December 02nd, 2018

Weighing Up Your Options

​The first thing you need to do is look at the varying configurations of motorhomes. There are dozens of different configurations; however, we believe there are three main configurations which we would like to highlight.

Permanent Island Bed Model

​Having a permanent bed is fantastic when you park up after a long day. You can lay down and have a nap and there’s no hassle of making the bed every night. All positives do come with a negative, though. The bed takes up a lot of space, and if you are purchasing something between 6 - 8 meters long then the bed does eat up quite a bit of your overall interior.
 
Ideally, if you are purchasing a Motorhome with a permanent island bed then you want to make sure your front driver and passenger seats rotate so you can use them when you park up. At the least, make sure you have a big enough dining area for your requirements.

The U-Shape Lounge Cabover

This motorhome is very popular with rental companies. Usually, they are 6 berth which makes it very convenient for families. This Motorhome is well-suited for families as there are 6 seatbelts and lots of options for sleeping, dining and relaxing.
 
You will find:

• there is a large, permanent double bed above the cab – this area is called the Luton
• the centre area doubles during the day for dining and also for added car seats whilst travelling – this dining area can convert into a double bed at night
• the U-shaped lounge in the rear can be used as a lounge or dining area during the day and also converts to a double bed at night
• usually, this model motorhome has a good-sized kitchen featuring both a Hobbs and an oven

The Dropdown Bed Cabover

It’s like having the best of both worlds. In this 4-berth, you will find:
 

• a large, permanent double bed above the cab – this area is called the Luton
• the centre dining area is fixed and generally doesn’t turn into a double bed – this is the area where additional passengers will sit when travelling
• the beauty about this model is that you have the U-shaped lounge in the rear for daytime use and then the bed which is hidden in the ceiling drops down for night time use
• usually a good-sized kitchen featuring both a Hobbs and an oven

 
Make sure you test the bed in the motorhome you want to purchase, especially if you are tall.

What Are the Essentials?

​The first thing you need to think about is whether you are going to mainly stay in a camp ground, freedom camp or both. If you are not going to freedom camp then things like solar power and water capacity will not be so important.
 
However, if you are going to go off the grid for a few days then these are things that become more important. Ideally, you want around 20 litres of water per person per day for freedom camping. As for solar power, you ideally want a minimum of a 150-watt panel and a regulator.
 
Obviously, the amount of power that you will generate will depend on the weather and the time of the year. Also, if you want to generate power from your solar panel then remember not to park under a tree for the shade and coolness. This will have a huge impact on your ability to recharge your batteries.

Choosing a TV and DVD Player