Having decided to buy a motor home, you are probably vexed by the question of ‘what size motor home should I buy?’ The answer might lay in for what you hope to use the motor home. If you wish to use the vehicle for weekends away or to attend festivals etc. then a B-class might suffice. These are also known as day-vans or campervans and are generally panel vans fitted out as motor homes.

C-class is chassis cab conversions with a caravan body and is often known as coach-built. If it has a bedroom over the cab area, it is called an ‘over-cab’. If not and has a lower roofline, then it is called ‘low-profile’. This class of motor home might suit someone planning to enjoy longer periods touring and requires more room than that offered by a B-class.

The largest is the A-class, which is coach shaped with smooth bodylines and is normally very roomy. Generally, the ‘compact’, which is in this class, is about 6m long, which is the benchmark between medium and large. If you plan to spend longer periods in your motor home, perhaps months catching the winter sun in Spain, then it could be deemed wise to buy something larger to yield more comfort.

If you plan to tour in the UK then it could be prudent to be aware that the maximum motor home size permissible is 12m long and 2.55m wide (39’4” x 8’4”). However, most campsite entrances, ferries, road tolls, recovery prices and insurance are fixed for the 6m motor home. Therefore, anything greater than 6m may pose problems that outweigh the benefits of its larger living space.

Not only do you need to consider the living space within but also what you plan to take with you so look at the payload information for each motor home. This is the difference between the MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass - the legal maximum weight including all equipment and occupants) and the empty motor home. There is a chart available to allow you to compare payload details.

If you plan to have a tow bar or bike rack on the rear of your vehicle then the overhang needs to be 55% or under to allow for this. The maximum legal length 60% and it is measured from the centre of the rear wheel to the rear of the motor home. Thought might also be given to the axle weights permissible for the motor home. Traffic police rarely tolerate overloading and it could lead to trouble with the law.

As you can see, there are lots to consider when deciding ‘what size motor home should I buy’. Therefore, it might be helpful to visit motor home shows, relevant internet sites, read enthusiasts magazines or simply talk to motor home owners to assist you with your decision.

Probably the key factor to consider when choosing the right motor home for your needs is you. You should be buying a motor home for you and not friends and family who will no doubt love to use the vehicle. Therefore, ask yourself, what do you wish your motor home to provide?

If you wish to use it for weekends away or to make day trips more comfortable, then perhaps you could chose something at the smaller end of the size range, like a campervan. If more room is required and a greater capacity for carrying luggage, then a motor home in the C-class range might suffice. These are chassis cab conversions with a purpose built caravan body attached.

If you plan to tour for lengthy periods, perhaps catching the winter sun in Spain for instance, then an A-class motor home, which is coach shaped and usually has plenty of living space within might fulfil your requirements.

Any increase in living space tends to reduce the vehicle’s manoeuvrability and increases its running costs. In the UK, the maximum permissible size of a motor home is 12m long and 2.55m wide. A length of 6m is generally deemed the benchmark between medium and large with most campsites, road tolls, ferries, recovery packages and insurance, catering for this sized motor home. Anything larger than this could pose problems with parking and manoeuvrability.

The design of motor home interiors is constantly evolving, creating a wide range of layouts from which to choose. You might start your choice process by considering how many people will be travelling in the vehicle at any one time. Ensure that there are adequate seat belts and berths for the intended occupants. Also, evaluate the various shaped lounges available. For example, both rear U and L shaped lounges make rear seat travel undesirable but both offer very sociable and spacious living areas when stationery.
The kitchen should be just big enough to prepare a meal and aim for at least 80-litre capacity for the fridge. A motor home without a toilet or shower facilities is not adequate for most people so that might be a necessary requirement on your criteria. Although certain items you may wish not to compromise on, it might be sensible to be as flexible as possible with everything else, as being adaptable might make choosing the right motor home for your needs easier and more enjoyable.

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.