in 35 years, I've never seen a photo of a van on a site in a motorhome brochure

Also, the wide angled lenses that make them look twice the size inside than what they really are. Plus the show home treatment in terms of 'dressing' the interior. This is why a visit to a dealer or motorhome show is a must.
 
The same can be said for TV programmes like the recent Paul Merton and Suki travelshow. Idillic parking, support crew to plug in the EHU and level the van etc. Regular motorhomers know the reality but the casual tv watcher gets a very different impression. And don't get me started on all the unrealistic magazine articles about "Vanlife" you know.... buy a beat up ford transit, spend £1,000 and hey presto you have an off grid supervan .... not!
 
8450DC04-9E7C-4C1D-83C2-B96A88F9C9CD.jpeg


Grossglockner High Alpine Road,
F8FF2A59-DB16-484B-9BB4-C1B6778DFBA3.jpeg

Shell Island, North wales
AF797754-A87C-425A-B275-3C32D223F9D2.jpeg

Port Grimaud Beach, South of France
 
Emmit said:
This months CandCC mag. has a feature of a Swift Voyager 594.
Its a four berth measuring 7.85m and the piece extols the virtue of its 3500kgs. MAM.
Its payload? not to include the dealer optional microwave, (and what else beside) =
408 kgs.
Click to expand...
Interestingly, our local dealership has had a brand new one of those sitting on display for quite a few weeks now. I have to say that we were disappointed in its build and features in comparison to our 2021 Escape. I had thought that cutting out things like the microwave (we use ours quite a lot) was cost cutting, but I didn't realise that they were also trying to trim the weight down as well.

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VXman said:
Also, the wide angled lenses that make them look twice the size inside than what they really are. Plus the show home treatment in terms of 'dressing' the interior. This is why a visit to a dealer or motorhome show is a must.
Click to expand...

And the vases of flowers and other items that would be impossible to stow when travelling.

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Car ads are the same. They show you a pic of some 4x4 parked on an impossible mountain crag that would have involved a helicopter, with a rugged Bear Grylls type gazing into the distance.
 
Here you are - this is my first van on a lovely site by Venice. We pitched at the edge of the lagoon, well away from any roads to enjoy the views and peace. I didn't expect the neighbours to be quite so big or loud though :)

PICT2928.JPG
 
Major Manufactures only make the 'Dream' vehicles but in truth only use them for photo shoots, otherwise design flaws would be sorted before production starts.
In reality it's the freedom to go to destinations that meet your interests (Dreams) be it a crowded exhibition rally field with a load of like minded people or a wild parking! stop next to spectacular scenery on your own or exploring new horizons.

P1020494.JPG
 
nicholsong said:
Jim, I am sure your article reflects the experience of reality for many MH owners, but as your photos at the end show 'The Dream' spots can be found.

You would be hard pushed to find a photo of our MH on a campsite - I think we can count 6-8 in 14 years. We do use Aires but mostly by rivers, canals, in mountains and rarely in villages, usually then because we are visiting a winery.

In 2021 we went to Greece and wildcamped everywhere include 5 weeks on a small Greek Island where every night was spent within 10 metres of a beach. There is no campsite on the island. 2022 we had 2022 we had 3 weeks in SE Poland and all wildcamping in hills and around lakes.

It can be done.

I wonder what proportion of MHomers use campsites compared with wild/Aires and then those that mix the two?
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If you rarely go on a site, where do you fill up with water and dump your 💩?
 
mikebeaches said:
On the subject of 'selling the dream', I've been puzzled by why the manufacturers of my last two motorhomes thinks 'plain cream' carpets are the appropriate floor covering for the van.

Yes, they look lovely and brighten the interior, but totally impractical for camping! :( I don't want to have to take my shoes off at the door every time I step inside. So of course on delivery of the said new vans, the expensive cream carpets simply get rolled up and stored, to be replaced by more practical floor covering.

But it's just another facet of the manufacturers marketing dream. :rolleyes:

Wonder how many others have taken delivery of a new van with plain pale-coloured carpets... ? :unsure:
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Within an hour of getting our brand new Hymer home I’d spilt a mug of coffee all over the cream carpet, first trip was to Dunhelm to get something more sympathetic to arthritic hands!
 
Lavender1 said:
If you rarely go on a site, where do you fill up with water and dump your 💩?
Click to expand...

Plenty of places on the continent,aires in France,stellplatz in Germany and sostas in Italy,I was most dissapointed when I had to spend €2 to fill up with water during our last four week trip to Spain 😠

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Lavender1 said:
If you rarely go on a site, where do you fill up with water and dump your 💩?
Click to expand...

We carry two cassettes.

as rb62 said above - Aires, Stellplatz etc. One does not have to stay the night.

Filling stations can be helpful - ask before deciding to fill.

Or go to small private campsite in the day and offer them a few €.

To keep the liquid volume in the cassette lower the gentleman of the MH crew uses discrete hedgerows, fields, woods - I have never had cows, foxes, rabbits or birds object to my using their 'private' facilities. :giggle:
 
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mikebeaches said:
On the subject of 'selling the dream', I've been puzzled by why the manufacturers of my last two motorhomes thinks 'plain cream' carpets are the appropriate floor covering for the van.

Yes, they look lovely and brighten the interior, but totally impractical for camping! :( I don't want to have to take my shoes off at the door every time I step inside. So of course on delivery of the said new vans, the expensive cream carpets simply get rolled up and stored, to be replaced by more practical floor covering.

But it's just another facet of the manufacturers marketing dream. :rolleyes:

Wonder how many others have taken delivery of a new van with plain pale-coloured carpets... ? :unsure:
Click to expand...
Yes totally relate mine came with cream carpets I rolled them up and put them into bin bags, I asked the converter if they would exchange them for another colour but they didn't want to know, eventually after sitting in storage in my garage they went to the recycle tip after I thought mice might take a fancy to making a home in them!
 
We got totally lost looking for the Chernonceau campsite (le Moulin Fort)on a horrible wet evening in September. It was satnav and driver error compounded by the closed bridge over the Cher. We went down a blind alley and waved at a lost German Van coming the other way. Nearly an hour later we both arrived at Moulin Fort. Last to the restaurant we ended up on the next table. Fabulous night in broken German and English - we were still talking when they were cashing up. That's the real joy of owning a Motorhome you never know what is around the corner. :cool:
 

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