Words and Images by: Malcolm Street N26735

To buy or not to buy, that is the question. Well, sort of. In times BC (i.e. Before COVID), the decision to purchase a motorhome wasn’t so much whether to, but rather which particular make and model. Not always an easy decision, and one that could often take the best part of two years of research before signing on the dotted line.

Since the COVID virus caused mayhem worldwide, production lines in just about anything you care to name have been disrupted and component shortages are rife. Perversely, demand has risen and prices have followed. Sadly, that undoubtedly affected the new motorhome market and had a knock-on effect on the second-hand market.

There are certainly some good reasons for motorhome ownership, including the prime one of being a long-term traveller. For any owner, there’s nothing like having the pride and joy sitting in the driveway ready to go for the weekend, week or something considerably longer. Of course, having a desired layout fitted with all the preferred personal accessories and touches is a winner. Personally, I love to have a vehicle that’s kitted out just the way I want it. While for some, there’s nothing quite like tinkering around to improve the product.

On the flipside, there are some things to consider with owning a motorhome. There is the initial purchase price, of course, and then ongoing costs like insurance, maintenance and repairs. That last item can hold a few surprises, particularly with the European trucks used as base vehicles. Many owners also have to deal with the problem of where to park their motorhome when it’s not being used. Street parking is not always practical or legal and the alternatives have a cost, especially like the more desirable undercover parking. Extra long-term storage also has a few considerations like dried-out seals, tyre deterioration and battery discharge. On the finance front, there are sale and re-sale costs, of course, but they are very much subject to demand and supply. Exhibit A for this is the current market situation.

Norman Ex

SHARED OWNERSHIP

It won’t suit everyone and it’s more common in the boating world than motorhomes, but shared ownership can reduce ownership costs and mean minimising times when a motorhome sits around doing nothing. There are some cost advantages, of course but the disadvantages are obvious – availability, different maintenance expectations and general agreement on usage.

RENTING

Renting is the other obvious alternative to buying a motorhome of course and as a fairly regular user, I have to say that it’s no bad way to go. Indeed, for overseas destinations in Western countries, a fly/drive rental motorhome is the way to travel. New Zealand is a favourite destination of mine, but I have also toured Britain, Canada and the US. The advantages are a certain amount of flexibility, timesaving travel for those who are time-poor and none of the stresses associated with motorhome ownership. However, there are just as many disadvantages; motorhome rental companies are often only located in capital cities or major town centres, layouts are more suited to multiple people use rather than a couple (such as fold down rather than fixed beds) and peak season costs can be high. Many but not all layouts are pitched towards rental rather than private use.

PRIVATE RENTALS

As an alternative to the motorhome rental operators, there are organisations such as Camplify, which lists privately owned recreational vehicles (RVs) that are available for rental. The advantage of something like this is the huge range of available motorhomes and the possibility of trying out a model that is being considered for purchase. The downside of this is that the vehicle location may be problematic. In addition, getting a live preview of the advertised motorhome might be awkward. People familiar with Airbnb use will know that interior photos can sometimes be selective.

WHICH ONE?

To some extent, the current market situation determines what’s best for those who desire to indulge in motorhome travel. Pricing and availability are certainly determining factors but there’s certainly more than one way to hit the road in a motorhome.

Category: Features
Written: Wed 01 Mar 2023
Printed: March, 2023
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