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Hosting Camping Recipes Company News Contribute All Rights Reserved Start exploring Home Hosting Camping Recipes Company News Contribute Categories: Camping Campervan hire in the UK: The beginner’s guide to renting a motorhome Thinking about a campervan or motorhome holiday for the first time? Outdoor expert Ewan Mearns shares his tips and hints on campervan hire in the UK and getting the most out of your motorhome rental experience. Why you should hire a campervan or motorhome for your next holiday Perhaps you love camping but are ready to swap mud for mod cons on your next trip. Or maybe you get restless staying at the same place for a whole holiday. Either way, hiring a campervan may well be your ticket to freedom. Just imagine: the open road, the flexibility to move on and explore when you want, a solid roof and a place to keep the wine chilled. It’s camping, on wheels, with bells on. Sounds appealing doesn’t it? Rather than diving in and spending your savings on buying a campervan or motorhome, why not rent one? It’s an increasingly popular way to see the world. Whether you’re thinking about a weekend at Glastonbury , a coast-to-coast road trip in Cornwall , or a fortnight’s family holiday to Europe, campervan hire is an ideal option. But first… which one? Choosing the right campervan or motorhome to hire Mention campervans and many people instantly think of the iconic vintage VW. These can be a great, cost-effective option, as well as looking cool! But after doing a bit of research, you may find that a modern equivalent ticks the right boxes for you. Less romantic of course, but a well-equipped VW California, a converted VW T6, or a luxurious motorhome may just give you the comfort and space for that all-important, relaxing experience. We’ve given our verdict on the options below but, truly, the choice is all yours. The trick is to think about what you want from your campervan holiday and select the specification accordingly. Classic campervans Splitscreen or bay-windowed VWs are certainly the classic option and perhaps the coolest too. Provided your hire company has maintained their classic campers well, and you’re in no rush to get from A to B, there are many possibilities. Vintage campers are generally most suitable for one or two people, and although some vintage vans may ‘officially’ accommodate up to four, the reality is that more than a couple is a squeeze, especially when you factor in storage for the extra luggage. Pop-top options increase the sleeping space, but if there are four of you going, consider taking a small tent to pitch next to the van as an extra bedroom. Our holiday to the island of Islay was the perfect destination for our hired mid-70s Bay: we camped out among the dunes besides miles of beach and explored at a laid-back top speed of 55 mph. Be warned though, a crunchy gearbox, non-adjustable seats and a pop-top roof with a decidedly musty aroma soon dulled the shine of our romantic road trip. The lesson? Read reviews of your hire company first to ensure the vehicles are well maintained. Verdict: Best for couples, and shorter distances. Modern campervans and conversions More recent campervans based on the VW Transporter, Mazda Bongo and Toyota Previa may offer a more reliable and practical option. They generally drive like a large car (which makes them better than a motorhome if your itinerary includes exploring towns and villages) with a ‘high up’ driving position, and their modern diesel engines are quieter and more fuel efficient than vintage options. Choose a VW California or similar Transporter conversion to sleep up to four adults. Bongos, Previas and other campers are slightly smaller so will sleep two with up to two younger children. This size of camper offers a good compromise between practicality and style and more recent iterations are ingeniously configured to maximise every inch of possible storage and get the most out of the available space. You may hear people talk about ‘conversions’ and ‘factory’ models. In general, conversions refer to vehicles that started life as panel vans before being converted into fully-equipped campervans, usually by specialist companies. Factory models are built as campervans by the manufacturer, which can mean a higher spec and better storage configuration, a good example of which is the current VW California. Verdict: Best for families, and trips with town driving. Motorhomes Moving up in size again, motorhomes are a very popular hire option in the UK. While they won’t win any prizes for style, they win hands-down on space, practicality and comfort. They generally sleep up to six in a range of fixed and fold-down bed configurations, and normally come with mod-cons such as a toilet, shower and TV. You can often find pet-friendly motorhomes, too, if you plan to bring your dog along. All this space comes at a cost, however. You’ll certainly be conscious of driving a larger vehicle and navigating smaller roads and car parks may concern those of a nervous disposition. But if your trip is more long-distance motorway driving and wide open countryside, the motorhome option is a good one. Incidentally, if you passed your driving test before 1997 and are aged under 70 then the C1 category on your driving licence will allow you to drive any motorhome up to 7500kg. Those who passed after 1997, or who are over 70 and haven’t renewed their C1 category, will be limited to vans weighing less than 3500kg. Verdict: Best for large families, and long-distance driving. What facilities to expect Whichever option is right for your circumstances, it’s worth understanding the kinds of facilities to expect in a hired campervan or motorhome. The basic cooking facilities include a fridge, two-burner gas hob, water tank, sink and tap. Some may also have a grill or oven. This might not seem much but it’s a considerable step up from cooking under canvas and you can be surprisingly resourceful cooking on two rings. Foldable beds (that are stowed away for driving or living) are the standard option but you may also find fixed bunk beds and even double beds in a motorhome. The pop-top roofs of some campervans (some that lift at the touch of a button) are great fun for little ones and an exciting ‘upstairs’ play space in inclement weather. If you’re used to camping under canvas and leaving your beds out all day, it’s worth remembering that if you opt for a campervan, you may not have that luxury. Your van is both bedroom and vehicle and beds will likely need putting away every morning and making again every night. The need to be organised may put paid to notions of lazy lie-ins! In terms of washing facilities, it’s usually only the larger motorhomes that will have fixed toilets and showers although many hire companies will include a portable toilet (a porta potti) with a hired campervan. Remember, though, most sites have wash blocks, so unless you’re not planning to stay at campsites, this is unlikely to be a deal-breaker. Campervans can be the most inventive and ingenious vehicles. Their multi-functional design means that fold-out tables, swivelling front seats, ingenious storage solutions and internal lighting are de rigeur. Also common are wind-out awnings (attached to the side of the van). I never get tired, for instance, of demonstrating the way the two picnic chairs in my VW campervan are stored in the tailgate, with the outdoor table neatly stowed in the sliding door. But try not to feel too smug when you roll up at your latest Hipcamp and have a cup of tea served al fresco within minutes while your neighbours have only just located their tent pegs! You might even want to make friends with your fellow Hipcampers by making them a brew too. What to ask your campervan or motorhome hire company When you pick up a hired campervan or motorhome you should only need to take your clothes, food (best bought en route and unpacked straight into the storage cupboards) and other personal effects such as games and...