Motorhome Matt

Do you really need a generator to enjoy your motorhome off-grid? And how much solar and battery power is enough to run an air fryer, coffee machine and everything else you rely on?

Recorded live at the October NEC motorhome show, Motorhome Matt and Keith Gooden tackle questions from owners and listeners about buying, maintaining and getting more from their motorhomes and campervans.

Matt explains why he's not a fan of generators on campsites and shares how his own Adria Twin performed during six days without electric hook-up, including what they powered and how much battery capacity they used.

Questions covered include:

Motorhome generators and off-grid power: Do you need a generator, and can solar panels, lithium batteries and an inverter make a used motorhome independent of electric hook-up?

Buying your first motorhome: Which used models suit a couple looking for a drop-down bed, automatic gearbox and a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes?

Depreciation: If you've got £50,000 to spend, will a motorhome or professionally converted panel van hold its value better?

Expensive motorhome repairs: Where can you source replacement parts without paying main dealer prices?

Automatic gearboxes and levelling ramps: Are automatics harder to position on levelling chocks, and could you risk putting your vehicle into limp mode?

Starter battery charging: Why might a Pilote motorhome need an additional charging arrangement?

Travelling independently: Are campsites doing enough to support older women travelling alone in campervans?

Following Matt's heart surgery, listener Martyn asks if the motorhome community is equipped to talk about ageing, illness, bereavement and eventually giving up the lifestyle. Matt shares what happened when around 30 men attended the first Blokes Breakfast and Banter gathering, including a moving story about two brothers-in-law who hadn't seen each other for ten years.

Charles from Fiamma asks Matt about his favourite UK motorhome destination, while James Riley from Motorhome Happiness wants to know what Matt and Jude most enjoy doing when they're away.

From decisions that could cost thousands to the friendships that make motorhoming worthwhile, these are real questions from people enjoying the lifestyle and trying to make the most of it.

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Motorhomes are appearing at lower prices, but what are manufacturers removing to make them more affordable? With some new models starting around £55,000, buyers could end up spending thousands more once they've added the equipment they actually want. So are these genuinely better deals, or are we simply getting less for our money?

Motorhome Matt and Keith Gooden investigate what's changing in the motorhome market following the October NEC show. Chris Long from Ace Motorhomes and Olivia Simpson from Auto-Trail explain how their brands are reducing entry prices through simpler specifications and optional equipment packs.

Adam Clark from Adria reveals why its new Select range takes a different approach, offering a largely fixed specification at a lower price than its premium models.

But what happens to used motorhome values when cheaper new models enter the market? Simon Jenkins from Spinney discusses part-exchange expectations, premium Coachman motorhomes and why travelling hundreds of miles to secure a bigger discount could become a problem when you need warranty work.

Steve Aspinall from Staycation Lifestyle challenges the idea that a lower-spec campervan is necessarily a false economy.

Matt and Keith question which extras are worth paying for, what can be fitted later, and how additional equipment affects payload and resale value. 

Our product of the week is the Alogfire portable gas log fire. Matt demonstrates how it works, discusses the safety features and explains why he was initially concerned about carbon monoxide.

And in the Q&A, Matt answers your questions on:

Is a Mercedes-Benz motorhome chassis worth the extra money compared with a Fiat?

Do motorhome speed limits change when you uprate a vehicle above 3,500kg?

Why don't more motorhomes have ISOFIX child-seat fittings, and what should families consider?

If you're buying a new motorhome, comparing it with a better-equipped used model or wondering what your current vehicle might be worth, hear what manufacturers and dealers are saying before deciding where your money is best spent.

Find out more:

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Motorhome sales are rising in the UK, so why are dealerships closing, restructuring or struggling to make money? And could the traditional way we buy new motorhomes be about to change?

Motorhome Matt and Keith Gooden examine the financial pressures facing the UK motorhome industry, from expensive stock finance and rising overheads to changing customer expectations. With new registrations reportedly up 8.5%, is demand really the problem, or has running a motorhome dealership simply become a much tougher business?

Matt speaks to the MDs of Tottington Motor Company, M5 Leisure and Bristol Caravans at the NEC. They share contrasting experiences of the market, including difficult part-exchange valuations, the cost of stocking new vehicles, strong campervan sales and owners spending thousands upgrading their existing motorhomes rather than replacing them.

One major development is Trigano's new Atom Motorhomes brand, which sells directly to customers instead of through traditional dealerships. Could this approach bring better prices, and who takes responsibility for servicing, warranty repairs and aftersales support? We hear what dealers think of the model and why some are reluctant to get involved.

And in the Q&A, Matt answers your questions on:

Which apps can help you navigate low-emission zones and toll roads when touring Norway and Sweden

What should a first-time buyer ask before purchasing a Consort campervan, particularly about warranties, insurance and aftersales support?

Do you need winter tyres, snow chains or snow socks when driving a motorhome through the French, Spanish and Andorran Pyrenees?

Find out more:

Low-emission zones in Europe: urbanaccessregulations.eu

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A £12,000 discount on a new motorhome sounds tempting, but what happens if you realise six months later that you've bought the wrong van? Motorhome shows bring together hundreds of vehicles and attractive deals, but rushing a decision could leave you seriously out of pocket.

With the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC upon us, Motorhome Matt and Keith discuss seven costly mistakes to avoid when buying a motorhome at a show. From going in with a fixed idea of the perfect layout to getting carried away by discounts, Matt explains why slowing down could save you money and disappointment.

Why should you look at motorhomes above your budget? How do you properly test a layout before committing? And why could buying from a dealer hundreds of miles away cause problems when you need warranty repairs? We also tackle payload limits, driving licence requirements and the importance of returning for a second look, including Matt's experience helping a couple narrow down a shortlist of 33 motorhomes.

In our Motorhome Finance Fact or Fiction feature, Steve Blake from Motorhome Finance explains whether you need to find your ideal motorhome before applying for finance, and how understanding your borrowing options can help when visiting a show or dealership.

And in the Q&A, Matt answers your questions on:

- Can you safely carry a spare gas bottle in your motorhome garage, and what could it mean for your habitation check and insurance?
- Which European breakdown cover options should you consider for a larger motorhome, particularly if it needs recovering to the UK?
- Why are some motorhome dealers reluctant to discount older or unsold stock, even when vehicles have been sitting on forecourts for years?

If you're planning to buy or upgrade your motorhome, listen before committing to a show deal. The right layout, dealer and practical specifications could matter far more than the discount on the windscreen.

Find out more:

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A campervan conversion can look beautifully finished, but how do you know the seats are installed safely, the payload still works in the real world, the conversion meets the right standards, and the company will support you if something goes wrong?

Motorhome Matt and Keith Gooden are joined at the Newark show by Tom Heeney from Landseer Campervans, Dan Douglass from Out and About Campers and Peter Vaughan. They examine the checks buyers should make before committing to a campervan conversion, including type approval, crash-tested seating, installation standards, usable payload, water ingress, warranty support and the reputation of the converter.

They also tackle some of the mistakes buyers make before a conversion has even started, from choosing the wrong base van to assuming a familiar vehicle badge guarantees the quality of the conversion. The discussion finishes with electric and hybrid campervans, including the Kia PV5, range expectations and the practical challenges converters face as the market changes.   

Our new Blokes Breakfast event takes place on Saturday 10 October at That Leisure Shop in Chelston, Wellington. It’s a free ticketed event, with Dan Trudgian joining Matt to talk about health, wellbeing and how buying a caravan changed his life.

And in the Q&A, Matt answers your questions on:

Where and how should you fit a safe in a Fiat Ducato campervan?

What can you negotiate when buying a second-hand motorhome from a dealer? 

If you’re choosing a campervan converter, sourcing a base van or considering a used conversion, this is the conversation to listen to before you commit your money.

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