Motorhome Matt

Modern motorhomes can stay off-grid for longer, carry more usable battery capacity and rely far less on electric hook-up than they once did. So what does a campsite need to offer now to make motorhome owners want to stop, stay and pay for a pitch?

Motorhome Matt and Keith Gooden look at how touring habits are changing, from shorter stays and last-minute bookings to Brit Stops, park-ups and the growing expectation that a campsite should offer more than somewhere to plug in. We also tackle the awkward question of value, including why campsite prices have risen and what owners should reasonably expect for their money.

Matt visits Riverside Caravan Park in High Bentham to speak with operations director John Marshall about what those changes look like from the campsite side. At Riverside, tourers stay for an average of 3.7 nights compared with 2.2 nights for motorhomes, while the mix of touring caravans and motorhomes has shifted considerably in recent years. John explains how the business is responding through facilities, online booking, later arrivals, Wi-Fi, EV charging, solar and giving visitors more reasons to explore from the site.

There’s also an update on ETIAS and the European Entry/Exit System, including the latest uncertainty around when ETIAS will actually be introduced and what travellers heading into the Schengen area need to keep an eye on.

In the Q&A, Matt answers your questions on:

Which type of air conditioning makes sense for a motorhome retrofit

Why a Kador bead can pull out of a Multirail and what size difference may be causing it

How to find a motorhome layout that is comfortable enough to live in without sacrificing the storage you need

If you’ve noticed yourself using campsites differently in the last few years, this conversation explains why the relationship between motorhomes and campsites is changing, and what both sides are having to rethink.

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Why are used motorhomes still so expensive when some of them are already several years old? Matt Sims and Keith Gooden look at what is keeping prices high, how the rising cost of base vehicles and conversions feeds through to the used market, and the financial pressure sitting behind some motorhome dealer forecourts.

The conversation gets into stock finance and curtailment payments, why unsold new motorhomes can become a serious problem for dealers, and what buyers can do to get a better sense of who they are dealing with before handing over a substantial amount of money. Matt also draws on his own experience of running a motorhome dealership and explains why he has chosen not to sell new motorhomes today.

We also tackle what happens when the temperature climbs and your motorhome has no air conditioning. From portable air coolers and roof-mounted systems to under-seat and cab-based options, we look at the choices, the costs involved and an important warning about reflective blinds and acrylic windows in very hot weather.

Electrical safety comes up too, after a listener asks about using a simple socket tester to check a home or campsite hook-up. Then there’s a question from an e-bike owner trying to choose the right rack for a Citroën Relay, including weight limits, wider tyres and the extra strain caused by bumps and ferry ramps.

There are a few less obvious ownership questions as well: do wheel covers really help protect motorhome tyres from UV damage, is it worth carrying a spare number plate when travelling abroad, and how can you insulate acrylic windows and roof vents for winter without sticking Velcro everywhere?

And for anyone looking ahead to a heavier motorhome, we discuss C1 entitlement, reaching age 70 and the uncertainty around possible future 4.25-tonne licence changes.

Lee Davey also joins us for the Alan Rogers Campsite of the Month, taking us to Camping Las Dunas in Catalonia, a large resort-style campsite with its own beach, pools, water slides and plenty to explore beyond the site.

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Devon Conversions has been building campervans since the 1950s, but after closing in 2025, the long-established name could easily have disappeared. Instead, it has a new owner, a fresh start and quite a challenge ahead: how do you modernise a traditional campervan brand without losing the loyal owners who made it what it is?

Motorhome Matt talks to Steve Fairbairn, the new owner of Devon Conversions, about what happened when the business closed, why he decided the name was worth preserving and what comes next. With customers returning for their fifth and sixth Devon campervans, there’s plenty Steve doesn’t want to change. But attracting a different generation of buyers means the familiar Devon formula can’t simply stand still.

Keith and Matt pick up that question afterwards as we look at the wider shift towards van conversions and micro campers. Is the market moving away from traditional caravans, and what does the changing mix of buyers mean for manufacturers and dealers?

There’s also some striking industry news. Matt and Keith discuss Brownhills reporting a pre-tax loss of £961,000, compared with a £1.22 million pre-tax profit the previous year, while Grantham’s Caravans is moving in the opposite direction. What might these contrasting figures tell us about the state of the motorhome and caravan trade?

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

What happens to your servicing and warranty if the motorhome dealer you bought from goes bust?

Could fitting a porch awning create a carbon monoxide risk?

Are motorhomes really designed to cope with full-time or semi-permanent van life?

There’s a lot changing in the campervan and motorhome world, and Devon’s return is a fascinating example of the balancing act facing the industry. Join Matt and Keith as they look at what’s worth preserving, what needs to change and what owners need to keep an eye on.

Find out more:

DEVON CONVERSIONS: devonconversions.co.uk

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How do you convert a van into a campervan without spending a fortune, and could you really complete a campervan conversion in just 24 hours?

In this episode, Motorhome Matt is joined by designer, TV presenter and former Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Max McMurdo to talk affordable campervan conversions, clever small-space design and his move into the campervan world.

Max shares the thinking behind Outlandish Campers, his modular campervan conversion system designed to make converting smaller vans more accessible. We get into micro campers, removable interiors, sustainable materials and why being able to take your conversion out and move it to another van could make a great deal of sense.

We also hear how Max’s career took him from car design and upcycling to Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, before campervans brought many of those interests together. And, naturally, there’s the small matter of his Volkswagen ID. Buzz camper, 73,000 miles of electric motoring and the realities of travelling in an EV campervan.

At the Warner Shows, Max is taking on a rather ambitious challenge, converting an old van into a finished campervan live at the show in just 24 hours, spread across three eight-hour days.

And in the Q&A, Matt and Keith answer your questions on:

Is it safe to drink water directly from a motorhome tank?

What should you consider when exporting a motorhome from the UK to New Zealand?

If you’re considering a DIY campervan conversion, looking at a smaller van or simply wondering how much campervan you can create without an enormous budget, tune in. Max has plenty of ideas, Matt has plenty of questions, and Keith is on hand to keep the rest of us grounded.

Outlandish Campers – www.outlandishcampers.com

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Selling your house to live in a motorhome sounds like the ultimate dream, but what's it really like once the adventure begins? Is full-time motorhome living everything people imagine, or are there challenges nobody talks about? 

In this episode, Motorhome Matt is joined by Kat Bird from Wandering Bird, Tash Gooch from Life Beyond Bricks and Jackie Pickles from Early Retirement Wanderlust, who have all taken different paths towards full-time life on the road. Together, we explore the realities of giving up bricks and mortar, managing finances, finding work, travelling at a slower pace and discovering what it really takes to make full-time motorhome living work.

We also take a look at the new Pathway 4G Gen 2 router; what's changed, why it matters and how the latest version has been shaped by customer feedback.

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

Whether motorhome owners' clubs are worth joining

Where to get your motorhome chassis serviced

Leaving your motorhome permanently connected to electric hook-up at home

Whether you're seriously considering selling your house or you're simply curious about the lifestyle, this episode is packed with honest experiences, practical advice and plenty of food for thought. Join Motorhome Matt, Keith and our guests as we help you decide if life on the road could be the right move for you.

Early Retirement Wanderlust ➞ www.earlyretirementwanderlust.com

Wandering Bird ➞ www.wandering-bird.com

Life Beyond Bricks ➞ lifebeyondbricks.co.uk

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The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists.

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