About Go Motorhoming
Buying a camper
van or motorhome and setting off on a European
road trip is a big decision. The following is
an abridged version of Chapter 2 from Go
Motorhoming Europe and should help with the campervan
purchase and the road trip planning.
What is a motorhome?
Legally a motorhome is a self contained vehicle. It
must contain living accommodation including seats
and tables, a bed which may convert from the seats,
cooking facilities and storage facilities. In addition
if you wish to use motorhome stopovers you will need
a toilet and contained water storage.
Budget "how much does a motorhome cost?"
Consider both the purchase price and running costs
of your campervan. As prices range from £1,000
to over £1,000,000 it is easy to become carried
away, and you will probably find you need to spend
more than you originally thought. Factor in insurance,
servicing and recovery charges as well as fuel economy.
If you find you don’t have the budget to buy
a campervan there are several motorhome companies
that offer long term renting options.
Second Hand Motorhomes
Check the overall condition of the motorhome including;
chassis/underneath, engine and mileage. Check the
seals and trims on the outside for cracks, sun damage,
knocks and scrapes. Inside the motorhome check carpets,
cupboards, handles and upholstery, be aware of any
personalisation.
Damp in older motorhomes can be a problem and must
be checked for, but can normally be cured. Motorhomes
suffering damp have a distinctive smell, mildew in
cupboards is a sign but an inexpensive damp metre
is worth having. Motorhome floors can de-laminate
giving a bouncy feeling, again this can be cured.
Wear and tear should be in line with the age of the
motorhome. Ensure, by testing, that all gas/electrical
parts are working. An older motorhome in excellent
condition may be preferable to a younger one in poor
condition.
Motorhome living accommodation
Compromise is the only word that explains the motorhome
living accommodation. Thousands of motorhome layouts
have been designed and continue to evolve, but there
is no easy way to squeeze a kitchen, bathroom, dining
room, lounge and bedrooms into a motorhome, so try
not to be too ridged, as none of them will be perfect.
Bathroom - Not all motorhomes have a separate
shower or a toilet, those who can rough it will survive
without, but in reality this is inadequate. To be
considered a ‘self contained motorhome’
in Europe you must have a toilet, even if it is a
free-standing porta potty. Public toilets vary in
availability and cleanliness in Europe, not taking
a toilet with you may prove embarrassingly costly!
Bedroom/sleeping - Poor sleep can be a big
problem when away in your motorhome, roughing it for
a week can be fun, but after a month you may not be
laughing. If you have more people than can sleep in
your camper van you will need to use campsites. You
are not allowed to use tents at the motorhome
stop overs.
Kitchens - Can be cramped so ensure there
is enough space to prepare a meal, but as with bathrooms
motorhome kitchens they only need to be just big enough.
Legal stuff you need to know
Maximum Vehicle Weight, Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW),
and Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM)
all refer to the legal maximum loaded weight including
all occupants of a motorhome. Converters of motor
caravans can have the vehicle weight re-assigned both
up and down. The MTPLM should not be confused with
the Gross Train Weight (GTW) a higher figure that
specifies the maximum combined weight of the motorhome
when towing a trailer.
Payload - We cannot stress enough how important
it is for you to understand payload. Payload refers
to the leftover weight between an empty motorhome
(as calculated by manufacturers) and fully loaded
to its specified MTPLM. We believe the payload should
be sufficient in normal use to prevent you exceeding
the MTPLM. Unfortunately this is not as straightforward
as it seems as motorhome manufacturers include or
exclude different items into the empty weight that
is known as Mass In Running Order (MIRO).
Mass In Running Order (MIRO) - MIRO refers
to the entire manufactured weight of a motorhome and
the equipment required to operate and in the case
of motorhomes includes 'essential habitation equipment
'. Currently each manufacturer interprets the regulations
differently. Therefore motorhomes bought before harmonization
due July 2011 and then subsequently second-hand may
have different MIRO and payload calculations.
Axle weights - Axle weights may total more
than the maximum vehicle weight MTPLM as this allows
for load variation. Motorhomes with 60% overhang or
longer increase the risk of exceeding rear axle weights.
The most likely thing to cause an overloaded rear
axle is 2/300kg of scooter and rack hanging off the
back of a motorhome. Axles are always numbered from
front to rear 1-2 and 3 when a tag axle is present.
Driving Restrictions – If you passed
your driving test after 1997 or are over 70 years
old you must check your driving licence as you will
probably be limited to a motorhome of a maximum Gross
Vehicle Weight of 3.5tons.
Where to stay
Where you chose to go and stay has a great impact
on your holidays. A motorhome is an excellent tool
as it allows you to get out in the wild, off the tourist
routes. Suddenly you are not dependent on tour operators,
train and bus timetables or hotels, there is simply
the freedom of the open road.
Campsites – There
are over 30,000 European campsites to choose from
or put another way enough campsites to sleep in a
different one every night for the next 82 years! There
are campsites to suit every budget and taste.
Campsites vary widely. Some are in the most amazing
situations – camping Michael Angelo in Florence
has one of the best views the city, and in Hungary
campsites can have their own thermal spas. Large commercial
campsites can have swimming pools, fitness centres,
bars and restaurants with plenty of organised activities.
At the opposite end of the scale there are thousands
small farm camping sites, very similar to CL's in
the UK. Whether you want a beach holiday, mountain
retreat, city break or even a Spa holiday, there is
a campsite to suit everyone.
Campsite guides vary widely too. Caravan
Europe guides produced by the Caravan Club consist
of entries submitted by its readers, whilst Alan
Rogers produce guides to the largest campsites
and these are inpected by the Alan Rogers team of
inspectors. ACSI
produce a DVD which is a searchable database of campsites
which are annually inspected by the ACSI inspectors.
ACSI also publish the very popular Camping
Card ACSI which details campsites which offer
its readers a reduced rate. There are even campsite
guides based on specialist subjects, for example Sea
View Camping which just features campsite in Britain
with a sea view.
Spain is Europe's most popular winter destination
for both caravaners and motorhomers, this is mainly
due to it being the warmest place to spend the winter.
There are plenty of campsites open all year, those
in the north tend to be around Barcelona, but there
are plenty in Southern Spain. These campsites cater
well for the long stay winter visitor. If you want
to been even warmer Morocco has 100 campsites open
all year, all detailed in Camping Morocco.
Motorhome stopovers - There
is no need to limit yourself to campsites as there
are over 6,000 motorhome stopovers called Aires
de Service in France, Stellplatze
in Germany, Area de Sosta in Italy and Area pour Autocaravanner
in Spain and Portugal. All these terms refer to the
same thing- special places where motorhomes can stop
for a few nights, dump and replenish water tanks often
for free. Motorhome Aires, as they are commonly called
by British motorhomers, are a brilliant resource often
in fantastic locations, but only available to motorhomes
and camper vans.
Motorhome Aires vary from parking areas in municipal
car parks to gardens, farms, and sometimes even inside
campsites. In France the scheme France
Passion has over 1000 participating farms and
vineyards offering motorhomers the opportunity to
say overnight and some very enjoyable experiences
can be had sampling local produce. A similar scheme
also exists in Spain called Espania
Discovery.
Gas
In the UK we predominantly use Calor Gas in our campervans.
Wherever you are in the country you are never very
far from a Calor Gas supplier, often the local petrol
station, soothe size bottles your motorhome locker
takes isn't so important. If you intend to take your
motorhome across the channel you need to be aware
that exchanging or refilling Calor Gas bottles is
not possible because every country has its own gas
supplier and bottles. The only gas available Europe
wide is camping gas, but unfortunately these bottles
are so small they are only viable for the smallest
campervans.
When choosing a motorhome you intend to use abroad,
don't overlook the gas locker and bottle size. Consider
how you will use your gas, especially if you intend
to use the oven, heater and shower regularly and calculate
how much you will need. From this calculation you
can work out how much gas you will need to take with
you and will ensure your foreign foray is remembered
for all the right reasons.
Bon Voyage
This page has only touched the surface on everything
you need to know about motorhoming in Europe. For
more detailed information the guide book Go
Motorhoming Europe is invaluable. We hope you
find the right campervan and have a fantasic journey.