As a potential motorhome buyer, a visit to an RV show or a well-respected dealership will fill you with excitement and anticipation. There’s a myriad of choices available: different sizes, multiple body styles, a wide range of van platforms, and interior design layouts that usually range from two to six berths.
It may be tempting to buy the flashiest, largest, best-looking motorhome that your budget will allow, such is the encouragement of the presentation and the friendly salespeople. However, bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to negotiating the serpentine New Zealand road network and the extraordinary remote camping opportunities that it leads to.
This guide will help you decide which motorhome is best for your needs. It’ll explore different types and sizes and identify the pluses and minuses of each. It will cover everything from compact campervans to heavyweight A-class luxury liners and help you determine which is your best fit for touring New Zealand’s challenging yet rewarding roads.
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The differences between the four major motorhome types
New Zealand’s motorhome fleet can be divided into four main types. Let’s explore each genre and find out how they compare and who they suit best.
A: The Campervan
These can often be back garage conversions of light commercial vans, with the cost advantages of their rustic DIY construction, as well as the disadvantage of questionable build quality and durability. A better, but potentially more expensive, choice is the campervans created by New Zealand RV manufacturers initially for rental companies and then sold on to the public when they reach 100,000km. These will be better equipped and are more likely to have full gas and electrical certification.
Campervans measure between 6.0 and 6.8 metres in length and their narrow floor plans usually accommodate no more than two people. The compact, narrow steel bodies of campervans make meeting full self-containment certification (SCC) a challenge as there’s limited space for a fully-equipped bathroom. Couples considering a campervan need to be able to ‘rub along all right together’ as they’ll be doing a lot of it.
Pros: Compact dimensions make campervans easy to drive and park; lower and narrower bodies enhance fuel efficiency; they generally cost less to buy than a motorhome.
Cons: usually no more than two berths available; full self-containment certification often comes at the cost of a cramped interior with limited kitchen and bathroom space.
B: The Cab-Over (or Luton)
A cabover body offers extra space with its high roof line and mezzanine floor located above the motorhome's cab. This extra room gives cab-over motorhomes of more than 7.4 metres in length the opportunity to have six berths, making them particularly suited to families and couples who prefer to tour with other couples along for the ride.
Usually, there is a large lounge/dining area at the rear, aka the “club lounge” that can convert into a double bed, a small seat-belted dinette on the bottom floor that also converts into two berths, and two more berths with limited headroom up on the mezzanine floor. Cab-over motorhomes are often rear wheel drive and use dual rear tyres on either side. These have higher payloads and towing capacity, which are usually won at the expense of ride quality.
Pros: the best motorhome choice for those who require sleeping quarters for six; usually feature a fully-equipped kitchen; often have more payload and towing capacity.
Cons: Heavy rear-drive chassis and elevated roof line result in higher fuel use; there may be six berths but outdoor locker space is limited; can be a rough ride.
C: The low-profile (or semi-integrated)
As a hybrid of a truck cab-chassis and a caravan, low-profile motorhomes hit the sweet spot for those who require no more than four berths. You get significantly more space than a campervan because they’re wider, better driving dynamics than a cab-over and better frontal impact crash performance than a fully integrated A-class.
Although an A-class motorhome looks bigger from the outside, a low-profile motorhome of similar length often has just as much living space as the fully-integrated model. Some semi-integrated motorhomes use a special lightweight chassis. These models also feature purpose-built rear suspension, resulting in a smoother and more compliant ride.
Premium European brands, including Carado, Bürstner and HYMER, and typically feature double floors for better insulation, weather-proof plumbing and water storage, and hushed road noise when on the move. For many, this motorhome type, particularly the popular 7.4m in length, will represent the gold standard in RV design, resulting in high resale value retention.
Pros: Front-drive chassis and low roofline promote fuel efficiency; usually feature a raised rear island bed with a large outdoor locker beneath; drop-down double bed up front is another asset.
Cons: Typically, it only provides four berths; the spacious rear garage can have a maximum load capacity of no more than 250kg; popularity can result in a wait for delivery handover.
D: The A-class (or fully-integrated)
Arguably the best-looking motorhome type, A-class models are still built on a truck chassis, but the steel cab bodywork has been discarded in favour of the motorhome maker’s own design, which blends seamlessly into the rest of the motorhome body. For those who appreciate a clean, aesthetically pleasing exterior design, a fully integrated motorhome is probably the only choice.
They also tend to be larger than semi-integrated alternatives, some stretching to bus-like lengths of 9m or more. However, plenty of more compact A-class models are available, ranging in length from as little as 6.0m to 7.4m.
An A-class will cost roughly $40,000- $50,000 more than a semi-integrated model of a similar length. The premium usually buys a more spacious cab area with larger side windows and a windscreen that offers more storage than a van cab. The panoramic views through the cab glass are a highlight of driving this genre of motorhome.
Pros: neater-looking exterior design; extra cab storage; better line of sight for drivers to the front corners of the motorhome; plenty of wow factor
Cons: poorer frontal crash energy absorption than van cabs; you usually lose a cab door, restricting quick exit options in an emergency; access to some parts of the engine may be restricted; sourcing a replacement windscreen may be expensive and slow.
Key factors to consider
Now that you know the main motorhome types, let’s put them into context. Thinking of these factors will help narrow down the choices to find the perfect motorhome for your New Zealand adventure.
Size
If you wish to have the best access to the wilderness, a campervan with its narrower wheel tracks and lower roof will go deeper into it than other genres of motorhome. On the downside, the camper’s cramped interior is a potential cause of frustration. Increased backcountry access often comes at a cost to camping comfort. For a vehicle that's easier to drive and park but still feels spacious inside, consider a compact motorhome in the 6 - 6.7M range.
A 7.4m motorhome of semi-integrated construction arguably represents the best blend of comfort, space, parking friendliness, and ease of driving on NZ roads. Vehicles over this length are often compromised by the winding, narrow nature of NZ back roads. For first-time motorhome buyers, a vehicle more than seven metres long might appear a daunting prospect. However, these days lots of driver aids — reversing cameras, traction control, stability control, braking aids — combine to make operating a motorhome a relatively easy and stress-free process.
Buyers of large motorhomes often tow another ‘exploration vehicle’ behind it. It’s a practice encouraged by a mothership’s inability to negotiate narrow winding byways or fit into restricted parking positions. However, comfort and space might be high priorities on your list and you’re willing to forgo some location access to enjoy the roomiest motorhome interior.
Self-containment
Full self-contained certification is a great thing to have, as it allows you to camp in more places. However, if you’re addicted to the comforts and conveniences of motor camps, an SCC warrant may be superfluous to your mobile lifestyle. Not having a permanent bathroom will allow the cabins of smaller RVs to offer more precious living space.
Read our guide to self-contained motorhomes for more information.
Freedom camping
When camping independently, it’s nice to have an enjoyable level of mobile home comfort contained in a vehicle that is easy to manoeuvre and park. A low-profile model of a reasonable but not excessive length represents the perfect blend of comfort and the ability to claim a nice spot where freedom camping is permitted. The level of camping comfort provided by the semi-integrated motorhome will be the envy of any campervans surrounding it.
The must-haves
Experienced mobile lifestylers will probably agree that three things are essential enhancers of motorhome touring:
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A permanent fixed bed will ensure that you don’t have to configure your sleeping space after a long, hard day recreating
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A separate shower means no more wet toilet seats
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Built-in heating lets you enjoy your motorhome year-round without compromising on your comfort
These features are usually standard equipment on an imported semi-integrated model.
Read our guide to buying the right motorhome in New Zealand for more information.
Buying your first motorhome is all about finding the best balance between space, comfort, and your travel style. Whether you’re looking for a nimble campervan for remote adventures or a spacious yet agile low-profile model for the ultimate camping comfort, the perfect fit for your New Zealand dream is out there.
Ready to find the perfect motorhome for your travel style? The most popular layout is one of many on offer at the two Wilderness Motorhome Sales’ showrooms in Auckland and Christchurch.
Come and explore our range of premium motorhomes and see these different layouts and sizes for yourself.
