For many people, buying a motorhome will represent the second largest investment they’ll ever make, after buying their house. So it’s vital to get it right. But how do you actually go about doing that and how do you choose a motorhome?
For those of you who have had a few ‘vans over the years, you’ll most likely have started to hone in on exactly what you want as you’ve gone along. However, if this is your first ‘van, how do you go about picking the best motorhome? In this guide, we’ll talk you through the steps involved.
Read reviews when choosing a motorhome
The first step to knowing about how to choose a motorhome will be immersing yourself in as much expert information as possible. It might be a bit baffling at first and you’ll be advised all sorts of random things, but it gives you an overview of what to look for.
Make sure you know the source of the content you’re reading – magazines and their websites are independent and the best source of information, because they are run by professional journalists who have been writing motorhome reviews for many years.
YouTube reviews are also valid, but ensure you know if it is an independent review, or a sponsored or paid-for one. Reputable reviewers indicate if there’s a financial element to their video.
We all have different needs
We all lead our lives slightly differently. For example, my campervan prioritises large, comfortable beds and is fitted with a sliding rear-seat system, for storing car spares when we’re doing motorsport-related things.
The kitchen is basic and there’s only a chemical toilet, but it suits us. Other people might not want as much storage space and could prefer a fixed layout with a proper cooker and washroom. The point is, we’re all different and we all use our vehicles differently.
What this means is there’s no such thing as the perfect motorhome layout – we all prioritise the habitation space differently so there isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all motorhome that will tick every box.
Instead, choose one with the right balance of features that are going to work for you.
However, there are some features we’re all going to look for. For instance, a comfortable bed that is straightforward to make up is vital, as is good seating.
Having enough three-point seat belts for all family members is another key point (never, ever transport people unbelted). Equally, as much battery power as possible and a reasonably powerful base vehicle are vital. Nobody ever complains that their ’van has too much electricity or is too fast!
Park the fixed ideas
First things first when you’re thinking about how to choose a motorhome. Try to park any fixed ideas you might have, such as “It must be a VW,” or “It needs an electric drop-down bed.”
The problem with this is you end up limiting the options available to you early on before you’ve got a grasp of what’s on the market.
If you’re more open-minded about brands and base vehicles, you could find you’re buying a motorhome that is better suited to your needs, possibly at a better price than you intended to pay.
Choosing a motorhome layout
When you’re researching and choosing a motorhome, it’s far more important to prioritise the habitation space, rather than the base vehicle.
The only exception to this is if there isn’t a base vehicle servicing centre near you – having a Fiat Professional centre or Ford dealer close by can save you trekking for miles at service time. But ’vans only usually need servicing once a year (and less often with many models on long service schedules), so this might not be important for you.
Knowing what the best van for a camper conversion is will be helpful but if you decided that you only wanted a VW or Mercedes base vehicle on a coachbuilt, you’d really limit your choices. And needlessly, too: it is not the case that a Mercedes Sprinter drives hugely better than a Fiat Ducato. When it comes to brands on base vehicles, the difference between the best and worst modern vehicles isn’t that significant.
Most modern motorhomes all drive pretty well and these days, this is not so critical a buying decision as it used to be in the past.
When I was choosing the best camper van for myself, I bought a Renault Trafic because I prefer how they drive to VW Transporters. And they’re about £10,000 cheaper. But many people are fixated by the badge on the grille…
Features such as automatic gearboxes – which we’d always recommend for a motorhome, because they make life so much easier – used to influence the choice of model, but these days, most manufacturers offer some form of automatic (including many excellent robotised manuals and dual-clutch models) that will work well.
While you might spend a few hours on the road driving to your campsite and it’s important to be comfortable and have enough headroom and legroom, you might spend several weeks living in the habitation area.
It’s far more important to get that right than to be brand-centric. And always remember, you can’t see the grille badge when you’re inside.
Head to a show
Heading to one of the big shows can be a great way to see a vast number of ‘vans from many of the best motorhome manufacturers. There are numerous outdoor events across the UK but the biggest two are the February NEC Show and October NEC Show, held in Birmingham.
Just make sure you don’t get distracted by the glitzy lights – instead, ask yourself the important basic questions, such as is the lounge comfortable? Is the washroom practical to use? Does the kitchen have the features you’d want? Is the bed easy to make?
We’d always advise spending a couple of days at a show, just so you have the chance to take your time and have a break without any rushed decisions.
It’s also worth spending as much time as you can in a potential ‘van, trying it out. Is every seat comfortable? Is the fridge in a good position? What would the ‘van be like if you’re pitched up at a campsite? Would there be room for every accessory you like to take on tour with you, such as a bicycle?
Visit a local dealer
After firming up your ideas, it’s worth heading to a local dealer who will have vehicles that are close to your requirements. We’d always advise buying locally if you can – this is useful if there are any warranty issues.
We’ve actually heard of cases where dealerships will not service a vehicle that they didn’t sell. In addition, it can be much more complicated to sort out warranty claims at a dealer you didn’t buy from. A lot of used vehicle warranties will tie you to the supplying dealership, so make sure you’re aware of this fact before buying a ‘van.
If you can find your preferred layout at your local dealer, go and take the motorhome for a test drive, ask questions and spend time inside it. In some cases there is the option of staying overnight in the ‘van on the dealer’s premises, with many having adjacent campsites nearby.
Doing this will ensure you get the chance to whittle down that list of ‘must-have’ features and work out what habitation elements are the most important features. You may find some of your original wants aren’t quite as important after you’ve stayed in the ‘van for a night.
Hire before you buy
Although it might seem like a waste of a few hundred quid to hire a ’van before you buy, it really is an essential step, especially for first-time buyers.
Motorhoming is brilliant, but it’s not for everyone and it’s very important to know that, before you invest thousands of pounds in a leisure vehicle.
It also allows you to experience what it’s really like to live with a ’van, away from the artificial world of dealership showrooms or brightly lit trade shows. That way, you get a taste of the reality, not the Instagram presentation of it!
Watch out for online scams
The demand for leisure vehicles has led to a marked rise in fraud, with a lot of clever scams to be found on the internet when you’re thinking of buying a used motorhome. While platforms such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace will remove as many as they can, there are still thousands that get through.
Nowadays, scams are getting more and more sophisticated, with criminals doing this full-time. So the half-price motorhome with blanked-off numberplates isn’t really the way they do things these days.
Instead, you’ll find a motorhome listed at a price that is just that bit too cheap in a desirable spec. However, rather than being obviously too cheap, it would instead be chalked up as a ‘bargain’ It is usually an actual vehicle, so that when you check the MoT history it comes up as matching vehicle (same for the HPI check).
Generally, they list numerous vehicles too, so take a look at any other listings. These are generally quite detailed, in many cases being a copy and paste of a genuine listing.
Commonly, there will be no number to ring either, and there’s a preference for online messages, with excuses for why they can’t use a phone, such as being ‘in meetings’.
In short, the motorhome will sound like a bargain you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Just make sure you never send any money without seeing the ‘van in person at the buyer’s address. Don’t transfer money via PayPal Friends and Family either, something scammers often ask for as then the money can’t be recalled.
Also avoid anyone who asks for the money upfront to hold the vehicle.
Buying privately
If you’re buying privately, make sure you talk to the seller over the phone as opposed to relying on online messages.
Opting for a phone call will help to highlight those potentially dodgy sellers
A phone call will soon weed out potentially dodgy sellers, for whom all bodywork is “perfect mate” and who will say things like, “It has a few engine lights on, but my mate in the garage says that it’s just a fuse.” Then why haven’t you fixed it?
When you’re talking on the phone, the main goal isn’t to get details about the motorhome, which you’ll see in person when you visit it. Instead it’s about getting an idea about the seller’s character.
Be sure to always meet them at their house too, as opposed to some half-way point.
Don’t fall for any seller’s tricks either: “Someone else is coming to take a look later today, but if you want it and can get here sooner, I can hold it for you.” Many years ago, I used to sell cars, and applying time pressure is a standard sales technique that is taught from day one. Don’t fall for it.
An important check when buying a motorhome privately, will be ensuring it actually belongs to the seller. So ask to see the V5C logbook and check the registered address is at the premises where you view the vehicle. If they don’t have it because “the previous owner lost it” or “I’m waiting for it to come back from the DVLA”, just walk away.
The V5C isn’t proof of ownership, though, so you’ll also need to check the seller provides a written receipt.
In addition, make sure that they have all of the paperwork with the vehicle, such as the owner’s manual, service history booklet and lots of invoices.
Excuses such as “it got lost by the previous owner” are often an attempt to disguise poor service history, or to remove any links to the person the vehicle has been stolen from.
An HPI check is worth doing (or a cheaper version, Car Text Check – just text the reg to 83600 – which costs £3), but won’t help in the case of a cloned vehicle, where the numberplates have been replicated from a genuine vehicle.
So it’s really important to do your homework on the vehicle that you’re looking at, to see if all the stamped and riveted VIN plates are in place (they’re usually on the bulkhead, windscreen and/or doorjamb) and match the numbers on both the V5C and the HPI or Car Text Check numbers. Any missing or obviously tampered-with VIN plates? Time to walk away.
Run the numberplate through the MoT history check service and make sure the mileage matches that shown on the odometer of the vehicle.
Use your common sense, too. If you are looking at a low-mileage vehicle, but the driver’s seat is worn out, the pedal rubbers are worn and the gearknob and steering wheel are shiny, then it’s clear that something isn’t right. Again, if in doubt, walk away.
A tip from colleagues at the police stolen vehicle recovery unit too – ask if you can see any pictures of the motorhome on tour from the seller’s phone. A scammer is way less likely to have one compared to a legitimate seller.
Unless you’re very handy with the spanners, don’t buy a vehicle without an MoT (unless it’s too new to need one yet), because you just don’t know what you might be getting yourself into. Although the MoT is by no means comprehensive, it does at least provide a basic safety check.
Don’t forget the various used motorhome interior checks to carry out when you’re looking at a ‘van too.
Be willing to compromise
Remember, no ‘van is ever going to tick every box and be 100% perfect. Just try your best to get as many of the things right to match your various requirements.
Bear in mind, too, that while going up in size gives you a wider choice of interior options, it also brings in some other questions.
For example, RVs and large A-class motorhomes offer vastly more living space, and benefits such as hotel-style power showers, but their size and weight will limit where you are able to travel and necessitate pre-booking hardstanding pitches. Smaller villages can become inaccessible and finding parking can be difficult. Generally, the larger the ’van, the more truck-like the drive becomes.
Learn by experience when you’re choosing your next vehicle. Even if you got your first motorhome choice slightly wrong, it’s not the end of the world. Few first-time buyers will nail it with their initial ’van and next time, that experience will allow you to have a much better idea of what you want from your subsequent motorhome.
It’s also worth considering that everyone’s circumstances could change at any time, with factors such as starting a new hobby, having a new family member or a different budget all capable of cropping up at any time.
The important point here is that it doesn’t really matter which vehicle you have when you’re making wonderful memories on tour. So long as you’ve fulfilled the basic requirements you’ll be able to put up with the majority of those not ideal aspects of your ’van.
Remember, a great site will always offer a great holiday, whether you’re in a Bongo or a Bürstner. The plot of your favourite film doesn’t change if you’re watching it on a 32-inch screen, rather than at the cinema – and the enjoyment will remain the same!
After choosing a motorhome, it will be time to take it out and about! Take a look at our motorhome driving tips for guidance on staying safe when you’re on the road.
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