Buying a motorhome can be frustrating, especially when choosing between all the available models of motorhomes. You’re like a kid in a candy shop, you want them all, but you have to choose one. Each motorhome has advantages and disadvantages.
If you want to buy or rent a motorhome, it is good to know the different types of motorhomes that exist and the differences between them. What are the advantages and disadvantages of motorhomes? What kind of fuel would you like to have in your motorhome, or should it be all-electric? It all varies from person to person, of course. What do you plan to do with your motorhome, are you going to live in it, or do you want to make an occasional trip? How far do you want to travel and of course how much money do you have? Indie Camper presents an overview of the models.
In this article, we will look at the different models and the small details that count so you can buy or rent the right motorhome for your lifestyle.
Campervan
A camper van is a van or an old VW van as we know it and then converted into a camper. You can see many people driving around with these camper vans these days and also people living in these camper vans.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to travel with | Not suitable for more than two people |
| Easy to park | Can get cold in the winter |
| Cheaper insurance than larger motorhomes |
Camper Bus
The camper bus is a larger version of the camper van. These are, just like the camper vans, often converted from vans to bus campers. There are many different makes and models of camper buses but it all comes down to one thing, they are a lot bigger than the camper van and therefore have a lot more space.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to travel with | Not suitable for more than two people |
| Easy to park | Can get cold in the winter |
| Cheaper insurance than larger motorhomes |
Alcove Campervan
When you go on a summer holiday, you can’t miss the alcove motorhome on the motorway. The alcove
campervan is easily recognisable by the funny little roof on the front of the camper. This roof may look odd, but it makes for a very nice extra sleeping space. The disadvantage of the crazy shape is that it will cost extra fuel as the motorhome is slightly less aerodynamic. Most alcove motorhomes do allow for six people to sleep and have a comfortable experience.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Spacious and comfortable | It will cost extra money for fuel |
| Lots of berths ideal for families | Large so more difficult to park |
| Built-in kitchen | |
| Lots of cargo space |
Semi integrated motorhome
The semi-integrated motorhome or sometimes also called the half-integrated motorhome is a spacious, comfortable motorhome that is easy to drive. The fact that the semi-integrated motorhome does not have a nose like an alcove means that gravity is pulled down more, making it more comparable to a normal car. But because of this, there is also a difference in the number of people who can sleep in the semi-integrate. Where in the alcove there is room for 6, in the semi-integral there is room for 2-4 and sometimes 5 people.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Spacious | Usually only one real bed |
| Ideal for couples and families | Moderately insulated cabin |
| Less fuel consumption |
Full-size motorhome
The full-size motorhome is a sublime campervan to travel in. It has a luxurious and spacious design which makes staying in the full-size motorhome a pleasure. The half-integrated is also half the price compared to the full-size motorhome.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Great sense of space | Pricey |
| Well insulated | Difficult to maintain |
Liner
We have arrived at the most luxurious motorhome there is: the Liner. A liner is built on a truck chassis and is BIG! To drive a liner you often need an extra driving licence and you can use your B licence. You can choose to live minimalist or you can buy a liner and live extravaganza.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Difficult to beat in comfort | Expensive |
| Lots of space | Extra driving licence |
| Huge storage space | Awkwardly large |
| Uses a lot of fuel |
Car with roof tent
A car with a rooftop tent may not be a motorhome, but it is becoming more and more popular and might be something for you. It is quite simple: you put a big suitcase like box on top of your car and when you unfold it, you have a tent. This tent comes in many different forms and for more tips about the different roof tents, you can click here.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| It’s a lot cheaper than motorhomes and caravans. | It’s not a one-size-fits-all. There are many cars where the rooftop tent fits, but not every car. |
| Putting up the tent is very easy and takes from 60 seconds – 4 minutes | There is less space to carry your things |
| You can have a nice view; some roof tents even have a panoramic view | You have no kitchen, shower or toilet |
| You don’t sleep on the ground so you don’t get moisture and insects from the ground | A rooftop tent is not the same price as a round tent, it is more expensive (1000-10,000 euros) |
Trailer
As the car with a roof tent, a trailer is not a campervan but it is worth mentioning. The big difference between a camper and a trailer is that you need to tow the trailer behind your car. There is one big advantage of a trailer compared to a campervan and that is that you can keep your great spot on a campsite while you leave to explore in your car.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| A caravan can stay on the campsite | Tow bar is required |
| Much cheaper than a campervan | Can’t drive on slopes that are too steep |
| You don’t pay road tax for the caravan | Maximum speed is lower because of the trailer |
Fuel
Fuel is a subject that comes up a lot lately. As you might have guessed, many motorhomes run on diesel. Diesel is not the most popular fuel these days, but it is more economical than petrol and has more pulling power than LPG. LPG often has lower emissions, but you can drive longer on a petrol tank. So for cars and camper vans, it is certainly possible to drive on LPG or petrol, but for motorhomes, it will usually be diesel.
Electric driving is becoming more and more available. There are now also semi-integrated motorhomes that run on electricity. The price of these vehicles is still considerably higher, but over the years we expect it to become more accessible.
What will you choose?
It may be a cliché, but it is all about what you want. If you have a large family with four children, it might be wise to look for a larger option like the alcove motorhome. If you don’t need a lot of space for luggage and you’re only going on a trip with one person, you can also choose a car with a rooftop tent. It all depends on what your wishes are and what your budget is. In any case, you now have more to think about, here you will also find an overview of the Indie Campers model. We hope this information was valuable and helps you to buy your own motorhome or rent one.
