Do you dream of owning a motorhome and chasing the horizon across New Zealand? But are put off by the price tags of brand-new models that make your eyes water, and are wary of private online listings that can feel like a bit of a gamble? If this sounds familiar, a refurbished, premium used motorhome from Wilderness might be for you.
But what does ‘refurbished’ really mean? For some companies, it’s a quick clean and a patch-up job. For Wilderness, it’s a meticulous, top-to-bottom process that ensures a motorhome meets an exceptional standard of quality, backed by our comprehensive warranty for your peace of mind.
"The level of quality we're aiming for is the top end,” says our Christchurch Workshop Leader, Dale McLeish. “Some operators patch the problem, hide it, and do what they can to make the problem look good, while we properly repair and refurbish our motorhomes."
In this article, we'll talk more to Dale about our refurbishing process. Plus, we’ll explore why purchasing a premium ex-rental motorhome from Wilderness might be the ticket to freedom you've been dreaming of.
It begins with a better life on the road
All of our ex-rental motorhomes come from our fleet of premium rentals. During their time on the fleet, the health and condition of the vehicle are our top priority.
Unlike many rental operators who do the bare minimum, we have precise processes for regular servicing, safety checks and proactive maintenance to ensure our customers experience the best on their Wilderness motorhome adventure.
This approach is important for a few reasons:
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Minor issues are resolved before they become big problems. This preserves the motorhome's core condition and integrity.
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A well-cared-for motorhome gets treated better. We've found that guests in a vehicle that looks and feels great—free from lots of nicks and scratches—tend to take better care of it. It's a cycle of respect.
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The engine's long-term health is secured. Consistent, high-level servicing from the very beginning means the engine and chassis will perform better and be more reliable for years to come. Rather than just adhering to what the manufacturer recommends, our workshop team sets shorter service intervals based on their experience with the motorhomes' performance.
This means that when a Wilderness motorhome enters the refurbishment programme, it's coming from a much higher-quality start.
Step 1: The initial assessment
The journey begins the moment a motorhome retires from our rental fleet. It is a hands-on, detailed process of identifying what needs to be updated. We retire every motorhome from this fleet after just three or four years.
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Dale McLeish — Christchurch Workshop leader |
Step 2: A flawless exterior
First impressions matter. Our team meticulously inspects the motorhome's body, repairing any dings or scratches. We then remove all the old rental decals and give the entire exterior a professional cut and polish, restoring that deep, satisfying shine. The result is a sleek, modern motorhome that looks like it just left the showroom.
Step 3: A premium, fresh interior
We go far beyond a simple clean, undertaking a complete interior refresh so your home-on-wheels truly comes to life. All seat covers, headrests and other fabric parts are carefully removed. Then, they're either replaced with new upholstery or professionally restored to look and feel brand new. We pay close attention to the areas that see the most use; cupboards, bench tops, tables, blinds and bathroom fittings are inspected, restored, or replaced to meet our high standards. The goal is to give the interior that fresh, 'new home' feeling.
Step 4: The in-depth mechanical overhaul
Our lifelong commitment to mechanical care culminates in a final, major service. Our certified technicians carry out a comprehensive service on the base vehicle. We check everything from the engine and transmission to the brakes and suspension, ensuring it performs flawlessly on the road for its new owner.
Step 5: Comprehensive road-ready checks
This is the serious, nitty-gritty stuff that guarantees your safety, legality and peace of mind from day one. A motorhome is both a vehicle and a home, so it needs two sets of safety checks. We ensure every vehicle is road-ready for you.
New Certificate of Fitness (CoF) or Warrant of Fitness (WOF)
This is the certificate for the vehicle itself. A WOF inspection covers all the essential on-road safety features: brakes, steering, tyres, lights, seatbelts and more. A new WOF means your motorhome is certified road-safe. Valid for a minimum of five months.
Read more about our CoF and WoF processes.
Road user charges (RUC)
Because our motorhomes are diesel, they also require RUC, which pays for your share of road maintenance. We ensure this is fully paid up and in credit for a minimum of 1000 kms, so you can drive away without any extra paperwork or hidden costs.
Current registration (Rego)
We make sure the vehicle's registration is current with a minimum of five months left.
New gas compliance certificate
Your motorhome uses gas for cooking, heating and hot water. This certificate confirms that the entire gas system, including the appliances, pipes and connections, has been inspected and is 100% free of leaks and safe to use. It's a crucial check for your safety.
Read more about how to ensure LPG safety in your motorhome.
New Electrical Warrant of Fitness (EWOF)
This is the safety certificate for the motorhome's "household" electrical system—the 240V power you use when plugged into a powered site at a campground. A qualified inspector checks all the wiring, power points and the main safety switch to ensure everything is safe and to prevent any risk of electric shock. This is guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months.
New Self-Containment Certificate (CSC)
This is your ticket to freedom camping in New Zealand. This certificate (and the green sticker that comes with it) proves your motorhome meets national standards, with fixed toilets and tanks for fresh water and wastewater. It shows you can live in the vehicle for three days without leaving any trace, which opens up hundreds of stunning, remote campsites. This is guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months.
Read our guide on certified self-contained motorhomes in New Zealand.
Step 6: Rigorous quality control
This is where our commitment to being "top end" is truly tested. At the beginning of the refurbishment process, we create detailed job sheets for any work needed, often using trusted specialist repairers. But we always have the final say.
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It generally takes about three hours — it's a huge process. Dale McLeish |
The final inspection is an exhaustive, bumper-to-bumper check. We hold ourselves and our partners accountable.
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Dale McLeish |
Step 7: The final deep clean and detailing
Our job isn't finished until the motorhome is sparkling. It undergoes a complete professional detailing inside and out. We're talking about a top-to-bottom deep clean that leaves the interior fresh, hygienic and ready for you to make it your own.
Step 8: Ready for your adventure, guaranteed
To ensure you can start your adventure the moment you leave our base, every motorhome comes with our comprehensive Starter Pack. We get you on the road with a full tank of diesel and two full LPG gas bottles, so you can cook your first meal and enjoy a hot shower without delay. Setting up at any campsite is a breeze with the included power cord and fresh and grey water hoses.
For your comfort and convenience on the road, each motorhome is equipped with a single reversing camera for easy parking, a stereo with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for your favourite road trip playlists, and a built-in inverter for charging laptops and cameras while off-grid. We also include a bike rack mount ready for your own rack and a spare set of keys if they’re available.
When purchased new, all our Bürstner and Carado motorhomes come with a 10-year water-tightness warranty. After being in our rebtal fleet for three to four years, they still have up to seven years of warranty left.
The final step is handing the keys over to you. We stand firmly behind our work, which is why every one of our refurbished used motorhomes comes with our Rest Easy warranty. This warranty covers mechanical issues and issues with the fit-out of your motorhome, so you can purchase with confidence and enjoy a worry-free ownership experience.
Read more about our Rest Easy warranty.
But what about the kilometres? A note on high mileage
We know what you might be thinking: “An ex-rental motorhome must have a lot of kilometres on the clock.” You’re right, they have been well-travelled; our rental motorhomes come off the fleet at around 100,000-120,000kms. But high mileage isn’t the same as high wear. For our motorhomes, it’s a sign of a well-maintained and reliable engine.
Here’s why a high-mileage Wilderness motorhome is a smarter choice:
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Consistent, professional maintenance: Unlike a privately owned vehicle that might sit unused for months, our motorhomes are constantly on the move. This is actually better for the engine, as it ensures fluids are circulating and all parts are kept in optimal working condition. Every vehicle in our fleet undergoes a stringent, proactive maintenance schedule from day one, meaning small issues are fixed long before they can become big problems.
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A documented history: When you buy from us, you get a vehicle with a complete and transparent service history. We’ve been the only owners, so we know every oil change, service and check-up it has ever had. This is a level of certainty you rarely get with a private sale.
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Modern safety features: A privately sold motorhome might have lower mileage, but it’s also likely to be an older model. Our ex-rental fleet is only 3-4 years old, meaning you benefit from the latest advancements in automotive safety. Features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS brakes, and advanced traction control are standard in our vehicles, offering you far greater protection on the road than you’d find in an older, less-travelled motorhome.
Ultimately, the number on the odometer is only a small part of the story. The quality of the maintenance and the age of the technology are far more important indicators of a motorhome's health and safety.
You can read more about why a high-mileage motorhome from a reputable source is a reliable choice.
The Wilderness difference: Unmatched quality, lasting value
Choosing a refurbished used motorhome from Wilderness is about making a choice that suits your needs and expectations. It's the perfect balance of quality, reliability and outstanding value. We pour countless hours into this process for one simple reason, which Dale sums up perfectly:
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With a premium used motorhome from Wilderness, you get all the adventure, without the brand-new price tag. Why not see for yourself?
Ready to start your journey? View our range of premium ex-rental motorhomes or book in for a test drive in our Auckland and Christchurch branches.
