Motorhome Hacks and Tips for a Happy Life of Touring

Have you decided it’s time to make more of your motorhome? Perhaps you’re taking a step back from the 9-5 and want to spend your days exploring the world rather than sitting in seemingly endless meetings. Or maybe the appeal of life on the road is so great that you’re taking the plunge and will be living in your motorhome full-time.

Whatever your situation, it’s difficult to top that sense of independence when embarking on your next big adventure. But there’s no denying that long trips and extended periods on the move can throw up a number of challenges.

Overcoming those is the key to making sure touring is a delight, rather than a drag. With that in mind, here are a few handy hacks and tips to help you revel in every second of life on the road.

Size is everything

If you’re thinking about touring long-term, it can be tempting to go for the biggest motorhome your budget allows. More space might mean greater comfort, but there are other practical considerations. Of course, if you’re taking the whole family away then you need a vehicle that can accommodate you all, but beware that longer motorhomes can be tricky to manoeuvre – especially if you’re towing a trailer as well.

It can also prove extremely difficult to find places to park, while the height of your motorhome may affect how much you pay on toll roads when touring the continent. Smaller, lighter vehicles are likely to be cheaper to run, so think carefully before buying your motorhome and try to pick the model that best suits your needs.

Be safe and secure

Life on the road is all about freedom, exploration and enjoyment. The last thing you need is to be worrying about your motorhome’s security, and there are steps you can take to afford yourself that extra peace of mind. High-tech alarm systems and tracking devices can prove a worthwhile investment, as can wheel clamps and steering locks. If you’re ever taking a day trip away from your motorhome, these measures will all help to reduce the risk of anything happening to it in your absence.

You should also carry out regular maintenance checks to ensure your motorhome is safe to drive. Things like the tyres, battery and oil should all be assessed before embarking on the next leg of your trip, as should the gas and any electrical appliances. Otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with a much more serious issue further down the road.

Establish some toilet etiquette

There are plenty of positives to living in a motorhome but it comes with the odd drawback, too. One of those is the lavatory situation – the more you use it, the more often you’ll need to empty your cassette at a chemical waste point and refill the system with the necessary chemicals. Whilst you can buy motorhome specific toilet paper specially designed for motorhome living, lower quality supermarket paper works well and can prove to be much cheaper in the long run. Always avoid flushing wet wipes down the loo.

There’s no getting away from it, on board toilets can and do generate odours, so some motorhome owners choose to limit the use of their toilets. What’s for sure, having an on-board toilet means that you won’t have to get up in the middle of the night, find a torch and throw on some clothes to visit the campsite toilet block after an enjoyable evening spent sampling some of the local food and wines in the great outdoors.

However and whenever you use your toilet, regular draining and cleaning will keep it fresh and ready for use and will make for a more pleasurable motorhome living experience.

Be flexible

Whether you’re taking in some of the UK’s most scenic spots or you’re heading further afield for a European road trip, it’s likely you’ll put together some form of itinerary before you set off. Planning is important because it allows you to map out where you’ll be staying each night – not to mention making sure you can refuel frequently enough to keep you moving.

But sometimes, a little spontaneity only adds to the fun of the adventure. Don’t be afraid to take the occasional detour and discover places that aren’t on your list. Motorhome life is all about freedom and independence, so if you feel the impulse to cast the itinerary aside for a day or two, follow your instinct. You never know where it might lead you.

Organise your storage

Space is at a premium, so you need to make the most of every available inch within your motorhome. Work out which items you’re likely to need on a daily basis and keep those in the most easily accessible drawers and cupboards – you don’t want to be rummaging around in some hard-to-reach corner for your breakfast bowl first thing in a morning.

A key skill of motorhome life is learning to pack only the essentials – don’t take up valuable space with items you’ll seldom use. When you’re on the road for a long time, convenience becomes crucial to your enjoyment, so make sure you’re prepared and have your storage solutions sorted well in advance of your departure.

Get covered

Touring should always be stress-free, offering the chance to unwind and forget about life’s everyday challenges. When you’re on the road, you want to travel with complete peace of mind and part of that comes with knowing that both you and your vehicle are protected in the event of something going wrong. That’s where a motorhome insurance policy comes in.

At Comfort Insurance, we’ve helped thousands find motorhome and campervan cover to suit their needs. We want you to embrace every aspect of this unique lifestyle, and to do that you need to be able to get behind the wheel with complete confidence in your insurance. We’re here to help you with that, so why not get an online quote or give us a call on 0208 984 0666 and speak to us today.