cil
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by cil on Sept 21, 2006 19:59:25 GMT
Tomorrow I am picking up my first ever Romahome... It's a Duo Hylo, a year old and I'm trading my car in for it.
My lovely youngest daughter has just left home and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate/distract myself from my new alone-ness.
So I look forward to getting to know some of you here as I make my way through the early steps of Romahoming!
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Post by romingtim on Sept 21, 2006 20:13:27 GMT
Welcome to the forum Cil, I'm a first time romahome owner too, mine should be delivered around the start of November, so you'll have a head start on me!! I'm trading up from a tent so camping is not new but somewhere dry and warm to sleep will be.
Tim
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Post by viv on Sept 21, 2006 21:46:25 GMT
Hello cil, of course you are not alone just feeling a bit lonely because youngest has left home, know the feeling, we just love our Romagnome and we intend to use him as much as possible. We look forward to meeting you soon and wish you well with your travels.
Hello romington
We bought our first Romahome this year and I absolutely love it.It has taken us to music weekends and as a spare home when we visit the kids who live away from home.
Are you 2 going to join us on the first ever 'meet'. I have never been on a meet or anything like this before but this website is so friendly that we have thrown caution to the wind and booked up.
See the thread on general chat - forum meet.
viv
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Post by yamaha on Sept 21, 2006 23:54:19 GMT
Hello Cil - and welcome! We are a very friendly group, so feel free to ask any questions you may have. There will always be somebody about to answer them (if we can)!!
We also have a Duo Hylo, 2004 model, which we are delighted with. I think you have made a very good choice - they're big enough to camp in, but small enough to use every day as sole transport.
Mike & Sue
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Post by wendy on Sept 22, 2006 10:05:09 GMT
Hello Cil and welcome from me too. We'd be pleased to see you at the informal meet - we've never been on a meet before either! This one is definitely going to be very informal - nothing arranged beforehand, so don't be shy - come and join us.  The Forum Meet thread is in General Camping Discussion. |
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Post by Pauline on Sept 22, 2006 10:30:35 GMT
Hi Cil, A big welcome  We used to have a Duo (Hytop) but last year move up a notch to a Dimension, we loved the Duo and the only reason for trading in was so that we could have two extra seats so that we could take family out with us. We could have had a Duo Plus but they are rather expensive and we liked the idea of the bathroom in the Dimension. We too have never been on a meet - are we all 'novice meeters'? |
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Post by Graham on Sept 22, 2006 10:43:43 GMT
My lovely youngest daughter has just left home and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate/distract myself from my new alone-ness. Hi Cil Don't worry "you are never alone with a romahome", when you start driving it you will get lots of interest, people will just want to ask you about it because they are so cute. You've made a wise choice and I'm sure you won't regret it. Its seems that the majority of folk on here have a Hylo so you will have plenty of people to ask if you have any teething problems. Have fun Graham |
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cil
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by cil on Oct 1, 2006 9:42:32 GMT
Thank you everyone for your very kind messages. I have had my wonderful van now for just over a week and it's great fun! I took it to Dorset for the first weekend to get used to driving it, and had a fab time; aren't they comfortable? My job involves a fair bit of driving throughout the county and lots of report writing, so if you see a smiley woman with a cup of fresh coffee parked in a pretty layby writing reports in her Romahome - well, that's probably me... Ate fish and chips in it parked by a local city beauty-spot and got accosted by a chap who wanted to know all about the van. They do seem to attract lot of attention, don't they? I felt very proud. I'm even mastering the parking after driving a Corsa for the last year! I would love to go to the Cotswolds meet - I'm away in Scotland for the week preceding, but will consider the practicalities of making a stop-off there on the way back.  |
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cil
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by cil on Oct 1, 2006 9:56:07 GMT
One thing I meant to ask you hylo pullman option owners - do you find you need to remove the seat back behind the passenger seat in the cab to see better when reversing or is it just me? (When without a back-seat passenger of course...)
And how many of you 'wild camp' occasionally, or do most of you prefer to stay in campsites all the time? I'm a c&cc member with a tent (before the purchase of Carminibundus the hylo charmer) and have found their sites mainly very comfortable, but would like to occasionally sleep a night in the van off-sites. Is it generally legal in carparks if you're quiet and well behaved?
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Post by viv on Oct 1, 2006 11:31:00 GMT
Hello cil
we have never wild camped and would be a little dubious as I like the idea of others around us at night. I know that sounds a bit paranoid but better safe than sorry. We often use the CLs and particularly pub ones as we can go off for the weekend and have a lovely meal, bottle of wine and then just pop off to bed. The charges are usually quite low as well and although facilities are limited it's not a problem for a night or two.
We also have family around the country and son has an allocated parking at rear of his tiny house so we have stayed there but this is off the road. Daughter lives on a canal boat on huge plot of private land on the non towpath side of canal so park up there when we visit and there is a loo. Nephew lives by sea in Dorset so stay on his drive at 'party time'.
I too would be interested to hear if anyone has actually wild camped.
We did meet a lady in a Romahome in the new Forest this year who told us that she always spent 4 months of the year in her van in France and the rest of the time travelling around England and she never used a campsite preferring to stay in supermarket car parks or laybys or any other place that she could find. She did have a house in the New Forest so I assume in the depths of Winter she would probably retreat to this. She did all this with her disabled mother as well and had had the van fitted with a shower. She told us that she had made a lot of suggestions about modifications to Romahome head office and they did use her ideas sometimes. Perhaps she is a member here if so 'Hi'.
Perhaps we shall meet at the meet.
Viv
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Post by Pauline on Oct 1, 2006 15:41:05 GMT
And how many of you 'wild camp' occasionally, or do most of you prefer to stay in campsites all the time? I'm a c&cc member with a tent (before the purchase of Carminibundus the hylo charmer) and have found their sites mainly very comfortable, but would like to occasionally sleep a night in the van off-sites. Is it generally legal in carparks if you're quiet and well behaved? We've never wild camped. I'm sure I wouldn't sleep a wink!!  We do use CL's and CS's and find them excellent, I suppose it's always nice knowing that someone is fairly close by in case of emergency/problems/trouble etc. We once stayed until quite late on a French 'Aire' while waiting for a ferry from Roscoff but by 9.30 pm the local youths seemed to be running around, shouting etc. they didn't bother us in any way but, if like in England, they start drinking, you never know what they might get up to!  Not sure on the rules of using car parks but as you say if you are no trouble them probably no one would notice you. The problem is (in my opinion) what seems a very pleasant town in the day could become a no-go area late at night. You really need to know the area to be certain that you will be safe. I base this on the fact that our nearest town looks quite a nice place to visit in the day, it has a big car park and tourist attractions but sadly no way would I venture there after dark!!  Carminibundus - great name!! Sounds like it should be wearing a Toga |
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Post by viv on Oct 1, 2006 16:07:54 GMT
Pauline you have hit the nail on the head here by saying that places may change at night. I remember going for a lovely day out to one of the local beauty spots - Ivinghoe Beacon near here. It is a lovely open area with a vantage point - you know the kind of place. Kids playing in the fields, kite club and model aeroplane flying enthusiasts. Lovely sunny day. Picnics everywhere and the usual camper vans with the old couples (like me & OH now) sitting having a cup of tea!!!!!!
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However I looked down and there was a syringe. I looked harder and there were more of them and condoms. This was all near the car park area, I did not look further afield just packed up and went home.
What horrified me was that children often wear open toed sandals and of course they roll and play in the grass.
It occurred to me that, as you have said, places can change at night and who knows what had been going on here the night before. What a sad state of affairs - but this is why I am concerned about wild camping !!!!!!!!
ON a happier note we do usually find places are clean and tidy in the mainly tourist areas and on a funny note I remember staying in the Forest of Dean and hearing the most appalling screaming noise from the forest in the middle of the night. It sounded like someone was being murdered nearby. I assumed it was kids misbehaving. There was no nothing we could do so I went off to sleep and mentioned the noise in the morning to the next door campers who explained that it was the animals, !!!!! There are also wild boar who could have made the noises!! Shows what a townie I am.
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Post by wendy on Oct 1, 2006 18:19:18 GMT
We have stayed on aires (not motorway ones) in France a couple of times and felt very safe. Even when there were youngsters around they seemed to go home fairly early and the French don't seem to have the same drunkenness problems that we have in UK. We've never wildcamped in the UK, although might consider it in some parts of Scotland. I think that you have to find somewhere where you feel comfortable and there are no 'no overnight parking' notices. ;D This link gives a few places where it is acceptable: www.motorcaravanmagazine.co.uk/content/souk/database.htmDo let us know if you find anywhere good and in the meantime we'll keep using CL and CS sites, which we usually find are very good. After all we only really need a level field and a tap.  |
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Post by lunnie on Oct 1, 2006 18:52:40 GMT
Hi, I have wild camped on Skye and 2 weeks on the Outer Hebrides, brilliant, but would look closely where I park in England.
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Post by lunnie on Oct 1, 2006 18:54:15 GMT
Sorry, how rude of me, Welcome to this very friendly site, I now have my 2nd Hytop C15 now starting my 6th year of owning these lovely little homes.
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Post by viv on Oct 2, 2006 7:42:18 GMT
Hi Lunnie and cil
There you are cil, Lunnie will be able to give you some tips re wild camping. Lunnie, Fancy having had a little 'home' 6 years, I can't wait to hear all about your travels one day, particularly the wild camping in Skye.
Viv
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cil
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by cil on Oct 2, 2006 11:47:42 GMT
Thank you all again for advice - I agree that safety should be of utmost importance, and will think carefully before wildcamping.
I know what a CS is - I assume campsite - but what is a CL? Sorry for my lingignorance! How do you find out about them?
I'm so glad I found this site...
Cil
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Post by wendy on Oct 2, 2006 12:11:41 GMT
CS = certificated site (Camping & Caravanning Club) and
CL = certificated location - Caravan Club
They are for members only and are licensed for 5 vans. You get a book detailing them when you join the clubs.
They have to provide drinking water, toilet emptying point and rubbish disposal as a minumum. Some have the minumum and some have toilets, showers etc. - all detailed in the books.
Probably worth joining both for at least a year to see what's on offer.
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cil
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by cil on Oct 2, 2006 14:35:18 GMT
Thanks Wendy... I'm in the first but not the second. I'll give it a whirl!
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Post by Graham on Oct 2, 2006 19:33:32 GMT
One thing I meant to ask you hylo pullman option owners - do you find you need to remove the seat back behind the passenger seat in the cab to see better when reversing or is it just me? (When without a back-seat passenger of course...) Hi Cil When we had our Duo it didn't have the Pullman option (which incidentally I think is brilliant) but I never really used the rear view mirror to reverse I found it easier to use the wing mirrors, as the view through the back door wasn't really very good. Its hard to get used to not using the rear view mirror especially if you are used to driving a car but I think you will find with time you will get quite adept at reversing with the wing mirrors only. Glad you are coming to the meet it will be nice to meet you. Graham |
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Post by moya on Oct 3, 2006 10:12:34 GMT
One thing I meant to ask you hylo pullman option owners - do you find you need to remove the seat back behind the passenger seat in the cab to see better when reversing or is it just me? (When without a back-seat passenger of course...) Hi Cil and a belated welcome  We have the Duo Hylo with the pullman option but when driving we always tend to stow the table and put the seats in their normal position so haven't had the experience of reversing with the back of seat still there. Both of us use the wing mirrors for reversing and maybe a quick check through back door window to check how close we are to vehicle etc. that is behind. I think it was Graham who said the same thing and you do get used to using the wing mirrors more. You sound like you are already enjoying your new Romahome. We love ours having had it just over a year now. We have recently returned from our first two week holiday in it and it was great. We are always waiting for our next weekend away. Get back from one and then start looking at the calendar to see when we can be off again! |
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Post by viv on Oct 3, 2006 13:47:25 GMT
Since driving 'Romagnome' I have noticed that recently I seem to be messing up when reverse parking my Ford Focus. It must be that I am slow at adjusting between driving the two vehicles - It is really annoying me though.!!!!!
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Post by Andrew Craig on Nov 30, 2006 13:08:53 GMT
May I also introduce myself? My name's Andrew, and I've just bought a 1995 Romahome on a Citroen C15. I took a massive gamble, buying it off Ebay from a man in Northern Ireland without even seeing it, but I've had the AA check it out and it's in good nick for its age. I'll be using it mainly for staying down in Sussex where I do odd days as a trainee paragliding instructor -- I live in London, and camping in the field behind the paragliding school was fine in summer, but not so much fun in November...
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Post by moya on Nov 30, 2006 13:19:16 GMT
May I also introduce myself? My name's Andrew, and I've just bought a 1995 Romahome on a Citroen C15. I took a massive gamble, buying it off Ebay from a man in Northern Ireland without even seeing it, but I've had the AA check it out and it's in good nick for its age. I'll be using it mainly for staying down in Sussex where I do odd days as a trainee paragliding instructor -- I live in London, and camping in the field behind the paragliding school was fine in summer, but not so much fun in November... Hi Andrew. A big welcome to you Everyone is helpful on this site and we all enjoy our vans. Glad your gamble turned out ok. I am sure you will have lots of enjoyment from your new Romahome. |
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Post by wendy on Nov 30, 2006 13:31:05 GMT
Welcome Andrew - we're all very friendly on here. Maybe see you on a meet next year. We have one planned for spring and another in the pipeline for summer.  |
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Post by Pauline on Nov 30, 2006 13:48:37 GMT
Hi Andrew Big welcome! You will find your Romahome nice and cosy during those winter stay overs. Paragliding looks fun but not something I'd like to try myself!!  |
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Post by Graham on Nov 30, 2006 15:53:00 GMT
Hi Andrew
Welcome to the Forum, I hope you have many enjoyable years camping in your Romahome it sounds like a bargain.
Graham
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Post by viv on Nov 30, 2006 21:20:37 GMT
Hi Andrew
These vans are just the best, can say no more!
Wow paragliding, as I am scared of heighta I am dizzy at the thought.
I am in London (North) and am often in sussex visiting my son and grandson. Hope you can join one of our meets so we can all meet up, would love to hear about your adventures.
Viv
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Post by martinw on Dec 1, 2006 10:36:18 GMT
Hi Andrew Welcome to the club. I dont mind planes, but paragliding - NO WAY  Martin |
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