Hiring a motor home is a popular vacation choice for many people who are seeking a comfortable and flexible travel adventure. When you choose a motor home, you can change your itinerary and destinations as you like and explore at your leisure. A motor-home is a home on wheels that has all the essentials that you could find in a hotel.
But, there is no need to unpack and repack repeatedly and you can have many of your preferred home comforts on the move. Touring in a motor-home is arguably the best way to explore scenic locations and make a connection with nature without compromising on comfort. To ensure that you have the best experience it’s important to plan ahead and follow these useful tips to enjoy a smooth and enjoyable adventure.
Tip: If it is Your First Adventure consider Traveling with a Group of Friends. This can make it a lot more fun, and you have the support and security of others around you.
Tips When Planning to Hire a Motor Home
Tip #1 Research where you want to travel from and where to finish your trip. Depending on the driving times between each location, the stops you will need for sightseeing, meals, and rest along the way will help you plan the length of time you need for the trip.
However, many new motor home drivers may not understand that this type of driving may take longer than the same trip in a car. Motor-homes are larger, heavier, and slower than cars and this should be factored into your thinking. Every good itinerary should include designated RV parks or campgrounds to ensure that you have somewhere to stay.
Tip: When you’re traveling long distances, keep the fuel tank filled because you might find that there are limited opportunities to fuel up
Tip #2 Need to ask where the Motor home can be picked up from and where you will be able to drop it off. This may change the length of your trip and or where you will go.
Tip #3 Driving a motor home with no or limited experience can be a significant challenge for some people. If you’re driving a motor home for the first time or if you’ve not driven one for a while, it’s a good idea to consider the size and weight of the vehicle. As you can imagine, larger and heavier vehicles are harder to control, and you need to feel comfortable.
Tip #4 Research the different Motor Homes available, as there are different brands available and different-sized vehicles.
Tip #5 Booking the Motor Home- When booking the Motor Home ask lots of questions Like-
- What size Motor Home will I Need?
- Do I require a special license to drive it?
- Is there a limitation on the types of roads I can travel?
- What roadside assistance will I receive?
- What is included in the hire? – Picnic table and Chairs
Tip: It is wise, especially if traveling in school holidays, to book at least twelve months in advance
When booking it is also a good idea to have Inclusive Insurance coverage. As this will cover you for a lot of situations. As an example, on our group trip half of the group ended up with a cracked windscreen and this was all covered. It gives you peace of mind.
Allocate a Budget for Your Trip
The trip budget should include the rental costs, food, campground fees, fuel, and the cost of any activities that you’re planning to take part in. If you can prepare and stick to a budget, you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about overspending.
Now the Motor Home Has been Booked: Planning Your Trip
Now that the Motor Home is booked and you have a starting and finish date, it is time to plan out your trip. If traveling as a group, it is a good idea to get together and discuss an itinerary as to what everyone wants to see and do.
1/ Book any flights you may need to get to your pick-up point as well as your trip home. It pays to book these early.
2/ Determine the locations you will stay and book sites if you want to have a powered site. Sometimes one night is not enough depending on the distance between locations and it is also good to have a couple of free days to have a look around.
3/ If traveling through busy times it is wise to book your sites in advance to avoid disappointment.
4/ On the first night do not travel too far and book into a powered site. It is amazing how fast the time goes when picking up the Motor Home and then loading up before stopping for groceries.
In our experience even though we arrived to pick up the Motor Home as soon as they opened. By the time we organized everything, called in, and loaded up with supplies, it was close to 2 p.m. before we left.
5/ If there are any tours you wish to do during your trip, book as you plan, as during busy tourist season they book out quickly.
6/ If you are given the opportunity is wise to watch all of the instruction videos, so that if you have any questions, you can get them clarified when picking up the van.
What Should You Pack When Traveling in a Motor Home
As there is not a lot of storage in a Motor Home Pack lightly.
It is helpful to use packing cubes to pack your clothes. You can put all similar clothes into the same cube, and it keeps them neat and tidy. This is helpful as the cubes will fit straight into the cupboards. Having a collapsible bag or case will make it easier to pack away.
Make sure you pack comfortable clothes and shoes. As well as a good coat.
A list of Things that we found helpful and some things we wished we had packed When Hiring a Motor Home
Consider the climate and weather conditions to ensure that you’re packing the right clothing and gear for your trip. Even in warmer weather you will still need to pack some warmer clothes and a water proof coat.
| Comfortable Clothes | Thongs | Walking Shoes |
| Dressing Gown for Showers | Toiletries | Insect Repellent |
| Torch | Portable Speaker | Sunscreen |
| Beach Towel and Bathers | Phone Chargers | Power Bank for Phone |
| Water Bottles | Travel Mugs | Hair Dryer |
| Sunhat | Medication | Small Backpack for Day Trips |
Picking up the Motor Home
The motor-home must be thoroughly inspected for any potential issues or damage before the rental is finalized. All scratches, dents, non-functioning parts, and other issues should be documented and shared with the rental company. This is important because you want to avoid later disputes that will ruin the end of your trip.
As we mentioned earlier, adequate insurance coverage is essential for motor home rentals. Always make sure that you have appropriate insurance coverage and check the rental company insurance packages to see what they offer.
Make sure that you are clear on how to use everything in the motor home. Ask questions if not sure and get someone to walk you through everything. If it is the first time that you have hired a motor home, make sure that you know how to empty the toilet cartridge.
Check that all items that are part of the package, for example picnic table and chairs are collected before you go. Also, inquire about having an esky as the fridge isn’t very big and you may need to have ice to keep your drinks cold.
Important to Know the Terms and Conditions When Hiring a Motor Home
It’s important to fully understand the rental terms and restrictions before the trip begins. Take some time to read these carefully and pay special attention to the following minimum driver age requirements, mileage restrictions, off-limit driving areas, geographical boundaries, and more.
Things to Check Before Traveling in Your Motor Home Each Day
1/ Fridge, Cupboards, and Draws are Locked into Place
2/ Benches are clear, and appliances are packed into cupboards
3/ There is nothing on the floor that will move as you are driving
4/ Power Cords and Hoses are disconnected and packed away
5/ The toilet is closed, to avoid any unexpected accidents
6/ Turn off any mains switches that you need to
7/ The Step is put up
8/ Blinds are open to allow vision when driving
Follow Tourist Park Site Rules:
Finally, as you visit each camping location, make sure that you understand and follow the best camping etiquette practices. Always dispose of your waste properly, respect the space of other campers, and keep the noise to a minimum.
Hiring a Motor Home: In Conclusion
When the trip is concluded, it’s important to return the vehicle on time in the same condition it was received. Always clean up the interior and make sure your stuff and any leftover food are removed. This will help you to avoid any additional charges and ensure that the return process is smooth and hassle-free. Hiring a motor home with family or a group of friends is an enjoyable way to travel and visit Parts of Australia.