Motorhome to France Loire Valley

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

Hi
We are seasoned caravaners but decided to have an L4 Boxer converted to high spec motorhome. Layout exactly as we wanted. Been to France many times and stayed in Gites and hotels. Never used aires or campsites over there. Used tunnel many times but never with motorhome or caravan.
Would appreciate any tips for things we might need. Other than wine glasses and cheese knife. Would also appreciate if anyone has a route suggestion that includes Loire valley that can be done in a week ish without rushing. I’m a professional driver often covering 400 miles in a day so that doesn’t bother me. The van has onboard gas tank built in as well as 85 litre fresh water Toilet etc. Have the hook up lead with eu plug adaptor too. Light converters. Usual hi viz and fire extinguishers all sorted.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Having a watering can or jerry can is handy for when you can't or don't want to get your hoses out, or theres no way of fitting a hose on some of the artisan water point taps.

Theres a lot of them about, and when you don't have a jeton for the borne handy you can, with caution, use the toilet cassette fill/rinse point.

( use some spray Dettol to disinfect first and leave a hygiene gap when filling) they are all connected to the same supply so its potable, not that I drink from my tank, I use bottled for drinking, tea coffee etc.

Drop a water purifing tablet in your tank every so often too does no harm

Get a tap connector with a rubber fitting and hoseclamp for your hoses also. Handy where theres no threaded connector on the tap. Also good if you have a short bit of hose and theres nothing except a hand basin and tap in a toilet block and you need water, you can fill your jerry can/water can. done that a few times!

I use a long flat hose split into 3 lengths that can be joined and try to keep them off the floor when filling. also a wipe is good with dettol when rolling them up at dirty service points ( you will find a few covered in shit especially a truck stops and posh aires with expensive motorhomes staying, seems to me the posher the motorhomes on an aire the more shit around the service point.....Trust me!!

One last tip, if I have not bored you to death already, when you do use a hose to fill up I ALWAYS wash down the service point AFTER emptying my cassette and filling up and if its already covered in shit I wash down BEFORE emptying my cassette, or even if I don't empty my cassette, I give the Bourne (service point drains) a good washing down for the benefit of others.

In some places due to low water pressure at the tap it takes a while to fill up, On busy aires and I am staying for a while, Ill use my water can to fill up in stages throughout the day with out hogging the service point.

I deserve a medal I'm so nice HA HA!!!

 

[Offagain]

I wouldn’t be without Park4night, it’s got me out of the Merde loads of times

Another vote for p4n. We've never used anything else outside the UK.
We stayed here last time. It's right opposite a long beach where we saw seals playing in the current when we went for a walk.

 

[DBK]

Hi all. After another tip. I’m looking for a hose for filling freshwater tank. It’s an 85 litre tank and ideally fill it as quick as possible. Don’t really want a great big hose reel with me if I can help it. How long and what type of hose is the best way forward. Any tips on connectors required for french taps also?

I did this article for the Murvi Newsletter recently. It covers, I think, more or less all the options for how to refill with fresh water.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

I read them all and thanks again. Couple of lay flats with as many options as possible. I still have caravan so use some of the fittings I have already accrued but add some short hose adaptors for good measure. Like most of you I never drink from taps in vans even though I keep them clean. I use cheap bottled water for kettles etc. Bought a 20 litre container and a small folding trolley just in case but as you say it’s sometimes better to use this to fill up.