So, you’ve just bought your first motorhome and are dying to get out on the road. But chances are you have a number of questions before you set out on that first adventure. That’s why we’ve put together these 10 FAQs to help you get the most out of your new home on wheels.
The short answer to this is yes. You need a valid TV license to watch TV in your motorhome but whether or not you need to buy a second license depends on where and when you will be watching live TV.
You do not need another TV license for your motorhome if you already have a license at a registered home address. But you do have to guarantee that TV will not be watched in both places at the same time. If there is a possibility that someone will be watching TV back home whilst you are watching something in your motorhome then you will need two licenses.
You also need to apply for a license for new motorhomes that are bought as a new main residence.
If we assume that a campsite has a 16 Amp supply (as most do), you will have about 3.68KW of power on your pitch. This means you will be able to use appliances that have wattages low enough that they won’t trip the electrics.
Travel kettles, low watt toasters and hair dryers should all be ok to use individually but you should avoid trying to use too many appliances at once. If you try to use your regular home appliances (such as kettles) rather than their travel versions you’ll find that your power won’t stretch anywhere near as far.
To accurately work out how much you can carry in your motorhome you will need to work out your payload. To find out the payload you can use the following equation:
Payload is equal to the maximum technically permitted laden mass of your motorhome (which you can find out from your manufacturer and should also be noted on the weight plate fitted to your motorhome) minus what the motorhome weighs before you add your luggage, passengers, fuel etc (MIRO – mass in running order).
Once you’ve worked out what your payload is, this is the amount of weight you have to play when loading your motorhome. Aside from weighing each individual item (including yourself, appliances, fuel) you can check you are not over your maximum weight by visiting a weigh station when you are fully packed. If you are overweight you will need to leave a few things behind.
Read more about how much you can carry in your motorhome here.
The legislation is slightly murky when it comes to where you can and can’t stay overnight in your motorhome.
If you are planning to park up and sleep somewhere that is privately owned then you will need to ask the permission of the landowner first. When it comes to parking up at the side of the road, the landowner is then the local authority so it really could depend on how the authorities in the area feel about motorhomes at the side of the road.
In practice, it is unlikely that you will be moved on if you are only staying a night or two but it’s not impossible. You are more likely to run into problems in car parks where overnight stays are usually forbidden.
In England, it is illegal to smoke in a vehicle that is carrying someone under the age of 18. The same law applies when you are on the road and driving your motorhome.
This law does not apply if you are stationary and off-road or stationary on the road but you are using it as accommodation. Similar exemptions are in place in the rest of the UK.
Hardstanding pitches are the safest option if you want to avoid muddy tires and potential sinking problems. If you do have to set up on grass, make sure the ground isn’t too soft underfoot.
A leisure battery is the battery which powers all the appliances in your motorhome. They are designed to be used over a prolonged period of time to power your lights and kitchen appliances etc. It is very different from your car battery which is only designed to give out short bursts of energy to start your engine.
Your car battery is not designed to be drained and charged the way a leisure battery is so you will need both in your motorhome. Luckily, most models will already be fitted with both.
Seatbelts must always be worn wherever they are fitted in your motorhome. If your motorhome was registered after 2007 any seat designed as a travelling seat should be labeled and fitted with a seatbelt. If a seat is not designed for travel then it should not be used.
If your motorhome was manufactured before 2007 then it may not be fitted with seatbelts in the back so in this case you are not required to wear one. Although it should be noted that it is deemed unsafe to travel in sideways facing seats even if they are fitted with seatbelts. Read more about the law of seatbelts and motorhomes.
This can vary greatly depending on what type of toilet you have as some toilets will need more maintenance than others. As a general rule, you should make sure you are using the appropriate chemical (if required) for your model, empty it regularly (cassette toilets will need to be emptied more regularly than flush toilets) and take plenty of cleaning products with you.
Investing in both mechanical and electronic security devices is the best way to keep your motorhome safe from theft. A combination of steering wheel locks, wheel clamps, alarms and tracking devices are all effective when used together.
