| The purchase of a motorhome, the same as any | | | | the dealer is local and your drive is difficult to get |
| significant investment, takes time and planning. | | | | into, it's worth checking to see how easily you can |
| Whether it is your first motorhome or whether you | | | | park. Consider whether it will be more difficult to |
| are a seasoned tourer, the importance of taking your | | | | negotiate at night and assess the security of where |
| chosen motorhome for a test drive is paramount and | | | | you intend to park. Check how easy it would be to |
| so Sureterm Direct, one of the UK’s leading | | | | empty the waste outlet on a campsite with no |
| specialist motorhome and RV insurers have come up | | | | dedicated service point. Can you fit an extension to |
| with a step by step guide on how to test drive a | | | | empty the waste water into an ordinary drain? |
| motorhome. | | | | • Try parking the motorhome as you would on |
| • Make an appointment with your chosen dealer in | | | | tour – if you prefer smaller motorhomes and like |
| advance. Few dealers will be able to make a specific | | | | to park in town centres, see how this works. If it's |
| test vehicle available at short notice. It is best to | | | | an older motorhome, will anyone else likely to drive |
| allow plenty of time to cover every detail, so ask the | | | | the motorhome be able to cope without power |
| sales person about planning a route and make any | | | | steering? If you sometimes drive alone, try parking |
| other specific requests, such as loading and additional | | | | on your own. If the motorhome is an A-class (which |
| passengers. If you're test driving a demonstrator | | | | may have only one cab door), or an import with an |
| model, check whether it has the same engine and | | | | offside habitation door, where will each passenger |
| specification as the model you want to buy. | | | | get out? |
| • If it's an older motorhome you want to try, ask | | | | • Do any retro-fitted accessories, such as |
| if you can start it yourself. If the engine is warm | | | | reversing sensors, work as they should? Consider |
| when you arrive, it may have been pre-warmed to | | | | which accessories you need to fit and how these |
| disguise any starting difficulties. If the clutch bites at | | | | might affect visibility. An obvious one is a rear cycle |
| the top of the pedal's travel, it's probably worn, so | | | | carrier, which lengthens the vehicle and restricts your |
| ask about a replacement. If the steering pulls to one | | | | rearward view. |
| side, the tracking needs to be adjusted. If there's a | | | | • Cover all the angles. Simulate any difficult visibility |
| lot of play in the steering wheel, the steering gear | | | | conditions you may face, particularly if driving abroad, |
| may be worn and that is fairly serious. | | | | such as driving on the right-hand side of the road and |
| • Test drive using the maximum number of | | | | turning left down a hill, with poor visibility of oncoming |
| passengers you are likely to be carrying on a normal | | | | traffic. Can your passenger see enough to tell you |
| trip. Check if their feet can touch the floor? Is | | | | when it's safe to pull out and will rear passengers |
| there enough room for a child booster seat? Will the | | | | obscure the view? |
| heater or air-conditioning be up to the job in extreme | | | | • Do a noise test. Drive the motorhome over an |
| conditions? If possible, simulate a full load – if it's | | | | uneven road surface to see whether its squeaks and |
| a garage model, ask the sales person if you can load | | | | rattles or sets your teeth on edge. But, before you |
| your bikes or scooter to see how the motorhome | | | | set out, make sure you've done everything sensible |
| copes with the weight distribution. If you like to drive | | | | to stop noise, such as removing grill pans and baking |
| with a full water tank, ask to fill it. Ideally, visit a | | | | trays from the cooker. Check the cupboard locks |
| weighbridge to check the motorhome's weight, either | | | | before you drive away, and that everything else is |
| unladen or, better still, with your kit in it. (Remember, | | | | secure. |
| many weighbridges need to be booked in advance.) | | | | • Identify the best service agent for the base |
| • Plan your route to sample all possible driving | | | | vehicle in terms of quality of service, size of |
| conditions and make it long enough so that you can | | | | workshop (availability of short-term servicing) and |
| get a genuine feel for the comfort levels of the | | | | cost. Ideally, this will be the supplying dealer or one of |
| travel seats. Include a steep hill, a section of | | | | their sub-contractors. Consider spare parts costs and |
| motorway or dual carriageway and some urban | | | | servicing cost over the vehicle's life span. |
| driving. Try a hill start, to see how the clutch feels. | | | | • Get a motorhome insurance quote. Specialist |
| Consider long-trip factors: for example, will the stereo | | | | motorhome insurers like Sureterm Direct will give |
| provide enough volume for all passengers to easily | | | | extensive discounts to motorhome owners. Give |
| listen to audio books or music on long journeys? | | | | them a call on 0800 999 2030. |
| • Does the motorhome fit in your driveway? If | | | | |