MOTORHOMING ON A BUDGET

Buying and enjoying a motorhome doesn’t have to break the bank — there are lots of ways to save your hard-earned cash. Penny-pinching Peter Rosenthal gives his top tips

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If you’re thinking of buying a motorhome but are put off by the perceived high cost of entry, or you’re an existing owner looking to camp on the cheap, then this feature is for you.

There are lots of ways you can enjoy the freedom of the outdoors without spending a fortune.

NEW OR USED?

Most people’s budget will dictate this one, but with some great finance deals around, as well as lots of hire vehicles available, there are plenty of options.

Hiring a vehicle for a weekend away is the place to start for all newbies, but it can also be a good option if you don’t have driveway space or access to a convenient storage facility. While hiring can be expensive — typically costing around £200 per day — it can still work out cheaper if you only ever go away for a couple of weeks a year when you account for tax, insurance and servicing costs.

The cheapest form of camping is to simply throw a mattress into a van and there are lots of self-built campervans that start in this way for just a few thousand pounds. Tesla even offers an inflatable mattress for some of its car models.

However, we’d always recommend going down the route of a proper conversion. They will be much more likely to have crash-tested seats and gas and electrical safety testing; they work better and also have cheaper insurance and better resale potential.

Smaller VW Transporter-style campervans can start from as little as £10,000 for older models, while a Ducato-sized conversion realistically starts at around £20,000 for something that is useable and won’t need lots of welding or mechanical work.

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