Touring all year with your Motorhome

Being able to go vacation anywhere in the world and spend quality time in complete comfort, privacy, and quiet at any time of year is a blessing. But few people can afford this luxury. Not so much because of the costs involved, but because touring all year inevitably leads to work and school absence.

Yet, for those who have a home on wheels and time to spare, opting to take time away is a no-brainer. People who have recourse to a sabbatical, a gap year or earlier retirement can reap all the benefits of fulltime touring with none of the downsides.

Fulltime Touring in Its Many Forms
Not all full-time tourers sell up and go on tour indefinitely. Some travel religiously to the far-flung corners of the world every year, while others over-winter in Europe. Still others travel closer to home and only over the school summer holiday.

Whatever the travel pattern, full-time touring isn't just a case of hopping on a car or motorhome and setting off into the sunset. With matters like settling transactions, insurances, and school or council requirements, few can truly be here one day and sipping piña coladas under their awning the next.

Touring All Year in Comfort
Caravans and motorhomes are designed for limited use, when you're willing to compromise on space for the sake of some quality time. With time, having few kitchen appliances and cookware, tiny sitting areas, and beds that need making every day becomes exasperating.

Some manufacturers will openly admit that their caravans or motorhomes are not designed for full-time use. Which is not to say that you should dismiss those models outright. Notwithstanding the small print, they may be worth a glance, particularly if they're in your price range.

But if you can afford a tourer with enhanced facilities and high-quality fixtures and features, then why not start your search with them? No need to go over-board with rear garages, pop-up TVs, and dressing rooms, but there are a few must-haves you should keep an eye out for:

Storage Space
Obviously, your home on wheels should be generous enough in terms of storage space and layout to accommodate your personal effects. But ultimately, you're better off buying things if and when they're needed, rather than stocking up on things you seldom use.

There are ways to maximise inside space, such as bike carriers at the rear, surfboard and kayak straps for the roof, storage boxes, larders/camping wardrobes, fabric cupboards, etc. For anything to bulky to take along, you may want to consider a self-storage company. After all, you don't want to find out half-way through your journey that your van exceeds the maximum authorised mass in the part of the world you're trying to explore.

Living Area
There are companies that offer bespoke layout, furnishing, and equipment for motorhomes and caravans. Names like Auto-Sleepers, Auto-Trail, IH, and Motorhomes and Frankia come to mind. Whether you rely on bespoke configurations or not, you may need to compromise on space for the sake of fuel economy.

When space is at a premium, having a dinette can help, especially if you have school-age children who need a table for their homework. But there are various lightweight trays and lap accessories you could use as well.

If you have pets, it's especially important to have stain resistant upholstery and easy-to-clean flooring. If your caravan or motorhome of choice doesn't have them, there are companies that specialise in total re-upholstery or practical bed and sofa covers for long-term touring.

As a side note, it may be worth buying a large awning for children and pets to use in the day in warm weather. It saves parents time and effort, and it gives them room to stretch their legs.

Sleeping Arrangements
Fixed beds and bunks are priority number one if you're on an extended trip. Cushions, bean bags, and inflatable mattresses can wreak havoc on your bones and back if you're. They also take up space unnecessarily, whereas fixed beds are ideal for fulltime touring because they tend to have storage compartments for your bedding.

Cooking and Dining
The local cuisine is no doubt tempting, but less is more. After all, you want to avoid travel sickness, so you want to dine at vetted and trusted restaurants, which can be expensive. That's precisely why ovens are invaluable appliances on longer holidays. Even when the motorhome or van you fancy doesn't come with one, it's worth checking with the dealer or the van conversion expert if they can fit one for you.

Another great way of saving a bit of money is to extend the size of your fridge/freezer with a good quality coolbox. If you are travelling to Europe with high temperatures, the Dometic CFX range, although expensive uses very little power and will keep your food nice and cool even if the outside temperature is really high.

Washroom
Full-facility campsites charge a pretty penny for their showers, so it's worth spending a bit more on a van with a decent-sized washroom. You're also free to use your network of overnight sleepovers, of course. Launderettes can also be expensive to use, so a larger sink helps you save money on washing your smalls. A little hand washing every now and then goes a long way.

Insulation
Temperature variations can be high on both sides of the tropics. A Grade III heating and thermal insulation rating on your van is enough to keep you warm even when the thermometer drops to nearly -15°C. That being said, no insulation is perfect, so remember to lag your external pipes in very cold weather.

Chassis
Touring all year isn't synonymous with being on the road 24/7. You have all the time in the world to explore new areas and linger there when they strike your fancy. So, wherever you are in the world, you need access to your manufacturer or dealer's back-up service centres for servicing and repairs. Coachbuilts and conversions that come with a chassis made by Ford, Fiat, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, or other well-known brand, may cost a bit more. But they're worth the extra penny in the long run, especially with fulltime touring.