Motorhome or Campervan

Self-contained Motorhome or Sleeper Van? 

Choosing the right vehicle for your holiday 

Finding the right vehicle for your holiday can be a daunting prospect, with many choices and differing terminology. Review the options and discover the pitfalls in choosing a rental vehicle for independent travel around new places.

With a myriad of labels used to describe vehicles for the independent traveller, such as Campervan, Camper, Motorhome, Motor Home, Winnebago, RV, Combi, Kombi, Class-A, Class-B and Class-C to name a few, choosing the right kind of vehicle can be confusing from the outset.

The common terms used in the UK are Camper or Campervan, Motorhome and RV's. Campers are vans that have been converted for independent travel and contain similar features to their larger cousin, the Motorhome. A Fiat Ducato or Ford Transit style of van is popular for these conversions and the finished product is a modern, easy to drive vehicle.

RV's on the other hand have a cabin built on a coach or light truck chassis. Typically constructed from fibre glass, with alluminium skin over plywood occasionally used, the cabin is wider than the chassis base making Motorhomes more spacious. Driving is reasonable straight forward and models available for rental only require a standard driver's licence (However you much check this before you hire).

Motorhomes and Campervans are self-contained and support you with the comforts of home, albeit miniaturised. Self-contained vehicles have a sink, hob or cooker, fridge, toilet and shower. The level of self-containment varies. The essence of the self-containment standard is a vehicle must be designed to completely meet the ablutionary and sanitary needs of the occupants for at least three days, be equipped with water storage tanks for drinking and cooking and have waste water holding tanks.

A Sleeper Van is a Camper that does not meet the self-containment criteria. Beware that this definition is not industry wide and it is not uncommon for a Sleeper Van to be referred to as a Campervan, simply because the vehicle is a van rather than a car. Purpose built Sleeper Vans are frequently constructed from people movers, such as Toyota's offering, and from station wagons. Because of the type of vehicle used in construction it is uncommon to able to stand. Sleeper Vans can have some elements of self-containment, such as a cooker and small refrigerator allowing lunch or a light meal to be made while out on the road. Sleeper vans, like campers, are easy to drive.

What makes for the best independent traveller vehicle comes down to personal preference and a balance between cost, comfort and the type of holiday you're after.
Perhaps the best place to start is deciding where you want to overnight, as this impact on the type of vehicle that will be suitable and also affects your budget. There are four options for overnighting.

1) Native Parks - is a network of rural properties and businesses that welcome travellers. You can stay on these properties free of charge, meets the local people and see a bit of their lives. A great way to see the country beyond the beautiful scenery and they are not crowded. There's a real mix of people involved from large wineries to small artist plus action and adventure like diving, limestone caving and horse trekking. You do need a self-contained motorhome/campervan.

2) Campgrounds - there are a large number of campground that follow a traditional format. In recent years the number of campgrounds has been on the increase and they can get very busy in peak season, so it is advisable to book ahead.

3) Caravan Club Sites - typically have better facilities than other established campgrounds, so a self-contained motorhome / campervan would not be as essential. They are often in very scenic locations and cheaper if you have a caravan club membership.

4) Free / Wild / Freedom camping - just parking up wherever. Rarely permitted in much of the UK, though you can get away with it if you're sensible. Rules on freedom camping vary from district to district. The some guidebook highlights what's permitted in each district. In general terms do not overnight in "No Camping" areas or near established camping grounds. The UK is a pretty safe place but because wild camping is in public spaces you are exposed to some risk. To free camp a self-contain motorhome/camper is a must.
If you prefer staying in camping grounds, but don't want the hassle of a tent a motorhome may be a good fit. Do bear in mind that an established camping ground costs between £12 - £40  per night for a couple, so it is possible for a Sleeper Van to cost more than a self-contained vehicle with the use of some of the options above on the odd night. If you do want to get away from it all, or you're looking for more comfort, a self-contained vehicle will be the way to go.

Past the obvious vehicle rental costs things to consider are whether extra charges for one-way rentals apply, what the insurance options are and whether road user charges for diesel vehicles is included.
The easiest measure of comfort is size, though it is not the full story. There are many other considerations for comfort and again it comes down to personal preference. Do you need to make up the bed each night? Is there space to have some time out from your travelling companion(s)? Is there an awing to provide shade? How about appliances like microwave and air conditioning (NB power hungry appliances only work when the vehicle is connected to mains power)? These can be found in smaller vehicles so size shouldn't be the only criteria when it comes to measuring comfort. If you are tall do ask about the ceiling height.
So there are a number of things to consider when determining what will be the right vehicle for your holiday. As with any purchase it is worth seeking out a company that backs up their vehicle with service and professionalism. These won't be hard to find, but if you are looking for a starting point there are a few suggestions on the Native Parks website.