a Hosepipe Ban, Can I Fill my Motorhome Water Tank? Hosepipe bans apply to use other than for human consumption, so yes, you can use a hose to fill the tank. You may want to be discreet and not upset the neighbours, who may well argue the point. 37. What Type of Driving Licence do I Need for a Motorhome UNDER 3,500 kilos? A full driving licence with category B, but if you only have category B-Auto, you will be restricted to vans with an automatic gearbox. More on Motorhome Driving Licences. 38. What Type of Driving Licence do I Need for a Motorhome OVER 3,500 kilos? For a van between 3,500 kilos and 7,500 kilos, you will need category C1, which you will have if you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997. Here is what you need to do otherwise. 39. What is Payload? The payload is the difference between the weight of an empty motorhome and the plated weight. This isn’t always easy to calculate, so look at our explanation here. 40. How Much Beer Does my Fridge Hold? Just testing to see if you are still reading 😊 41. How Many Discounts Can I Expect on a New Motorhome? This depends on how good you are at negotiating. One way is to ask for free extras and upgrades – just give it a try. Safe Travels! RELATED QUESTIONS What are the Most Essential Motorhome Accessories? We had fun researching our list, which you can find here.