Motorhome consumers guide- How to decide on

Shopping for a motorhome or campervan for the primary time? Questioning how to decide on one of the best motorhome for you?

I get it- selecting a camper is tough! The entire thing is a bizarre mixture of anticipation and nerves, isn’t it? In any case- you don’t need to get it improper.

However there are SO. MANY. OPTIONS! How are you probably alleged to know which motorhome or camper is finest for you?

Don’t panic. It’s only a matter of taking your time and desirous about what you need.

To assist, we’ve put collectively a BUYING A MOTORHOME FOR THE FIRST TIME GUIDE.

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In the event you discover this put up helpful, you may additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to take pleasure in it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)

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Motorhome Consumers Information- the place to begin

So that you need to purchase a motorhome?

Why?

No, I’m not simply being rude- this is likely one of the most necessary questions it’s best to ask earlier than you even begin taking a look at motorhomes on the market.

• WHY do you need to purchase a motorhome?
• What do you need to do with it?
• Do you need to stealth camp in the midst of cities?
• Are you hoping to wild park for weeks on finish?
• Do you need to promote up and change into a fulltime van household?
• Or do you need to head off for per week in the summertime and benefit from the ease of taking your mattress and kitchen with you, whereas the children play within the campsite pool?

There are a lot of various kinds of motorhome and campervans, and simply as many various causes for proudly owning them. I ALWAYS advocate renting a motorhome for at the least a weekend first before you purchase.

By renting, you get an thought of what you’re keen on, what you hate and what you may compromise on. If it’s actually not potential to hire, the next course of will hopefully enable you.

In the event you’re nonetheless not even positive about getting one at all- listed below are 20 causes to purchase a motorhome RIGHT NOW! 

*We work arduous to make this one of the best motorhome journey weblog and street journey web site potential, stuffed with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so when you purchase by way of hyperlinks on this website we could earn a commission- at no further value to you. All opinions stay our personal.

In the event you discover this put up helpful, you may additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to take pleasure in it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)

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Motorhome Consumers guidelines

Need assist remembering all the pieces you could examine whenever you go to purchase your motorhome, camper or RV? Seize this FREE printable guidelines and ensure you don’t get carried away within the pleasure!

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How to decide on a motorhome- what sort?

After I first began taking a look at motorhomes, I had NO IDEA what I wished. I hadn’t even actually considered getting one, however I wished one thing to tow motorbikes from nation to nation and provides us a base to sleep in. Sounds easy sufficient, proper?

I at all times wished a cool campervan. I’m not cool, in any manner, however I LOVE the concept that I might be if solely we had a campervan.

Sadly, we wanted to accommodate two adults and a teenage daughter, and we wished her to have the ability to have her personal house, so she might draw or take heed to music at one finish of the motorhome, while we labored or watched a video on the different finish.

So having two completely separate sleeping areas was necessary. You don’t get that in a cool campervan.

I additionally wished a dinette space and a hard and fast mattress, so I didn’t should put away the mattress every morning.

Mr WB wished one thing sturdy sufficient to tow the motorbikes (apparently not each motorhome is!) and one thing with respectable sized water and waste tanks so we might wild camp for a number of days at the least. So a motorhome it was.

Unsurprisingly, this narrowed down our decisions loads. 

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How to decide on a Motorhome – UK vs Europe structure?

One other factor to think about is the place you can be doing most of your travelling. Im based mostly within the UK, however desire to journey in Europe.

My first motorhome was a European structure (that means the door is on the appropriate aspect of the motorhome, whereas a UK structure has the door on the left (nearest the kerb). I’ve owned each layouts, and despite the fact that I do most of my exploring in Europe, my present motorhome has a UK door.

I’ve by no means discovered this an issue, as I keep in aires in Europe the place you may park both manner round, however some campsites solely let you park in a sure route (I’ve discovered this extra within the UK than abroad)- so that you may contemplate this if you’re staying on campsites loads.

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Shopping for a motorhome for the primary time- most weight and size

Be very clear what your most motorhome weight is- and perceive what meaning!

You’ll want to discover out a car’s MAM- Most Authorised Mass. That is its precise weight, PLUS the quantity of cargo/ water/ gasoline and so forth it’s authorised to hold.

I by no means ever advocate shopping for a motorhome greater than you want. Larger vans include increased prices, increased toll prices, ferry charges and so forth.

Additionally, when you handed your driving take a look at on or after the first January 1997, you have to take further driving exams to drive something over 3.5tonnes (C1).

As of 2024, there are presently discussions within the EU on rising the three.5 tonne restrict. Whether or not or not the UK will undertake any adjustments the EU make, is one other story! 🙂

Bear this in thoughts when searching for a motorhome and bear in mind how shut many automobiles come to three.5 tonnes WITHOUT any weight in them.

There are weighbridges all around the UK, the place you may cellphone upfront, guide a slot to be weighed, flip up in your motorhome and they’re going to print you out a duplicate as proof. (We have now by no means been requested for this proof, however it’s fascinating to know.)

On the subject of motorhome towing, when you handed your driving take a look at earlier than nineteenth January 2013, and you’ve got a B in your licence, you may tow trailers as much as 750kg MAM (most authorised mass).

You too can tow bigger trailers if the mixed trailer and car MAM isn’t greater than 3,500kg.

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How to decide on a motorhome to buy- mounted mattress or not?

I used to be adamant on having a hard and fast mattress on our first motorhome. What I failed to grasp was that, by having a hard and fast mattress on the rear, we solely had a small dinette space to take a seat in, until we wished to take a seat on the mattress! I hadn’t thought how a lot we might miss a lounge space, particularly if it was raining and we wished to stretch out and skim a guide.

So my present van has an end-lounge (it additionally has a hard and fast mattress which fits up into the ceiling! You may see our motorhome tour above.)

Once more, there’s no proper reply. In the event you HATE making up a mattress each evening, then get a hard and fast mattress. If in case you have a lounge, you’ll want to verify the mattress is comfortable to sleep on- and discover someplace to retailer the bedding throughout the day.

Don’t neglect to seize your FREE motorhome shopping for guidelines right here:

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Selecting a Motorhome- finish toilet?

I made a decision in opposition to an finish toilet, purely as a result of I might compromise on the dimensions of the toilet so we might get more room elsewhere.

I might LOVE a rest room as huge as those you get in an finish toilet, however then once more, my perfect motorhome could be about 17m lengthy!! 🙂

While we’re with regards to bogs, ensure you examine the toilet totally. Silly issues like checking the bathe matches over your head (ours didn’t- I needed to crouch!) and you could shut the toilet door while you’re on the bathroom.

Additionally, I love to do the towel test- shut the toilet door and faux you’re drying your self with a towel. You’ll be amazed how tough it’s in plenty of bogs with out banging your elbow!

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Shopping for a motorhome- finances

Price range is an unimaginable necessary (and private) query to ask your self. DO NOT EVER exceed your finances. 

Salesmen (and ladies!) are educated to get probably the most they will out of you. If they will upsell you by a number of thousand kilos (or extra!) they may.

Set your finances earlier than you even go to a showroom. After which follow it. In the event you uncover a mannequin you LOVE however can’t afford, both discover a cheaper different, discover an older model or save for some time with the intention to afford it. Alternatively, you may need to take a look at caravans as an alternative of motorhomes– they are often cheaper as a place to begin.

In case you are shopping for a camper on finance, be very clear about how a lot you may borrow and what the compensation schedule shall be. 

Additionally, don’t neglect that greater/ dearer vans have increased related prices, like storage or motorhome insurance coverage.

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What’s the Greatest motorhome to purchase used?

A superb question- if solely we knew the reply! There isn’t a BEST- it’s no matter works for you. Certain, some manufacturers are extra dependable than others or have higher opinions than others- however these manufacturers are sometimes dearer and subsequently out of finances for many individuals.

I went from having an overcab mattress to having a decrease profile mannequin to cut back the toll charges in Europe- something over 3m excessive is charged as a truck! Don’t neglect you could purchase awnings and attachable rooms (usually known as safari rooms) to briefly improve your dwelling house.

Ensure everybody has a cushty place to sleep- nothing can break a vacation faster than lack of sleep! Take into consideration the place the children will go at evening and the place the adults shall be. If in case you have pets, the place will they sleep?

There isn’t a proper or improper reply, it’s what’s finest for you and your state of affairs. These are all simply issues to think about.

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What’s the Greatest Month to purchase a used motorhome?

Need to know one of the best time to purchase a motorhome or campervan? This video will assist:

We hope you discovered the video helpful. In the event you did, we’d like it if you adopted us on Youtube. New movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe are launched weekly.

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In lots of respects, shopping for a used Motorhome is like shopping for a used automobile. The excessive season is round April- September, so when you purchase outdoors that you just may get a terrific deal.

Motorhome reveals are additionally a terrific place to land a great deal, each for brand spanking new fashions or used, and there are a lot of of those across the UK all year long.

One other place to look is ex-hire automobiles. My final Motorhome was an ex-hire, which allowed me to buy a mannequin usually outdoors my value vary. Sure, there have been a number of issues to repair and there’s some beauty harm, however I had been actually pleased with our alternative.

Having mentioned that, I’ve now downsized to a smaller motorhome. You may see inside my present camper HERE

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Purchase a motorhome in UK tips- is it cheaper to purchase in Europe?

I regarded into getting a French motorhome, however discovered them dearer. Gone are the times of getting good offers on the continent for motorhomes or campervans. In fact, you may discover a discount, so don’t be delay wanting, however don’t be stunned by the excessive costs!

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Can I drive an RV within the UK?

It will depend on its dimension! The utmost size of a motorhome allowed within the UK is 12m lengthy and a couple of.55m large.

The measurements don’t embody driving mirrors, rear bumpers, lamps, or reflectors. I additionally don’t suppose it consists of slide outs, because it’s solely the width while driving.

There’s no peak restrict, but when the motorhome is over 3 metres tall you have to have a discover exhibiting the peak the place the driving force can see it. We taped ours above the windscreen on the driving force’s side- it’s wonderful how usually we glanced at it simply to make certain. Put the peak in toes AND in metres, to cowl each UK and Europe.

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Shopping for a motorhome for the primary time- take a look at drive!

Check drive as many various motorhome fashions as you may before you purchase. As with automobiles, all automobiles deal with otherwise and you can find you favor some makes over others. Additionally, bear in mind you’ll possible be driving for longer than you usually do, so make sure that the seats are comfortable and the dashboard works for you.

Search for issues like cup holders, headrests, stereo (crucial for our favorite Highway journey songs!) and someplace to place the Sat Nav.

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Selecting a Motorhome- be open-minded however focussed.

My very first motorhome was the primary motorhome that Mr WB and I noticed which ticked most of our containers and was inside our value vary. Significantly, we spent lower than 2 days researching and shopping for. I REALLY don’t advocate this technique!

I sorta, vaguely, kinda knew what we wished…. however ended up with one thing completely completely different. My first motorhome simply FELT right- which is a horrible manner to purchase a car.

Nonetheless, I had some good nice adventures in that van. My second van was extra deliberate, as I knew what I had been searching for, however I nonetheless needed to make compromises.

Be open-minded together with your search, particularly when you’re wanting round at a present, however don’t waste time taking a look at fashions which positively aren’t best for you. You’ll find yourself feeling fully overwhelmed and the entire thing will begin to lose its shine.

I hope you discovered the following tips helpful, and I hope you’ve got the time to place them to good use. Attempt to not purchase on a whim or as a result of the salesperson is being pushy. Take your time and, ultimately, you’ll discover your dream motorhome.

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