In our last article, we began our look at all important decisions and considerations you should make before choosing the motorhome for you. We’ve looked at initial research and put some thought into how a motorhome might impact your life – as well as how expert advice can inform your decision. But now it’s time to dip into some of the logistical aspects that come with motorhome ownership, and how these will influence your purchasing decision.
Pay attention to your budget
Your budget will have the most sway when it comes to deciding between makes and models, and it’s important to decide your budget early on and keep it closely to mind throughout the decision-making process.
The budget you set aside for your motorhome should also take into account any immediate repairs or additions you might want to make. Once you start to shop around, you’ll probably find that you’ll be able to find a suitable motorhome without breaking the bank, so you don’t have to let the upper limit of your budget decide your choice.
If you can find a more affordable motorhome that lets you dedicate leftover funds to improving the vehicle – or even going towards your planned excursions – you might find yourself better off.
Vehicle size
Last time, we talked about how a motorhome might affect your lifestyle, and the size of the vehicle will be a big influence here. The motorhome should be a comfortable size for you to drive and control safely, while also having enough room for all the passengers and their belongings.
If you plan to use the motorhome for longer journeys, living out of the motorhome for months at a time, for instance, the size of the vehicle should take this into consideration. A couple planning a motorhome trip across Europe will require less space than a larger family, and smaller vehicles will incur lower costs for ferries, tolls and campsites. Larger motorhomes can be tougher to park, and their height may restrict them from travelling under low bridges.
Bigger motorhomes will have room for more amenities, and will be more comfortable for longer journeys with more than two people. Take your time and think about how you’ll use your motorhome, and decide whether or not a larger vehicle is necessary for your needs.
How many beds will you need?
Following on from the previous point, you’ll need to figure out how many people you will taking with you in your motorhome on a regular basis, along with how often you plan to sleep in the vehicle itself.
A double bed or two singles will be fine if the motorhome is used exclusively by you and your spouse, but if you’re travelling around with a few friends or the whole family you’ll need to focus your search for RVs with the oe substantial sleeping arrangements.
Conversely, you’ll need to choose a motorhome which has enough functional passenger seats for everyone on-board, as well as comfortable seating arrangements for day-to-day use.
Again, this comes down to how you plan to use the motorhome and how many people will be using it with you. Keep all space considerations in mind and think carefully about how the internal space of any prospective motorhome will realistically work for you.
Where are you travelling?
If you’ve already got some ideas about where you’d like to take your motorhome once it’s yours, use this as a touchstone when browsing the market. If you’re dreaming of bounding across the unmarked roads and dusty trails, a more compact and nifty motorhome will probably be more suitable. If you want to travel primarily through cities, across well maintained roads and motorways, you have greater leeway to opt for something bigger.
In part one, we talked about seeking advice from experts and seasoned motorhome owners, and this is especially true here. Use forums or groups and seek advice from people who have travelled extensively across different terrains in their motorhomes, and build an informed idea about how well different models, sizes and makes cope with different places.
Make sure it’s in good condition
Just like when buying a car, a motorhome with a proven service history will be much preferred to ones without. If you can be sure that the motorhome has been regularly maintained throughout its lifetime, you’ll be much more confident in your selection.
Motorhomes are designed to perform well over long distances, and choosing a motorhome that is in good condition to begin with will save you money on any extra repairs or maintenance down the line. You’ll definitely want to stick to a regular maintenance schedule – there’s no point putting in all this effort without managing to take care of your motorhome once you’ve bought it – but a vehicle in good condition from the off will be much less worrisome than one that hasn’t been touched for years.
Check back here for part three, where we finish our look into all the things you should consider before finally buying that motorhome of your dreams.
Glenns Motorhomes provide quality motorhomes in Nottingham, Chesterfield and Derby. All our motorhomes are regularly maintained and we also offer a dedicated repair service to help keep you on the road. If you need any advice on purchasing a motorhome, or would like to make an enquiry, don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 0115 971 7509 today or contact us online.
