Are you thinking of traveling in a caravan, motorhome or camper? If you are a first-time adventurer, we give you some tips to make your trips a success.
Traveling by motorhome has become the preferred option for many couples, families or groups of friends on their vacations. This way of doing tourism has been gaining more and more followers, and in recent years it has experienced a very important growth in our country.
Caravanning, in any of its forms – caravan, motorhome or camper van – is a very attractive alternative for those who like to enjoy the outdoors, in full contact with nature and have total freedom of movement, without having to worry about schedules, advance reservations and other limitations.
Basic guide if you travel by motorhome
However, if you are thinking of going on a motorhome trip, you will need some planning to avoid uncomfortable contingencies, especially if it is the first time.
What is Travel insurance and how it works
When renting a caravan, you have to take into account the type of driving license you have. With the type B driving license you can drive a vehicle that does not exceed 3,500 kilos, and capacity for 9 occupants. For higher weights, the type C1 permit is needed.
If you are going to rent or buy a caravan, choose the type of vehicle that best suits your lifestyle:
- Camper van: It is a normal van that has been adapted inside and houses a series of comforts to travel and camp with them. A good camperization will allow you to sleep comfortably in the van, cook and even take a shower or go to the bathroom.
- Motorhome: More luxurious and spacious than a van but also with special needs. Be careful because the motorhomes, due to their height, do not fit in some car parks.
- Caravan. It usually has a larger space and also allows you to take your car so that, once you park your mobile home, you can move around the surroundings for sightseeing.
What to take into account before traveling in a caravan?
The most important thing when embarking on a road trip in your caravan or camper is to plan your route well, anticipate where to spend the night, where to dispose of waste, as well as properly equip it depending on the duration of the trip, and the number of occupants.
Some practical tips:
Look in advance at the service areas, and the spaces enabled to spend the night, which can be public or private.
- Calculate the remaining water reserves.
- Distributes and organizes the load well so that the weight is balanced, and have more space.
- Avoid entering the urban area and keep in mind that each municipality may have specific regulations.
- The table must be folded when moving.
- Residual water: In this type of vehicle, the toilets are usually chemical, and there are specific areas to empty them. Never leave the drain open during the trip. In the campsites there are adequate facilities for emptying and filling. You will also be able to do laundry and other tasks with ease.
- Park on flat surfaces avoiding unevenness.
- Protect yourself: To avoid theft, it is best not to leave anything in sight. Reinforce the security of the front doors by joining them together. It is always advisable to install an alarm.
- Write down the emergency telephone number 112. It works throughout Europe.
park4night, is an app that travelers from all over the world already use to share recommendations, experiences, tips, corners and places to enjoy a complete route safely. Just select the place where you are or where you want to go and you will have information on the best places to visit, where to sleep, empty gray water or refill water.
What is important to take in a caravan?
The basics : Bedding, towels, comfortable pillows, kitchen utensils, camping table and chairs.
Hose. You may not always park on flat ground. To avoid frights while you sleep or when you return from an excursion, it is important to carry chocks with you, to place on the tires once stationary and maintain stability.
- 2 batteries. The caravan’s own and an extra in case you need to use electrical appliances. Do not depend entirely on the vehicle battery to give you electricity, charge your mobile, use the heating or cook. Carry a battery for the use of small appliances and prevent the main battery of your mobile home from discharging.
- Special refrigerators If you choose to bring an electric refrigerator, remember that it must be a special type of refrigerator for caravans and vans, not just any. Refrigerators usually carry a refrigerant gas that cannot move, so it is important that you buy the right ones for your trip.
- Hose and adapters for different types of taps.
- Having a camping gas to cook or to heat water if the electricity fails, can be a great ally for your vacations.
Other important issues to consider when traveling in a caravan
Whether you are an experienced caravanist or not, we recommend that you always try to go along marked routes, with quick access to towns and avoid going deeper into unmarked paths or paths that do not have the best conditions. We know that part of the charm of traveling in a motorhome or camper is the adventure of getting lost in virgin places, but keep in mind that if you come across a problem (a flat tire, mud, etc.) it will also be more complicated to solve it.
Take out good insurance, Put yourself in the hands of our expert advisers, they will study your needs and make an insurance study adapted to you and the characteristics of your motorhome.
