What to consider when buying a motorhome or campervan

So, you’ve decided to hit the open road and you’re thinking about buying a motorhome or campervan—good on ya! Whether it’s the lure of weekend escapes or dreams of a lap around Oz, choosing the right rig is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. But don’t stress, we’re here to break down what you need to think about. No fancy jargon, just the nitty-gritty essentials. Let’s get stuck in.

Campervan vs Motorhome

Motorhome or campervan—seems simple enough, but there’s more to it. We covered it in our previous article, which you can read here: Beginners Guide to Motorhomes and Campervans. 

But in a nutshell, if you buy a motorhome, you get a full-blown, all-in-one package with more space and comfort. Think of it like a tiny home with a driver’s seat. Campervans are typically smaller, often repurposed vans, cheaper to purchase, and easier to drive and park.

Once you’ve decided between a motorhome or a campervan, you’ll need to consider the below when purchasing.

How big should you go?

It might sound good to buy the biggest motorhome or campervan you can afford, but size matters in more ways than just space. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a motorhome or campervan, the bigger the rig, the harder it is to manoeuvre. Going up mountains, parking in national parks, parking at shopping centres and dealing with windy roads all get trickier if you’re lugging a monster motorhome around.

Consider who’s coming with you. Just you and your partner? A compact two-berth might be ideal. Travelling with the kids? Maybe something bigger with extra bunks or even slide-outs to give everyone a bit of space. And don’t forget to measure up your driveway or storage spot before committing—it’s amazing how many people forget to check if it’ll fit at home!

What type of travel do you plan to do?

Will you be staying on the tarmac or heading off-road? Will your motorhome or campervan be a weekender, or are you buying one to do the Big Lap? Do you want to stay off-grid for lengthy periods of time? This is important to consider as if you’re hoping to go off-road, your choices will be limited to a few manufacturers. Think about this carefully, as where you want to drive to will influence virtually every other decision, from your base model vehicle to your bed to whether you swap out your cassette toilet for a compost toilet.

New or second-hand?

Buying a shiny new motorhome or campervan can be tempting, with all the latest tech and creature comforts, but it’ll cost ya! Going pre-loved could be a top option to save some cash, especially when you’re just dipping your toes in the RV waters. Let’s be honest, though; for many of us, buying second-hand is the only financial option available.

Make sure you check out service history, age of key components (like the fridge and hot water system), and be mindful of mileage. For motorhomes and campervans, the vehicle itself is just as important as the living quarters. A second-hand gem might need a bit of elbow grease, but it can mean a heap of savings, leaving more cash for your adventures.

Pros of buying a new motorhome or campervan:

• The latest safety specs
• Most likely more comfortable
• New vehicle warranty
• Top-of-the-range appliances
• Zero/very low kilometres
• Better resale value
• Can order what you want in terms of fitout and options

Pros of buying second-hand motorhome or campervan:

• More affordable
• Lower insurance costs
• Can make updates and upgrades to suit your needs

Do you have a preference for the chassis or base model?

As discussed in our previous Beginners Guide to Motorhomes and Caravans, motorhomes are often built on a truck or bus chassis, and motorhomes are usually built on a van chassis. The vehicle manufacturer usually boils down to personal preference, so if you have a strong dislike for a certain vehicle (maybe you dislike a certain brand because your ex-MIL drives one), it’s something to consider.

Putting personal preference for a brand aside when buying a motorhome or campervan, the main thing to think about is whether the chassis is front or rear-wheel drive and how beefy the engine is. Ask your sales person any questions and do some of your own research on the pros and cons of each.

Although this is not an exhaustive list, popular motorhome chassis include:

• Fiat Ducato
• Mercedez-Benz Sprinter
• Iveco Daily
• Volkswagen Crafter
• Renault Master
• Isuzu NPR

Popular van bases for campervans include:

• Toyota Hiace
• Ford Transit
• Fiat Ducato

Is the motorhome or campervan manufacturer a trusted company?

If you’re going to drop a significant amount of dollars buying a motorhome or campervan, you obviously want to go with a manufacturer with a good rep. Do they have a history of building quality RVs? Do they offer a decent warranty compared to other manufacturers?

When looking to purchase, look for the RVMap Accreditation Key. Businesses displaying this logo have committed to the consistent supply of products that adhere to relevant Australian Design Rules and Federal Compliance Regulations. Products from these businesses are regularly inspected against this commitment. Licenced RVMap manufacturers can be found here.

Fuel type and efficiency

Diesel or petrol? Diesel’s the more common choice for most motorhomes—in general, the engine life tends to be longer. But make sure you’re aware of the fuel costs and consider what kind of mileage you’ll be covering. Motorhomes and campervans are thirsty, and that’s an expense that adds up fast if you’re doing big trips.

Layout and living space

Don’t just fall for the exterior when buying a motorhome or campervan. It’s what’s inside that’ll make or break your trips. Consider the layout—do you want the bed permanently set up, or are you happy to make it up each night? Is a separate shower and toilet a must? The kitchen—is there enough space to cook up your favourite feeds, or will you need a BBQ outside to keep everyone fed?

Storage is a biggie too. Make sure there’s enough room for all your gear—especially if you’re planning to carry outdoor chairs, tables, and a couple eBikes.

The sleeping arrangements could potentially make or break you if you plan to spend a decent amount of time in your motorhome or campervan. Do you want an island-style bed, drop-down, dinette conversation, bunks, singles, queen, north/south or east/west facing? 

To explain a bit further:

• A north/south facing bed feel like home, but it reduces the space you have for walkways.
• A dinette conversion allows you to use the areas as a dinette during the day and a bed at night, but wears thin pretty quick when you have to keep making the bed up and packing it away.
• A drop-down bed means you lose some head height, but you have the convenience of the bed dropping down and up over the dinette so you don’t have to keep making up either.

So many things to consider!

Facilities: must-haves vs. luxuries

Think about what you need vs. what would just be nice to have. You can get everything from air-con, extra solar panels, off-grid capability, Starlink, and all the rest. But these extras add cost and weight, which can be a real drag—literally.

If you’re planning on off-grid camping, then solar panels and extra batteries are a must. If you’re just going from one caravan park to another, then a 240V connection will keep you comfortable.

Licence requirements and driving

For the majority of motorhomes, your standard car licence (Class C) will do the trick, but it’s important to check. Some bigger rigs may require a Light Rigid (LR) licence, so you may need to upgrade before buying a larger motorhome.

In general, if a motorhome’s Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is over 4.5 tonnes, you will need to upgrade your driver’s license to a Light Rigid Licence (LR). Likewise, if it’s 4.5 – 8 tonnes GVM, you’ll need to get a Medium Rigid Licence (MR), and if it’s 8 – 12 tonnes GVM, a Heavy Rigid Licence (HR).

Budget for the extras

Often the motorhome or campervan you look at on the sales floor is chock full of extras. Make sure to ask your salesperson which features are standard and which are paid extras. These could potentially include upgrades to lithium batteries, solar, larger fresh and grey water storage, air-con, diesel heater, reversing camera, TV, and more.

Don’t forget the ‘other’ extras

Buying the motorhome is just the start. You’ll also need to budget for registration, insurance, maintenance, and possibly even storage fees if it’s too big for your driveway. Don’t forget the gear: levelling blocks, hoses, power leads, and any mods you want to make it feel more like home. There’s nothing worse than realizing you’ve spent your whole budget on the vehicle and don’t have enough left for the essentials.

Do you want to tow a vehicle as well?

Some of you may not want to give up the freedom of having a car to get around when buying a larger motorhome. After all, motorhomes can be hard to park at the shopping centre and sometimjes even difficult to manoeuvre in the city. This means flat towing a small vehicle (like a Suzuki Jimny or Grand Vitara) behind your larger motorhome. There are, of course, pros and cons to this, which we’ll discuss in a future article shortly.

If you’ve asked yourself, “Do I really need to tow a car behind me?” and the answer is “yes”, you’ll need to ensure that your motorhome can legally do so. If the answer is, “No, I don’t really want the hassle”, you can always look at getting a folding eBike to get around town.

Check the weight

GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) and payload are important. You’ll need to know how much weight the motorhome or campervan can carry—this includes water, luggage, passengers, and gear. Overloading is not only dangerous but illegal, and it could void your insurance. Make sure you know how much you’re carrying and stay within the limits.

Try before you buy

Finally, try before you buy your motorhome or campervan! Renting a motorhome or campervan for a weekend is a brilliant way to see if it suits your needs. You might find that what you thought you wanted actually isn’t as comfortable or practical as it looked online. This is your chance to discover if you need a separate toilet and shower, if you need more space from your partner than you thought, or if you could happily manage with a smaller van.

Don’t get FOMO – take your time

Buying a motorhome or campervan is a huge decision, and it’s all about finding what suits your lifestyle, budget, and travel dreams. Take your time, do your research, and go into it with an open mind. There’s a perfect rig out there for everyone—it just takes a bit of searching to find the one that’ll make your travels epic.

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