With hundreds of motorhomes and camper vans to choose from, selecting what’s right for you can be beyond bewildering.

Will you be living and travelling full time in your mobile home - or will it be your holiday ‘go to’ mode of transport to explore your locally or further afield?

In our latest Magic of Motorhoming article, Features Editor, Sharon Cain, draws on the technical expertise of Photographer, Steve Hare, to help you set off on the right track.

UK Motorhome Classifications

In the UK, motorhomes are classified into three main classes: Class A, B, and C. Each class has its own set of features and specifications that cater to different travel needs and preferences. Essentially motorhomes are made up of a van engine, a cab and a living and sleeping area.

Here's a brief overview of each class:

Class A: The most prestigious class, offering luxury and spacious interiors with premium amenities. Ideal for long-term travel and families seeking a home-away-from-home experience They are the more expensive and the biggest and built from the frame upwards. As you would imagine, they come with a jaw-dropping high price tag of up to £250,000.


Class B: Also known as campervans, these are the smallest motorhomes, typically using a commercial van chassis and often referred to as van conversions. Easier to manoeuvre, cheaper to purchase, they consume less fuel and cost from £25k to £70k for used models and £30k-£140k for new models.

Class C: Bigger than Class B but smaller than Class A, Class C motorhomes offer a balance of comfort and practicality. They provide similar facilities to Class A vehicles but at a more affordable price. Most motorhomes we see, and ours, fall into this category.

Across Europe we have encountered many enormous nine metre long A Class motorhomes on primary roads. We were privileged to be invited into a Hymer for cakes while in Omis, Croatia. With leather couches, it was a magnificent ‘home from home’.

In some countries - Spain, Portugal and Morocco for instance, their owners park them on campsites for the winter and get around on their bicycles.

Makes And Models - New Or Used?

With so many makes and models, where do you start?

Models generally differ in the range of makes due to size, in particular length but also the layout of the living area. Consider beds. Double bed, twin beds, drop down electric beds, fixed beds or make up beds from a couch.

When buying new or used vehicles, you may be interested in The Caravan and Caravanning Club’s Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards 2025 which rate new and used top makes according to votes by its members.

It is interesting to note that 72 per cent of new motorhome owners have experienced at least one fault or failure.

They comment that

It seems first owners troubleshoot on behalf of the next, with a lower number of pre-owned motorhome owners reporting a problem with their motor caravan.

The study also revealed that 57 per cent of vehicles have faults, making the importance of carrying tools, glue, insulation tape, and spares a given.

All Geared Up

Regarding equipment - do you want a gas hob, electric hob, or a combined hob?

If you stay on campsites and pay for electric, you will not want to use your own gas. If you go ‘off grid,’ you will need gas, and this depends on where you are going.

Calor Gas, Propane or LPG? Be aware the EU is not unified in their gas bottles and fittings. In Spain we had to buy a second hand bottle from a market - that ironically didn’t fit in our gas cupboard! - that enabled us to buy a full one.

We changed to a dual system LPG and Propane, for our travels in Morocco as they do not have LPG, however we could fill up easily at garages in Spain.

Dining Decisions

Whether spending months, weeks, or a weekend in your mobile home, what size fridge do you need – and will you require a microwave? Generally UK models have microwaves, and many European models do not – preferring a barbecue.

When you eat, what about a table - will it be large, small, fixed or a folding one you manually set up at mealtimes?

When looking at showers, factors such as space, cost, usage and whether you will be on campsites or off grid are among the considerations.
Our advice is to take your time and avoid making a rushed decision you may later regret. Visit different dealers and test drive a variety of different makes and models.

When Size Matters

The vital questions you have to ask when considering a motorhome are:
What size are you and fellow driver/s comfortable driving?
What is you intended use - travelling full time, exploring the UK/Europe, or driving to a resort or destination and staying put for a week or two?
How long are you intending to travel?
Is your motorhome/campervan for one, two or a family of four?

In the second part of this article we will share insights on other key areas including weight, when you need a special driving licence, Sat Navs, restrictions and memberships and apps - vital for finding sites and park ups on your explorations.

Whatever you choose, you are buying far more than a vehicle.

You are investing in a gamechanger which will take your travels, life plans and adventures to new heights.