Resources

Fuel pump prices are a hot topic at the moment, and for Kiwi motorhome owners planning their next getaway, keeping travel costs predictable is top of mind. When you own your own rig, you want the freedom to hit the road spontaneously without worrying about what the trip is going to cost you in fuel.

This guide looks at how to keep your touring cost-effective, given the current fuel climate. The good news is that hitting the road still makes great financial sense – but a few smart adjustments can make a big difference.

We'll look at how different vehicle designs stack up on fuel economy, what those numbers mean for your wallet on a typical trip, and the practical habits savvy motorhomers can use to keep their running costs down.

Motorhomes are a deeply technical subject. There are weight limits, warrant requirements, self-containment rules, and specifications that vary depending on where and how a vehicle was built. Get any of them wrong, and a dream purchase can turn into an expensive lesson.

Some dealers give you a brochure. Others just hand over the keys. We spend every month of the year writing comprehensive guides on every part of motorhome ownership.

This guide explains why Wilderness Motorhomes invests so heavily in educating New Zealand travellers and buyers, and why that knowledge matters when you're making a purchase of this size.

For many Kiwis, a motorhome is the single largest asset they own after their family house. And yet, a surprising number of owners insure theirs with a standard car policy – one that was never designed to cover awnings, solar systems, skylights, habitation appliances, or the full cost of a drivetrain repair.

This guide covers everything you need to know to protect your investment properly: how motorhome insurance works, what Agreed Value really means, what's covered and what isn't, and how to compare policies side by side.

By the time you're done reading, you'll know exactly what questions to ask before you sign anything.

Do you want to park up somewhere stunning that’s far from the crowd? You’ll need an onboard power supply system that will allow you to camp independently wherever you like, for as long as you want.

The problem is that most new motorhomes don't come with enough built-in power for more than a few days of off-grid camping. That's why many motorhome owners choose to upgrade their power setup after buying.

There are many different kinds of people who come to work at Wilderness. Some are industry veterans, and some fell into it on a whim. Graham Skinner is a unique kind – a retired owner of a Carado motorhome who loved the lifestyle so much that eventually, he decided he wanted to work for the dealership.

Graham is part of the welcome team at Wilderness, driving guests between the airport and the base and helping them get oriented before they hit the road. But before he ever set foot in the Wilderness yard as an employee, he was a customer.

He and his partner spend significant chunks of the year travelling around New Zealand in their Carado. When he talks to guests arriving at the base, wide-eyed and full of questions, he's speaking from experience.

It's turned out to be a great fit in both directions: Graham gets to spend his days doing what he loves, and guests get someone who has owned the same vehicle and driven the same roads they're about to explore.

We spoke to Graham to find out his favourite things about motorhome travel, what brought him to the Wilderness team, and his top tips for a motorhome buyer.

Is buying a brand-new motorhome worth it? While vehicle depreciation never sleeps, the good news is that new motorhomes hold their value far better than new cars. Where a car loses a significant chunk of its value the moment you drive it off the lot, the decline for a new motorhome is much more measured. It’s like comparing the gentle descent of a hot air balloon to the sharp thump of a jumbo jet coming in to land.

Because of this resilience in residual value, the choice is often tipped in favour of splashing out on a brand-new RV instead of a used one. However, whether you are truly better off buying new depends largely on your personal circumstances and the mobile lifestyle you want to adopt.

Buying a motorhome is a big deal – often the biggest investment you’ll make outside of your family home. When the stakes are that high, finding a dealer you can actually trust is the secret to moving from "anxious buyer" to "confident explorer."

While the process is a bit like buying a car, the reality is much more personal. After all, you’re not just picking out a ride; you’re choosing a bedroom, a kitchen, and a lounge on wheels. You’re also thinking about a whole host of different warranties and servicing needs. The right dealer should make that complexity disappear, using their years of experience to help you choose right.

In this guide, we’ve scouted the top dealers in our two main RV centres – Auckland and Christchurch – to find the ones that truly walk the walk. We focused on the things that actually matter to owners:

• Genuine after-sales support (for when you're actually out on the road).

• Clear handovers and warranties (so there are no "hidden" surprises).

• Raving customer reviews from the local RV community.