motorway driving

[satchmoshaz]

Hi experts!! I have a Honda Acty Romahome with a 550 engine, I havent driven on the motorway as yet and wondered if anyone with a similar size vehicle has. I got 55 out of it last time we went out and there was more to give but when lorries over take it shakes my little van so I didnt go any faster, also when its windy you can really feel it.
Does everyone avoid motorways or travel overnight when they are quiet?

we may try the Lakes or wales later in the year so just wondered

cheers Shaz x

[kriss63]

Hi Shaz - Sorry I cannot answer that post, but I'm glad that you have asked it - I have a Suzuki Romahome 970 engine and i was wondering the same - I have not been on a run in her yet - but i am very worried about the hills - would they ever be a time that it would never go up one.

Have you had any problems with hills Shaz ?

[satchmoshaz]

hi, my van has surprised me, as it is quite nippy for a tiny engine and it fared much better on the hills that I have done than I thought!!!

[marc4242]

Hi. What is your vehicle?

Apr 20, 2008 7:43:55 GMT satchmoshaz said:

hi, my van has surprised me, as it is quite nippy for a tiny engine and it fared much better on the hills that I have done than I thought!!!

[satchmoshaz]

its a Honda acty romahome with a 550 baby engine!!

[jayjay]

Beford Rascal with 970 cc engine here.

It's not so much the engine power but how fast you can go and how long you can keep it up for. For example, 55mph is ok - but will your little engine keep going at that speed for miles of motorway without slowing down or overheating?

Mine likes pootling at 40-45 and that's way too slow for a motorway. It will do 50, but only for short stints. My son drives lorries and says he nearly rear-ended one as he just didn't believe how fast he came up to it. That one was doing about 45. Lorries do 60mph. So keep checking your rear view mirror and brace yourself!

So if you do less than 50-60, you are going to be overtaken every few minutes by a lorry which will batter you about all over the place - the back draught from these things has to be experienced to be believed! So you have to drop your speed in order to remain in control.

It's all to do with the little wheels and wheel base, carrying a shell that is approx 3x higher than the base. I'm keeping off the motorways since I nearly lost control when a lorry overtook me doing around 65 - they don't all stick to the speed limits and I was all over the place, literally.

Hills are not such a problem, unless they are literally up a mountain. You may have to go at 5mph in 1st gear but I've come across some good ones on the way from here to Aberwystyth and not had any problems.

Normal type windy-ish days are ok, but I would try not to venture out if it was a wind approaching gale force. The side winds coming from gaps between shelter feel just the same as the lorries on motorways if the gusts are quite strong.

Most A roads follow the motorways anyway. So that's what I use!

[kriss63]

Thank you for that Jayjay it was very useful indeed..... I will take heed of your information and the motorways and just stick to the A roads.....

[jayjay]

Apr 21, 2008 21:21:06 GMT kriss63 said:

Thank you for that Jayjay it was very useful indeed..... I will take heed of your information and the motorways and just stick to the A roads.....

The best way to find out if you can handle the gusts of wind/overtaking, etc is just to drive from one junction to the next and see how you go. That's how I found out!

It does take longer to get where you're going on the A roads, but the scenery is better! (The actual distance in miles is more or less the same, but there are junctions, etc) And you can stop wherever/whenever you want, rather than count the miles down to the next exit or services. You still get the lorries on the duel carriageways, so you still need to be aware of them, but thankfully, these roads are not as long and endless as the motorways, and there are fewer lorries as they are mostly using the motorways.

I'm quite looking forward to going up to Scotland on the A roads, as I will pass through villages and towns I've never seen before, except on exit signs. Two overnight stays in places I've never stopped as well.

If I did have to use a motorway, I'd leave it until late evening before setting off - mind you, my lights aren't that brilliant and I don't like driving in the dark anyway, so it's unlikely to happen with me!

[satchmoshaz]

thanks for the advice, I think I'll stick to A roads where possible

[jamieww]

Well i have to say that my C15d Roma seems to do very well on motorways.... usually travels between 60-70 without much effort.... and 'may' have been known to go slightly more but thats another story!
Even uphill it seems pretty gutsy and will keep at least above 50 on the motorway..
As for a roads and steep hills, I hardly have a problem.... Even in the breacon becons or Aberwystwth ....
There are some moments where a big gust will make you think twice about driving up some of the seaside cliff routes, but so far I'v had no real issues..
I suppose the 1800 engine in the C15d must be one of the best produced coz it just doesnt wanna ever stop! and economy wise I can't fault it, I estimate that I get between 40 - 50 per gallon on average, and thats mainly small short trips.. Not a great deal different with motorway driving.


As with any driving, you drive at a speed you feel comfortable with and on roads that you feel safe... If your anxious about motorway driving , keep to A roads....

All the best

Jamie

[philbyford]

Hey,

I have a Honda 550 and by my experience it seems the A roads are the best options. Although the engine is tiny, its just how you can deliver the power that makes the difference. For example, if you pre-empt an incline early enough and build up enough revs, you can usually cruise quite comfortably up hill.

Also, I think 50mph is fast enough in these little vans and like other members have suggested the very narrow wheel base combined with the height and shape of the vans turns them into sails in any wind!

I'd also consider your payload as well, since it is very easy to kit these vans out with far more than they are designed to carry. If you take you van to a local scrap yard, they are usually quite accomodating in weighing your camper in their bridges. A little less weight can make a lot of difference on your fuel economy as well as the comfortable speed you can travel. If things such as extra batteries, chairs, tables can be sacrificed on long journys this may help.

Finally, keep an eye on your tyre pressures. I have noticed that my camper is laden very much on the rear axel. I should think this isnt helped by the engines location as well as the majority of heavy items such as batteries, gas bottles, cooker etc being located at the rear of the van. This puts a lot of weight on the rear tyres and if under inflated will affect your Acty's performance. Especially since the wheels are so tiny in the first place. If anyone has got any suggestions on dealing with this matter i'd appreciate your help, lol!

I hope some of this might have help, i only speak of my personal experience, but i guess that is the same as with all the suggestions on here.

Cheers,

Phil

[jayjay]

Hi Phil, what excellent advice!

... but I want to take the kitchen sink when I go! I've bought a lot of folding things, water carrier, washing up bowl etc, so that makes the equipment side a bit lighter, but I can't get my head around making meals from packets, so I've packed a lot of tins! As I was carrying them in (off on Sat to Scotland) I was thinking, a) that'll pin her down onto the road a bit and b) how much extra is all that weight in petrol terms?

I immediately took two tins of beans out again - as if that's going to help! LOL!!!