Motorhome stuff. Thoughts, ideas, discussions.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Get a caravan and use the transit to tow it.

[KungFooBob]

Get a caravan and use the transit to tow it.

Been there, done that.

A moho is so much better. until you've tried both you can't understand.

[weeksy]

Get a caravan and use the transit to tow it.

Doesn't work due to some of the locations being very very tight.

[Taff]

Another thing to look out for, the exhaust on a lot of vans are pretty low because they are side exit, so it's worth just having a quick look, the last thing you want to do is rip the exhaust off in a lumpy car park.

[Rockburner]

25mpg!

How are you driving it?

My 2.2l 130bhp Mk7 Transit would easily do mid 30's if you stuck to 60mph.

There's only one way to drive it, foot to the floor.

I didn't but a MoHo to stick to 60mph ffs, it was bad enough having to do that with the caravan. I think I'll be getting it remapped soon to help us get up these local hills

TBF I did most of my driving in Fronch on the B roads where the limit was 55 anyways.

At 70mph it sounded like the hab was going to explode!

Another benefit of a van conversion. Much quieter at speed.

[KungFooBob]

There's only one way to drive it, foot to the floor.

I didn't but a MoHo to stick to 60mph ffs, it was bad enough having to do that with the caravan. I think I'll be getting it remapped soon to help us get up these local hills

TBF I did most of my driving in Fronch on the B roads where the limit was 55 anyways.

At 70mph it sounded like the hab was going to explode!

Another benefit of a van conversion. Much quieter at speed.

When I eventually buy another, a proper van conversion is top of the list. I needed a good sized garage when I was racing, but that's not a requirement now.

One thing I know is I'd much rather have fixed beds than a lounge, which is quite rare on van conversions.

[MyLittleStudPony]

FWIW I hired a Rimor Katamarano 3 for a week a few years ago. I think it was a body put onto a regular van, maybe a Fiat Ducato or Ford Transit. It was just under a grand to hire for a week. It was pretty spacious but everything felt very flimsy, and it was rough and noisy to drive on the motorway. My 2017 Ford Tourneo is way more refined.

[edulord]

FWIW I hired a Rimor Katamarano 3 for a week a few years ago. I think it was a body put onto a regular van, maybe a Fiat Ducato or Ford Transit. It was just under a grand to hire for a week. It was pretty spacious but everything felt very flimsy, and it was rough and noisy to drive on the motorway. My 2017 Ford Tourneo is way more refined.

If you like the Tourneo’s feel, consider a DIY conversion on a similar chassis: add sound-deadening mats behind panels, upgrade door seals, and replace lightweight cabinetry with sturdier materials. That hybrid approach keeps refinement while letting you customize the living space

[Taff]

Make sure that you see evidence of a recent habitation check, this will tell you if/where any damp is, that the gas and electric systems have been checked.
These things do go up in smoke from time to time and when they do, they burn very quickly.

A fitted/ refillable lpg system will save you loads of money, £1 a ltr from the pump Vs £40ish for a 6kg bottle (approx 10 ltr), and the fitted system has a bigger capacity.

[weeksy]

Interesting points and i thought you'd all be more in favour of the MoHo. They're certainly getting more and more popular over race conversions.

[Mr Moofo]

If you have a MoHo where does all the bike stuff go?

[weeksy]

If you have a MoHo where does all the bike stuff go?

In the garage section, it's pretty huge, mate has 4 bikes in his, all with wheels on. We wouldn't need as much 'stuff' as usual as we'd have a lot of it in situ. The only slightly complex one could be the gazebo, but everyone else seems to get theirs to the meetings, so i guess it's possible, even if the gazebo goes in the living area for the drive up maybe (if it doesnt' fit in garage that is)

[Taff]

Interesting points and i thought you'd all be more in favour of the MoHo. They're certainly getting more and more popular over race conversions.

From all of the chats that we've had with people that have been doing vans and MoHo for a long time at dog shows, it seems that if you're solo or a very minimalist couple a van conversion works really well, if on the other hand you're more than a minimalist couple then the extra room that a MoHo gives really helps.
The size of the MoHo garage is a hands down winner for all of the bikes, tools and other stuff you want to carry, as is the bigger shower that you (the boy) will be using several times a day.

Walk around the pits at the next race and ask people what works for them, you'll get a great insight of what's what.

[weeksy]

Walk around the pits at the next race and ask people what works for them, you'll get a great insight of what's what.

That was what we were doing the other day, quite a few of them had owned race conversions, but each and every one said "motorhome" without doubt. Fort William was a little different as it had it's own shower block etc which was cleaned several times a day, but usually that's not an option. So a shower could be really useful yeah. Toilets are less of an issue as each race has a toilet sorted, whether they're NICE or not is open to debate lol, but they do exist.
I just think being able to get up in the morning and stick on a nice coffee, then relax a bit as you're waking up and the world is waking, would be a good option. Night times you're usually sitting in a gazebo/awning and talking rubbish, so a bit less of an issue.

[Flux]

Yep, several Mh's have perfectly adequate garages, and if you've got a 4.5T one your far less likely to exceed your legal load capacity, my garage is rated to 450kg.
Had a race camper for 8 years and loved it, but changed for a mh 4 years ago and never looked back.
The awning on the race van was indispensable and although we've got one on the new van we only tend to use it couple times a year when we're pitched up long enough to be bothered.

[Flux]

Garage in new van...

[weeksy]

Yeah for sure there's enough space in the garage on a race conversion, but with the less space in the front being an issue. I think the motorhome is a little more refined in terms of living space, if not in terms of driving maybe.

As with everything in life there's a compromise

[Rockburner]

Yeah for sure there's enough space in the garage on a race conversion, but with the less space in the front being an issue. I think the motorhome is a little more refined in terms of living space, if not in terms of driving maybe.

As with everything in life there's a compromise

It depends on whether you'll use that inner space much or not. If you're outside with the bbq more, then the inside is only really for sleeping in and storage?

[KungFooBob]

Inside is nice if it's cold and rainy outside, especially if you've got blown heating (which is also great for drying wet kit).

[Rockburner]

Oh yeah, another thought: be aware that showering uses up water pretty quickly, so if that's part of the use-case look into the largest water tank you can get, and the most capacity on the heater you can get.

Iirc the water heater in my van only did about 12litres at a time which was just about enough for 1 brief shower.

Things may have improved recently, i don't know.