Keith Gooden
Welcome back to another Motorhome Matt Podcast. I’m Keith Gooden, and with us our expert on all things motorhoming – it’s Matt Sims.
Matt Sims
Hey, Keith. How are you doing?
Keith Gooden
I’m fine. I’m doing great actually, thanks, Matt. Mainly due to the fact I’ve been listening to this fabulous podcast with which of course you’re the star.
Matt Sims
Oh, bless you. It’s an honour to be here. And it’s great to see you as well.
Keith Gooden
Thanks very much. Not many people say that.
Baltic Wharf Closure News
Keith Gooden
So let’s get stuck into some motorhoming news quite local to us here in the West Country. But it’s something which caravaners and motorhomers have been keeping an eye on – Baltic Wharf. Tell us a little bit about it. What is Baltic Wharf?
Matt Sims
Well, Baltic Wharf is a region of Bristol that features a campsite right in the middle of the city. On the edge of the waterside of the Bristol Harbour. It’s a Caravan and Motorhome Club campsite that welcomes caravans and motorhomes, funnily enough. So it’s a club site. So to stay there, you need to be a member of that club.
But some years ago, it was announced that Bristol City Council who own the site were going to put houses on it and planning permission was approved. And so the campsite was going to close. And there was a huge petition to stop this from happening.
t’s an incredibly popular destination for thousands of motorhome and caravan owners across the country. And it’s such a great location to come and stay because you literally walk out of the campsite, get a little ferry, and ride around the docks, and you’ve got the whole city on your doorstep, literally, to explore.
So it was a great shame that the site was being proposed to be converted to housing. The plans were accepted, and the houses were approved. And so the club were given an opportunity to find another site and were very, very keen to do so. They did – they found the site not far away in Ashton on the water again. The government refused the planning application for a campsite in that location.
Keith Gooden
So motorhomers, caravaners and campers are out of the old Baltic Wharf site, which is now going to be built on and it doesn’t look like good news for the future. So what’s going to happen with motorhoming in Bristol?
Matt Sims
Well, at the moment as we record this, the site is still open. If you can book in, you could stay there. It’s due to close imminently. There has been a huge lead time, though, to get a space there, around a year. It’s that popular.
So at the moment, there is no central campsite location planned for Bristol, which is a great shame. I think it’s a huge loss for the city. The grounds on which the application was refused were safety, for risk of flooding. And I get that, and of course, the safety of the people staying there is of utmost importance.
But we desperately need to find another location for a campsite in the middle of the city. It brings such a lot of economic bonus to the city. Visitors from all over the country who of course spend money in our great local economy. So I think it’s a huge loss for the city to not have a campsite.
Karina Ingham – Here We Tow
Matt Sims
I’m here at the NEC show just before the show is opening with Karina from Here We Tow. What a show it’s been!
Karina Ingham
It’s been absolutely fantastic and it’s really worked well with the ticket sales being pre-booked. We’ve had a great flow of people through the halls. It’s been nonstop and it’s been great to see everyone again back in person.
Matt Sims
You have a YouTube channel called Here We Tow. This is a motorhome based podcast. That suggests that you’ve got a caravan, but I know you’ve now got a motorhome. Tell us your story.
Karina Ingham
Yeah, that’s right. So basically back in 2017, we had a static caravan. We have our dog and we were doing a lot of holidays in our static and also cottage holidays and going abroad but were having to leave our dog Fudge behind. So it started to make us think about maybe a touring caravan because obviously, we could take Fudge with us, we could go to Europe and tour as well.
Karina’s Conversion to Motorhoming
So in October 2017, we came to the Caravan and Motorhome Show here at the NEC. We looked around a number of caravans and we bought an Adria. We put an order in for an 8-foot wide caravan. We went big all the way, which is my philosophy in life, go big. So we ordered that and we decided to start up a bit of a YouTube channel because we were totally new to touring. We knew nothing about leisure vehicles. So we put that out really to help other people as well that were coming in to buy a vehicle.
Our caravan arrived in April 2018. We’d bought a new tow car and off we went. And that’s where it all sort of evolved from really. We had some excellent holidays with the caravan. We did go to Europe as well. We did a 7-week tour. We went all the way up around Sweden, and we ended up at the Caravan Salon at Düsseldorf as well, another big show. And Fudge, our dog, could come with us and we really enjoyed the caravanning.
However, we then evolved towards motorhomes, believe it or not. And I was really not into them whatsoever originally. So to make that transition was quite a big thing really. And the way that came about was we’d moved from Yorkshire down to Somerset, and we realised that our touring style had totally changed. It wasn’t like a week or 2 on the caravan site.
We wanted to get all around the coast and our caravan was just too big for that. And I think a lot of people will probably be in the sort of dilemma of what’s going to be best for them. So we managed to get a press loan from Adria, a really small compact motorhome, a 6-metre motorhome. So off we went in that.
Matt Sims
So hang on, you got a free motorhome?
Karina Ingham
Well, when I say it was free, it was free. It was on a press loan for 3 months. But in exchange, we created content for our YouTube channel, which was really helpful for the people that are thinking, ‘Caravans or motorhomes?’ Because again, we’d never been motorhoming, we knew nothing about them. Everything we learned was literally from within the industry, from talking to other motorhomers and from watching YouTube. We’ve learnt everything from watching YouTube and now we pass it on on our channel.
So we had it for 3 months and we had some amazing little trips and we absolutely loved it. And I was drawn to the dark side as they call it. I was drawn all the way, I’ll be absolutely honest. So that was the summer of 2020, which was just as we were coming out of the restrictions that we had due to COVID. We absolutely loved it. The dog loved it as well. It’s great if you have got dogs or pets, motorhoming, caravanning – it really works. You don’t have to leave them behind.
We decided that that was it. We were really won over by the motorhome, surprisingly. So we did some research and we decided we did want an Adria motorhome. Price-wise, obviously, they’re pretty expensive. We sold our caravan. We had to change and get rid of our big tow car because we couldn’t afford to run that anymore. And we ordered an Adria Compact Supreme DL motorhome which is 7 metres long but it’s only 2.1 metres wide. Because one of our things was that we didn’t want anything too big, because we wanted to be able to get in the car parks to park still get out to the chip shop, you know. Important things when you’re touring.
Karina’s Motorhoming Experience
So we put an order in October 2020 for a new motorhome. We were told it would arrive in May 2021. But as a lot of people out there will know, delays – there have been massive delays on motorhomes. There’ve been a lot of disappointed people but unfortunately, we’ve got to understand that right now, things aren’t normal as they have been.
So what we decided, because we’d sold the caravan, we’d got nothing to tour in, we decided to buy a used motorhome to put us on. So we got in touch with our dealer who was waiting for our new one. And they had a used 2016 motorhome. We agreed that we would buy that and that was in April 2021. So we bought that and off we went and, oh my god, we had a brilliant time. Absolutely loved it.
It was a little bit bigger. It was 7.4 metres, but we managed no problem. I did a lot of research when we went touring about parking the motorhome. We didn’t tow a car with us. It was just all about the motorhome. We had that for 3 months. And then our new motorhome arrived in July 2021.
Matt Sims
So what was that motorhome?
Karina Ingham
The one we used was an Adria Coral. And the one that we’ve got now is the Adria Compact Supreme DL. So again, this is smaller than the used one but absolutely fantastic. So what we like about that is it’s a European motorhome. If people aren’t familiar with Adria, it’s from Slovenia. They have a huge garage in the back. That was really important for us. In there we’ve got our big motorhome box of stuff, our table, our chairs, all that sort of stuff. We’ve got a good payload on that.
We found various things have been really important when we were making the decision on which motorhome to pick for us because everyone’s different. And there’s always a compromise. That’s another thing we’ve found. But the big garage was important. The layout we went for has got the two bench seats and the two single beds at the back that convert into one big bed. We have found some pros and cons of that. And it’s also in our new one. We’ve got the toilet, and washroom all together.
And again, we found a few pros and cons to that as opposed to having them separate. So it’s really difficult to choose the size over the practicality and that’s been a big thing. But we’ve had some amazing trips, literally all over the UK. We’ve not got to Europe yet, but it’s going to happen.
Caravan vs Motorhome
Matt Sims
So just rewinding a bit, you said you were against motorhomes and you weren’t very keen on having one. You were all about the caravan. Why was that? What was it about motorhoming that at that point put you off?
Karina Ingham
The price. Being from Yorkshire, you know, we’ve got to look at how much things cost.
Matt Sims
Of course.
Karina Ingham
But no, genuinely at the start it was about price. We worked out obviously we were going to get the caravan and the tow car and it still came in less than the motorhome and also the internal space. Because we’ve got a really big 8-foot wide caravan, there was loads of room when we were on site. The only problem was it was big to tow. With the motorhomes, I always felt it was quite a small lounge, it was getting changed. It was just that smaller space. And that at that point was a compromise that I wasn’t willing to make.
However, as things sort of evolved about how we wanted to tour, we found the caravan was quite involved, you know, legs up, legs down, security on, go and get your water – there was a lot more to it. Whereas with the motorhome, as long as the water tank was full, literally off you go. You arrive on site, and Bob’s your uncle, and that’s it, off you go.
When we’re touring now in the motorhome, it’s about planning. When we get there, how are we going to go and see the sites we want to see? I literally use a couple of apps that I’ve got on my phone that I download. And they’ve been really useful to find car parks that haven’t got height barriers and places that are motorhome friendly so I can get right into where I want to go.
Matt Sims
Can you tell us what apps those are? That’s really interesting.
Karina Ingham
Park4night is one of them that I’ve used. That’s been a really useful one. That’s probably the main one that I’ve used.
But also wherever I’m going I go on council websites on their parking section. And quite often they’ll give you exact details of which car parks in that county will accept motorhomes in those car parks, so you’re not wasting time driving around. And often it’ll tell you how much you need to pay as well and whether you can even stay overnight because in some car parks, I’ve found, you can pay to stay overnight as well, which is always handy.
Matt Sims
That’s a really good idea. What a great idea. There are lots of differences between a caravan holiday and a motorhome holiday. And people often, I find, make a direct comparison. They are very different types of holidays, aren’t they?
And it’s interesting that you say you have to plan more when you’re using the motorhome. And I find that’s true when you’re going somewhere and you want to get somewhere to go and visit sites. But do you use the motorhome where you just make it up as you go along? I find you get a lot more freedom with a motorhome than with a caravan. Do you just plan every night where you’re going to stop? Or do you just see where you go, see where you end up?
Karina Ingham
Yeah, it’s a bit of a mix, really, because sometimes we have just set off. Because sometimes you’ll find if you’ve booked too many nights on a site and you don’t like the site, you’re stuck. With the motorhome, it is more that you can just arrive. We found though since the sites have got very busy this last year, it can be a little bit of a risk just to turn up and hope for the best. So I’ve always at least looked to make sure there’s availability before I’ve headed off somewhere. And that’s always something to bear in mind, that a lot of sites now in popular locations are going to be busy.
I am a member of both clubs, the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club. And I find that that’s good to have that, and they’ve both got apps as well. I prefer to book quite often for us, just so I know I have got a pitch when we go there.
But unlike the caravan where you’re definitely booking way in advance because if you’re turned away at the gate, you’ve got a bit of a problem whereas, in the motorhome, you can just trundle on. And then you can use your app to find places where you can park up quite legally overnight. So you’ve got that flexibility. And we have enjoyed the odd stay where we have done the pub stops as well. You can use those. That’s called Brit Stops, which I’m sure many people that listen to you are already aware of.
Matt Sims
That’s a book, isn’t it, rather than an app?
Karina Ingham
Yes, and that’s great. We’ve done that quite a few times because it is nice to go and have something to eat as well and combine that as part of the trip.
Matt Sims
It’s really interesting, your journey from a caravan into a motorhome. I speak to lots of people who are very anti motorhomes like you were. Is there any advice or considerations that you would give to people who are maybe thinking, ‘Well, let’s buy a caravan because it’s cheaper.’ But they really think, ‘Well, why would we buy a motorhome?’ What advice would you give to people?
Karina Ingham
Yes, absolutely. And it’s fair to say caravan prices and motorhome prices have both gone up. And that’s where we’re at right now. I would say it depends on what best suits you, what sort of touring you want to do. If you’re the sort of person like I was, that wants to go to a site for a week or 2 weeks and just tour from that site, go with a caravan. Because once you set up, you set up, that’s it. And you’ve got a base, you’ve got that comfort, the big lounge, all the rest of it. All you do then is make sure you fill your water and empty your grey waste. And that’s the end of that.
If you’re the sort of person like I am now, where I want to have a couple of nights here and a couple of nights there, then definitely that motorhome or a campervan even is certainly more suitable for that style of touring. It’s a lot less effort than all the legs up, legs down and security that comes with the caravan. So it depends on your touring style and if you do like to just shoot off for a couple of nights.
The freedom aspect of the motorhome is what I’ve really embraced. It’s about freedom. The compromise is being able to relax more because we’ve not gone for a great big 9-metre motorhome where you are going to get more internal space, but you’re going to find that it’s going to be harder to get you down the country lanes of Cornwall and just park in the car parks in a town centre. Those are the two different styles of touring.
Matt Sims
I describe them as a bicycle wheel. So with a caravan, you’re the hub, where you park the caravan. And then you create journeys that look like the spokes going out in the car to all of the destinations. Whereas in a motorhome you’re the rim of the wheel going in a big circle, and every night you’re in a different location. Do you stop 1 night at a campsite and move on the next day? Or do you spend a few nights? I guess it’s going to vary. But how do you normally plan your trips?
Karina Ingham
As you say, it totally varies. If I’m wanting to do a couple of counties and I’ll have a couple of nights, it might be that there are a couple of things I want to see in one place. So I might have 2 or 3 nights and then just have 1 somewhere else. And 1 night I might not even be sightseeing. It just totally depends on where we’re going and what we’re doing. So yes, just literally a few nights. And the beauty is you literally can just pack up and move on.
And we like to use e-bikes as well. We’ve got e-bikes there in the garage. So it’s fantastic that you don’t always have to drive the motorhome everywhere. You can from the site either jump on your bike and pedal, you can get on the bus, you can get on the train you can walk. Some sites are right there in the action as well. I often do a bit of research about getting right in it so I’m not having to think about parking up somewhere in the motorhome.
So yes, totally, it’s definitely about you in the motorhome. And also when you go somewhere you’ve got your fridge. That’s an absolute bonus I found. When you arrive somewhere you’ve got your fridge with drinks and food. You can cook something if you need to. You’ve got your toilet on board and as a lady that’s really important, I’ll tell you now. That’s a big thing. So yes, it’s all just about that. You’ve got your own little home with you and even with having Fudge, the dog, if he needs a drink or some food, we can cater for him and we’re not having to leave him behind. He’s always involved.
New vs Secondhand Motorhomes
Matt Sims
You mentioned as well the delay with new motorhomes right now. You did quite a brave thing really and bought a secondhand one to get you on your way. And there’s lots of advice at the moment that people should come to a show and have a look and really consider what the layout is they want to buy, what motorhome model and so on.
What’s your advice for people? Should they go and take the plunge and go and buy a secondhand one? Should they hire one? Should they wait? What should they do?
Karina Ingham
Well, what I’d say to anyone is, whether you’re thinking about a caravan or motorhome, or whether you know you want a motorhome but you’re not sure which layout, look at hiring. Because not everyone can just go out and buy a used one. There’s not a lot of stock about and they are quite highly-priced. If you buy one and then you realise it’s not for you it’s difficult – we were lucky, we were buying one and we bought it and part exchanged it back when our new one arrived.
But hiring – there’s hire companies everywhere. Obviously, you’ll know all about hiring but definitely hire it. And then you can have a look at the layout, try it and also size-wise you might realise that a 7.4-metre long motorhome is way too big for what you’re thinking or way too small. And also if you’ve got children, it’s a bit of a leap of faith. Will your children enjoy the motorhome? Or will the caravan suit them more?
So yes, hire. And hire from a company that is reputable as well. Look at reviews, that’s what I always say. It’s always important to see what other people have said about the motorhome hire company. Go with a reputable firm. Ring up, speak to them, ask their advice because people that hire motorhomes are generally motorhomers themselves or if not, they certainly know a lot about it.
It will also give you an idea about the way of touring and what goes with that, filling your water tanks, emptying your tanks, finding sites, the whole package really. And it gives you an idea when you come to buy so you’re not getting it wrong because it can be a really costly mistake. If you get the wrong layout, you’ve spent a lot of money.
Matt Sims
That was my experience. That’s my story. Great advice, thank you! Good advice.
Here We Tow on YouTube
Matt Sims
So how can people find you? You’re on YouTube. Tell us a bit more about Here We Tow.
Karina Ingham
Yes, so Here We Tow is on YouTube and that is our name. And on there what I do is review caravans and motorhomes. I also review campsites, and various products and I film my trips and tours as well when I’m away. I do solo motorhoming as well as a woman so some of those trips are me by myself including when I broke down on M42 with a blowout, so that’s worth a watch. And basically, it’s how to deal with that situation because that wasn’t much fun at all.
And I also do the towing as well. So if you’re interested in seeing about towing and a lady towing as well which can be useful for people. But there are loads of trips that I’ve done in the motorhome. There’s food in there. I’m pretty big on food. There’s fish and chips and ice cream and the full thing going on. So yes, drop in on the channel and hopefully, it’ll give you some good insight into that transition, how to get the most out of your motorhome, where to go on your holidays and just a bit of inspiration hopefully.
Matt Sims
Fantastic. And it is great, it’s very entertaining. You’re brilliant on it, I have to say. So check out Here We Tow on YouTube. You’ll see Karina and Fudge, and there’s someone else in the YouTube channels, isn’t there?
Karina Ingham
Yes, there is. There’s Jules, my husband, who doesn’t say much because as you can tell I can generally hold my own when it comes to talking. But yes, there’s Jules as well. And believe it or not, he knows quite a bit, especially about awnings. There’s a lot of awning content in there including the awnings for motorhomes as well and accessories as they’re quite important too. So yes, please do join us on the channel.
Matt Sims
Fantastic. Karina, thank you ever so much for talking to us. Have a great rest of the show and we’ll see you on the next edition of Here We Tow.
