When you’ve finally splashed out and bought a motorhome, the first thing you’ll want to do is get out and use it. To make that big-ticket purchase worth every penny, it’s good to do your homework and be prepared. Not just for where to go and what to do, but also what to take in your motorhome to make your getaway the best it can be.
In this article, we list some of the things to be aware of, so your camping experience goes well. We also talked to veteran camper Lorraine for tips on choosing campsites, and traps for less experienced players.
“My husband and I have been caravanning for ages,” she explains. “We’ve only recently changed to a motorhome, and we found it a bit different – we can’t just park at a campsite and then nip out in the car to buy supplies like we used to. We have to think ahead and take what we need with us.”
What do you need?
If your motorhome is entirely self-contained, including a toilet and shower, when you load up for a trip you’ll need everything you’d use at home – clothing, towels, toiletries, food, beverages, fresh water, and anything you need for the holiday – fishing rods, binoculars, books and folding chairs come to mind. Make a list and include extra food – if you’re going off the beaten track, you won’t want to drive a large motorhome into a busy supermarket carpark just to pick up things you forgot or have run out of.
Before you start out, your motorhome needs to be in good shape. You’ll know your own vehicle best, but there are some general checks that apply to any motorhome:
- Refill your gas cylinder and turn it off
- Refresh all water tanks, and start with a clean toilet
- Close all internal doors and cupboards, windows and roof lights
- Remove chocks or you’ll never get anywhere
Where to go
In New Zealand there are campsites for every favourite activity – swimming, fishing, tramping, bird-watching – and for every pocket. High-end, more expensive sites offer all the amenities – barbecue pits, hot showers, power points, on-site shop and more. At the other end, ‘freedom’ campsites are ‘bring it yourself’ (including your in-vehicle toilet and shower) and cost little or nothing.
“Freedom camping is what we prefer,” Lorraine says. “We can just jump in the van and go somewhere. Living costs are the same, except for diesel. We wake up without a schedule, and stay as long as we feel like. No need to eat out, no need to book a place.”
To help decide where you’d like to go, check out a range of options. Depending on the type of motorhome you have and your budget, you’re sure to find some great options for camping in gorgeous settings. To plot a freedom camping trip, download an app for your phone. Camper Mate is a good one for all kinds of information.
How to choose the best pitch
If you’ve pre-booked a spot in a campground, your pitch may already be assigned to you. If not, or with freedom camping, you can choose your own pitch, so look out for these features to find what’s right for you:
- Judge the distance from the loos and showers – If you’re self-contained, you might want a more peaceful distance, if not, staying close will make for a more comfortable trip.
- Stay away from the play area – if you prefer silence to happy shrieks, leave spots closer to the play areas free for the families with young kids.
- Find the wind breaks – hedges and fences can shelter your spot if it’s breezy, but if the weather is hot and windless, that kind of shelter could be more stifling than comfortable.
- Spot the trees – the shade from trees may be nice on hot days, but trees have sap and birds make deposits on your site and vehicle.
- Nab the level ground – most campers want this! Almost everything you do is easier when you’re not on a lean.
- Consider water flow– If you’re near a beach or stream, make sure your site won’t get swamped by high tide or overflow from heavy rain.
Getting settled
Even at a serviced campsite there may be a lot to take care of before you can relax and enjoy the view:
- Fill up your water tanks before you get to your pitch, if you can.
- Use ramps, chocks and/or corner steadies to level up, stabilise and secure the vehicle from rolling.
- Plug in your power and check everything is working right.
- Turn on your fridge and gas, and the water heater when it’s full.
- Position the wastewater collector and add fluid to the toilet.
Then you can relax and open up some folding chairs!
Staying safe
There are several aspects to staying safe when you’re holidaying in a motorhome. Driving a very large vehicle can be dangerous if you’re not experienced, so it’s a good idea to get some coaching so you’re more adept and confident on the road.
Then there’s staying secure when you’re off the beaten track. That means good locks on all openings, steering wheel and gear locks, a tracking device and immobiliser, and even an alarm to frighten off would-be thieves. (They love motorhomes!) If you’re parked up at a site and planning to spend the day away fishing or tramping, be sure to tuck any loose tools, equipment and furniture inside, and set your alarm before you go.
Choosing where you decide to freedom camp can have safety considerations too, as Lorraine reports.
“Sometimes freedom sites are empty and very remote. They’re just too far away and lonely, and what would you do if something happened? If I get uncomfortable about a place, we won’t stop. We’ll just keep on to the next site.
I don’t like a site that’s too crowded, but there’s safety in numbers.”
Collect some favourite sites
As you gain experience travelling and camping in your motorhome, there will be favourite sites you find yourself returning to again and again. Sometimes it’s the natural beauty, or the proximity to a beach or stream, and sometimes it’s the people you meet who also return to the same spot. Life-long friendships are often forged in just this way.
“Our favourite spot is on the Firth of Thames,” says Lorraine. “We can fish 20 metres from our campsite, and there’s a million-dollar view. It’s never very crowded, our families can visit, and some of the same people come back over and over. We meet up in the evenings and catch up over a drink and barbecue. It’s lovely.”