1. Size Matters
The overall size of your motorhome is the key to it’s drivabilty, go too big and you will limit where you can travel and park, go too small and you will compromise on your comfort. The overall width is as important as the overall length.
2. Layout Is Key
A rear lounge layout with two front swivel seats creates a dual zone so even with the bed made up there is still a sitting area at the front. This will also allow a user friendly kitchen and washroom ‘a mid ship’. With a front lounge layout, once the bed is made up, access in and out of the sliding door is restricted and the large boot storage created by the rear bunk is lost. Additional passenger seats in the back will significantly disrupt the layout and whilst the idea of a 3 or 4 berth may sound like a good idea, the reality is that 90-95% of the time your motorhome will be used as a 2 berth, so why compromise.
3. Storage Solutions
A place for everything and everything in it’s place is the mantra here. By compartmentalising your kit, it will be more easily accessible and much easier to find when you need it. Your key areas of storage will be; a large boot space for your chairs, barbecue, water carriers and other outdoor equipment. Top locker storage for your bits and pieces, under bunk storage for your bedding and easy access kitchen drawer storage for your cutlery, crockery and pans. A large eye-level fridge freezer (so you’re not on your hands and knees when accessing the fridge), wardrobe hanging space for folded or hanging garments, a bathroom storage cabinet for your toiletries will allow you to be completely organised on the road.
4. A Good Nights Sleep
If you sleep down the length of the van you will generally have the option of either two single beds (allowing you to swing your legs in and out of bed) or one large super king size. If you sleep across the van this will usually be a double bed, so bear in mind with this arrangement a night time visit to the loo could involve one person climbing over the other.
5. Fully Insulated
A properly insulated motorhome will keep you warm in winter and cooler in summer allowing all year use. Underslung water tanks need to be made to withstand the cold weather without freezing up.
6. Free Camping Friendly
There are now more alternatives to the mainstream campsites such as small farms or free parking areas (especially in Europe), so it is a real benefit to be able to be independent. Lithium batteries, large solar panels, an inverter and a comprehencive charging system are now regarded as standard rather than optional kit – giving you the facility to use your van offgrid.
7. Built To Last
Build quality is important together with the quality of the materials used. Buying direct from a manufacturer will give you the facility to deal directly with the company that built your motorhome, so when you need any repairs or warranty work done, they will have the wherewithal to undertake this type of work with you directly, rather than via a third party dealer.
8. Wash & Go
Generally if you are on a campsite you will be able to use the showers and facilities on site, the theory being that it is easier to take your body to the water than bring the water to your body, however, a fully equipped washroom with cassette loo, large wash basin and shower will be of real benefit when you are not using a campsite with facilities.
9. Ready Steady Cook
With powerful Lithium batteries and a 3000w inverter fitted as standard it is now becoming more popular to use an induction hob and electric oven/air fryer or microwave to cook rather than the traditional gas hob/oven.
10. Spec & Tech
A high specification base vehicle will give you total comfort on the road and you can now choose your preferred specification from a comprehensive range of upgrade packages. The latest automatic gearboxes are now very popular and have simplified the overall driving experience.