The Dreaded Guidelines again!

Smaug

Guest
At long last here is my first attempt at 5 guidelines for new MH users; I await your comments, but shall ignore the idiots who think that I am trying to draft legislation!

Motorhome User Guidelines
Welcome to the exciting & self-contained world of Motohomes & Campers. From the smallest to the largest, we share the ability to set up home wherever we stop, but we still need to understand the impact we have on others, including other road users, local residents & businesses.

We have much to offer local businesses, but we must be careful not to impact on the enjoyment of beauty spots by other visitors who have just as much right to be there as us. The following guidelines are intended to help new Motorhome & Camper users enjoy the countryside without spoiling it.

1/ When parking for a meal break or overnight stop, avoid blocking traffic (on foot or wheeled).
Mostly this is self-evident, but putting chairs/ tables etc out on the footway can be equally annoying and dangerous to people with prams or wheelchairs.​

2/ Being in holiday mode, you are often driving on country lanes at relaxed speeds, so be aware that others may need to travel quicker & let them pass when you can.
It is impolite (& dangerous) to allow queues to build up behind you, simply stop & let them past. On faster roads, some drivers may pull out of side lanes, assuming you are travelling slowly - be ready to be surprised!​

3/ Set up a waste bin so that you can carry all rubbish until you are able to dispose of it responsibly.
Nothing destroys a beauty spot more than litter scattered around. it is also harmful to wildlife. It is simply crazy to destroy what we value most when we stop.​

4/ Dispose of toilet cassette & grey water tank contents safely.
If your cassette contains Formaldehyde based chemical toilet fluid it should only be emptied in marked Chemical Toilet Disposal points (available at all campsites). If it is raw sewage or has been treated with a Biological agent it may be disposed of at a WC or septic tank with permission & making sure that no mess or splashes are left. As a last resort in remote locations, contents may be buried & covered over.
Grey water is likely to contain food remnants, grease & soap, all of which can attract rats. Ideally it should be disposed of in marked Grey Water disposal points, but it can also be put into septic tanks or WC's. It should not be poured down roadside storm drains. In remote locations, it can be buried or left in undergrowth where people are not expected to go.​

5/ Do not overstay your welcome, or congregate in large numbers.
The very essence of using a Motorhome is your inherent mobility, parking up long term in any location means that people will start to resent your presence. When gangs of vans appear all along a promenade or similar, taking up all the best parking & blocking the views, the local hoteliers & B&B owners are likely to get the Council to ban motorhome parking. Groups of Motorhomes also tend to attract thieves & vandals, generally there is not safety in numbers.​
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I agree

All comon sense and would be actions taken by the majority of people on this forum I would like to think.

Squibby.
 
Squibby said:
All comon sense and would be actions taken by the majority of people on this forum I would like to think.

Squibby.
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Abso-bloody-lutely, the target market is newbies & hirers that simply don't think about the issues.

I think we need to spread the word to try to reduce anti-MH feeling amongst the general public that ends up with even us considerate ones being banned from so many locations.
 
Good guide for noobs. Otherwise common sense.

Never seen a "marked grey water disposal point"... perhaps I should visit more campsites! Agree it should go down foul drainage gullies/manholes or at the base of hedgerows provided it doesn't contain anything too nasty.

Holiday mode or not, I think we should all be capable of maintaining 50mph where roads/conditions allow. Pootling at 30-40 on good roads does not get Motorhomes or Caravans a good name with the public even if you do let people through, they generally will have been held up for some minutes.
 
some cant travel over 40mph on normal single carriageways . it would be illegal.
 
Smaug,

Why start again on a rude and confrontational basis. Preemptive strike incase someone disagrees I presume. Well I won't disagree with you as I did not read past the first line.

Richard
 
If they are limited by law on vehicle type that's fine but that represents a tiny fraction of motorhomes. The majority of people I get stuck behind are people in normal sized 3.5 tonne motorhomes, legally allowed to do 60mph, who think it's clever to drive at 35mph on very good roads.
 
Idea is a good one perhaps, but all comes across CC and patronising.

sorry

Channa
 
Please dont take this the wrong way but it seems to be a bit long winded for just 5 guidelines. It needs condensing to the basics otherwise it gets to a point where people just dont bother reading them. eg do you really need to tell people to clean up after emptying toilets or y to let people overtake .then you can add more key points and not as much to wade through . :cheers:
 
Firefox said:
If they are limited by law on vehicle type that's fine but that represents a tiny fraction of motorhomes. The majority of people I get stuck behind are people in normal sized 3.5 tonne motorhomes, legally allowed to do 60mph, who think it's clever to drive at 35mph on very good roads.
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I doubt that they think it "clever", it's far more likely that they are worried about the size of a vehicle that they are not comfortable with driving, or that they are in "holiday mode" & relaxed, or that they are concerned about fuel consumption or that something will come out of a locker, etc etc. Have you ever travelled in the back of your van on a journey? It is surprising how much lean & sway is exaggerated when sat on bench seats in the back rather than bucket seats in the cab.

I like to maintain 50-60 ish on good roads, but I spend a lot of my touring time on single track lanes & winding rural B-roads where such speeds could be dangerous.

Let's be frank here, the ONLY people you are going to get stuck behind are going slowly - if they were going fast you might struggle to catch them! But, they are probably as likely to be driving a family car, a horse box, tractor or towing summat. Certainly that is my own experience whether driving the van or a car.

The whole point of the guidelines is to make people aware that others may not want to go as slow as they might, so that they don't cause tailbacks. But I would be pleased to hear of a better way of phrasing that, or additional guidelines that may help explain other issues.
 
Firefox said:
If they are limited by law on vehicle type that's fine but that represents a tiny fraction of motorhomes. The majority of people I get stuck behind are people in normal sized 3.5 tonne motorhomes, legally allowed to do 60mph, who think it's clever to drive at 35mph on very good roads.
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I`m limited to 50 MPH ( 4,100 Kgs ) on single carriageways which i do if possible .

The grief we get as people pass sometimes because i`m not doing 60+ like they are is unreal, hand gestures, horn blowing, the lot !
 
Admin said:
I think calling it a newbies guide would be a better idea.
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Thanks, that is certainly who it is aimed at, as I think they are the most likely to "offend" thro ignorance, but would anyone appreciate being called a "Newbie"?

I felt the title was sufficiently generic to be inoffensive given that it would be aimed at new users rather than experienced ones. After all, there is little point in "preaching" to the converted, but I do need the benefit of experienced campers to refine the ideas (if they are prepared to bother).
 
Wooie1958 said:
I`m limited to 50 MPH ( 4,100 Kgs ) on single carriageways which i do if possible .

The grief we get as people pass sometimes because i`m not doing 60+ like they are is unreal, hand gestures, horn blowing, the lot !
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Have you considered putting a speed limit sign on the back rather like caravans used to? It could be 50/60 to indicate different limits for different roads. It should reduce the angst of the impatient ones (if they can be bothered to read it). :drive:
 
Fazerloz said:
Please dont take this the wrong way but it seems to be a bit long winded for just 5 guidelines. It needs condensing to the basics otherwise it gets to a point where people just dont bother reading them. eg do you really need to tell people to clean up after emptying toilets or y to let people overtake .then you can add more key points and not as much to wade through . :cheers:
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Thanks for the input, I will try to edit it. I was aiming for clarity & politeness on the absolute basics, but have probably over egged it.

What other points would you like to add?
 
i,m used to driving big trucks at 40mph max on single carriage roads . i find it nice in my small truck to drive at 40mph . i very often drive a car at 40mph max. i dont think theres any need to let cars past. its of no concern of mine that they might want to go faster. i might but cant in some situations .
it seems to me the thread is only to cause arguments .
guides .rules .etc not needed managed quite well for years without them .
 
What is it about us Brits that we are never happy unless we have rules, regulations, guidelines call them what you will. All that is needed is common sense and curtesy to others.
 
I don't think "holiday mode" driving should apply to the guidelines or even be a recognised phrase. It's not a valid reason for going slow and bad publicity for motorhomers. Roads are for getting from A to B in a reasonable time, not for sight-seeing or relaxation. If someone wants to look at the sights they should pull up in a layby. The majority of people have schedules to keep or appointments to get to, and someone's preference to pootle on their holiday should not override the majority's wish to use the road in a normal manner. Even if one lets people through, tailbacks small and large will still occur before one has a chance to do so.

Likewise, people not comfortable with the size of vehicle they are driving or with lockers that open at normal speeds should not be on the roads doing 35mph. These are not valid excuses either and should be put right before they go out, by taking additional driving courses or more practice to begin with on better roads and then slightly worse roads to build up their confidence. Lockers should be fixed with catches and the van packed correctly before driving.

All these things will bring motorhomes a better name and will lead to more tolerance from the public generally including parking considerations.
 
Smaug said:
Have you considered putting a speed limit sign on the back rather like caravans used to? It could be 50/60 to indicate different limits for different roads. It should reduce the angst of the impatient ones (if they can be bothered to read it). :drive:
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Most of the Knob Heads on the roads wouldn`t know it meant..............................LOL
 
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