Motorhome or campervan?

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So you’ve decided to go for a motorised leisure vehicle rather than a caravan - that’s the first decision made! But now to decide between a motorhome or a campervan… read on to discover the benefits and drawbacks of each and work out which will suit your needs best!

This is one of the toughest choices to make when deciding on your next leisure vehicle - do you want the space that a motorhome would offer you or are you looking for lots of cool points by opting for a campervan?

CAMPERVANS

Campervans can be bought new or pre-owned; converted or ready to convert - the choice is yours! Be sure to shop around as all conversions differ. If you have something specific in mind, why not buy a van unconverted so you can specify the spec of your conversion to get exactly what you want? 

Popular makes of campervan include VW, Mercedes, Ford and Fiat.

PROS

• Let’s face it - they’re cool! Not many of us can resist a peek when a shiny camper cruises past! Their image promises fun, spontaneous adventures and that’s what you’ll get!
• They’re compact - much smaller than motorhomes so they’re easier to park when out and about and easier to store. They will fit in a double garage or on a small driveway, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding space for it.
• As they are compact, they can double up as an everyday vehicle if you wish so you’ll potentially get more use out of it. They can be easily parked in standard parking spaces in public car parks - no need to spend time worrying about whether it’ll fit!
• They’re versatile - some models come with five seats for travelling and can comfortably sleep a family of five or four adults.
• They have a fully equipped kitchenette, enabling you to take all your meals on-board if you wish. The fridge means you’ll have cold drinks to hand around the clock!
• Pre-owned campervans hold their value really well so it’ll be money well-spent.

CONS

• There’s no washroom on board so you won’t be completely self-contained and you’ll need to be near to facilities or invest in a separate pop-up tent to house a camping loo and shower.
• As they’re a compact vehicle, inside space is limited, especially when the beds are made up.
• The kitchenette is smaller and usually has fewer facilities than you would find in a motorhome, due to the space available.
• There’s limited storage space so you’ll have to be resourceful with your packing and think about which larger items, such as BBQs, bikes and sporting equipment you will be able to take. Keep roof and rear racks in mind for external transportation.

MOTORHOMES

Available new or pre-owned, when it comes to motorhomes there are many manufacturers and models to choose from. At Winchester Caravans and Motorhomes we sell new Bailey motorhomes plus a range of high quality, low mileage motorhomes from manufacturers such as Hymer, Adria, Geist and Auto-Sleepers - so we’re sure to have something to suit your needs.

PROS

• In a motorhome, you have full kitchen and washroom facilities meaning that you are completely self-contained - a particular advantage with the coronavirus pandemic on-going!
• Motorhomes are spacious - they offer lots of living and sleeping space as well as the kitchen and washroom areas, so you will avoid that ‘cramped’ feeling.
• They’re great for families who will have a more pleasant holiday with the extra space to spread out a little!
• Motorhomes offer lots of storage space, especially if you choose one that has a ‘garage’ section.
• Motorhomes are suitable for ‘off-grid’ camping as they are self contained and can be powered with a leisure battery.
• Pre-owned motorhomes hold their value really well.
• There are many different models to choose from, with different layouts to suit your party size and requirements.

CONS

• As the motorhome is your vehicle too, it can pose problems when you go sightseeing or when you need to pop to the shop for supplies as you’ve got to manoeuvre and park your large vehicle. There may not be many spaces that can accommodate it, particularly in village locations! A solution is to consider towing a small vehicle behind your motorhome that you can use for days out and trips to the shops.
• Motorhomes generally cost more than campervans so it’s more to spend out up front - but it’s easy to see where the extra money goes.
• As motorhomes are large, when at home you won’t be able to use it as an everyday vehicle so it may sit idle a lot of the time.
• You’ll need off-road parking space to store it when not in use, so it could take up a big portion of your driveway. If you don’t have the space at home, you’ll have to pay to store it elsewhere.

READ REVIEWS

If you’re still on the fence, why not search for some blogs written by people that have owned both and see how they rated each? Then narrow it down to a couple of models of each vehicle type that you like and read reviews on these specific models to see what a range of owners make of them. It’s always good to get someone else’s take on it!

At Winchester Caravans and Motorhomes we sell both motorhomes and campervans so we can advise you on both without bias. We’re very knowledgeable, so why not make an appointment to come in and see us (or just drop in) and let us help you decide. Check out our available vehicles online before you come to get an idea of what you like the look of.

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