Page Contents - Choosing the M/H - Licence - Insurance - Storage - UK Winter Driving - Compulsory Accessories - Imports - Our M/H
The idea of being able to travel in our own time and guided by our own experiences and the experience of fellow travelers that we will meet along the way seems to suit our personalities. We will use Travel Guides, but there is no substitute for having a fellow traveler tell you "don't miss this" or "don't waste your time there". It will be nice to know that we can stop whenever we like for a rest, meal or a cuppa.
Although we've done plenty of caravanning, the only motor home holiday that we've had was a rental for a few weeks in New Zealand. So, with that enjoyable trip behind us, deciding what we might need for a long term trip was the result of a few visits to motor home exhibitions and dealers in Brisbane plus many hours on the Internet. As a result of this research, we have found that there is only a few motor homes that will satisfy our demands and that it will be a minimum of about -
8metres/27' long; 2.31metres/7'6" wide (must be under 2.5metres for Australian roads); 9'8"/3metres high
Some of our requirements are dictated by the Australian import regulations. If we are very happy with the motor home that we buy and then use in the UK etc, we will consider shipping it home to Australia; Expensive, but not out of the question.
We have now bought this Motor Home
Choosing a motor home for our 2 years of occupancy
lessen packing and unpacking.
give us plenty of space for nice local produce; wine/cheese.
provide a place for our bicycles, BBQ.
Negotiating narrow roads and finding a park;
will Pro's outweigh the Con's.
Must haves -
RHD, left hand side (habitat) entry door. 4 seat belts
Diesel engine with Euro 5 emission standards - I think that means it has to be manufactured after 2008. Fiat 160(bhp) Multijet 2999cc
Cab and habitat A/C and heating
Separate shower and toilet
Large fridge, microwave, TV/radio/
2 separate double sleeping areas at the rear and front (over cab)
rear ladder,
Could haves -
Small items such as - Manchester, kitchen crockery and basic tool kit; even a small vacuum cleaner
Maybe dual rear axle
Storage Garage,
Wheel clamps
240v generator on board
Tow bar, bike rack
Vehicle Checks / Licence / Insurance
Vehicle Checks
DVLA -
UK vehicle check http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/
Commercial Vehicle inspections http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/motorhome-specialist-services.shtml
AA (RACQ affiliated?) http://www.theaa.com/motoring-advice/vehicle-inspections.html
UK Category C - With this category you can drive vehicles with a MAM over 3500 kilograms with a trailer no heavier than 750 kilograms.
EU Category C1 - With this category you can drive vehicles Light Lorry up to 7500 kilograms with a trailer no heavier than 750 kilograms.
Australian licence LR (Light Rigid) allows for driving a Motor Home up to 8000kg
International Driving Permit (IDP) from RACQ in Brisbane - A$25pa
Caravan/Camping
clubs
Insuring in Australia - OK with NRMA (there may be others) at approx A$850pa
Insuring in UK - Getting motor vehicle insurance in the UK has been a nightmare and it isn't over yet; after 2 months of negotiating with UK company. The difficult issue is convincing the insurer that you are "real". ie if you don't have a permanent UK residence, drivers licence, passport etc.
Insuring
in UK/Europe - try through http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/ 
Insuring in UK/Europe - try http://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/
Insuring in UK/Europe - http://www.motorhomefacts.com/insurance.html has a long list of companies
Insuring in UK/Europe - http://www.duinsure.com/sites/duinsure.nsf/PagesBySection/Policies_Van_Insurance
http://www.caravanning-online.co.uk/caravan_storage/caravan_storage.htm
Hampshire - http://www.dhgstorage.co.uk/5.html Inside: Over 23ft £85 per month
We have
been using Westfield's storage at Dinton, Salisbury. Reasonable price with
extensive security -
http://www.westfields-storage.co.uk/motorhomestorage.php
http://www.highways.gov.uk/winter
Compulsory accessories for European Touring
Polar
Automotive Limited, 15 Bayhall Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4UG. Telephone
01892 519933
Email polar@snowchains.com
Rules and Regulations
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/standards/index.aspx
Application Form for Approval to import a vehicle under the Personal Imports Scheme - PDF
From ADR43
6.2.3. For all other motor vehicles and trailers (other than ‘Semi-trailers’) the ‘Rear Overhang’ must not exceed 60 percent of the distance from the centreline of the front ‘Axle’ (or the front ‘Axle’ of a ‘Twin Steer Axle Group’) to the line from which ‘Rear Overhang’ is measured, or 3.7 metres whichever is the lesser.
We have now bought this Motor Home -
This is the 2007 Autotrail Chieftain that will be our home for almost 2 years in the UK and Europe.
We have bought the Motor Home earlier than we need but there was a number of factors to consider and when we analysed it, it seemed logical to buy at the end of the UK Summer rather than trying to buy it in their Winter. As it turned out, it was such a stressful exercise that I am glad to have the few months break between when we bought it and when we start our adventure; It gives me a chance to forget how difficult it was to navigate through the UK bureaucracy with different rules and regulations that we don't experience in Oz. Other M/H Pictures
It is now stored in a commercial storage facility until we need it.
As we suspected, it is a bit of a challenge driving on narrow roads, and it is 28'7" long (8.7metres) - I can often hear the wing mirrors brushing along through the hedges on the roadside. We will almost certainly be getting plenty of use out of our bikes or Park and Ride stations.
.
We will have to shop off-peak at TESCO to get 5 spare parking bays.
Dave's bicycle in the "garage" - we still have to collect Joy's
A380 flights must be on the Bucket List - Dave's done that; awesome airplane
Page Contents - Choosing the M/H - Licence - Insurance - Storage - UK Winter Driving - Compulsory Accessories - Imports - Our M/H
