Shopping for a motorhome or campervan for the primary time? Questioning how to decide on the perfect motorhome for you?
I get it- selecting a camper is difficult! The entire thing is a bizarre mixture of anticipation and nerves, isn’t it? In any case- you don’t need to get it incorrect.
However there are SO. MANY. OPTIONS! How are you presumably imagined to know which motorhome or camper is finest for you?
Don’t panic. It’s only a matter of taking your time and interested by what you need.
To assist, we’ve put collectively a BUYING A MOTORHOME FOR THE FIRST TIME GUIDE.
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Motorhome Patrons Information- the place to begin
So that you need to purchase a motorhome?
Why?
No, I’m not simply being rude- this is without doubt one of the most essential questions it’s best to ask earlier than you even begin 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 course of cities?
- Are you hoping to wild park for weeks on finish?
- Do you need to promote up and turn 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 lots of several types of motorhome and campervans, and simply as many alternative causes for proudly owning them. I ALWAYS advocate renting a motorhome for at the very least a weekend first before you purchase.
By renting, you get an thought of what you like, what you hate and what you’ll be able to compromise on. If it’s actually not attainable to hire, the next course of will hopefully show you how to.
In case you’re nonetheless not even certain about getting one at all- listed here are 20 causes to purchase a motorhome RIGHT NOW!
*We work exhausting to make this the perfect motorhome journey weblog and street journey web site attainable, stuffed with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so if you happen to purchase by means of hyperlinks on this web site we might earn a commission- at no further price to you. All opinions stay our personal.
In case you discover this publish helpful, you’ll be able to additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to get pleasure from it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we would even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)
Motorhome Patrons guidelines
Need assist remembering all the things it’s worthwhile to verify if 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!
How to decide on a motorhome- what sort?
After I first began motorhomes, I had NO IDEA what I needed. I hadn’t even actually considered getting one, however I needed one thing to tow motorbikes from nation to nation and provides us a base to sleep in. Sounds easy sufficient, proper?
I all the time needed a cool campervan. I’m not cool, in any manner, however I LOVE the concept that I could possibly be if solely we had a campervan.
Sadly, we would have liked to accommodate two adults and a teenage daughter, and we needed her to have the ability to have her personal house, so she may 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 essential. You don’t get that in a cool campervan.
I additionally needed a dinette space and a set mattress, so I didn’t need to put away the mattress every morning.
Mr WB needed 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 may wild camp for a number of days at the very least. So a motorhome it was.
Unsurprisingly, this narrowed down our decisions quite a bit.
How to decide on a Motorhome – UK vs Europe format?
One other factor to contemplate is the place you’ll be doing most of your travelling. Im primarily based within the UK, however desire to journey in Europe.
My first motorhome was a European format (which means the door is on the best facet of the motorhome, whereas a UK format has the door on the left (nearest the kerb). I’ve owned each layouts, and though 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’ll be able to park both manner round, however some campsites solely assist you to park in a sure course (I’ve discovered this extra within the UK than abroad)- so that you would possibly take into account this in case you are staying on campsites quite a bit.
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 should discover out a automobile’s MAM- Most Authorised Mass. That is its precise weight, PLUS the quantity of cargo/ water/ gas and so on it’s authorised to hold.
I by no means ever advocate shopping for a motorhome greater than you want. Greater vans include greater prices, greater toll fees, ferry charges and so on.
Additionally, if you happen to 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 at present discussions within the EU on growing the three.5 tonne restrict. Whether or not or not the UK will undertake any modifications the EU make, is one other story! 🙂
Bear this in thoughts when searching for a motorhome and bear in mind how shut many autos come to three.5 tonnes WITHOUT any weight in them.
There are weighbridges all around the UK, the place you’ll be able to cellphone prematurely, e-book a slot to be weighed, flip up in your motorhome and they’ll print you out a replica as proof. (We have now by no means been requested for this proof, nevertheless it’s attention-grabbing to know.)
Close to motorhome towing, if you happen to handed your driving take a look at earlier than nineteenth January 2013, and you’ve got a B in your licence, you’ll be able to tow trailers as much as 750kg MAM (most authorised mass).
You too can tow bigger trailers if the mixed trailer and automobile MAM isn’t greater than 3,500kg.
How to decide on a motorhome to buy- mounted mattress or not?
I used to be adamant on having a set mattress on our first motorhome. What I failed to understand was that, by having a set mattress on the rear, we solely had a small dinette space to take a seat in, until we needed to take a seat on the mattress! I hadn’t thought how a lot we’d miss a lounge space, particularly if it was raining and we needed to stretch out and skim a e-book.
So my present van has an end-lounge (it additionally has a set mattress which matches up into the ceiling! You possibly can see our motorhome tour above.)
Once more, there’s no proper reply. In case you HATE making up a mattress each night time, then get a set mattress. If in case you have a lounge, you’ll want to verify the mattress is cozy to sleep on- and discover someplace to retailer the bedding through the day.
Don’t neglect to seize your FREE motorhome shopping for guidelines right here:
Selecting a Motorhome- finish rest room?
I made a decision towards an finish rest room, purely as a result of I may compromise on the scale of the toilet so we’d get extra space elsewhere.
I might LOVE a rest room as large as those you get in an finish rest room, however then once more, my preferrred motorhome can be about 17m lengthy!! 🙂
While we’re with reference to loos, ensure you examine the toilet totally. Silly issues like checking the bathe suits over your head (ours didn’t- I needed to crouch!) and that you would be able to 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 troublesome it’s in numerous loos with out banging your elbow!
Shopping for a motorhome- price range
Price range is an unimaginable essential (and private) query to ask your self. DO NOT EVER exceed your price range.
Salesmen (and ladies!) are educated to get probably the most they’ll out of you. If they’ll upsell you by a number of thousand kilos (or extra!) they may.
Set your price range earlier than you even go to a showroom. After which persist with it. In case you uncover a mannequin you LOVE however can’t afford, both discover a cheaper various, discover an older model or save for some time to be able to afford it. Alternatively, you would possibly 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’ll be able to borrow and what the reimbursement schedule shall be.
Additionally, don’t neglect that greater/ costlier vans have greater related prices, like storage or motorhome insurance coverage.
What’s the Greatest motorhome to purchase used?
A superb question- if solely we knew the reply! There isn’t any BEST- it’s no matter works for you. Positive, some manufacturers are extra dependable than others or have higher evaluations than others- however these manufacturers are sometimes costlier and subsequently out of price range 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 that you would be able to purchase awnings and attachable rooms (usually known as safari rooms) to quickly improve your dwelling house.
Be sure that everybody has a snug place to sleep- nothing can wreck a vacation faster than lack of sleep! Take into consideration the place the children will go at night time and the place the adults shall be. If in case you have pets, the place will they sleep?
There isn’t any proper or incorrect reply, it’s what’s finest for you and your state of affairs. These are all simply issues to contemplate.
What’s the Greatest Month to purchase a used motorhome?
Wish to know the perfect time to purchase a motorhome or campervan? This video will assist:
We hope you discovered the video helpful. In case you did, we’d find it irresistible if you adopted us on Youtube. New movies with suggestions for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe are launched weekly.
In lots of respects, shopping for a used Motorhome is like shopping for a used automobile. The excessive season is round April- September, so if you happen to purchase outdoors that you just would possibly get an ideal deal.
Motorhome reveals are additionally an ideal place to land an excellent deal, each for brand new fashions or used, and there are lots of of those across the UK all year long.
One other place to look is ex-hire autos. 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 injury, however I had been actually proud of our selection.
Having mentioned that, I’ve now downsized to a smaller motorhome. You possibly can see inside my present camper HERE
Purchase a motorhome in UK tips- is it cheaper to purchase in Europe?
I seemed into getting a French motorhome, however discovered them costlier. Gone are the times of getting good offers on the continent for motorhomes or campervans. In fact, you would possibly discover a discount, so don’t be delay wanting, however don’t be stunned by the excessive costs!
Can I drive an RV within the UK?
It is dependent upon its measurement! The utmost size of a motorhome allowed within the UK is 12m lengthy and a pair of.55m huge.
The measurements don’t embrace driving mirrors, rear bumpers, lamps, or reflectors. I additionally don’t suppose it contains 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 could have a discover displaying the peak the place the motive force can see it. We taped ours above the windscreen on the motive force’s side- it’s superb how usually we glanced at it simply to make sure. Put the peak in toes AND in metres, to cowl each UK and Europe.
Shopping for a motorhome for the primary time- take a look at drive!
Take a look at drive as many alternative motorhome fashions as you’ll be able to before you purchase. As with vehicles, all autos deal with in another way and you can find you like some makes over others. Additionally, keep in mind you’ll doubtless be driving for longer than you usually do, so make sure that the seats are cozy and the dashboard works for you.
Search for issues like cup holders, headrests, stereo (essential for our favorite Street journey songs!) and someplace to place the Sat Nav.
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 packing 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 needed…. however ended up with one thing completely totally different. My first motorhome simply FELT right- which is a horrible manner to purchase a automobile.
Nonetheless, I had some sensible 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 along with your search, particularly if you happen to’re wanting round at a present, however don’t waste time fashions which undoubtedly 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 will have the time to place them to good use. Strive to not purchase on a whim or as a result of the salesperson is being pushy. Take your time and, finally, you’ll discover your dream motorhome.
Subsequent steps
In case you’d like some extra assist determining what automobile to get (and easy methods to purchase the RIGHT one for you), seize a replica of our Full Learners information to Motorhome Shopping for right here– a course of movies, downloadable eBook and worksheets that will help you make the BEST resolution for YOU!
Extra issues that will help you transfer forwards:
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