If you’ve never owned a motorhome before, the sheer array of makes and models on offer can be overwhelming. Taking your time to think about how you holiday and what is important to you is key to making the right choice for you.

Great British Life: TMC Motorhomes (c) Dandelion PhotographyTMC Motorhomes (c) Dandelion Photography (Image: Dandelion Photography UK London)

Choosing the right van for you

Motorhomes vary a lot in terms of their interior layout and fittings and what you choose can have a big impact on the price you pay. Have a serious think about how you’ll be using your van and what is important to you.

For example, how many berths do you need? Are you happy for space to have multiple uses in order to save space? Could you live with converting your sofa into a bed every evening? Or is having a separate bedroom important to you?

Are you planning to take bicycles – would a large external storage cupboard be useful? Or, if you plan to transport bicycles only infrequently, would an external bike rack be better?

Great British Life: TMC Motorhomes (c) Dandelion PhotographyTMC Motorhomes (c) Dandelion Photography (Image: Dandelion Photography UK London)

Visiting TMC Motorhomes and talking with other motorhome owners will help you to think about the ways you will be using your motorhome and what implications that has for the best model for you.

If, having taken a few good tours of different models, you still have unanswered questions or are worried that you haven’t thought of everything, hire a motorhome for a week. This is a great way to see for yourself how you would live in your motorhome. Companies like Freedhome Luxury Motorhome Hire in Bury offer a variety of models to hire; an easy way to test what works for you.

Short trips

It’s definitely a good idea to try a few week long trips before embarking on purchasing a motorhome; this provides a much-needed opportunity to identify all those little gadgets and extras that will make your life convenient. For example, this might be practical considerations such as packing a longer water hose, a washing line – or the pegs to go with it!

Great British Life: TMC Motorhomes (c) Marcel A MayerTMC Motorhomes (c) Marcel A Mayer (Image: www.marcelmayer.com)

By taking a weeklong trip, you’ll get familiar with the way you like to travel and it can help you plan longer excursions. For example, you’ll find out whether you really can live without Wi-Fi or an electric hook up as many of our Roller Team & Sun Living motorhomes are suitable for wild camping given their leisure battery and solar panels.

Even though there is a good network of camping stores and motorhome dealerships across the UK and the continent – so you’ll never be too far away from what you need – it can be a good idea to find out what you need and stock up with before you travel. This will set you in good stead when you do venture out on longer trips – especially if you are going to more remote areas or less familiar countries such as Spain or France.

In these instances, it is probably worth packing spares – especially for light bulbs, tyres and other motorhome related consumables.

Month Long Holidays

Great British Life: TMC Motorhomes (c) Dandelion PhotographyTMC Motorhomes (c) Dandelion Photography (Image: Dandelion Photography UK London)

For most of us, planning a month long trip with need to focus on budgeting. How are you going to pay for fuel, travel, campsites and living costs? These costs will vary greatly by country – as well as how willing to go “off grid” you are and how good you are at budgeting on a day-to-day basis.

Shopping at local markets and enjoying local street food are great ways to keep living expenses low – as well as adding to the wonderful travel experiences you enjoy along the way.

How “wild” you are happy to go when choosing a park-up location will also dramatically alter what you pay per night during your holiday. If you have the funds to stay at campsites every night, there is something to be said for having constant access to an electric hook-up.

However, in some areas you may be able to wild camp – saving money and offering a completely different experience. Depending which of these types of holidaying in your motorhome you prefer, you will need to choose your motorhome spec accordingly.

If you’re planning to wild camp often, you may need to consider having additional solar panels fitted so you can keep your fridge running on hot days, whereas if you’re planning campsite life, you might like to add additional electrical fittings, sockets and appliances – or even a satellite and TV. We recommend the Maxview VU Qube.

Making the right choice

It can be hard to know how you will use your motorhome until you’ve tried motorhome life for yourself. Do talk with other motorhome owners and take tours of different models. We would always recommend a “try before you buy” scheme for first-time purchasers. Freedhome Luxury Motorhome Hire in Bury has a good range of models from both Roller Team and the Sun Living by Adria ranges that you can hire by the night – for 5 nights, week or even longer. This can be a great introduction to what is important in a motorhome for you.

TMC Motorhomes & Freedhome Luxury Motorhome hire are hosting an open day at Eton Business Park, Bury, M26 2ZS on the 28th April between 10:00 – 15:00 find out more information here.

Alternatively, we’ll be exhibiting at the Royal Cheshire County Show in June.