If you’re thinking of buying your first motorhome, you will find some useful tips below.

Research

A surprisingly high number of first-time motorhome buyers start off by simply flicking through glossy brochures or their online equivalent.

That’s great fun and it does help you to start to get a flavour of the fantastic leisure opportunities that come with these vehicles.  However, you need to make the transition very quickly into what might be described as serious research.

Start off by looking at the generics of this type of vehicle and don’t worry too much, at the outset, about individual marques.  For example, research things like:

  • chassis and power plant considerations;
  • interior equipment;
  • how to size a motorhome for your typical needs;
  • running costs and driving technique considerations;
  • different types of motorhome, perhaps including coach-built, van conversions, camper vans and so on;
  • at least something relating to the basic principles of your funding options;
  • depreciations and resale values.
  • Insurance requirements and options for motorhomes.

Insurance is crucial for protecting your investment and ensuring peace of mind during your travels. A comprehensive insurance policy can cover damages, theft, and liabilities, allowing you to enjoy your adventures without undue worry. Understanding the various coverage options available will help you select a policy that suits your needs.

All of these will give you a framework against which you can start to evaluate an individual manufacturer’s offerings. Now, if you’re looking to understand your options or want to explore more about motorhome insurance, you can click now.

Design your motorhome

Don’t worry, this isn’t in terms of the technology but instead how you plan to use your new vehicle and when etc.

That’s important because many of these factors will prove to be significant influencers in your final choice of a specific vehicle.  You should be thinking carefully about things such as:

  • who will be using it?  You may think it’s likely to be just you and your partner but don’t forget considerations such as friends, family members and anyone else you might wish to invite with you on a trip at some time in the future. Having a little more space than you really need on a typical trip is unlikely to be an inconvenience but having insufficient space when you need it to accommodate others, might be a major headache;
  • future-proofing. A good illustration here is that of younger versus older children.  Asking two young children to compromise on sleeping space today might be fine but when they are two or three years older, will that still be feasible?  It’s worth thinking about;
  • where will you be going and when?  Buying your first motorhome as a more compact model with a smaller engine might be fine if you’re planning to use it occasionally throughout the year for largely routine trips in undemanding road conditions.  However, if you are thinking of using it for long continental holidays and tackling mountain roads and very long distances, you might need to look at larger and more performance-oriented models;
  • Some people prefer the privacy and convenience of their facilities, like a personal shower, WC, or kitchen, while others are comfortable with shared amenities. In fact, these preferences can significantly influence the type of motorhome or camper you choose. This extends to the vehicle itself, where owners may seek customized solutions for electrical wiring and batteries to enhance their experience. So, for those wanting a tailored setup, working with James at Rayne Automotive or a similar reliable professional could ensure efficient and functional systems that perfectly balance convenience, privacy, and individual needs in motorhomes or campers.

All these things should play an important role in steering you towards a given model in due course.

Research marques

Eventually, you’ll need to get into thinking about individual manufacturers and their models.  You can evaluate their offerings against your research and analysis of your own requirements.

Remember, look at a broad range of reviews and commentaries online.  Unfortunately, on the internet today there is a range of disinformation planted by people looking to sell their wares or to cast aspersions on their competitors. 

The way to balance that is simply by ensuring that you engage in reading multiple reviews from different sources. You’ll then be able to form a composite picture.

It’s also sensible to speak to a very experienced dealer in motorhomes to get their input and advice.

Check your licence

A typical motorhome can be driven on a standard driving licence.

Unfortunately, the position can become a little complex in situations where your motorhome is one of the larger varieties and depending upon the date you passed your driving test.

A quick check on the appropriate government site should ensure that you will be able to drive the vehicle you purchase or rent.

Hire

In terms of pure cost-effectiveness, you’re likely to want to get your own vehicle and start to use it as soon as possible.

However, it might be more sensible to get to a position whereby you have a shortlist of potential motorhomes you are interested in purchasing.  At that point, if possible, think about hiring a motorhome of each type for a period of two or three days and making a few short-duration trips in it.

This will give you an opportunity to really get a feel for the vehicle and to use it in anger, so to speak.  Little will give you a greater insight into a motorhome’s strengths and weaknesses than putting it through its paces in reality.

Yes, it is possible to do some of that through a test drive but a quick hour or two in the local environment of a dealership is unlikely to be sufficient.  You may, in some cases, be able to take advantage of extended test drive facilities and if so, that’s fine.

If you can’t, be prepared to spend a little on renting on the above basis. It’ll be a small spend in the overall scheme of buying your first motorhome and may give you a much better insight into the vehicles, thereby making your final choice that bit easier.

Take a manoeuvring course

Before considering purchasing your vehicle or even hiring one, it would be worth thinking about taking a brief half or full-day course in basic manoeuvring techniques.

Most modern motorhomes are extremely easy vehicles to drive but they are slightly larger than you may be used to and their handling characteristics will be quite different to those of the typical family car.  That’s not the sort of thing you’ll want to discover for the first time when trying to reverse into a tight parking space on a test drive!

The costs are likely to be modest and the boost to your confidence significant.

Research depreciation

This has already been touched on above but a specific word here will be useful.

Compared to the typical family car, motorhomes tend to hold their values well.

Even so, some marques do so rather more than others. This consideration is often overlooked by first-time buyers but if you are thinking potentially about trading your motorhome in in a few years’ time, this is important information to have to hand at the time you are making your first buying decision. Another thing to consider at this point is to find a local motorhome and trailer repair company in Red Deer (or elsewhere more relevant) to ensure you always have someone on hand should you experience a breakdown. Knowing where to get your motorhome maintained and repaired can help prevent exponential depreciation, providing you with a better return if and when you trade it in for a newer model.

Think about sources

There is nothing wrong with buying second-hand from a private individual but do make sure that you take all necessary steps to protect your interests against fraud and other forms of scam.

Buying from a dealership would give you the added benefits of post-sales service and support plus the confidence of being able to easily research who it is you are dealing with. Some motorhome dealers may even be able to provide finance for your motorhome.

Good luck and enjoy buying your first motorhome!