Are you new to camping? Have you just bought or borrowed a motorhome or caravan? Here are some mistakes you can avoid making to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable camping holiday.
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Tips for novice campers
This year we travelled by motorhome for four months, in Sweden, Åland and Finland. We've met a lot of newcomers to camping, and we realised there might be a need for us to share some tips. After all, it's easy to make mistakes sometimes, even when you've been around for a while ...
1. Do not park in the opposite direction to your neighbour.
Usually all motorhomes are parked in the same direction at a campsite or caravan park, i.e. with the front end facing the same direction. This is handy if you want some privacy on your patio. If you park in the opposite direction, you and your neighbour will have to stare at each other while eating breakfast on the patio, which is rarely appreciated.
2. Don't park too close to your neighbour
Campsites and car parks often require a minimum of four metres between vehicles for safety reasons in the event of a fire. In some car parks, it is not possible to park with this distance, but it is good to try to keep four metres apart as much as possible.
3. don't forget to say hello
In campsites and caravan parks, people often live quite close to each other. Saying hello and being generally friendly often makes the experience better for everyone. Feel free to wave when you meet another motorhome on the road too!
4. Do not fill drinking water with the hose next to the latrine emptying point.
At campsites and car parks, you can often fill your vehicle with drinking water. However, be aware that not use the hose that is next to the latrine drain. That hose is often used to clean the toilet cassette and yes, not good at all. If you look around, you'll probably find another tap or hose!
5. Don't park on too soft ground
It is easy to happen, for example if it is raining, but it is not fun when it happens. A campervan is heavy and if you get stuck, it can be difficult to get out. We've had to use a tractor twice. The best thing, of course, is to avoid getting into that situation ...
6. don't forget to check the vehicle before departure.
You don't want to drive off while the outriggers are down or the power cable is plugged in. Don't forget to do a check before you roll!
- Close windows and shutters
- Take down the TV aerial
- Insert each cable
- Raising the outriggers
- Picking up level blocks
- Close doors and cabinets
- Convert your fridge to battery or gas operation.
7. Don't waste water, electricity or LPG unnecessarily.
In a motorhome or caravan, you don't have an endless supply of electricity, water or LPG, especially if you're caravanning. How much you use, and how often you fill up, is of course up to you, but it's good to think about it. For example, you can save your tea water for washing up later, take a shorter shower or switch off lights when you don't need them.
8. Don't freeze at a prohibition sign
What is 'camping' and what is 'sleeping in the car'? This is often a hotly debated issue, and it is certainly possible to argue that you are "sleeping in the car" and not camping, for example if you do not unfold the step or awning. On the other hand, you can guess that whoever put up the "No Camping" sign doesn't want motorhomes there overnight, so it might be more pleasant for everyone, and less conflict, if you find another place to stay.
9. Don't think that Allemansrätten allows everything
Many people refer to the Allemansrätten when they claim that they can park their caravan in the forest, but the fact is that it is not permitted to drive off-road with a caravan or motorhome. This is governed by the Terrain Driving Act, which prohibits parking in terrain such as forests, beaches and meadows.
10. Don't be late for campsites and caravan parks
If you're travelling in the high season, and if you haven't booked, then it's a good idea to arrive early in the day at the campsite or pitch. Otherwise, there's a good chance it will be full. It can be most crowded in places close to the city centre in southern Sweden.
What are your best tips for those who are new to camping?
Do you have any other good tips for novice campers? Feel free to share!
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Monica says:
In the vast majority of places it is calm, pleasant and orderly. But both in Sweden and abroad, I think it's important to especially consider that there are many people living close together (just like in boat harbours) and that it's especially important to think about things like:
- not letting children run everywhere and shout too loudly
- keeping the dog on a leash, picking up after it and bringing a barking dog into the carriage.
- avoid smoking and barbecuing so close to neighbours that it disturbs them.
- do not disturb after 2200 hours - sometimes travelling with others and meeting in the evening can be more than loud - in Europe we have often found, to our regret, that Swedes excel here!
- keeping order in public sanitary facilities, latrine emptying and water refilling.
- don't spread out too much with tables and chairs and turn the place into a laundry room with lots of lines of fluttering laundry.
General rules on courtesy and considerate behaviour. You may not be bothered so much if you only stay one night, but if you live several days close to neighbours who behave in various disturbing ways, it is less fun!
09 September 2023 - 9:56
Krister Per Persson says:
Have travelled by motorhome for 30 years this year is starting to get a little saturated unfortunately see that not so many holes or want to talk even though we always greet and contact. Mostly Öland but unfortunately it has become hostile with prohibition signs on both Öland and Gotland great influence from D with mostly rental cars. Skåne was a long time since we left with a little too unknown who roam around. But we drive on where it.is liked prefer Kårehamn.o Byxelkrok o Bohuslän in October then it is just empty.. 30 days / year for 30 years.
10 September 2023 - 15:15
Andy says:
Can anyone translate?
11 September 2023 - 9:16
M Olsson says:
What do holes mean?
18 September 2023 - 19:35
Veronica says:
Good to know or consider for beginner campers.
1. Greet and be nice to your neighbours.
2. Keep your own problems to yourself or in a subdued voice. (For everyone's enjoyment)
3. Do not hesitate to ask neighbours for help. (Neighbours are more than happy to help, but not if you've been causing trouble for a long time).
4. Do not cross another person's campsite without asking for permission.
5. If you know that you will, for example, be loud before or after the regulation times, TALK to your neighbours so that they are considerate and understanding. But above all, this is how you win back the respect of your neighbours.
6. if you are at a new campsite and greet another guest who has visited the site before. Ask questions about the campsite; these guests are usually happy to tell you about the favourite places on the campsite or if there is anything special you should be aware of there.
7. Keep your campsite clean and tidy.
8. Leave public spaces as you wish to find them.
(Not in the same dirty way you may have found it.)
9. remember.
One good deed begets another good deed.
Whether it comes back from that person to you or to the next person.
10. When it comes to our children. Teach children how important it is to behave. No yelling, screaming, shitting, keeping order.
(I assume when our children were smaller. We acted this way because children are still children too, while other campers without children or those on maternity leave also want peace and quiet).
Allow higher voices/laughter such as water wars etc. between 9.30-12.00 and between 14.00-17.30. At all other times of the day, we asked our neighbours to speak to the children as we did. Also so that the children knew that regardless of the adult who spoke, the same applied. Consideration and respect for everyone.
This obviously changed if there were neighbours with babies or chronic pain who needed more peace and quiet.
So we had an open dialogue about our children with the children and neighbours. But also open dialogue about the needs of all the neighbours and how to best allow everyone to have their needs met.
✴️Vet that in one place we also put our children's rules on our caravan with our phone number at the bottom for contact if something was unclear or neighbours, for example, said and the children did not listen if we were not on site at the time).
20 September 2023 - 18:16