Technical Guides

Fridges in RVs — motorhomes, caravans, fifth wheelers and camper trailers — are taken for granted these days. If you’ve been around a while, you’ll remember when an icebox cooler was the only type of refrigeration you could get in a caravan or camper.

One of the best parts of touring by motorhome, compared with touring by car, is being able to unpack your bags just once. Instead of unpacking each night when you arrive at your hotel and repacking again the next morning before you move on, you only need to repack your suitcase on the last day of your motorhome holiday.

Every industry has its own jargon and the motorhome industry is no different. As new innovations are rolled out, new terms enter the lexicon of motorhoming. We’ve created this quick reference of common motorhome specific terms to help you navigate the motorhome buying process with ease.

Motorhome features like layout, berths and storage are all important considerations when looking to buy an RV, but elements like the chassis and construction are critical too, as they are key to a vehicle’s overall quality.

The chassis is crucial when it comes to on-road performance and safety, while the construction will determine the vehicle’s weight, durability, thermal properties and ease of repair and maintenance.

Part of the thrill of owning an RV is being able to explore New Zealand whenever you like – simply pack and go, knowing your transport and accommodation is ready when you are. For the ultimate in freedom, a certified self-contained RV opens up a whole new world of places to stay that the average traveller never gets to experience. So, whether you’re keen to see where the open road takes you, or want to revisit favourite locations – make sure you choose the right RV for freedom camping.

Freedom camping has had a lot of publicity in recent years, some of it negative with regards to those who haven’t followed the rules and have caused issues in some popular tourist areas. However, when done properly, freedom camping is a fantastic way to make the most of your RV and its capabilities while enjoying New Zealand’s beautiful outdoors.

The idea of being away from the sort of services provided at campgrounds and holiday parks can be daunting for some new to life on the road, but freedom camping is hugely popular within New Zealand’s motorhoming community. There are excellent guides and advice available through organisations like the NZMCA. Ask your dealer if they have a members’ club for sharing travel experiences and advice too.

After all, getting away from it all is what your RV is designed to do and it really does add an extra feeling of freedom to your travels.

Plants add a homely touch to any space – they instantly lift spirits and help to clean the air. If you’re a plant-lover there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy their company when you’re in your motorhome too. There’s a huge trend for indoor plants now, with more than ever readily available at garden centres. While you’ll need to leave the larger kentia palms behind, there are several plants that are well suited to the travelling life. Here’s our pick of the best plants to take on the road.

If you’re thinking about buying an RV, there are two important questions to consider early on. The first is what sort of lifestyle you want on the road, and the second is whether you want to tow a vehicle. There is a lot of terminology around the various kinds of RVs (A-Class, fifth wheeler, pop-top), but they essentially break down into two categories – motorised and towed – with each offering different benefits.

Motorised vehicles offer maximum mobility and are ideal for those who want the freedom of moving from place to place easily, or getting into more out of the way areas that might be less suitable for towed vehicles.

Towed vehicles are perfect for those planning to stay in one place for an extended period, and who want to set up and explore an area thoroughly.