Technical Guides

Ask any long-haul trucker whether AdBlue has made their work environment more pleasant and they’ll likely say too right, that stuff is magic — or words to that effect.

Cooking outdoors is one of the joys of motorhome life. And the humble barbecue is still a versatile and popular appliance for creating those on-the-road masterpieces.

You’ve got the keys to your new home on wheels, and you can’t wait to hit the road. Alexia Santamaria of Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations magazine talks to us about the safety essentials every new motorhome owner should know before setting out.

Filled up your motorhome with gas recently? If it wasn’t a shock to the system, it certainly was to your bank balance. World events have driven fuel prices up and they’re unlikely to bring respite anytime soon.

Thinking about fuel efficiency is a smart move — so you can travel more kilometres for your precious dollar. Here we discuss how maintenance, driving techniques, planning trips, reducing weight and your choice of motorhome can all help make your fuel budget go further.

It's easy to cook up a storm in the relatively small confines of a motorhome kitchen. But how easy is it to create a delicious meal in an organised way that feels great and doesn't leave you with a mess to clean up?

Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations editor Catherine Milford proves that making magnificent meals in a motorhome kitchen with some organisation is possible.

Life simply seems more fun on the road. You and your motorhome will have shared some memorable experiences. But what happens when it comes time to upgrade, downsize, or retire from motorhome life altogether?

So you’re thinking about buying your first motorhome. You’ll naturally be feeling anticipation and a buildup of excitement — awesome! Still, an RV is a significant purchase with ongoing maintenance costs so you’ll need to do your due diligence.

Consider what you want from a motorhome and how you want to use it. Then, browse our guide to find out what your ideal motorhome will cost up front and over time.

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.