Planning your trip – Mattika Motorhome Hire

Planning your holiday

So, many of you probably haven’t hired a motorhome before, with us all being newcomers at one point! Our vehicles are ultra-modern and have all the latest technologies, combined with comfort and practical design, making them very easy to operate successfully. However, they are still different to what most people usually drive so we have put together some useful pointers below to make your trip stress free.

BEFORE YOU GO….

Your destination

There are just so many destinations to choose from, be it home or away, so a little bit of research will do no harm to ensure that you find the right one(s) for you.

“Off grid” can be very exciting and quiet romantic parking up in a remote spot with a breath-taking view, but remember you’re relying on the vehicle battery. Fear not though, we have a solar panel to help with this so you can realistically do this for 2/3 nights. However, bear in mind that you only have 12 volts so anything that needs a socket won’t work. Also, don’t forget you will have a toilet cassette and grey waste (sink/shower water) that will fill up and thus needs emptying. Always check that you are ok to park overnight so have a good check for signs before you relax for the night. There are some good websites and Apps like park4night which give good information on where you can stay.
Hard standing pitches for your motorhome are the most desirable as they make parking much easier and you may not even need to use the vehicle levellers.
Don’t forget to book a pitch with electric hook-up (EHU). Some even have a fresh water connection and a grey waste (sink/shower water) drain as part of a pitch, of which, cost you more for the privilege, but it makes life that bit easier. If you go “off grid” you won’t have these luxuries of course.
Ensure you know your collection time (we like to try and be as flexible as possible and will make it as early as you desire if we can) so you don’t book your first night on a site that is too far away – Cornwall is a long way from Teesside!
We like you to try and have the vehicle back by lunchtime, so do give some thought to your location on the last night of hire. Most sites have a locked gate policy throughout the night, so if your planning to be up and on the road by 6am because you’re in Inverness, you better check that you will be able to get out!

Packing

Unlike most other hire companies, we have ensured that our prices include most things you’ll need at no extra cost – you can see the full list of included extras by clicking here. Many of these things are seen as luxury extras by others, but we pride ourselves on ensuring our motorhome epitomises luxury, where you will want for nothing, so that your experience is second to none.
You only need to bring your own bedding and towels, although these are available to hire for a small fee. I still haven’t decided what I’d advise in the whole sleeping bag versus duvet debate, but I will say duvets are more home from home, but then they do take up more storage space!
Our number one tip is packing each travellers’ clothes in one of those large sturdy supermarket bags. Then you just pop it into a cupboard up high and then when you need your clothes, lift it down, rake around for what you want and then pop it back. Done! Saves you time unpacking, having to stand on the seats searching through the piles of clothes that then get messy, and, there’s also limited spaces that a large suitcase can be stored

Handover

There’s quite a lot of information to take in about the vehicle and its operations etc. so we highly recommend that one person, usually the main hirer needs to take the “lead role” the nominated person will be who we explain all the controls too. The handover can take up to an hour to go through everything to ensure you get the most out of your experience and fall in love with the brilliant world of motor-homing!

Plan your route

Satnav systems are all very well, but always check before leaving whether your chosen site suggests a particular route to it and stick to it, even if it doesn’t match your satnav’s directions. Please remember that using a sat nav designed for the dimensions of a car may lead you into roads only designed for smaller vehicles.

DURING HIRE

Fresh water/grey waste/toilet cassette

When driving you should ideally only drive with no more than half a tank of fresh water, we therefore advise you to fill up on fresh water as soon as you’ve checked into your site (if it’s not part of your pitch).
Then, when setting off at the end of a stay on a site, empty all your grey waste so you don’t have stagnant water on board, as well as possibly emptying some fresh water out if it is still quite full. *tip. Keep the plugs fitted in the sink and shower plug holes to stop any odours escaping.
As for the toilet cassette, we would hope its common sense, but always leave the toilet lid down and the blade (handle) closed. Then, empty this before you leave a site, possibly before if the ‘cassette full warning light’ comes on top of the toilet cistern.

Driving

Although our vehicles are a lovely smooth drive they are still over 7m long, over 2.3m wide and nearly 3m high, so….

When you are out and about, please give yourself more time and space for everything you do.
It is best to brake earlier than normal and accelerate more slowly than you would in a car.
The extra length of the vehicle means you need to be aware of the apex of any corners you turn, don’t worry you soon get used to it.
With the height of it, be aware of high winds and remember the buffering a motorhome can cause when over-taking cyclists, motorbikes and horses.
If you find traffic is building up behind you, pull over at a layby or other suitable place and let the other vehicles pass. There’s nothing worse than being stuck behind a slow vehicle is there…?!
Legal speed limits may be lower than in a car – check the sheet in the vehicle folder before you set off if you are unsure.
Take advantage of the comfortable, high driving position and build your confidence by driving steadily.
Look out for low hanging branches and other overhead obstructions.
Keep an eye on the fuel – especially if you are in the wilds of Scotland for example as there may not be a fuel station for miles and miles.
Take a break!

Parking when out and about

Parking is easier than you might think due to the vehicles well-placed mirrors, parking sensors and rear-view camera.
Park carefully where you won’t cause an obstruction.
Many car parks have height barriers, so remember to check the height displayed on the dashboard.
Ensure you have enough space around you to manoeuvre the vehicle easily.
Ask another passenger to hop off the vehicle and guide you from outside.
Supermarket car parks are often ideal as they are large and usually in a convenient location.
Remember that motorhome’s are generally not allowed to remain in car parks overnight. Or, if they are, there will be a charge – don’t get caught out!

Choosing a pitch

If you have a choice of pitch it is always worth taking the time to decide where you would ideally like to be positioned.

Do you want to be near the amenities? It could be convenient for trips to the toilet block, but it can also mean more people walking by your pitch = more noise.
If you have small children you may want to be close to the children’s play area, but remember that other children may be playing there when yours are trying to sleep – not all sites have curfews, or they can be quite late on some sites.
Hedges and other motorhomes can offer shelter from high winds on exposed sites.
Trees, although offer shade, can drip sap over your vehicle and belongings. Rainwater will also drip long after a storm has finished.
Choose flat ground wherever possible, it will mean that you don’t need to use the levellers under your wheels to balance the vehicle.
Rainwater has to go somewhere, so try to make sure it doesn’t travel or sit outside the front door of your vehicle.