Motorhome Tips For Beginners

Published: February, 2024. Updated: February, 2024.

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Our top ten motorhome tips and tricks for beginners guide is based on our own experience. We hope you benefit from it!

1. Get to know your Motorhome.

• The best way to learn about your motorhome is to read the manual whilst testing all of the equipment in the vehicle.
• See also Tip 5. below for learning essential procedures.
• By testing things like the control panel, heating system, hot water system, gas system, water pumps, cooker, grey and fresh water tanks you will quickly find any leaks or faults and be able to remedy them sooner rather than later.
• Top Trick: Spray the outside of your motorhome with a hosepipe from top to bottom to check for leaks.

2. Keep within your Payload.

• The payload of a motorhome is the additional weight you can legally carry in the vehicle.
• For a more detailed explanation of payload you might like our YouTube film about Motorhome Payload.
• The payload of motorhomes can vary significantly and sometimes there is very little extra weight you can carry on top of the weight of your unloaded vehicle if your payload isn't much.
• You run the risk of your insurance being invalid if you overload your motorhome beyond your payload limit.
• Top Trick: Motorhome Dealers do not always know what the payload of your motorhome is (or what payload means) and so it's wise to research this for yourself.

3. Practice manoeuvring your motorhome.

• The Caravan and Motorhome Club run courses for driving Motorhomes, which you may find useful. We found that just by practising different manoeuvres in an empty car-park was all that we needed to give us confidence.
• Top Trick: Remember when pulling away from being close to and alonside a wall, the back end of the vehicle is likely to hit the wall if you pull away at a large angle. To pull away safely, keep your angle small and increase it very gradually.

4. Getting around after pitching up.

• When we first starting motorhoming we bought our two electric bicycles with us, which gave us pretty good scope for exploring locally. Our payload allowed us to take the extra weight of the bicycles, which we carried in our garage.
• We now tow a small trailer for our scooter, which allows us to go further afield.
• Top Trick: Plan how you are going to get around once your motorhome is pitched up at a campsite.

5. Learn essential procedures.

• Know how to keep your fridge/freezer on at all times either by battery, gas or electric hookup.
• Know how to connect your mains hook up.
• Know how to connect your gas bottles.
• Know how to empty the toilet cassette.
• Know how to fill the fresh water tank.
• Know how to empty the grey water tank.
• Know how full or empty the fresh and grey water tanks are.
• Top Trick: Fill up your fresh water tank on arrival at your campsite before pitching up to avoid driving to the fresh water tap later.

6. Insurance for your trip.

• We always ensure we have travel insurance for any health issues when travelling abroad and breakdown cover for home and abroad.
• Top Trick: Check the small print and shop around for the best deals.

7. Safety.

• Make sure you have fire and carbon monoxide alarms installed.
• Keep a fire extinguisher and blanket in the vehicle.
• Have a well-stocked first aid kit and medicine cabinet.
• Security devices like trackers, security cameras, alarms, steering and pedal locks enhance security.
• Top Trick: Uncoil your electric hook up lead to avoid over heating and fire.

8. Side Mirrors.

• Be cautious when travelling through narrow lanes and allow extra room for your side mirrors as they stick out and are very expensive to replace.
• Top Trick: We push our mirrors in as far as they will go and adjust them so we can see clearly behind us.

9. Motorhome Dimensions.

• Know your motorhome's length, width, and height and take into account any equipment protruding from the roof.
• You will need to know this for any height and weight restrictions on roads and for some campsites who require your dimensions.
• Top Trick: We carry a card in our motorhome with the dimensions of our vehicle for quick reference on the road.

10. Campsite Footwear.

• You will find that you are often doing short tasks outside your motorhome and going to and from the shower block regularly, so wearing something waterproof and easy to take on and off makes life easier.
• Top Trick: We find Crocs fit the bill perfectly or you may choose flip flops!