The Beginning...

My thought process in "Getting on the Road"!

January 21st 2000                                         

I have a fairly long history of involvement with RV to use the American generic name.    We have over the years looked at a large number of RV's of all formats and have owned three of different types and used various methods of travel once we reached our stopping point. 

So it was quite a long thinking process when we decided to sell our home on Scarborough hill and the small mini Lab that I had established two years earlier and travel for at least six months each year.

My first thought was to travel to UK and buy a Car and Caravan and at least we would have transportation when we reached our temporary destination. While the advantages are obvious I remembered that the moment I arrived at the motor camp the was the leveling of the caravan.

Then there was the carrying of the water in by Motorhome standards very small quantities on a daily basis and of course the emptying of the gray water at the same time.

This was no BIG deal, but I was not traveling right around the world to do these things on a daily basis if I could help it.

Towing was no big problem and I was only in one situation where I had to uncouple to turn round. the caravan was very comfortable, but to use the facilities one did have to stop and get out of the car and walk to the caravan.  There was a little of wobble as large trucks passed us with the cushion of air they created, but that was handled OK.

There was no wild camping with ease and on the rare occasions that we were able to there was always the concern of being in a different vehicle that the one with the motor.

It was good having a car to travel in, at the destinations.

We were very aware that the UK & European caravans & Motorhome were smaller and contained more in the space than their American counterparts. The American ones to the other degree came loaded with every thing from home.

The Fifth Wheelers were another consideration. We first saw these some fifteen years or so ago in the States.   They like their Motorhomes were large and loaded.

I was doubtful if I would be able to find a fifth wheeler that was small enough to travel thro Europe with ease. It was very informative to find the web site of Mark S. Nemeth   lots of good advise on full time camping with a 5th wheeler.  A visit to this site is a MUST for anyone thinking of going "Full-time" in any sort of vehicle.
He covers many points and many check lists on purchasing a vehicle, what to carry, some DIY things to make life easier, and many other things that are necessary to think about either before you go or to discover once you have taken the plunge.  

  He has overcome the problem of carrying the water on a daily basis and appears to be able to camp in the wild OK, but more study is necessary.

Another useful list of things to look for when you buy a RV is at http://www.fulltiming-america.com/buyrv.html 

Background cont....Motorhomes were always a consideration for us.   We had purchased two different ones. One C class 18ft and later one 20ft A class.   We have since sold both.

Both were Hymers purchased in Belgium which was in retrospect a foolish move.   Yes they were cheaper but we did not get exactly what we wanted.   The owner and his son seemed to have a good understanding of English but the comprehension was lacking by some degree.    Yes we are slow learners.

We found the 18 footer noisy to drive, and the inside a bit of a problem with one that liked to move around (me) and one that liked to sit for a while with her feet up.   After that we decided that we each needed out own space on the long trips.  We carried a small motorbike (50cc) but that was not powerful enough to carry us both up a slight incline.

 The other problem was it we struck a wet or cold day we were less tempted to venture out on the bike!

We therefore moved to the A Class, On the model we chose there was plenty of room and really we had no complaints. It was almost as ideal as one could get,(SEE PHOTO) but we had to tow a car and this meant double registration etc double insurance, double ferry fees and so forth, but it did enable us to get around. 

We have now reached the stage where I want to travel extensively (July....the problem of the house not selling has made me put off my plans for a while!....2001 on my way in May!)

It has becoming apparent that I will have to follow the sun going North for the northern summer and return to NZ for the southern one.

OK you might say you say yourself the 20ft A Class was almost perfect...why not use that?  Well one... we sold it last year and....

Well with the car on behind we found it very difficult to stop in confined spaces (as we did with car & Caravan) most time there was not space to camp overnight with the 40feet of M/H & car.    

It has been said of myself "if you can plug it into the power or put batteries into it I am happy".   If I am going to be on the road for say six months of the year I want the comforts of home where ever possible.   

Follow my thinking process.... On RV's (Now old)