How Easy Is It To Drive A Motorhome? and More

The motorhome life is a really fantastic way to live. The on the road lifestyle is one of the best – with weekends or days and weeks at a time in a comfortable leisure vehicle, venturing off to visit new, exciting and interesting places in your very own home from home. There are some key points and questions to think about when you’re considering buying – and we’ll run through some of them here.

The sense of freedom you’ll gain if you buy your own motorhome simply cannot be bettered – but ownership is not without its early worries. Believe it or not, one of the biggest ‘fears’ people have about motorhomes is whether they’d actually be able to handle them on the road. That’s completely understandable, of course, as everyone likes to feel safe and in control, and a motorhome is a far larger proposition than a car (despite the general principle of driving remaining the same).

The simple fact is, if the MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) of your motorhome is above 3,500kg you will need a higher classification on your driving licence. This means that if you opt for a larger motorhome – an A-class motorhome in other words – then you will be required to undertake further testing to raise your licence entitlement. Most motorhomes below that weight point are much easier to manoeuvre – and can also be driven on a standard UK driving licence.

When you’re thinking about your prospective way of living in a new motorhome, then you should carefully consider space. How many people will regularly be using the vehicle at the same time? If you’re a family of four intending to go off on weekend breaks and holidays then don’t opt for something with less space, less berths and less seatbelts than you actually require. Similarly, if you are in a couple and there will only be the pair of you taking staycations and spontaneous nights away, then is it really necessary to buy a six berth motorhome? The answer is, of course, “no.” Whatever your circumstances, think carefully and make sure you get something that is appropriate to your actual requirements.

Similar to the considerations you will make when thinking about space, make sure you get a motorhome which has all of the fixtures and fittings and features you require to make living as convenient and comfortable as possible.

For instance, does the motorhome you are thinking about buying have plenty of the correct kit in the kitchen, ready to be put to use to cook for the family? Is there enough seating for those social evenings? Is there an external BBQ point? Do you need the seats in the driving cab to swivel round and face the social space? Does the driver need a Sat Nav system? All of these questions and more can be answered with just a bit of thought about what you might need to know, and some all-important research.

There are two common classes of motorhome: coachbuilt and A-class. What’s the difference between them? It’s in the way that they are constructed, and their consequent size. A-Class motorhomes tend to be larger motorhomes, and are built chassis upwards, with the whole vehicle constructed as one single unit on the chassis. This means the driving cab is contained within the interior itself. Coachbuilt motorhomes use a pre-existing cab and chassis as a base and a coach is built onto that chassis, behind the cab.

Ultimately, there are all sorts of angles and aspects to new ownership of a motorhome – whether that is an A-class vehicle or coachbuilt. Here at Lowdhams, as a motorhome dealer always dedicated to making sure you get absolutely the right vehicle for you, whether it’s one of our special editions or a pre-owned model, we’re pleased to deal with any questions which might arise when you’re thinking about buying. We’re here to help! Simply get in touch and we’ll do our best to tell you what you want to know. Similarly, we also have plenty of campervans for sale, both new and used, and will be able to answer any queries arising from owning one of those, too!