Dan Cartwright has over 12 years of experience in the caravan and motorhome industry. He is a judge for a number of prestigious leisure vehicle awards and regularly heads off in his motorhome with his family. Every week, Dan shares his insights with the community. Here’s what he has to say this week.
Whether your next leisure vehicle is a caravan, campervan, motorhome or even a self-made project, these are my top tips to help you consider exactly what suits your needs best.
There are more than 1,000 different makes and models of leisure vehicle that you could buy new in the UK today. When we see people with one that doesn’t suit their needs, it’s usually because they bought it on impulse, without conducting proper research and taking time to arrive at that decision.
With that said, here are some of the key decisions you should consider when looking for a leisure vehicle to purchase.
What do you need?
It’s so easy to fall in love with something that’s nearly right and overlook important areas when you see it. If you’re considering a leisure vehicle, a good place to start is by answering some questions about how you use your current one. These include:
- How far have you travelled in it?
- How often have you moved between destinations?
- How many times have you used it?
- Where have you taken it before?
- What type of destinations did you enjoy the most?
These are just examples, but lots of people buy a leisure vehicle based on what they think they’ll use it for and not with any thought about their previous experiences. That’s not to stop you from branching out to try new things, but there needs to be a sense of realism and a benchmark.
A simple list of answers to these questions and others like them will tell you how many berths you’ll require, whether or not you’re likely to be staying in one place or travelling around, your need for manoeuvrability and the importance of prioritising the living space or sleeping accommodation.
Which layout?
There are so many layouts available, so I’d always suggest exploring the various options before looking at specific models. Getting sucked into a particular leisure vehicle without having decided on a layout can lead to serious disappointment.
Consider aspects like the number of berths and whether you want to prioritise a spacious lounge or have fixed beds. When you really think about this, you’ll find the number of available layouts that suit you will drop from around 50 to just two or three.
UK or continental design?
British leisure vehicles are designed with different uses in mind to their continental counterparts. In the UK, we prioritise living and interior comfort over sleeping spaces and style, while most on the continent are predominantly in use in much warmer climates. European holidaymakers spend lots more time during the day outside, including cooking and eating.
Conversely, our leisure vehicles are designed for typical British weather. So, additional comfort is required when entire days are spent inside because it’s pouring down with rain. This means they generally offer more comfort, with thermal insulation, carpets and higher-spec kitchens.
Now you have a clearer understanding of your needs, the potential layout you’d want in a leisure vehicle and an idea of whether you’d benefit from a UK or continental style, you’ll have whittled thousands of possibilities to a much more refined selection.
Have you done your research?
Speaking of research, explore different manufacturers within your desired category, inspecting each of the layouts in the different ranges that suit your needs. Look carefully at the technical specifications and don’t be dragged too deeply into the styling – this changes, but the spec won’t.
Understand what you’ll be paying for and whether or not you can make the price worth it. This will help you come to an informed decision. It can take quite a deep dive to gather all of the vital information, but it should all be available online or through brochures.
This should allow you to shortlist a number of makes and models to then go and view.
What’s the seller’s motivation?
When viewing leisure vehicles, especially at a show or dealership, it’s crucial to remember the salesperson is doing a job. A dealer might be showing you a different model from the one you wanted simply because it’s the only one they have available to sell you at that moment, not necessarily because it’s best for you.
Take time to gather research and come to a dealer armed with it. If you look at other models, judge them against the same criteria you’ve developed from the first four points above.
It’s incredibly easy to get sucked in when you see a shiny new leisure vehicle when it just falls short of your criteria but it’s available to drive away. There’s no rush, so really contemplate your decision, as compromising on your essentials can severely dampen your experiences.
Image credit: Julia Volk / Pexels
