Space is at a Premium

Unless you’re lucky enough to own a top-spec American RV, space is a valuable commodity in the motorhome world, and finding your own little part of it can be tough. All this means is you need to be respectful of others and hope that they respect you in turn – keep things clean, tidy and well organised and you should have no problems enjoying yourself.

Try Out the Kitchen

There aren’t many areas where a motorhome beats a five-star hotel, but one of them is the fact you can cook for yourself. Though it’s nice to eat out every so often, the possibilities for motorhome cooking are really something and you should at least try the experience. There’s not much better than some freshly caught fish or a homely fry-up out of your motorhome kitchen – it’s a brilliant combination of convenience and quality.

It Will Probably Rain

Any motorhome owner will tell you there’s just no point banking on sunshine, at some time during your first weekend away it’s very likely to rain! You should come prepared with a reasonable itinerary of indoor activities or, at the very least, a good book! It’s also worth putting in a waterproof coat and some sturdy shoes; rain doesn’t have to dampen an otherwise enjoyable weekend.

Parking can be Difficult

Even the most expert car drivers have trouble slotting a motorhome into a bay or pulling up on the roadside. Before pulling off, you should figure out how to use all the tools you have at your disposal and make sure you know how to put the motorhome in reverse – it varies considerably in each model! Take your time and remember that it’s about accuracy, not speed; a motorhome is much easier to control if it’s driven slowly.

Enjoy the Outdoors

To a great extent, camping is about enjoying the outdoors and you really should make the most of it if you’re in a motorhome for the weekend. You don’t have to be sat in the cold for twelve hours, but you should put on some wellies and explore the local area or enjoy an early evening barbecue. Part of the beauty of the motorhome owner’s lifestyle is that you have access to all the great British countryside so get out and enjoy it!

Take it for a Drive

If you’re hiring a motorhome, it’s a great opportunity to actually try out its features as if you were going to buy it. So many motorhome owners started out hiring and eventually plumped to buy after realising the costs of the upfront purchase and motorhome insurance make much more sense when compared to long term-hiring. You can treat your trip as a test-drive just in case you’re persuaded!

Ask for Advice

The best part of being a motorhome owner is that there’s an enormous community of fellow travellers who are all more than happy to help you out with motorhome tips and tricks. Before you go, ask around friends and family for any area tips and when you’re camping speak to those adjacent to you. Everyone will be happy to offer you advice on what to do for the day if you’re stuck!

Research Your Responsibilities

Camping is about having fun and enjoying yourself, but it also comes with the responsibility to look after the countryside, respect the locals and your fellow campers. If you’ve never camped before some of the things that are taken as etiquette by most seem a little strange, but once you’re there it makes sense. A quick Google search can help to get into your mind what’s good practice, and can save you embarrassment before you travel.

Your first motorhome weekend might not go quite as smoothly as you’d hope, but as long as you get a feel for what it’s like to enjoy a motorhome holiday you should worry – it all gets easier with practice!

However, there are things that can make that role just a bit easier and one of them is looking for awards given by independent bodies. One of the most prestigious of those is VisitEngland’s excellence awards, the winners of which have just been announced.

The award for the Caravan Holiday Park of the Year went to Kelling Heath, a popular spot with motorhome owners just outside Holt in Norfolk. Trethem Mill in the gorgeous countryside of St Just In Roseland, Cornwall came second with Woodclose Park in Cumbria taking third. Two other parks were highly commended; Sunset Park in Lancashire and Oakdown in Sidmouth.

The judges were seeking excellence in these awards and it wasn’t just about having a great location and great facilities, those extra little touches that can make a holiday special were all important. Kelling Heath, for example, has an amazing variety of leisure activities available including bike hire, village entertainment and hiking guided by their very own Kelling Heath App. Those extra features really impressed the judges.

It wasn’t just about recognising great campsites however; the awards also extended to B&Bs and visitor attractions. Beaulieu automobile museum topped the list of large visitor attractions while Bath’s spectacular Roman Baths came in second. Green tourism also played an important part with Beechenhill Farm in Derbyshire recognised for its efforts in promoting and delivering sustainable tourism.

The VisitEngland awards are a guide that motorhome owners can make really good sense of and though all the winners will be an excellent choice, even the highly commended sites and attractions really are amongst the top that England has to offer. So, before you book your next trip, it’s worth checking out whether the campsite you’re looking for has been visited by someone like VisitEngland; it’s a sure-fire sign that you’re in for a treat.

Go Prepared

Mountain climates are extreme and to be taken seriously; it goes without saying that you need to wrap up warm and keep your sunglasses handy, but you should also ensure your motorhome is well prepared. Snow chains are essential for most mountain ranges and a legal requirement for many, so don’t leave home without them. It’s also vital that your motorhome has a good tyre tread; lower slopes can be a nasty mixture of ice and tarmac too rough for chains but still a challenge for ordinary tyres.

Uphill Driving

Driving to a resort like Alpe d’Huez is around 2000m of climbing over about 15km. If you then imagine cycling that, you get an indication of the amount of power it will take to pull you over the hills. Your motorhome should be in a low gear at all times and you’ll want to keep your vehicle moving slowly and smoothly. Sudden stops could make it very difficult to get started again on severe inclines; it’s best to navigate danger safely rather than just slam the brakes on.

Breakdown Services

On the mountain, breaking down can be a serious problem and you’re unlikely to find any garages to help you with anything more than a flat tyre above 1500m. Before travelling make sure you’re properly covered with a recovery service that will come and pick you up if you get into trouble. This is included on some motorhome insurance policies and often policies can be extended to facilitate these needs.

Changeable Weather

The altitude of alpine roads means you really need to be prepared for changes in the weather and even the most spectacular sunny day can very quickly turn into rain, hail or even snow. There’s nothing you can do about the weather, you just need to be prepared for it – ensure your windscreen wipers are working well, you have sufficient screen-wash and you’re prepared for the worst.

Going Downhill

The biggest danger when travelling downhill is that your brakes will overheat, leaving you helpless and in need of an escape lane. The key is to really start off slow before a big drive down, and to use your engine as a brake as best as possible. If you do need to use the footbrake use it in short, sharp bursts and make sure to give it plenty of release. Burnout comes when you drag your brakes for an extended period of time; make sure you use what power you have wisely.

Wildlife and Nature

You’re really at the mercy of nature in the mountains so don’t assume you’re alone on the roads. Wildlife like deer, mountain goats and cattle are all common in Europe so expect to meet something and have to stop. You also can’t bank on your path not being blocked by a heavy waterfall, ice or just good old snowdrifts. Be aware of what you might meet.

Other Drivers

In the mountains one of your biggest dangers is other drivers. Your motorhome will be slow when going uphill and may not corner particularly well going downhill so expect pressure from other drivers, particularly locals who know the roads well. All you can do is to drive at your own pace, making sure you’re comfortable with your speed; don’t let pressure change your driving style.

Alpine driving isn’t to be underestimated so make sure you acknowledge the dangers and don’t drive carelessly. All the roads in alpine passes are designed for cars but you are always travelling at your own risk. If you don’t think something is passable, turn around and find another route. Though all roads are dangerous, alpine roads present by far the biggest risk so make sure you’re comfortable and confident before going ahead.

Upfront Travel Costs

The first thing on most people’s agenda will be the upfront travel costs of physically getting abroad. If you stay in the UK, you of course make a 100% saving as there aren’t (normally) any ferries, tunnels or flights to factor in. Of course, for each destination there are more expensive and cheaper ways of getting there so you should ensure you’re savvy about the way in which you travel. The cheaper the upfront travel costs of going abroad, the more likely you are to be able to recover them when you go away.

Currency Concerns

Everyone knows that when travelling abroad you have to factor in the costs (or benefits) of a different currency but actually calculating how much you stand to save is very difficult indeed. For a user-friendly approach in Europe it’s good to work on price parity, assuming that if you’ll spend £100 here, you’ll spend €100 there and you’ll end up saving the 10% difference in the currency. However, a more detailed cost of living index can be a great comparison tool.

Factoring in Fuel

Fuel prices are generally very expensive in the UK and, as such, you can make massive savings abroad. If you’re someone who likes to travel around a lot in your motorhome rather than staying put, you might make big savings on the cost of fuel once you’re in your target destination. You shouldn’t forget though that many roads in Europe have tolls, so though the petrol in France may be cheaper, the €60-odd you’ll spend getting from Calais to Lyon might wipe that out!

Are You Hiring or Using Your Own?

If you’re a proud owner of your own motorhome, you’re not going to be very likely to want to hire unless you’re going a long, long way afield. Of course, this does restrict you to France, Spain, Italy and parts of Northern Europe and Scandinavia. There are masses of great areas to explore here, but the cost of flying somewhere and then hiring on top doesn’t make much sense. Driving yourself and taking a few extra days on the way is usually much cheaper.

Don’t Forget the Essentials

Motorhome insurance really is essential in Europe, but you shouldn’t assume your policy covers you automatically on the continent. Top-end policies will, but even then you might need to consider your requirements in specific countries: places like Luxembourg or Switzerland are occasionally omitted and without the proper insurance even a fleeting visit could cost you dearly.

Timing Your Trip

Of course, getting to the continent does take a bit of time, Spain is around a half-a-day on the ferry from the South of England and, though France is accessible from Dover in less than half an hour, it isn’t a convenient stop if you live in the North! A day’s travelling either side of your trip can be done well and great fun, but it can also be a drag if you’re short on time and want to make the most of your holiday, getting to your destination and getting stuck in really can be the best idea.

The Joy of Exploration

There are enough sights in the UK to last anyone a lifetime, but that’s also true of continental Europe five times over! Even if the costs of travelling to Europe don’t add up, there’s a lot to be said for exploring a different culture, trying out a different language or even just driving on the other side of the road! Exploration is what motorhomes are designed for, so don’t pass up the chance to see some of the fabulous things you’ve always wanted to just because the costs don’t add up.

On the whole, travelling to the continent still costs a lot more than staying in the UK and though you’re likely to benefit from a cheaper cost of living in some areas and cheaper fuel costs, getting there is still an expense. It’s definitely becoming easier to travel to the continent, but for many there’s still so much to explore here in the UK.

If you want to be in with a chance of winning this great prize all you have to do is like our Facebook page, click on the ‘Promos’ tab and enter your details! The competition ends Sunday 26th May at midnight so get entering soon!

Good luck everyone and happy motorhoming!

T&Cs
Entrants must be 18 years or older and based in the UK.
Winner will be chosen at random and announced on Facebook once all the entries have been counted. Prize must be claimed within 7 days or the winner will be redrawn.
If original prize is not available then another of the same or equal value will be provided.

Make Yourself Room

One of the worst parts of a rainy day is not being able to go and get some fresh air, leaving you cooped up in what might be not very much space at all. By investing in an awning you can open up your motorhome and still keep things dry; it’s a great place for sitting and enjoying a book, eating or even just storing damp clothes. Though you should be careful not to leave anything expensive sitting in your awning – it might not be covered on your motorhome insurance.

Get Cooking

If you can bear a trip to the local shops, cooking is a fantastic way to pass the rainy days and great if you have little ones too. With a reasonable sized oven you can get quite creative with the food you’re preparing and long, slow cooked meals always go down a treat at the end of a hard day. Baking too is perfect for getting young ones involved, and even if they’re not keen to help with the preparation, they’ll certainly get stuck in with eating! Explore in the Dry Depending on where you’re camping, it’s important to still try to get out and about at some point. Local museums and art galleries are a good starting point but aren’t always to everyone’s taste. What can be really nice is just to sit back and relax in a little cafe; it’s something that we all enjoy but seldom get the time to do. Take a book, get comfortable and get stuck in!

Embrace Technology

Getting away is about doing what you wouldn’t normally do, right? Well, to an extent that’s true, but if you normally get on well and tensions are running high then sometimes the best thing to do can be to purchase a box of chocolates and stick a film on your laptop or TV. It’s easy to see it as admitting defeat but there’s no need to: holidays are about enjoying yourself, there’s no pressure to get out!

Take a Drive

If you’re feeling curious why not go and take a drive on a road you’ve never been before. Not only might you drive yourself out of the bad weather system, you might end up discovering a new little town, a beautiful stretch of countryside or even just a nice place to grab some food in the evening. Rain doesn’t need to restrict you; you just need to make use of it.

Rediscover Your Creativity

A rainy motorhome trip can actually be the perfect opportunity to rediscover that spark of creativity you once had. Why not stick your old painting set in the back or perhaps just a notebook and a nice pen? While you’ve got time to try these things you should absolutely take the opportunity – you never know what talents you might end up discovering!

Go and Get Soaked

It’s not everyone’s idea of fun, but sometimes it’s brilliant to just go and lose yourself in the rain. Whether it’s it’s swimming in the sea, getting drenched on a cycle ride or braving the cold just so you can go and warm up in the local pup, getting really really wet can be great fun! Just make sure your clothing is adequate enough to keep you warm for the time you’ll be out for and be careful of stormy days; rain is one thing but lightning and hail are another.

Rainy days are disappointing but they can actually be really memorable if you take the opportunity to use them within the restrictions you have. It’s good to have a balance of going out and exploring and taking some time to just enjoy relaxing – it’s the best way to balance the demands of wanting to experience new things while you’re away from home, but also not stressing over trying to occupy yourself for too long.

Motorhome ownership very much remains the domain of the wealthy in places like China and the sort of prices that we see here translate extremely unfavourably when sold on the Chinese market. This, along with a variety of shipping costs and taxes means that it’s tough to buy your first motorhome in China.

However, China, known for its prowess in manufacturing, has seen a number of motorhome start-ups over the last few years. One such manufacturer, Great Wall Motorhomes, exhibited a number of new models at this year’s Shanghai motor show.

Designed for the Chinese market and for those in places like Australia, Great Wall’s Wingle combines a pick-up truck chassis with a fully functioning coach-built motorhome. The result is a reasonably long wheelbase with a big, chunky cab and a fairly compact living and sleeping area. However, the pick-up is well suited to the rough roads of rural China and will be appealing to holidaymakers looking to take some time in the countryside.

Though built for the domestic market, motorhomes like these could very soon be seen on our shores and those around the world. The cheap manufacturing process means that companies like Great Wall are really able to work on a budget, and even if you factor in the price of import and extras like motorhome insurance, these compact but efficient motorhomes could make a great starter package.

Using Your Lights

Before you’ve even left the driveway you should have your lights switched on to low (or half) beam and this should be the default position for your lights. Motorhomes tend to have slightly higher ground clearance than many other vehicles and therefore full-beam headlights can very easily dazzle other drivers.

You should use your full-beam lights on country lanes or on quiet roads to aid your visibility, but you need to be vigilant about turning them down. Equally, if other drivers fail to turn their lights down you too could be dazzled, but resist the temptation to flash – it could result in a situation where you both can’t see.

Judgement and Distances

At night it becomes a lot harder to make the sort of judgement you’d make on the roads during the day; knowing your stopping distances, how far to leave from the car ahead and the gap between your vehicle and the curb all becomes more difficult. It’s wise therefore to knock a few miles per hour off your speed and just leave that extra bit of space.

At night it’s also more difficult to make those big judgement calls, for example; when to pull out at a roundabout. To some extent you can use the upcoming traffic’s headlights to determine their speed, but this is very often difficult to get right. At night it’s often better to just sit back and wait, safe in the knowledge the roads will clear eventually.

Stick to the Rules

When driving at night it can be tempting to bend the rules of the road a little. You often see drivers using mobile phones at night in the hope they won’t be caught for example. In the first place, there’s actually an increased likelihood you will be caught if you encounter police which could leave you with a fine, points on your license and a very expensive motorhome insurance quote when you come to renew.

Secondly, driving safely is even more important at night time than it is during the day. It’s that much easier to make a mistake when driving at night and using a phone or, say, going over the limit which will only put you more at risk. Even if it’s tempting, don’t take the chances – it really isn’t worth it.

Dealing with Tiredness

Even if you’re well rested and feeling good, tiredness can hit at any time when you’re driving at night. The old advice of ‘if in doubt, stop’ definitely still holds, but you should think about managing your tiredness. Coffee and energy drinks will give you a temporary boost, but you’re likely to have a sugar crash after about an hour if you over consume.

If you’re going to be driving a long shift at night you should start thinking about it during the day. Don’t spend too much time on computers or watching TV, this will strain your eyes, and perhaps increase your normal tea or coffee consumption. Caffeine can stay in your system for eight hours and this prevents the drop of tiredness you get immediately after a strong cup.

Night driving is about being sensible with risks and, in most cases, just reducing your speed and being a little more cautious. On quiet roads you are in complete control and it’s your own responsibility to keep driving safely – you won’t have other drivers to pick you up on it if you make a mistake. You should only change your daytime driving style to account for poor visibility and make sure you’re in control of your energy levels. Stopping and getting some rest is very often the best option.

Longevity and Durability

Two key things to think about when choosing trim are longevity and durability. For electronics such as, say, radios and sat-navs, think about how long they are realistically going to be useful for. A CD player is already starting to become passé and it’s likely that in the future you’ll be after a MP3 upgrade. Buying well in the first place is much cheaper than needing to replace what’s there half way through your use.

As for durability, you can expect your motorhome to have a good deal of heavy usage over the years and however much you think you’ll be able to look after it, things always get damaged. If, for example, you’re given the choice between canvas and soft-leather upholstery, leather is probably going to be the lasting choice and will save you having to replace it in the future.

Cost against Functionality

Secondly, most of your options will come with some sort of cost and that can be quite significant. Manufacturers often offer, for example, a dishwasher at an extra £500. You should ask whether you can get this cheaper elsewhere although, usually, the cost of labour means it’s not possible, but also consider the use of such a machine. Would you pay £500 for the benefit? Everyone’s answer will be different, but it puts into perspective what seems nice and what genuinely is useful.

On top of this, consider the options included as standard very carefully. Just because there’s no financial cost to having these options included, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any costs! An included microwave comes at the expense of counter space, a weighty fifth seat might cost you efficiency and that fancy speaker system might just be irritating. Also consider the costs on your motor home insurance, you’ll need to be sure your contents are covered by your policy.

Thinking about Depreciation

When you come to sell your motorhome, the amount you ‘lost’ while using it is it’s depreciation. Particular motorhomes will depreciate more than others and certain trim levels will affect what you’re able to sell your motorhome on for. It’s extremely difficult to accurately predict what you might be able to sell your motorhome for, but you can work out what items will hold their value better than others.

Leather seats, for example, are always desirable, along with classic colours and tried and tested layouts. You’ll also find that electronics depreciate notoriously and technology moves on extremely fast, but you can protect yourself by buying the best kit you can. It will hold its value better than low-end fittings.

Personal Taste and Quirky Touches

There’s certainly a trend in the motorhome markets to get a little more creative with trim levels and upholstery and, if the car markets are anything to go by, it’s not going to stop. Especially if you’re after a custom upholstery, this trend leaves plenty of room for you to pick quirky colours and really find something that’s personal.

Though it’s great to play with your personal taste, it might well impact the future worth of your motorhome. Fashion and taste moves very, very quickly and motorhome owners on the second hand market aren’t always as open to what you think works. You should certainly explore the possibilities of trim levels but remember that the whackier you go, the tougher it will be to find a buyer in the future.

Choosing trim options is a balancing act, playing cost against usability and, of course, longevity. Everyone’s answer will be different, but thinking about the various factors will help you come to a choice that not only works for you when you’re using your motorhome but is future-proof enough to help you maximise your selling price when it comes to moving it on.

While motorhome manufacturers across the board have responded to this demand and considerably increased what is available as standard on many motorhomes, you don’t need to be buying new to get a feel for cutting edge technology. To keep you up to date, here’s our guide to what can really be done with the best motorhome technology in 2013.

Getting Around in Style

A normal sat-nav will get you from A all the way to B with absolutely no problem at all. If you want to do it in style however, and improve your time spent on the road and your efficiency, you need to be thinking about purchasing a specialist motorhome sat-nav.

Top brands like Garmin, Snooper and TomTom all offer motorhome sat-navs that offer specific features for motorhome users. Large screens for best visibility in the cab, European mapping, campsite and fuel stop advice, up to the minute traffic news and personalised height, width and weight restrictions are all available on specialist units. Though motorhome sat-navs tend to fetch a little more than their car-specific counterparts, it could be an extremely worthwhile investment.

The Beauty of Bluetooth

Bluetooth has been around for some time now, but motorhome users still seem reluctant to tap into its potential. A simple Bluetooth connectivity device will allow you to connect up a multitude of other devices to your motorhome and unleash the potential of what is normally a very good speaker system.

Most people begin by connecting their mobile to Bluetooth and using it in combination with a hands-free device, but it’s simple enough to hook up MP3 devices or even laptops via Bluetooth to give you full access to your music collection. Even if you’re not into the latest tunes, the possibilities that a small MP3 player can offer are amazing; podcasts, radio broadcasts and audiobooks are just the start.

Keeping Yourself Entertained

The thought of having a TV accessible during a motorhome is unacceptable to some; you go away to do something different to what you would otherwise, right!? Well, for others, being able to enjoy the big game in the sunshine or to just kick back and relax for an hour when the kids are in bed is what holidays are all about, and a good satellite TV package is well within the capabilities of current motorhome technology.

Of course, the limitations of a motorhome mean enjoying cable TV are impossible, but many motorhome owners fit a satellite comfortably on top of their roof and are able to stream free-to-view or subscription TV. If a satellite isn’t your thing, why not link up a portable wifi connection and stream footage through a laptop? Remember that you’ll need a TV license if you’re going to use any of these methods.

Keep Safe with Technology

Reversing technology in the form of rear-vision cameras has improved massively over recent years and now full colour, remarkably high resolution reversing cameras can easily be fitted to your motorhome. If you want to go further with camera technology, effective CCTV can be added with a side-view camera; this may even save you some money on your motorhome insurance policy.

On top of this, radar technology still runs the show when it comes to vehicle sensors and the latest generation of on-board radars can not only detect vehicles or pedestrians when reversing, but will let you know if traffic in front of your vehicle slows up unexpectedly and can even alert you to queues up ahead. This kind of technology is remarkably advanced and can be a real ally on long journeys, particularly at night.

Kitting out your motorhome with the latest technology is a great way of giving an old motorhome a little bit of a push towards the future and it can make your holidays run considerably smoother. Of course, technology is always moving on and what is in date today may be outdated tomorrow, so buy wisely and buy for the future!