Motorhome Novice

[geordie911]

Hi everyone, I will shortly receive my new R10 and I am a complete Motorhome novice. I would be grateful for any tips or advice you could give me on Electric hookups. Most campsites I've looked at quote their hookups as 10amps. What is the best way of avoiding overloading the connection. Would 10amps be sufficient to run a normal kettle?

I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks Geordie

[yamaha]

Hi Geordie, welcome, and congrats on you expected new arrival!!

If you remember that 1 kilowatt consumes about 4 amps, you can calculate how much you can use safely.

So, a 2KW kettle or heater will take 8 amps - but if you look around there are electric kettles more suited to camping that are about 1KW.

Although they will take a bit longer to boil, you aren't so likely to trip the pitch's power supply point if you also have a heater running at the same time - a 600 watt heater should be ample for your needs, but for safety maybe consider an oil filled radiator-type heater.

Mike

[lizzie]

Hi Geordie

Hope you really enjoy your Romahoming! I would be interested to hear how you you find your experience of camping in your R10. A friend is considering buying one mainly because of the convenience and the petrol consumption so your comments would be appreciated.

Lizzie

[Graham]

Hi Geordie

Welcome to the forum, the R10 looks a lovely little van I hope you have some great camping trips in it.

When we have used electric hook ups on site I can only ever remember overloading the supply once and that was in France where we couldn't even boil a kettle on one site without tripping the supply.

In this country we have never had a problem in spite on the fact that we have a normal household kettle and a electric fan heater. If you are worried though it would be wise to follow Yamaha's advice and get a camping kettle.

Graham

[ourandrew]

Hi all,

I'm a little way behind you Geordie. Am just thinking of buying an R10 - it looks like a great deal - and would love to get in contact with seasoned Romahome veterans for some advice. The last time I did any sort of motorhoming/caravanning was when I was a kid, more years than I care to remember!
If anyone would like to get a conversation going, either here or via email, I'd love to pick peoples' brains for pearls of wisdom, particularly about drawbacks. Firstly: Romahome vs Autosleeper - what do we think?

Do get in touch.

Thanks!!

[baldybantam]

Hello Our Andrew, welcome to the Forum.

You are saying Romahome - v - Autosleeper.

We are about to become owners of a new Outlook SX, we had an Autosleeper Trooper for 7 years. In between we've had a larger van and are greatly looking forward to the smaller again.

Our main complaint with the Autosleeper was the bed size. The finish was superb, we never had a days worry with the vehicle in the 7 years apart from normal wear and tear. We didn't like all the glass windows for lack of privacy, also the 1.9 engine was not the best for passing vehicles or going up hills once you had slowed down. Felt like Fred Flintstone and wanted to put the feet down and help it along Different engine models now. We got about 34 mpg with it, our present vehicle gives us about 28 mpg. Looking forward to better mpg with the Romahome.

When we got the Autosleeper, we were happy with it and only stayed in it for a few nights at a time. Latterly with all the extra bits and pieces like silver screens, mats to go under sleeping bags because of the hard bed, we found there was not much room to move in it, also got fed up sleeping head to toe for bed size.

We worked out what we wanted, large bed, plenty of storage, economical vehicle and easier to drive, great day picnic vehicle but one which has the cooker, fridge, toilet option - which is just the same as other vehicles have but in a smaller package. If we find we need more space, we can add an awning.

Everyone on the forum is great for helping, read the posts, check your bank statement and good luck!

Baldy!

[Graham]

Mar 8, 2009 14:04:18 GMT ourandrew said:

If anyone would like to get a conversation going, either here or via email, I'd love to pick peoples' brains for pearls of wisdom, particularly about drawbacks.

Welcome Andrew, please ask away on here lots of folk with a wide variety of experience in different vans.

You may be better off making a new thread for your questions otherwise poor old Geordie911 will have his thread hi jacked.

Graham

[geordie911]

Thanks to Mike & Graham for the advice. I invested in a powerpack for use when no hookup available and tried a 12v camping kettle on this the other day. It took 18 mins to boil, so it is true what they say about a watched kettle. At least it seemed that way.
I will report back to Lizzie when I've got a couple of trips under my belt. If the fuel consumption is anywhere near citreons claim for for the Nemo, I will be impressed.
3 weeks and counting, I can hardly wait.

Thanks for the warm welcome. Geordie

[ourandrew]

Hey Geordie,
Wondering how your new r10 is? Am looking at them at the moment. Hopefully going buy one this year.
Ourandrew

[lunnie]

Does the R10 have a gas cooker?? if so much quicker to use a kettle on the stove.

Also this helps to heat your van. I did 6 weeks no electrics, and had no problems at all, small 7" tv which is 3 way, battery, 12v and 24v. but never did get a reception up in Scotland. and frankly the scenery and birdlife was amusement enough for us.

[geordie911]

Hi ourandrew. Got the R10 last thursday. Love it, nice to drive.It's an ex demo so forum members may have seen it at a show, tho it was only registered late jan. I've already taken out the porta potty as i can use that space better. Plenty of room for myself and small dog, would suggest you invest in an awning if you think you'll need more room. I've not gone overnight as yet hopefully will during next couple of weeks. Had a long run out on sunday up the northeast coast, canny day. get in touch if you need any info.
Bye Geordie

[geordie911]

Hi lunnie. The R10 has a double hob, I've not used it yet, but imagine a kettle will be quicker on gas. I bought a small 12v kettle which takes 18 min to boil 2 small cups full.

Geordie

[Graham]

Hi Geordie911

Congratulations on your R10, I think you are the only person on here who has got a R10 (first on many hopefully). They really are Small Motorhomes, hope you have many happy camping trips in her.

[ourandrew]

Hi Geordie,

Congratulations! Yes, was wondering about the storage. There's more space when you see the r10 in the flesh, though. Will be interested to know how the small water carrier works for you. I was thinking that boiling a kettle on the hob would be quicker and heat the van at the same time. Will pick your brains at some point!

Ourandrew

[noosner]

Hi Geordie

As veterans of the Pennine Aztec (folding camper) and now new owners of a Romahome, we recently decided that the sound of a kettle whistling on the gas hob was the true sound of being on holiday. It's also a handier shape to store and as Ourandrew says, heats the van at the same time. So we've jettisoned our electric kettle. Hope you have fab times in your R10!

Best wishes, Noosner

[janeyjane]

Hi

Just been for a look at an R10 today. Liked the van size. Liked the driving position. Liked that there is a gap between the made up bed and the cupboards so that I don't have to crawl over the bed to go to the loo, however, wasn't convinced that there was room to sit down to use the loo with the bed out. Being a grrrrl, sitting down to use the loo is pretty fundamental! Looked like you'd have to at least partially take the bed apart to use it. Any comments from people who have used the R10 for real?

Jane

[geordie911]

Hi Jane

I've had my R10 for 3 weeks now and I love it. To be honest, I have not used the toilet yet, but I had a dry run for you this evening. I can report that there is plenty of room to sit with the bed made up I am 5'9". There also a lot of foot room under the bed. I will be having my first overnight trip this coming saturday near Holy Island. I just hope the good weather holds.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions.

Bye for now. Geordie.

[geordie911]

Hi Ourandrew

You queried the water capacity in the R10. The water tank is approx 8 ltrs and is situated under the double hob. I find this ample as I have no plans to go wild camping, so water supply should be available on site. I guess if you needed more water you could get a 25 ltr jerrycan for about £16.

Bye for now. Geordie

[janeyjane]

Apr 21, 2009 19:06:35 GMT geordie911 said:

Hi Jane

I've had my R10 for 3 weeks now and I love it. To be honest, I have not used the toilet yet, but I had a dry run for you this evening. I can report that there is plenty of room to sit with the bed made up I am 5'9". There also a lot of foot room under the bed. I will be having my first overnight trip this coming saturday near Holy Island. I just hope the good weather holds.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions.

Bye for now. Geordie.

Thanks Geordie. I'm impressed with your dedication!! I just bought a copy of Practical Motorhome today and they also have a review of the R10 this month. They say it's a bit of a drag having to attach all the curtains with velcro every night and only being able to stand at the far end, but otherwise they seem very impressed too.

I've just seen the car scrappage scheme announcement in the budget and as my Romahome is more than 10 years old, I wonder if I could get that on a new motorhome......!!! LOL

Jane