Use the motor home with diligence
Useful tips for using the motorhome
We try to give simple tips for travelling safely and using the motorhome with civility and care for nature and our fellow man!
Index of Topics
Security, Anti-theft And Safe Travel
As with all vehicles, safety is an important element in minimising problems while travelling and during stops. All the world is a country and it cannot be said that there are countries that are more or less safe, it all depends on chance, timing and... luck! Fortunately, many tools exist to reduce risks to a minimum, but much depends on the care you take with your possessions. For example, if you leave your bicycles untethered and they are stolen, it will not have been the thief's fault alone!.
We distinguish safety areas into night, travel, stops
During the night it is always very important to securely close all doors. The two front doors are easy to open from the outside even when closed, so we recommend the use of special interior doorstops made by Fiamma, or alternatively there are several methods, all of which aim to prevent the doors from being opened from the outside. A rope tied between the two doors is also very efficient. The important thing is to block the opening. On some mechanics, you can pull the seat belt through the handle to lock it. In short, the important thing is to make sure that the front doors cannot be opened. The one in the cab is paradoxically safer, but again if it were possible to add a door lock (perhaps, one outside and one inside) it would be perfect.
When travelling, the safety criteria are the same as for a car: always travel with seat belts (especially those travelling in the cell), do not put your feet on the dashboard if there is an airbag, if you have to move you warn the driver to reduce speed and danger, etc. Let us remember that recreational vehicles are made of very light materials and therefore, fragile. We have almost nothing between us and the “outside” and the only way to protect ourselves is to follow the highway code by limiting speed, always using seatbelts, driving carefully. Running at 130 km/h can be a fine test of manliness, but if it is not strictly and absolutely necessary, it should not be done in a motorhome, not even because you are on a pleasure trip, not because you have to run to a business appointment.
Stops, perhaps to visit a country, are the most delicate and dangerous time. It is obvious to suggest the installation of a good anti-theft device, perhaps with SMS alerts. But it is just as obvious to avoid showing the inside of the vehicle, where TVs, car radios and navigators may be visible. You must therefore avoid at the very least allowing a view of the interior, and where it is not possible, you must remove ’dangerous“ objects such as navigators and accessories. And of course, take along money, keys and objects that we consider to be important. Theft is an unpreventable event 100% and this can unfortunately happen anywhere, even in our own homes.
Associations, yes or no?
OK, we bought the motorhome. And now? If we are autonomous in this respect, we are organised and organised, we will certainly have no problem planning trips and setting off. But many are not and prefer to join one or more associations that organise events, trips and caravans around the world.
Human beings are not always reconciled with others, even if they share the same passion. On the contrary, these are often topics of discord, elements capable of ruining 30-year friendships. Therefore, not all of us are suited to travelling together and no one should argue about this.
For everyone else, however, the association is an excellent starting point.
If you get on well, if the friendships you make are pleasant, you will find yourself travelling thousands of kilometres with great pleasure and satisfaction, and you will also have the safety aspect amplified because, of course, travelling alone exposes you to a few small problems that can be avoided if you are in several crews (breakages, illnesses, breakdowns, etc.).
We take the liberty of proposing a small list of campervan associations, but we suggest that you look in your own town, you will certainly find plenty 🙂 🙂
www.assocampi.it (Rome)
www.camperclubitalia.it (Bologna)
www.camperclubitaliano.it (Bologna)
www.camperisti-italiani.com (Facebook Group)
The Car Park
The VR or Campervan is considered to be a normal car. It is therefore possible to park anywhere unless there are specific prohibitions authorised by current legislation. However, parking should ABSOLUTELY not involve the opening of windows, portholes, feet or curtains, nor steps or, worse still, the spillage of liquids. In short, a car park is not a campsite and therefore it is not possible to stay inside as if one were on a camp site.
Obviously it cannot be advisable to experience the VR in these conditions, so we always recommend stopping in dedicated areas, whether these are rest stops, serviced areas or Camper Services. Free parking is also possible, i.e. parking in nature wherever it is not expressly forbidden. Obviously, we must take great care not to cause a nuisance, not to light fires, etc.
There are now many APPs for iOS and Android that are very useful for finding RV parks and RV parks: AriAPP, CamperOnline, CaraMaps, e Park4night, also useful abroad.
In short, let us remember that VR was born to have freedom of movement and visit places without the limitations imposed by hotels. But if we annoy our neighbours, we undermine the spirit that has allowed the expansion of this mode of holiday, risking even its existence due to laws enacted to limit the damage that unfortunately some careless campers cause.
Unloading Water
The VR needs to charge and discharge the liquids necessary for life inside it. We therefore need:
- Water fountain to fill tanks;
- Grey water drainage
- Black water discharge
Grey and black water can in some cases be discharged at the same place, but please read the instructions of the camper service or campsite where you are.
Generally speaking, VRs today are equipped with the so-called CASSETTE, i.e. a container that can be easily removed from its compartment and, with the necessary precautions, can be flushed into a dedicated toilet or sewage pit.
How to empty the toilet cassette
The cassette is emptied with gloves, pulling it out without turning it upside down, also keeping it vertical but without turning it over.
Once you get to the discharge point, you lay it on the ground horizontally (as it was in its compartment), turn the outlet pipe, unscrew its yellow cap and grab it with two hands by its handles, tilting it to the point where all its contents come out. If there is a water pipe nearby, ASCERTAIN FIRST THAT IT IS FOR TOILET CLEANING AND NOT FOR ANYTHING ELSE, and then rinse the cassette.
Now you can put the yellow cap back on, reposition your output and take it to the VR, reinserting it in its compartment.
Older motorhomes can be equipped with NAUTICAL WC, to empty it, proceed as for the tank of GREY WATERS present in all VRs: you drive the vehicle over the sump, making sure that your exhaust is exactly over the sump, and slowly open the guillotine valve: once unloaded REMEMBER TO CLOSE IT and NEVER WALK WITH THE VALVE OPENA.
Always use latex or neoprene gloves.
Minimum on-board equipment
Technique
- Anti-algae rubber hose for water loading;
- Standard 220V cable
- Bag/case with tools, tapes and glues
- Roll of wire, always useful
- Fire extinguishers, one pair
- Wedges for levelling the vehicle
- Water tank 5 Lt always useful
- 12V emergency starter cables
For the anxious
- Spare toilet cassette
- 5Lt fuel canister
Hygiene
- Amuchina (one cap in the water tank before filling it)
- Toilet fluid (Kem Water or similar)
- Latex gloves
- Toothbrushes and toothpastes
- Toilet paper for chemical toilets (DO NOT USE NORMAL PAPER)
- Emergency kit (disinfectant, gauze, etc.)
- Medicines
Kitchen
- Popote set (cookware for campers and caravans)
- Cutlery
- Cutting board
- Colander
- Steakhouse
- Plastic or better melamine plates
- Plastic cups
- Oil and vinegar in small bottles, positioned so that they do not clash
- Paper roll and napkins
- Various canned goods
How to place provisions
Try to position the products considering the shaking due to the journey: if possible, place glass and heavy containers inside the lockers at the bottom.
Salt, sugar and pepper, etc., in airtight, closed containers (risk of ants)
Place the canned goods stacked towards the front of the cabinet, so that braking does not cause them to walk into the cabinet
Sleep
It depends on the composition of the VR, in any case the sleeping bag is the best and most practical solution. Alternatively, sheet with elastic corners and covers.
Food to bring
It is not necessary to take food with you as if you were going to war: very often you will find yourself eating a pizza and skipping the meal in the caravan. Obviously, however, it depends on family needs.
Avoid food that can spoil quickly: the refrigerator does not always work as we expect it to and on very hot days it may not be sufficient to store products in the best possible way.
The same goes for the freezer, before taking so much stuff with you check that it actually works.
Pasta, rice, tinned or otherwise dried food should be preferred. Fruit and vegetables can be placed in boxes in the lower, cooler lockers.
Fuel consumption
The VR is a heavy, consuming vehicle. On average, one litre of fuel oil covers 7 to 10 km.
Therefore, consider that for every 100 km you will need about 10 to 13 litres of fuel: in practical terms, every 1000 km travelled costs (with diesel at 1.50) about 200 euros.
It is always advisable to maintain moderate driving for both safety and consumption. Up to 100Km the VR will now consume much less than if you exceed this average, you will soon realise.
The Baracchino
The CB or Baracchino today has been overtaken by smartphones and in some cases by small PMR two-way radios. However, in many cases, especially when going out “in a caravan”, the CB remains the best method of keeping in touch with immediacy and practicality. The advice we give is that if you go out alone, the CB is absolutely useless. On the contrary, if you go out in a group, you will find that having the opportunity to chat with each other, especially on long trips, is really useful.
The use of the “baracchino” requires you to have sent a declaration together with a payment of EUR 12.00 for each calendar year (January-December). You can find the modalities for making the declaration and payment here:
https://www.mise.gov.it/…/autorizzaz…/cb-banda-cittadina
It involves downloading a form, filling it in and sending it by pec or registered mail together with the payment, which can also be made by bank transfer, which is much more convenient than a bulletin.
This declaration is required for both CB and PMR 446 equipment (those that look like small walkie talkies). For short-range equipment (50 m), no declaration is required.
Be careful because the possession of two-way radio equipment without having the relevant declaration is considered quite a serious offence.
The CB uses “channels” in which conversations are initiated. Some channels are reserved, such as 9 (emergencies) 5 (truckers) 15 and 16 are generally used by campers, but there is no fixed rule.
One must learn the use of CB communication, by pressing the microphone button one can speak, but one cannot press the button while others are conversing. One must wait until there is a pause, and then engage. Pressing and talking simultaneously only produces a disturbance and the inability to receive conversations.
Finally, there is a code of conduct that includes many aspects. Many guides can be found on the web, but everyone can easily understand how it works by listening to other conversations.
Correct CB installation
The CB system consists of the CB itself (which must be approved for use in Italy and Europe, not all of them are), its microphone, the 12V power cable, the antenna cable and the antenna itself.
The ideal installation involves installing the antenna on the roof of the vehicle. Any other installation will result in a significant reduction in the CB's usable distance. The chosen antenna should preferably be of the “unloaded” type and at least approximately 110 cm long. Antennas of a shorter length will yield much less. Antenna installation is relatively simple; calibration is carried out with the use of a device called a “rosmeter”.
If the antenna will be installed on the metal roof rack, it will not be necessary to use a reflective plane, on the other hand, if the roof is not equipped with a roof rack, a metal plane, aluminium for example, connected to the ground of the antenna and placed underneath it, should be used.
If you really cannot install the antenna on the roof, you can install it on the bonnet using a special bracket. It is obvious that the direction covered by the vehicle will coincide with a sharp reduction in range for both receiving and transmitting.
The 12V power supply must be taken from a reliable and clean source in order to avoid disturbances from the alternator. The use of a 5A fuse with its fuse holder is strongly recommended.
Obviously, the help of a technician will enable you to carry out an ad-hoc installation of the canteen, but even with home DIY, it can be done 🙂 🙂
Conclusions
We hope we have been helpful to you with this small and modest guide. We promise to update and expand it over time so that it becomes a useful tool for everyone.
If you have any doubts or concerns, or need clarification on other topics, write to us: info@camperflash.it and we will get back to you. You can also use whatsapp, just memorise our number which is 0698382203 .
As some fellow campers have written on the back of their vehicles,
“I DON'T HAVE TO RUN TO GET HOME, BECAUSE I'M ALREADY THERE’
