Comfort – A level of comfort and homeliness you require when travelling is totally up to you and depends on your budget. Obviously the larger the MH the greater the level of comfort and the more luxury items you can carry with you.

Size – Buying the smallest vehicle initially to fit your needs is probably the better approach. If your unsure perhaps hire a vehicle for a couple of days to “get the feel” of the size. What usually happens with this lifestyle is people purchase a smaller vehicle and run it for a period then upgrade to a larger one for their bigger longer trips - sometimes down sizing when those trips are over but keeping the lifestyle alive. The type and size is directly in proportion to your budget.

Fuel type – The fuel your vehicle consumes is probably one of the biggest use of your budgeted funds, therefore has a great bearing on the type of vehicle and where you can travel. Usually the smaller campervans (pop tops) running on unleaded or diesel fuel are fine for the dual purpose that they perform. They are more than adequate for the usual shopping and inter city running and the weekend or yearly motorhome experience. However vehicles over about 3 ton should be diesel. This gives the performance and pulling power that is required in moving such a mass down the highway. Some converted buses (6-8 tons) have large petrol engines running duel fuel. They perform fine in flat inland Australia but become real slugs when travelling along our hilly eastern seaboard.

Living inside or outside – Deciding if you are an outside person or an inside person also helps in the decision as to the type of vehicle that meets your requirement. The pop-top vehicle is more suited to the outside type of living, but can be set up to be a compromise of both worlds. An awning or freestanding tent attached enhances sitting outside, feet up reading a book.

Floor Plan – The floor plan is a matter of preference, and consideration depends on the space and the vehicle type. The use and activity of two people greatly differs from an extended trip or weekender use.
Sitting in as many vehicles before the purchase is a great idea. Also what are your particular needs and imagine how this floor plan would work on a rainy day.
For example - a 60 year old friend wanted to do lots of bushwalking and camping under the stars. She was convinced she needed a Toyota Land cruiser high- top 4WD to do this. It performed admirably on all the trips. However, the high cost of maintenance, fuel consumption and general largeness of the vehicle when not camping out was too much for her. If she had perhaps purchased a smaller pop-top vehicle it would almost go anywhere and she still had a vehicle to run to the shops, and less costly to run.

Items to be considered

House batteries – This is a battery, or a set of batteries separate to the main vehicle starting batteries, and the heart and soul of any good motor home. Keeping the system charged can be either a simple or as complex as you like and full of compromises. Charging can be by a solar panel, battery charger, generator, separate alternator of the motor or a continuos solenoid off the vehicles system. During my motorhoming time I have seen all types - from wind generators to a trailer called the “Powerhouse” with 6 solar panels, a 3.5 KVA generator, and a full commercial switching room. The one concept, which is usually overlooked, is keeping it simple. I believe if you’re camped out and anything goes wrong with the electrical system, ask yourself “can I fix it”. If the answer is “no”, it’s too complex. Having travelled in our current motorhome for ten years I have quickly discovered the limits of the house battery and travel according.

Gas, electric, solar systems - In the normal construction of things the vehicle should have porta- gas stove and hot water, 12volt lighting and 24volt vehicle starting batteries. The additional consideration of solar panels and an inverter is purely personal. These of course add to the level of comfort you desire as you travel.

Porta-gas – Once installed it’s set and forget. Travelling with a spare gas bottle is an exceptionally good idea. With the hot water pilot light and stove running on a 9kg bottle it should last about 19-20 days of normal use. The system can be installed by a competent handy man but before it is used a compliance certificate is mandatory. The bottle must be installed in its own ventilated cupboard with a gas regulator and within the vehicle envelope - not on the roof or back bumper bar.

12volt lighting – Cheap to purchase and easy to install. You should look for the best quality and ones that use the least power. Consider using down lights for lighting the interior of the vehicle. The latest LED globes are the most efficient of all types of light systems, including vehicle clearance and stop and tail lights.

24volt appliances - Moderately expensive to purchase but easy to install. However they require a larger bank of house batteries to operate. The higher cost in purchase of the 24volt battery charges is a draw back.

Solar Panels – The more modern panels are shade tolerant and quite efficient. There are some extremely good solar management systems on the market but the installation of these is best left to the professional. A moderate entry level system cost from $1,000 upwards. Once installed you will become most proficient in discussions of solar gain, sunshine hours and amp/watts in a short time.

Inverters – The purchase of a good inverter should not be taken lightly. Full consideration and a power audit should be undertaken on the vehicle before you outlay your dollars. The purchase of this item sure raises the level of comfort in the vehicle as it allows most type to 240 volts appliances to be used.

In the second part of this article in the next edition of Motorhoming Lifestyle Roger discusses generators, fresh water, grey water, weight, washing, refrigeration, storage and awnings.

© 2006 Gail Bennett (motorhominglifestyle.com). If you would like to reproduce this article on your website please contact gail@motorhominglifestyle.com