June 25, 2018
You know what we love about motorhome owners (and as one of the UK’s leading dealers we get to meet a fair few) (apologies for blatant plug).
What we love about motorhome owners is that they are so independent, so happy to go it alone, to follow that open road wherever it may lead.
Except, that is, when it comes to advice. Us motorhome owners love seeking out bits of advice. Where are the best hidden gems of sites? What are the new must-have gadgets? Where is the best motorhome show?
One other common question is ‘what type of motorhome is right for me’. We’re going to have a go at answering that one right now but, given we don’t actually know who you are, it’s not going to be easy! We’re going to need all our many decades of experience for this one.
Clearly, we’re going to have to limit our ambition and speak in general terms. We can set you on the right path to finding the perfect motorhome, we can’t at this stage tell you what that vehicle is. Think of it this way, it;s similar to buying a house. We might be able to work out that a three-bed semi near good schools works for you, what we couldn’t do is say ‘buy number 88 Arcacia Avenue in Macclesfield’.
A motorhome is a major purchase, you will be buying something that not only comes with a sizeable price tag, but also is a vehicle in which you will be spending a considerable amount of time, hopefully hundreds of days over the coming years.
To find the right motorhome for you it will be necessary to go and look at models, test drive a few and compare a few likely contenders. Before that, though, you can narrow the field, that is the aim of this stage.
A simple checklist is the best way to start. By giving thought to the questions below you will then be ready to start speaking to dealerships and searching online to get a feel for what there is that hits your criteria.
An obvious question, but a good one to start. How many people will the motorhome have to house.
If the number is likely to vary what does that mean for how many berths you need? For example, you might plan using it mostly as a family of four but occasionally might have a couple of other guests. Would a four-berth suffice and you’ll make do on those rare occasions you need a bit more space, or would you go for a six-berth and use it as a very roomy four-berth most of the time?
Generally if you’re going to have the same number of occupants 80% of the time then it makes sense to get a vehicle designed for that many, however you can discuss your individual needs with any experienced dealer.
Do you have your heart set on a new motorhome, or is a quality used vehicle preferable. It might even be that you’re not sure which to go for, you’re going to weigh up the pros and cons of both.
We have actually looked at this in another blog, looking at whether a new or used motorhome is more suitable.
With a used motorhome you can get a vehicle that was top of the range a few years ago at a reduced price and reliability isn’t likely to be an issue – motorhomes have engines built to last.
However, with a new motorhome you get the very best modern driving aids and conveniences and you can choose a spec exactly to your preference.
On a tight budget, a used motorhome will be the only option, if money is no object you can go top of the range and new. For anyone else, choosing between new and used will really shape what’s available to you. If you are leaning towards used then there are great motorhomes out there, but it might mean being a bit less fussy – you might not get the exact model with the exact spec and in the colour you want.
Most motorhomes will be suitable for any type of holiday, whether that is a few days in the Lake District, a week in the south of France or a city break to Bristol.
However, if you’re planning something a little more out the ordinary then this could affect your choice of vehicle.
Many use motorhomes as a great base for a ski holiday, if that’s part of your plan you’ll want a vehicle with superior insulation and protection against the cold.
Even if skiing isn’t your thing it is still worth thinking about how you will use your motorhome. Is it a base for adventure holidays, or where you’ll clean up after days spent cycling? Alternatively, it might be more likely that you’ll want to use it as somewhere to relax, maybe cooking a great meal and sipping wine while parked up with an amazing view.
The type of holiday you will tend to have has an impact on what you should prioritise, whether it is clever storage, or a state of the art kitchen, or award-winning insulation for when you’re parked halfway up a Swiss mountain.
Hopefully you can get everything you want right on budget, but what happens if something has to give?
If you have to compromise on one area what will it be? Would you accept a lower spec but retain the driver aims you wanted?
Maybe you could actually have a slightly smaller motorhome but keep the high spec finish of your dreams. Or it could be that you compromise on age, you can get everything you wanted but it will be on a three-year-old motorhome rather than a new one.
Deciding where you are willing to compromise and where there’s no room for manouvre will mae your search a lot more straightforward.
At Emm Bee, we have the experience to offer some friendly advice – here’s a bit about us…
About Emm-Bee Motorhomes
Emm-Bee is a leading UK family-run motorhome dealership based in Bury, Greater Manchester.
As well as stocking the latest models from leading makes such as Burstner, Chausson, Bailey, Hymer and Laika, we also have an unrivalled stock of used motorhomes for sale.
We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and offering unmatched levels of service – we have been in business for 25 years and have flourished on word-of-mouth recommendations.
Please have a look round the site to check our range of used motorhomes and do get in touch with any queries, or just to pick our brains.
The Emm-Bee Motorhome dealers are one of UK’s leading full-service suppliers for new and used motorhomes.
