The Evolution of Motorhomes with Motorhome Matt
In this episode of Backseat Driver, I sit down with Matt Sims, widely known as Motorhome Matt, to explore the captivating world of motorhomes. We trace their history from the post-war rise in popularity to the surge in interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt breaks down the differences between camper vans, motorhomes, and RVs, shedding light on what makes each unique.
We also delve into cutting-edge innovations in motorhome design, the growing trend of electric motorhomes, and how to choose the perfect layout. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or considering your first purchase, this episode is packed with tips, insights, and guidance to navigate the ever-evolving motorhome landscape.
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Transcript
Foreign.
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Speaker B: -: Speaker A:I'd like to introduce the Backseat driver, a young chap known as.
Speaker A:His proper name is Matt Sims.
Speaker A:He's better known to the world of motorhoming as Motorhome Matt.
Speaker A:Matt, welcome to Bikeseat driver.
Speaker C:It's a pleasure to be here.
Speaker A:Now, I'm giving my age away because I can remember that motorhomes as such, when I was a lady, they had a generic name of doormobiles.
Speaker A:Doormobiles made van con versions, but unless you had a West Farley, a Volkswagen, all they've got a doormobile.
Speaker A:It's a bit like Hoovers and by and sell it.
Speaker A:It's a generic name.
Speaker C:It's a.
Speaker C:Built on a Bedford cf.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:With a pudding bowl steering gear stick like a big spoon.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker A:And the first thing you used to see him do when they stopped, we get up, walk between seats it back and push the roof up so they could actually walk about it.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's right, yeah.
Speaker C:Of course they're going back.
Speaker C:I think they're worth some money now, you know.
Speaker A:Are they?
Speaker C:Yeah, if they're not rotten out.
Speaker A:And of course they used to put a tent up because that's where the toilet was and used to shuffle everything about inside to go from living area to bed and all the rest of it.
Speaker A:And it was going to bed was generally about 3, 4 of an hour's process at one point, I think right there.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:They've changed a lot though, since then, mind you.
Speaker C:Have you been in one recently?
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:Well, I must say, I must hold my hand up and say yes, because we're here at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrot for the big motorhome exhibition and I am sat in one with Matt.
Speaker A:This one, it's actually not a motorhome, it's one of those that hooks onto a fifth wheel in the back of a four before.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker C:It's called a fifth wheel.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's quite spectacular recently.
Speaker C:It's lovely.
Speaker C:This is called a Celtic Rambler.
Speaker C:Yeah, from the fifth wheel company and they've kindly let us come and sit in it for half an hour.
Speaker C:Well, we're showing you.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I must say, when you look around this, it's changed a lot.
Speaker A:Yeah, but how?
Speaker A:I mean the popularity due to the two and a half years lockdown has.
Speaker A:There's been an explosion of multi homes.
Speaker A:Not literally.
Speaker A:And also from what I can see walking around the exhibition, the value of them has gone up.
Speaker C:That's very true.
Speaker A:Extremely.
Speaker A:By an incredible amount.
Speaker A:I mean, when did it all start?
Speaker C:Motorhoming, motohoming?
Speaker C:Gosh, a long time ago.
Speaker C:So motorhoming became very popular post war.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:So caravanning came first and then people started doing doormobiles, campervans.
Speaker C:So the VW camper van, the original bay window became really popular in the 60s and I guess it just grew and evolved from there.
Speaker C:It became a really prolific pastime on the continent.
Speaker C:So motor homing very popular in Europe, whereas in Britain we became much more of a caravanning nation.
Speaker C:And it's only really in recent decades that we've become motorhomers and motor homing is growing far faster than caravans.
Speaker C:The recent changes to the law, meaning people can tow a caravan now without taking an extra test, has meant a renaissance for caravans.
Speaker C:And teardrop caravans have become very, very popular.
Speaker C:So these are ones that literally look like a teardrop.
Speaker C:They're very small.
Speaker C:But motorhoming has become incredibly popular, driven really by Covid and travel restrictions where people couldn't go abroad.
Speaker C:They wanted a holiday where they could be isolated and in their own Covid bubble.
Speaker C:And a motorhome offered the perfect solution for that.
Speaker A:I mean the one thing about them is a motorhome, is it self propelled?
Speaker A:It's when you climb behind the wheel, it's not hooked to the back of you.
Speaker A:You also, you are driving around within it.
Speaker C:Yeah, you are.
Speaker A:And it's like you said abroad.
Speaker A:I mean the Dutch are into caravans.
Speaker A:They always have been done.
Speaker A:When I used to spend a lot of time driving in Europe.
Speaker A:No, somebody will complain about this, but if you were being held up, it invariably was a cloggy pull in his caravan but the Germans, the Italians, everybody else have been fascinated to a degree.
Speaker A:I can remember watching a show on YouTube whereby if you bought the famous Volkswagen van, especially the split screens, the early ones, you used it for work Monday to Friday and then you bought this camping box that they called it.
Speaker A:It was a big wooden box that you slid in, you took your tools out, slid the box in, threw a mattress in it and bingo, you got.
Speaker C:They hold a camper fan.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Multi purpose.
Speaker C:Multi purpose, yeah.
Speaker C:We're seeing a return of that and we were.
Speaker C:There was a huge show in Birmingham at the NEC back in February and there's another one in October and it's.
Speaker C:It's a big motorhome and caravan show and there was an electric van there.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Being launched at the show and they.
Speaker C:It was deemed to be the first multi purpose campervan.
Speaker C:It was a seven seater and you could actually take the kitchen unit out.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Put it outside and use it or just take it away.
Speaker C:And it was either a seven seater shuttle, you know, kind of a minibus.
Speaker C:And it became a camper van.
Speaker C:Had a heated bed, it was all electric.
Speaker C:Electric pop up roof.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:You know, I said, well, I'll tell her, you lie down, I'll plug it in.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:But yeah, it was a really innovative product called Yamba Vanco and I'm a huge fan.
Speaker C:We're seeing lots of innovation like that in our industry now, which is exciting.
Speaker C:And the whole move to EV is a big, a big debate and a big topic and I have lots of questions around that and.
Speaker A:Well, given EVs tend not to go as far as the manufacturers say they'll go, given the fact that EVs are now getting very expensive to charge up.
Speaker A:Yeah, to a degree.
Speaker A:A friend of mine now pays more than I to charge his EV more than I do to tank one of my cars up.
Speaker A:And I think the other problem would be range because they don't go so far.
Speaker A:And I get the feeling a motorhome isn't a light thing.
Speaker C:No, no.
Speaker C:And on our podcast we are going to be talking this year a lot about EV and electrification.
Speaker C:And electric vans are just, they're just not there yet.
Speaker C:They don't have the range that a motorhome needs.
Speaker C:You most people only travel 40 miles a day, so an EV is fine for that.
Speaker C:You just charge at night, every night, no problem.
Speaker C:But in a motorhome you want to travel, you want to drive two, maybe 300 miles, particularly on the continent.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker C:And you can't do that with electric motor.
Speaker C:The Other issue comes is when you get to the campsite, can you recharge it?
Speaker C:In fact, the sun ran a story this week about campsites being unable to accommodate people with electric cars because they just won't be able to recharge their car on the campsite because they don't have the infrastructure.
Speaker C:So it's a huge topic and one we're starting to explore on the Motorhome Map podcast.
Speaker C:And yeah, we've lots of questions.
Speaker C:I'm struggling to find the answers.
Speaker C:I have to say what you need.
Speaker A:Is for the same thing that when somebody runs out of electricity in the car, you need a van with a diesel generator in the back.
Speaker A:You find the Daisy I could treat to reach them.
Speaker A:Ironic now, as I mentioned, some of the old brands, I mean, which are the modern brands, because walking around this exhibition, it's bewildering how many makes and models they do.
Speaker A:I mean, they're all ultimately based, from what I can see, on the big fat Citroen Perse vans and of course the ubiquitous Volki T35 and Ford Transit, the ever faithful tranny van.
Speaker A:But I conclude that that's where it ends.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:So we're seeing a renaissance and a return of brands like Mercedes coming back into the motorhome market, man as well, making an appearance, first time I've seen them in the uk.
Speaker C:And a lot of this, the reason for this is about supply.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:So Fiat's supply chain is frankly, it would appear to the consumer to be broken.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:You know, Fiat would say it's not.
Speaker C:Of course they would, but there are faith.
Speaker A:We'll say it's not, but I can assure you folks, your your customers.
Speaker C:But Fiat have been prolific in the moto market.
Speaker C:Nearly 90% of motorhomes being built on a Fiat chassis.
Speaker C:And lots of good reasons why as well.
Speaker C:So the chassis has lots of space in it.
Speaker C:They call it a ladder chassis when it's just the cab, the ladder and, and the four wheels.
Speaker C:And that gives lots of space for a motorhome converter to put water tanks, gas tanks and all of the facilities you need.
Speaker C:They're a maxi chassis.
Speaker C:So the back wheels are wider apart than the front, which aids stability.
Speaker C:But Fiat's supply chain is suffering for lots of reasons.
Speaker C:And Ford have made a big return into the market with manufacturers opting now to build on the Ford Transit instead.
Speaker C:But as I say, we're seeing a lot more Mercedes and man are, I think, very new to the market.
Speaker A:When they get the van, is it a van or is it the Chassis cab or are both converted?
Speaker A:Do the manufacturers buy the both?
Speaker C:So a van with a sliding door we would call a camper van.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And people say what's the difference between a campervan and a motorhome?
Speaker C:A camper van tends to be a van.
Speaker C:It's got a toilet and a shower in it because most motorhomes have that facility and that's the van with a sliding door.
Speaker C:Then a motorhome tends to.
Speaker C:Is delivered as a cab and chassis to allow a chassis.
Speaker C:And then some manufacturers cut the back of the chassis off and extend it.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker A:Some of them are twin axle at the back, aren't they?
Speaker C:Some are twin axle.
Speaker C:They have an extended chassis made by usually a company called Alco and they're delivered as a push me pull you.
Speaker C:I mean they're hilarious to see with a cab at each end.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker C:And both sets of wheel steer.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And they're cut in the middle.
Speaker C:And a new back end chassis is welded on or bolted on and a new rear axles fitted or axles.
Speaker C:And then a big motorhome is built and some are delivered with no cab.
Speaker C:So we have a coach built motorhome where you've got the original cab and then we've got an A class where there is.
Speaker C:The original cab is gone and it looks like a bus.
Speaker C:So it's got a huge window.
Speaker A:That's how I used to see bus chassis being delivered.
Speaker A:It'd be a.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:With an engine and some poor soul freezing to death.
Speaker C:Miss out on a box.
Speaker A:Sat on the box behind the wheel.
Speaker C:We used to see them.
Speaker C:I used to stand at the side of the road.
Speaker C:My granddad watched them drive down the road.
Speaker C:A Bristol bus company being built.
Speaker C:But yeah, these, these chassis become A class motorhomes.
Speaker C:So they're the higher end.
Speaker C:Big wind screens.
Speaker C:And I guess they look a bit more American.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:But they're European built and they're usually Fiat Ducato, Mercedes and so on.
Speaker C:But yeah, those are the traditional brands that we see on the kind of rolling gear.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And then you've got the motorhome manufacturer and normally that name is above the windscreen.
Speaker C:That's the name of the company that converted and built the motorhome.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And so that might be Swift Auto Trail Bailey.
Speaker C:These are some of the British manufacturers, Eldis.
Speaker C:And then you see brands.
Speaker C:Some of your listeners will be familiar with brands like Hymer.
Speaker C:You might see old Adria.
Speaker C:And these are brands that are built on the continent.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:The one thing I've always known is Hymer used to be built on Mercedes.
Speaker A:Probably not excluded anymore.
Speaker A:And they were the posh ones.
Speaker A:If you, if you saw him, it was posh.
Speaker C:They got plenty of money there and they are posh.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:They, they tend to be higher priced.
Speaker C:They're not always built on Mercedes anymore.
Speaker C:And he.
Speaker C:Irwin Heimer Group are massive and they've started buying up a lot of UK manufacturers, as have Trano, who are French company.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Started buying up a lot of European and UK manufacturers.
Speaker C:So, yeah, the, the tide is changing and how our industry works.
Speaker C:But you're right, there's been a huge boom since COVID and that's, you know, created inflated prices.
Speaker C:I mean, you look around here, £100,000 plus is not uncommon.
Speaker A:I mean, you were saying how much is this that we're sat in?
Speaker C:This is over 100k.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And, yeah, and they're not being fully.
Speaker A:You need the four wheel drive pickup to.
Speaker C:You need the pickup as well.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:So this is a bit different.
Speaker C:But 100,000 pound motorhome only a few years ago was probably 60 something thousand pounds.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C: So if you bought one in: Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And had four years of holidays.
Speaker C:So they've been a really, really good investment.
Speaker C:And you know, people say the bubble's going to burst, you know, that the prices are going to come down.
Speaker C:They're not.
Speaker C:I mean once a dealer's paid 60 grand in part exchange for it, that's what it's worth.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:So they will sell it for 70.
Speaker C:They're not going to sell it for 55.
Speaker C:They're.
Speaker C:Their registered charity number hasn't come through yet.
Speaker C:You know, that's the market value and once you've paid.
Speaker C:It's like you were telling me earlier with your Morgans, you know, once someone's paid that new price of 40k or whatever it is, that's the price.
Speaker D:Yep.
Speaker A:I think the other thing is if somebody's paid all this money, I mean, like for example, once again, the one we're sat in, you're not going to keep it for 12 months then get rid of it?
Speaker C:Well, some people do.
Speaker C:It's interesting with motorhome.
Speaker C:So, you know, people that are new to it say, well, it's four years old and had four owners.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:What's wrong with it?
Speaker C:That's not uncommon.
Speaker C:You know, in traditional times, people would buy a new motorhome every year.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And that really was quite common, particularly people that have had a pension payout and They've got the funds to do it.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Whether I conclude then that each time the.
Speaker A:They traded, they traded up, the next one was a.
Speaker C:They might trade everyone, they just might trade for a different layout.
Speaker C:So a motorhome is all about the layout, how you want to sleep and how you want to sit.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And that's the first thing I say to people looking at a motorhome, is it?
Speaker C:You need to consider the layout, ignore the screen price, just go and sit in everything, go and hire one, go and try before you buy, because you don't know what you don't know.
Speaker C:And my first question is, how do you want to sleep?
Speaker C:Do you want to sleep together in a double bed?
Speaker C:Do you want to sleep in single beds?
Speaker C:Do you want bunk beds?
Speaker C:And we've made mistakes with motorhome purchases and bought a big rear lounge.
Speaker C:Looks lovely.
Speaker C:We're sat in one there.
Speaker C:They've got a big seating area, it's great.
Speaker C:But in a motorhome with a lounge like this, there's no storage, there's no garage area.
Speaker C:You can't get a motorbike underneath the lounge.
Speaker C:So you've got no cupboard space to put all your stuff.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And so you end up carrying bikes and, you know, valuable stuff in the motorhome on the floor.
Speaker C:It's a nightmare.
Speaker C:You know, rear lounges work for.
Speaker C:People are going to spend all day sat in it.
Speaker C:If you're going away through the winter, a great idea.
Speaker C:But for families going away, you need storage space.
Speaker C:And, you know, I know so many people that buy a rear lounge motorhome and a year later they're trading it in for something else.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Because they just didn't try it before they bought it.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:You know, I'd never thought of that.
Speaker A:I mean, where we're sat now is a lounge and absolutely fantastic kitchen full.
Speaker A:A proper oven, a proper sink, a proper deep freeze, microwaves.
Speaker A:I mean, everything is here, big flat screen, flat screen television and everything that goes with it.
Speaker A:I mean, where I experienced motorhomes was from my days of racing and still do, like with the rallying, you go into a paddock and the motorhomes are there.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And they tend to be the big ones.
Speaker C:The Americans.
Speaker A:The Americans.
Speaker A:That's the one thing I've got told.
Speaker A:Ah, well, there's campervans, multi homes and RVs.
Speaker A:Which apparently is the American.
Speaker C:It is, yeah.
Speaker C:Recreational vehicle.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:I wish we would adopt that comp.
Speaker C:That.
Speaker C:That kind of name for them in this country because we have leisure vehicles.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And you know, shows like this.
Speaker C:This show is called.
Speaker C:But we're at.
Speaker C:Is the Motorhome and Campervan show.
Speaker D:Yeah, the.
Speaker C:The show in Birmingham is called the Caravan Camping and Motorhome Show.
Speaker C:We can't come up with an overarching term.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:For these different type of vehicles.
Speaker C:Where the Americans have.
Speaker C:It's an rv.
Speaker C:This is a fifth wheel.
Speaker C:It's an rv.
Speaker C:Big American coach.
Speaker C:It's an rv, a small camper van, a VW type.
Speaker C:It's an rv.
Speaker C:It's a recreational vehicle.
Speaker C:And I wish we'd adopt the term in this country, but we don't.
Speaker C:It's still very much an American term.
Speaker A:I mean, rv.
Speaker A:I get the feeling they're built on coaches or are they built?
Speaker A:Are they full custom build?
Speaker C:They're a custom build.
Speaker C:So it's a chassis.
Speaker C:Lots of different types of.
Speaker C:I mean, it's a whole different market.
Speaker C:The American stuff, you know, they're petrol engines at the front.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:It could be a diesel engine at the front, it could be a diesel pusher, where the engines at the back.
Speaker C:And then you've got the coach built on it.
Speaker C:And you've got brands like Ford Cummings, you know, some big, big names.
Speaker A:These huge V8s in them all.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker C:V10s, V12s.
Speaker C:And it's a very different market to here in the uk.
Speaker C:You know, taking one of those down to Cornwall, I remember taking a big.
Speaker C:It's called a Fleetwood Revolution.
Speaker C:Had three slide outs.
Speaker C:So you're sat in a slide out here now, where the sides slide out.
Speaker C:Literally meet the Fokkers style.
Speaker C:It was a big, big bus.
Speaker C:We were towing a car and we were on our way to a campsite going downhill.
Speaker C:And this guy was coming up and in the highway code.
Speaker C:Yes, he has right of way.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And he decided to tell me this.
Speaker C:And I said.
Speaker C:I got out and said, look, I'm really sorry, I can't reverse.
Speaker C:I've got my right away.
Speaker C:You have?
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:But what you don't realize is I've got a car behind me and to reverse I have to take the car off, reverse the car, reverse the coach, park everything up, re hitch the car.
Speaker C:It's not happening.
Speaker C:Would you just mind rolling down the hill 100 yards back there?
Speaker C:I know there's a.
Speaker C:There's a farm entrance.
Speaker C:Just pull in there and we'll be straight past you.
Speaker C:On our way.
Speaker C:Nope, it's my right away.
Speaker C:I said, listen, pal, I've got a week's worth of food and drink.
Speaker C:All right?
Speaker A:As you just Say you're in a car, I'm gonna go make a pot of tea.
Speaker C:Back again, sat down, spanned the driver's seat.
Speaker C:My kid said, dad, what are you doing?
Speaker C:I said, I'm just teaching him a lesson.
Speaker C:Saying, with the arms folded, he reversed into the entrance of the field.
Speaker A:Now some of those that you see, I mean besides the, what do they call the.
Speaker A:The where they expand out like this.
Speaker C:A slide out, your slide outs.
Speaker A:Some of them have an upstairs.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So you get to where you're going, flick some switches and all of a sudden it's doubled or trebled in size.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's true, yeah.
Speaker C:I mean they are unique.
Speaker C:I mean there's some on the continent that are hugely expensive with features like that.
Speaker C:You don't tend to get vehicles like that in the uk, it's just too big in the States.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker C:And the roads are massive there.
Speaker C:Campsites are huge, there's lots of space.
Speaker C:But in this country, smaller vehicles are more popular.
Speaker C:The other issue we've got in this country is what we can drive.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:So the restriction on our driving license.
Speaker C:So you know you're an old git like me.
Speaker C:We've got them grandfather rights.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I'm assuming you can drive a seven half ton lorry to pass your test.
Speaker A:Because they take us about.
Speaker A:I used to be able to drive a 40 on foot.
Speaker A:Oita.
Speaker C:Oh yeah, that's a different test though.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:But when you pass that car test, you could get out and jump into a big green parcel machine, you know, after you rip up the L plates on the Mini.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And go and drive a seven half ton lorry with a, with a tail lift.
Speaker C:Those rules changed in 97 as part of being in the EU.
Speaker C:And so you then you pass a test and you're restricted to three and a half tons.
Speaker C:That's still the case today.
Speaker A:Which, personally speaking, I don't think this is, is a bad idea because to let somebody go from a mini to a seven and a half ton Vanner.
Speaker A:I think it used to be 7.9 ton because some of the truck manufacturers all used to have these 7.9 ton vehicles.
Speaker A:It was a tad, the full vehicle was a tad under the maximum.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:So that's why all these, with these little trucks all trundling around with seven and a half or 7.9 ton gross weight.
Speaker C:Right, okay.
Speaker C:Well at the moment Department for Transport are reviewing it and there's consultation going on and they're actually going to present this back to Parliament.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And with the view to make a recommendation I Hope that the C1 entitlement will be issued to everyone.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:So we will all once again be able to drive up to seven half tons, which for us in our little motorhome niche, which is a growing number of people.
Speaker C:If the motorhome is four and a quarter tons or capable of being that.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Or four and a half tons, it could be plated at that.
Speaker C:And you've got a massive payload again.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:You've got braking and suspension that can deal with it.
Speaker C:But you're safe and legal because so many motorhomes being driven around overweight.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And payloads are getting squeezed, you know, the chassis again, more and more equipment on them, extra airbags, sat navs, you know, the chassis are getting heavier with features which means the motorhome converters have to make lighter materials.
Speaker C:Do you make them within that three and a half ton?
Speaker C:Which means as a result the motorhome quality perhaps is going down.
Speaker A:It's like one funny office, like multisport.
Speaker A:You, you make something ultra light to make it light and all of a sudden you're building in potential failure.
Speaker C:That's right, yeah.
Speaker C:And that is happening on motorhomes.
Speaker C:So you know, if this is, if this restriction is lifted, it will be a breath of fresh air for our industry.
Speaker C:It will mean people can get to HGV quicker.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's the agenda and that's why.
Speaker C:But the byproduct of this change will mean that the motorhome world, a four and a quarter, four and a half ton motorhome will be, be standard.
Speaker C:And of course at the moment if your van you're driving is all electric.
Speaker C:We don't have electric motorhomes yet.
Speaker C:They're not here yet.
Speaker C:But if you're, if your van is all electric, the limit's four and a quarter ton.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker C:So you know, the recommendation is you have some driver training.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:But you are allowed on a B license to drive four and a quarter stands if it's all electric.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:If somebody buy a first time buyer as such, if they've never driven a multi home or shall we say a van, a long wheelbase van.
Speaker A:All the courses they can go on.
Speaker C:There are driving courses.
Speaker C:Yeah, we used to run them actually and we might reintroduce them at some point.
Speaker C:But there are driving courses and I.
Speaker C:They're really easy to drive.
Speaker C:People's look at them and go, oh my goodness, it's so long, you know, and it's.
Speaker C:The length is not the issue.
Speaker C:The issue is really actually the width.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And the height.
Speaker C:The Length's only an issue when you turn or go backwards.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And then it becomes, you know, a consideration.
Speaker C:The rest of the time it just follows you.
Speaker C:The.
Speaker C:When I say to people, when you are driving a motorhome, you're up high, you've got a fantastic view and you're on holiday, you're not in a rush, you're not trying to get into that point.
Speaker C:Then, you know, just take your time and you just enjoy the ride and you can peer into people's gardens.
Speaker A:Because another thing is like a lot of modern cars, they'll have nice big wing mirrors and reversing cameras.
Speaker C:They tend.
Speaker A:So you can see where you're going.
Speaker A:You probably.
Speaker A:They'll probably be better kitted out than a car will because there'll be cameras all over their circles.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:And you get cameras surrounding us as well, you know, like every side.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:All sorts of kit is available.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:What, what's the, the most basic thing if somebody wants to buy a motorhome, what's the most basic thing they should buy?
Speaker A:Apart from.
Speaker A:It's like, it's like I said, you could buy a van and throw a mattress in and technically you've got yourself a camper bar.
Speaker C:Technically.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I wouldn't want to spend the night in it necessarily.
Speaker C:The most basic.
Speaker C:Well, there's lots of self conversions, so the market has exploded with van converters.
Speaker C:I mean the van life hashtag on Instagram is boomed massively.
Speaker C:Millions of people.
Speaker C:So a basic.
Speaker C:Probably a basic conversion that someone has done, you could do one yourself.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:As you say, you throw a mattress in or just build a basic bed, basic kitchen unit and you can buy this stuff.
Speaker C:It's modular.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:For the van you're converting.
Speaker C:So that's probably a basic start.
Speaker C:The consideration there is how is it registered with dvla?
Speaker C:If it's a van then it's going to have a low value.
Speaker C:So getting it suddenly, if you've converted it is not worth five grand anymore.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:It's worth 20k.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker C:It's now a camper van.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:So you need to make sure that it is at.
Speaker A:Cuz there's always been something about.
Speaker A:If you buy a van, great.
Speaker A:If you knock the side panels out and put windows in, it changes it.
Speaker C:Well, it, it would change its status in terms of appearance.
Speaker C:You need to then change its status with dvla.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:So you need to get it changed to van with windows.
Speaker C:That's a.
Speaker C:A category OV5.
Speaker C:A van with windows though is restricted to 60m an hour on all roads, so on motorways and dual carriageways.
Speaker C:So that's something people don't realize.
Speaker C:If it's a motor caravan, which is the other classification for a vehicle.
Speaker C:If it's a motor caravan, the speed limit is raised to 70 or 60, depending on the payload, but you can go faster.
Speaker C:And this is something people don't realise.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Insurers, we've been talking to a motorhome insurance company about this and if they've got evidence of a conversion, photographs, receipts and so on, and it's a van with windows, they are happy to insure it as a camper van or motor caravan value.
Speaker C:That's key is having the evidence.
Speaker C:If it's a motor caravan.
Speaker C:Getting a motor caravan status on something that was originally a van with DVLA is now a challenge.
Speaker C:It has to be high top, has to be covered in graphics.
Speaker C:They want to see lots and lots of evidence.
Speaker C:It is really challenging to get a change of status to motor caravan with dvla.
Speaker A:Oh, right.
Speaker A:So it's a bit of a minefield in many ways.
Speaker C:It is a bit.
Speaker A:Probably better off going to buy one dump, maybe.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:I mean, then they're going to be more money, of course.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:You know, I mean, you ask what's the most basic.
Speaker C:That's where you start.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And then you go to an established converter who's done all the work for you, often on a VW or Ford Transit.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And suddenly you're then looking brand new.
Speaker C:Well, 60k plus.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:At the moment.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:Depending if it's a brand new van or, you know, a year old.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:You're.
Speaker C:That's a typical value, 55k plus.
Speaker A:Now, the one thing I know you've been talking about, like looking around this, as I said, with this beautiful kitchen, deep freeze microwave, flat screen tv, water heating, hot water.
Speaker A:I mean, I could actually live in this.
Speaker A:Which is surprising given what, as various people will tell you, I'm a fussy bugger at the best of times.
Speaker A:But I mean, now we've got the marvelous world, you can get WI FI in them.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:You can get satellite tv.
Speaker A:I mean, everything that you will find at home, you find in a multi home.
Speaker C:Well, yeah, satellite TV's bit of a thing of the past now.
Speaker A:Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
Speaker C:Get with it, come on.
Speaker C:You got your VHS in the corner there, aren't you?
Speaker A:No, Itermax if you don't.
Speaker C:My satellite dishes on roofs was a big popular thing, but now it's all WI fi, so, you know, you stream On Amazon with your Fire Stick or Netflix, you can still have a WI fi.
Speaker C:So yeah, one of the presentations I'm giving at this show is on this WI fi on the move and it is a minefield.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And, and people are, what SIM card?
Speaker C:Do I need it?
Speaker C:You know what, how much data are you going to use?
Speaker C:I don't know, you know, and better.
Speaker A:How many films you watch.
Speaker C:Exactly.
Speaker C:So it's, it is a minefield and I'm giving a presentation on exactly this topic because it's a big question is about solar panels and motorhome WI fi.
Speaker C:So mobile WI fi, how does it work and how do I install it?
Speaker C:It's actually really simple and there are a number of companies that have come into our marketplace who are making aerials that go on the roof.
Speaker C:All right, pick up WI fi.
Speaker C:So they're permanent install.
Speaker C:There's some portable units as well which are designed for motorhomes.
Speaker C:They're 12 volt powered and they fit on your roof or stick on the window.
Speaker C:And there you go.
Speaker A:I mean one of the things that I use, it's called a Monit and it's a GPS driven timing equipment for a rally car.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:You don't have to run the cables to the gearbox or an extra cable out the speed or anything like that.
Speaker A:You plug it in, you stick this thing on the windscreen of the roof, turn it on and for the, for the, for the, for the listeners who know, it's like a Brance or a holder.
Speaker A:This thing is completely self contained digital and it's proper timing gear for a lobby car.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I conclude it works the same with, with the mobile WI Fi.
Speaker A:I can't.
Speaker A:I mean you'll have a, something like a hub and off you go.
Speaker C:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker C:Yeah, A Little Hub, a MiFi unit with, with an aerial connected to it basically.
Speaker C:And then it's about, do you want 4G, 5G and then how much data do you want to use?
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Most people have no idea how much data they consume.
Speaker C:And that's my first question.
Speaker C:You learn that.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Buy an appropriate SIM that lets you do that.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And away you go.
Speaker A:And the SIM goes into the hub, does it?
Speaker C:It goes into the router.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:And that gives you mobile connectivity.
Speaker C:I mean you can just tether your phone, can't you?
Speaker C:But there's lots of reasons why that might not be the best solution for you.
Speaker C:So yeah, mobile WI fi is a big topic of discussion.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And, and me, people are working in their vans.
Speaker C:I mean there's lots of people here at this show that live in their vans.
Speaker C:Yeah, my friends Tash and John are.
Speaker C:They live in the van full time with their three cats and yeah, it's a really lovely motorhome.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And that's their life.
Speaker C:There are people here that are traveling big, YouTubers that are prolific online and living in a van full time.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:And making a living out of YouTube.
Speaker C:So it's big growth market.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:And that niche of YouTubers I've seen explode in the last few years.
Speaker A:Fascinating if somebody's going out to buy the first motorhome or rv and as you can see, somebody's already tried to.
Speaker C:Make one again to the end of the search.
Speaker A:Getting to the edge of the sun.
Speaker C:Was a bit keen to go and they blocked the van early.
Speaker A:I mean, I know I suppose it sounds biased.
Speaker A:What would be the best one to start after they've sat in them, played with them other look around them, tried to nick one.
Speaker C:It'Ll stop in a minute.
Speaker A:Which is.
Speaker A:Which is the best or which way?
Speaker C:It's too subjective to answer.
Speaker C:It's about the best one for you.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And you don't know what you don't know.
Speaker C:So as I say, go and try lots of layouts.
Speaker C:It's all about layout.
Speaker C:Go and hire one, go and hire three, you know, do different layouts, you know, with single beds, bunk beds, double bed, rear lounge.
Speaker C:We were talking earlier and learn the pros and cons of each layout.
Speaker C:That's what it's all about.
Speaker C:And, and then of course the budget's a factor as well.
Speaker C:Prices have rocketed for sure.
Speaker C:You know, 20 grand used to be a good starting budget.
Speaker C:Really.
Speaker C:It's 30 plus now.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And that's, you know, a healthy budget to have.
Speaker C:If you get to 40, see the choice broadens significantly and it's.
Speaker C:Yeah, 100 grand plus is not uncommon.
Speaker C: There's motorhomes here for: Speaker A:I mean one thing apart from those who live in them and things like that, I conclude say a 4 or 5, 6 year old multi home isn't forced to be particularly high mileage because not all of them will be used all the time.
Speaker A:They'll be used, they'll be in the driveway hooked up to something that keeps everything.
Speaker A:Yeah, you can go over.
Speaker A:So it won't be a high mileage vehicle.
Speaker A:It main.
Speaker C:I mean historically, 4,000 miles a year was not uncommon at all.
Speaker C:Yeah, I think that's changed a little bit.
Speaker C:10, 12,000 has become more common as people are using Them more and everyday vehicles.
Speaker C:So a low mileage motorhome, is that a good buy?
Speaker C:Not necessarily.
Speaker C:Because it's not been run in.
Speaker C:You have a DPF can fail, EGR valves can seize up.
Speaker C:They need running.
Speaker C:At the end of the day they're a DPD van underneath, aren't they?
Speaker C:They were there to be driven like they were stolen.
Speaker C:100 parcels a day.
Speaker C:You know, it's a van and people forget that.
Speaker C:And you know, my other question is though, okay, it's low mileage.
Speaker C:How many nights has it been slept in?
Speaker C:So someone's lived in it full time for four years and they've only done 500 miles a year, then you know that's not gonna, it's gonna be a tired van.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker A:And looking around, the other thing is I get the feeling that you can buy, if you buy one that's a bit used inside.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:You can completely replace everything in it.
Speaker C:Of course you can re trim it, refurnish it, repair it.
Speaker C:But it's the, it's the appliances, the wear out the water pump, the grill, the hob, you know, all these things.
Speaker C:The heating system is going to get tired if it's had a lot of use.
Speaker C:Yeah, most motorhomes don't.
Speaker C:I mean it's rare that people are living in them.
Speaker C:They're a small minority.
Speaker C:Most of them get used three, four weeks a year and that's it.
Speaker C:It just sits on the drive the rest of the time or in storage.
Speaker A:So it's a bit like a car then.
Speaker A:It's sat on the driveway with a piece of sheeting over.
Speaker A:It's probably your.
Speaker A:That Morgan eels that more that that lives in that gets better looked after than I do.
Speaker A:Well, given the fact where we are now and this is the Friday of the three day event here at Target tomorrow, I know this will be going out of in a few weeks time but tomorrow the Morgan is earning its keep.
Speaker A:It's rallying.
Speaker A:It's not a trailer queen or a show queen.
Speaker A:It gets out there whatever the weather.
Speaker A:Whatever the weather, it gets out there and gets its little bum kicked.
Speaker A:But I mean, have you any last words of advice for somebody who's thinking of getting into it?
Speaker C:Yeah, do your research.
Speaker C:That's it.
Speaker C:You listen to our podcast Motorhome Matt.
Speaker C:There's loads of helpful advice on there.
Speaker C:There really is.
Speaker C:Go and try as if you can afford to hire a few times.
Speaker C:Do it, you know, come to a show like this.
Speaker C:Go to as many shows as you can, sit in as many layouts as possible.
Speaker A:The salesman.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's fine.
Speaker C:But we're used to that.
Speaker A:That's it.
Speaker C:We're an industry that loves that.
Speaker C:Yeah, we're very, very used to it.
Speaker C:It's a big decision.
Speaker C:It's, you know, one of the biggest B of money you'll ever spend and, and sit in lots and lots and lots and just don't rush into it.
Speaker C:Don't buy the first one you see.
Speaker C:I know that's easy to say.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:But really understand the layouts and get very familiar with, you know, the different facilities, different functions.
Speaker C:We've got beds that pull down magically at the ceiling.
Speaker C:You know, there's lots of great features in them, real home from home comforts and really start to understand what it is you actually want to use, use it for and how you're going to use it.
Speaker A:Matt Sims, Motorhome Matt, give you give your podcast one good last plug.
Speaker C:Certainly.
Speaker C:That's very kind, thank you.
Speaker C:You can find us@motorhome.co.uk we're on every podcast platform and we're a YouTube channel as well.
Speaker C:Simply Motorhome.
Speaker C:Matt.
Speaker C:It's all free, obviously.
Speaker C:Go and have a listen.
Speaker C:There's lots of useful hints, tips, insider advice, industry insights.
Speaker C:It's all good fun, light hearted.
Speaker C:Go and check it out and you.
Speaker A:Can even go and rent it, buy one off it.
Speaker C:You can that, yeah, you can check us out.
Speaker C:You see links to those businesses of ours on the podcast page.
Speaker A:Matt Sims Porter on Matt, thank you very much for joining me on the backseat.
