Motor homes, even second-hand ones, can often be expensive to buy and maintain, therefore are worth insuring even when not in use. Getting the right insurance for your motor home is important as the correct level of cover could give you peace of mind and help to avoid unnecessary expenditure. A number of insurance suppliers could provide motor home insurance and it might prove time well spent to source the market place for the best deal available.

As with car insurance, there are a number of factors that could influence the cost of the premiums, for example; the make and model; the vehicle’s age, its engine size, annual mileage and where it will be stored when not in use. The fitting of an alarm and or an immobiliser, and perhaps having your motor home electronically tagged could help reduce the price of premiums. The age of the drivers and any no claim discount, also the amount of excess you are prepared to pay could also affect the price. Some insurance companies offer special deals if you already insure a car with then, making the motor home your second vehicle, or if you already have home insurance with the provider. Membership of certain motor home clubs and organisations can yield a discount, sometimes as much as 15%.

Besides looking for the best price, the amount of cover is also important. Cheap insurance is worthless if it does not provide the degree of cover required. It could be inconvenient if an accident occurs whilst on holiday and the recovery costs are not covered, especially if it happened overseas. It might be horrendous if the insurance did not cover the delivery to the repairer and then back to you or your home, and the cost of any temporary accommodation required.

Having your policy cover, the contents as well as the actual motor home, replacing the contents new for old, may well be advisable. Could you afford to replace stolen items, especially whilst on holiday or cope with the hassle of organising a repair after an accident? Getting the right motor home insurance for your motor home could remove these worries, allowing you to enjoy your motor home with confidence.

Hiring a motor home could provide you with the opportunity to experience the freedom of being able to tour the country. You could enjoy the delights of freely travelling in your own ‘home’ from ‘home’, independently without the constraints of a timetable. It might also be a good way of test-driving a motor home before you decide to buy one. It could ensure that the motor home and this style of holiday are as you imagined and right for you.

There are a number of reputable motor home hire companies in the UK or alternatively, you could approach an owner’s network. These are organisations, which match up owners wishing to hire out their motor homes with people looking to hire. However, before approaching a hire company or network, it is prudent to have some idea what you require from the motor home. Whether you plan to tour the countryside or attend a festival, the number and age of the occupants etc. You do not need to know the type, make or model, as trained staff will allocate the most suitable vehicle to meet your needs. Unless of course you are using the hire to road test a particular motor home before buying!

A full demonstration of how all the equipment and accessories operate, and a test drive is generally given. This ensures that you are completely familiar with the vehicle and its components before the commencement of the hire period. The hirers should also verify that the driver of the hired motor home has the appropriate driving licence. Drivers with no medical conditions who passed their driving test before 1st January 1997 are allowed to drive a motor home with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 7500kg or 8250kg if there is a trailer. If the test was passed after this date or you are 70 years of age or over, then a lower limit of 3500kg MAM or 4250kg with trailer is applicable. To drive anything heavier requires an additional driving test.

The hire cost often reflects the time of year, hire period and the size of motor home, it also usually includes breakdown cover and insurance and often a 24-hour help line. However, it might be possible to negotiate a better deal on either price or the inclusion of extras. Try asking when you enquire about hiring a motor home and do not be afraid to haggle.

The option of being able to tour wherever you fancy within reason, with no real agenda or timetable, is certainly very appealing to an increasing number of people. Going on holiday with your motor home could provide you with this opportunity, allowing you to travel in a ‘home’ from ‘home’ environment. All you really need to do is decide where you fancy exploring.

There are many campsites in Europe and the UK, which can accommodate motor homes. It is possible to obtain a listing of these sites from various specialist magazines and enthusiasts club websites. This will enable you to plan your journey and book ahead if you so fancy. Generally, the appeal of going on holiday with your motor home is the ability to travel without an itinerary and off the usual tourist route.

There are thousands of campsites across Europe catering for a variety of tastes and budgets. Plenty of campsites are open all year and can accommodate the longer stay visitor. For example, Spain is a popular winter destination for those motor homers wishing to enjoy the winter sun. It has many sites in the south catering for the long stay winter visitor.

Campsites are not the only option when travelling through Europe as there are over 6000 camper-stops, known in France as ‘aire de service’. These are special places for motor homes and campervans only, permitting them to stop over for a few nights. The sites are sometimes situated in some fabulous locations and have facilities for dumping and replenishing water tanks often free of charge.

Going on holiday with your motor home, especially in Europe, could allow you to experience ‘free camping’ also known as ‘free-park’. This is legal or at least tolerated in most European countries and offers the chance to be truly free to travel and stop as you wish and without paying a campsite fee. However, it could be unwise to head off to Europe without first obtaining accurate information regarding the location of camper-stops and free-camping possibilities and what is tolerated and where. Again, there is specialist literature available and often motor home clubs could assist with this allowing you to make informed decisions regarding locations and fully enjoy your holiday.

Before embarking on a journey in your campervan, a number of checks could be performed to ensure a pleasant outing. Besides doing the usual inspection of tyre pressures, oil level, fuel, water and windscreen washer, there are a number of other essential items for your campervan, whose absence could make your trip problematic and spoil your enjoyment.

Ensure that you have packed all the necessary habitation equipment. For example, it might be difficult to power anything that requires electricity without a leisure battery or the main electric hook-up lead. How could you boil a kettle for tea or cook a meal if you have forgotten the gas tank or allowed it to run empty? If you plan to travel during a national holiday or in an area where the availability of gas supplies could be reduced, then it might be sensible to make sure you have enough gas for the whole trip. This could be especially important if you are travelling in Europe, as each country seems to have its own gas suppliers and bottles making the refilling or exchanging of gas containers impossible.

Forgetting to fill the fresh water container, or worse still, forgetting it completely or any of its components such as the submersible pump and connections, could make any impromptu stop for a drink unfeasible. Even having a wash within the campervan might be difficult without fresh water and may be virtually impossible if the wastewater container and connecting pipe were left behind.

It rather defeats the object of being able to travel freely around if you must stay in campsites that can provide the facilities your oversight has denied you. Especially so if it is the chemical toilet you have forgotten! You could reduce the risk of neglecting to include these essential items for your campervan when preparing for a trip by composing a checklist in advance. In this way even the little essential things like the spare wheel and jack, the tiny portable step, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and the rear registration plate for the bike rack, could be less likely forgotten.

Whether you use your campervan for daytrips or for longer outings, one of the attractions of using it is because it can be your home from home whilst travelling. Therefore, it makes sense to protect your campervan from being stolen by undertaking a few simple steps that can reduce the likelihood of theft.

One of the simplest things you could do is not to make things easy for the criminal. Always lock all the doors and windows when leaving the campervan even if it is just for a very short time. After-all, the thief could be in the driving seat and away in less time than it takes you to walk to the kiosk and pay for the fuel you have just filled up with. The fitting of an immobiliser could add to the difficulty of starting your campervan without the keys… because you always take the keys with you, don’t you?

Although good quality padlocks and heavy-duty chains might be expensive to buy, their presence could make attempting to remove items like gas tanks or bicycles from a bike rack rather challenging and time consuming. Using locking wheel nuts and fitting an alarm from a reputable company, which is activated each time you leave the vehicle, could also act as an effective deterrent. The idea of stealing your campervan and stripping it for parts and accessories might not be so attractive if the actual initial vehicle theft is not going easy.

Whenever you leave your campervan, always take your valuables with you. Never leave them in plain sight, always lock things away. Even items of clothing or trainers can be appealing to a thief who might be tempted to try to break in for a closer look. Whilst inside, takes a good look around and could be happy to remove anything that is not locked away, even the campervan itself. If you leave any of your vehicles registration documents inside, it could make stealing your campervan to sell on, worthwhile.

Having the registration number of your campervan etched onto all its windows and any other part that could be removed and sold on, could help reduce your vehicle’s appeal to a criminal. It might also be prudent to security mark all your valuable possessions within the campervan, perhaps using an ultraviolet pen if etching is not practical. You could also electronically tag your campervan to give added security. All these tips could help you protect your campervan from being stolen.

Deciding to purchase a motor home does not have to be expensive as there are generally a number of perfectly adequate second-hand models available. As with buying any used vehicle, it is probably wise to have some knowledge regarding the subject before starting your search and committing to a sale. Following are some general tips on buying a used motor home, which may prove useful.

Identifying what you wish to use the motor home for will help you select its class, size and model. Also, if you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, have no medical conditions and are under 70 years old then you are permitted to drive a motor home with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 7500kg or 8250kg if there is also a trailer. If you passed after this date then the weight limits are considerably reduced to 3500kg MAM or 4250kg with a trailer. If you are over 70 years of age then the lower limit is applicable regardless when you passed your test.

Make a list of the desirable items you wish the vehicle to include. Although certain items are deemed essential, for example a comfortable bed plus toilet and shower facilities especially if you plan to spend more than a few days living in your motor home. Others items are not so important and it could be helpful if you are not too ridged with your list.

Deciding where to buy is generally a case of either buying privately or going to a dealer. Buying from a private seller is normally cheaper but the vehicle is sold as seen and without any guarantees. However, if the vehicle is relatively new, the manufacturer’s warranty might be transferable to the new owner. Buying from a reputable dealer might be more expensive but they are legally bound to disclose all the details pertaining to the vehicle’s condition and often give a guarantee. This does not apply to a private seller but they are legally bound to answer all the buyers’ questions truthfully. Should you choose to buy privately, you should always view the motor home at the seller’s home address so that you can verify the paperwork and the vehicles details, motoring organisations as the RAC and AA offer online history checks plus other services for the buyer. Regardless of whom you buy your used motor home from, buying locally is generally accepted to be prudent. This not only cuts done on time and distance when looking but also could make any after sale issues easier to resolve.

Most people spend more time in their motor home than in their car, therefore, it might be a wise to take your time when buying. Try everything out and have the seller show you how to operate all the equipment and accessories, ensuring everything are in good working order. Look for scuffs and scratches on the bodywork, wear and tear on its interior. To make this easier, try to always view in good weather conditions and in daylight. Thoroughly check for any signs of damp, it has a distinctive smell but if you are uncertain, a damp meter could prove helpful. Have a test drive of the vehicle, not only down country roads but also around town and try parking it. Finally, haggle. Not just on price but on the inclusion of accessories etc whenever possible to get a better deal. These are just some tips on buying a used motor home that may help you to make a successful purchase.

Generally, as a guide to motorhomes, they come is a variety of size, shape and design and of a price range that should suit most budgets. They can be used for an assortment of purposes; from living in for months at a time to just weekends and daytrips, and can be seen as a viable alternative to camping and staying in motels should a touring holiday be desired.

The majority of motorhomes come in three categories; A-Class, which are coach-shaped, B-Class, which are converted panel vans and are often known as campervans or day-vans and C-Class which are cab conversions with a caravan body attached. The manufacturers mostly use light commercial vehicle engine and chassis for the basis for their motorhome constructions.

However, the guide to motorhomes does not stop there as they can be further sub-divided and their categories known by other names.

‘Compact’ is the smallest of the A-Class motorhomes and is generally less than 6m in length. It can provide similar manoeuvrability as the campervans but with a larger layout. In the UK, A-Class motorhomes can be up to 12m long and 2.55m wide and can be very roomy and comfortable but at the expense of being easy to manoeuvre. These larger models are often built to order.

‘Micros’ are petite motorhomes and are the smallest of the B-Class or campervan. They are normally large enough for two adults and can be enlarged by the fixing of an annexe. They often do not contain a toilet or washroom. The normal sized van conversion often has washing and toilet facilities within. It has a higher fixed roof and can have a pop-up roof to increase the internal size when parked.

In the C-Class, the living area is built upon the chassis in the form of a caravan body. There is the ‘Coach-built’ which are also known as ‘over-cabs’ as they have a bed area built over the cab. Then there is the ‘low-profile’, which does not have a bed over the cab and has a lower roofline.

When viewing a guide to motorhomes, how much luggage and the number of people you wish to carry in the vehicle may define your choice. Motorhomes have varying payloads, which can easily be compared using a chart that is freely available from most motorhome clubs and some specialist publications. The overhang must also be considered. In the UK, the maximum overhang permissible is 60% but ideally, 55% would be better to allow for tow-bars and bike racks. The permissible maximum axle weights of various motorhomes are another attribute to be reviewed. All these figures should be specified on the weight plate attached to each motorhome.

When considering where to buy a second-hand motorhome you will probably be faced with the choice of buying either from a dealership or privately. If you decide upon a reputable dealer, then you can expect to pay more for your motorhome but it will invariably come with some sort of guarantee from the dealer.

Dealers are legally bound to disclose all details regarding the vehicle and to ensure that everything is safe and in working order. A private seller does not have to do this but when asked a specific question by the would-be buyer, must answer truthfully. If buying privately, always view the motorhome at the seller’s home address so that you can check the registered address on the documents.

However, regardless of whom you buy the motorhome from, the manufacturer’s guarantee maybe transferable if it is only a couple of years old. A factor you might wish to consider when deciding on the age of the vehicle you are looking to purchase.

Apart from of the type of seller you choose, it is often deemed prudent to buy locally. This can make travelling to view the motorhomes and any after-sales requirements, less of a hassle. If possible, always ensure that you view in daylight and good weather; this can make judging the general condition of the vehicle easier. Cracks, scuffs and sun damage on the outer bodywork are often more apparent in favourable conditions. Always check for damp by its distinctive smell and by looking for signs of mildew and moisture marks etc. Damp meters are regularly inexpensive and can assist with detection.

Check for signs of wear on carpets and upholstery and make sure everything that is present is in good working order. Have the seller demonstrate everything and take your time when viewing. Spending a couple of hours in the vehicle could help you judge if the vehicle’s space and layout are suitable for your needs. It is considered sensible to take the motorhome for a test drive, driving along country lanes as well as town roads. Park it a couple of times and negotiate tight turns and corners, to ensure that you are fully comfortable with its handling.

The general wear and tear of a motorhome should reflect its age and mileage and the selling price accordingly. However, a reduced price or a better deal maybe obtained if the buyer haggles. Many additional extras like the gas hook-up lead are not always included in the price, so a little bargaining may expand on what is included.
If buying from a dealer, it maybe advantageous to enquire if they are prepared to offer a part-exchange.

Some dealerships will take cars, motorbikes and boats as part-exchange items. Also, some offer finance packages but should finance be required, then better deals could be obtained from other finance providers and the market should be fully explored before making a commitment. These are some of the things that ought to be considered when deciding where to buy a second-hand motorhome.

Facing the challenge of finding the best motorhome for your needs can be quite daunting. You could start by identifying what you wish to do with the motorhome. Are you going to tour for months on end or just for a couple of weeks? Do you require it for just weekends, perhaps making outings to festivals and sporting events a little more comfortable? How many will be travelling and sleeping in the vehicle? Answering these questions may give you an idea on size and possible layout of the vehicle.

It is doubtless wise to do plenty of research before buying a motorhome to avoid disappointment and unnecessary expense. There are a number of specialist magazines available and looking on the internet might be an option. Attending motorhome shows and exhibitions so you can inspect the vehicles first-hand, even viewing the range offered at a dealership, could help you quantify your choice. However, if you are planning to hire, then finding the best motorhome for your needs is not such a dilemma, as the staff of any reputable hire centre will match their most suitable motorhome to your requirements.

Besides being swayed by the aesthetics of a motorhome, its practical and technical attributes should also be considered. The largest legally allowed motorhome permissible in the UK is 12m long by 2.55m wide. However, most campsite, ferries, road tolls, insurance and recovery packages are based on motorhomes of 6m in length, which is the benchmark between medium and large. Its running costs, the choice of fuel and availability of parts, ought to be considered along with its manoeuvrability.

A very important factor that should never be overlooked when finding the best motorhome for your needs is the payload capacity. This is the difference between the MIRO (Mass in Running Order), the entire manufactured weight, including all the essential equipment for operating and making the motorhome habitable, less the MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) its legal maximum weight that includes all the occupants. There is a chart available to assist you when comparing the various motorhome payload details, as currently there is no universal interpretation of the MIRO regulations between manufacturers.

Another factor is the overhang of your motorhome, the legally permissible overhang in the UK is 60%. However, 55% is deemed more desirable to allow for tow-bars and bike racks. Do not forget that 200-300kg of motorbike on the back of a motorhome not only adds to the payload but also can exceed the permitted rear axle weight. Failure to adhere to payload limitations could lead to serious trouble with the road traffic police and the Law. Therefore, storage is not the only consideration when thinking exactly how much you are going to pack into your motorhome!

The choice of layout is often a personal thing, but it may be wise to remember that as the motorhome is probably going to be used for pleasure, the kitchen should be just big enough to prepare a simple meal and it would most likely be inadequate if there were not a separate toilet and shower. The design of motorhomes is constantly evolving, so try not being too inflexible with your specification when you attempt finding the best motorhome for your needs.

Do you fancy a holiday where you can enjoy the freedom of travelling without a schedule? This could be possible when using a motorhome, the comfort of having your own ‘home’ and its belongings with you whilst away from ‘home’. You may not be ready to purchase your own motorhome, so hiring one could prove to be the answer.

There are many hire centres within the UK, which include or can specialise in, the hiring of motorhomes. Before approaching a hire centre, you need to have an idea of what you want the motorhome to provide. Are you going on a touring holiday in the UK or just a weekend away at a festival for example? How many people will be travelling and sleeping in the vehicle. If you are unsure which type of motorhome to hire, there is no need to worry, as the staff at these hire centres will match a vehicle to best suit your needs. Reputable hire centres will also fully demonstrate all the equipment and accessories and give you a hand over period, so that you are familiar with the vehicle before commencing the hire.

These centres will also ensure that the driver of the hired motorhome has the appropriate driving licence. If you are less than 70 years of age, have no medical conditions and passed your driving test before the 1st January 1997, then you are allowed to drive a motorhome with a MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) or MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) of 7500kg or 8250kg with a trailer. If you passed your driving test after this date or are older than 70 years old, then a MAM of 3500kg and 4250kg with a trailer applies. To drive anything heavier requires an additional driving test.

The class and size of the motorhome, plus the time of year and length of the hire period, could determine the hire price. It may be possible to negotiate a better price or a deal that includes extras, the key is to ask when enquiring.

An alternative to hire centres is to use an owner’s network. These organisations match up owners of motorhomes who wish to hire out their vehicles when they are not using them, with people looking to hire. The network attempts to ensure they match the hirer’s requirements with the most suitable motor home in their area. These networks and hire centres are also found outside the UK allowing you to enjoy touring abroad, making hiring a motorhome a real option as part of your holiday and a taster should you decide to buy a motorhome in the future.