We don’t go motorhoming to graft, but there are numerous essential chores that cannot be avoided.
Reversing, setting up, cleaning, and that daily trek to the chemical waste disposal are just some of the tasks that can take the shine off when you’re pitched up at the best motorhome sites, or even bring a premature end to your touring aspirations, when all the bending and exertion becomes a bit too much.
However, the good news is that there are some useful accessories and gadgets you could consider that are sure to make a big difference to your time spent on tour and are well worth loading your motorhome with.
To help you make motorhoming that bit easier, I’m sharing what I think are 10 of the best motorhome gadgets for taking the strain out of your tours.
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1. Improve your rear view
Minimise the need for getting out and checking all around your motorhome every time you manoeuvre, by fitting a good-quality, rear-view camera. The best options give a crystal clear, wide-angle view of what’s going on out of sight of your mirrors – both on the road and on site – and some can even act as security cameras, so you’ll sleep better at night, too.
A relaxation double-whammy! I like Falcon Technology’s HD Wireless magnetic camera system. It can be moved off or around the motorhome with ease, is rechargeable and links easily to a seven-inch rear-view mirror monitor, which also acts as a DVR recorder.
2. Auto-levelling
How do you find levelling a motorhome? If having to move the ’van backwards and forwards to get it flat feels like too much effort, you could go the whole hog and treat yourself to a motorhome self-levelling system.
At the press of a button, these brilliant systems can level the ’van in both directions via hydraulic rams that are fixed to the chassis. No messing with ramps, and no relationship stress as you shout instructions at each other!
The best systems have your vehicle flat in just minutes, giving you more time to relax. As motorhome upgrades go, this one can be a real game-changer.
3. Remote heating control
Not graft, exactly, but how nice is it to return to a toasty motorhome, rather than waiting 30 minutes for it to heat up when you get back?
You can get your ‘relax’ on much quicker with remote controls, such as Truma’s iNet X app. This system gives you the ability to power-up the heating, hot water boiler and lighting in your vehicle, from anywhere with a signal.
A hot shower and the heating on as soon as you get in from your winter walk… sounds pretty good to us!
4. Screw-in tent pegs
Hammering in and removing awning pegs can be an exhausting and frustrating task. Consider using a power driver/drill for screwing threaded tent pegs into the ground. They’ll be more secure than hammered-in standard pegs, and they’re a doddle to remove, too.
5. Opt for a paint protectant
Paint protectants make the task of cleaning a motorhome easier by creating a resilient, invisible barrier to dirt, grime, bird poo and tree sap.
The latest versions are ceramic based and bond to the leisure vehicle’s original paint at a nano level. Most are applied by the selling dealership when the vehicle is new, but finishes can be applied retrospectively, once any existing polish, wax and dirt has been carefully removed.
When applied, the coating lasts for years, resisting dirt and acidic attacks, and it often just takes a good hosing down to get the shine back.
If buying new, you could try to seek a discount on the paint protection process as you haggle over the price of the vehicle.
6. The benefits of a waste extension pipe on a full-service pitch
On a full-service pitch each pitch features its own tap and drain, so you can fill-up with fresh water without ever needing to move your motorhome. Likewise, a grey-waste extension pipe takes all your motorhome’s sink and shower water straight to the pitch drain. Easy!
A waste extension pipe generally costs from around £10.
7. Air not poles
Awnings are a practical addition to any motorhome, and modern advancements in air-beam technology mean that you no longer have to bother storing, moving and building heavy pole awning structures. You just need to make sure you know how to choose a motorhome awning.
The latest air-awnings are robust in high winds and take a fraction of the time to put up compared to a pole awning. Simply plug in the pump, and a dozen or so actions later, the awning has taken shape. They’re also lighter… and there are fewer parts to lose. Cut the exertion even further, by investing in an electric pump.
8. Gas level monitoring
In the old days (2010), to work out how much gas you had left, you had to unstrap your gas bottle, lift it out and weigh it… or just shake it around a bit. What a hassle! These days, you can do it easily using Truma’s excellent Gas Level Control Monitor or LevelCheck devices. These measure the level of gas in your ’van’s gas bottles.
Truma’s neat Gas Level Control Monitor device costs from £130 online, while LevelCheck costs from £73. The former feeds information straight from your gas locker to your smartphone app.
Truma says its Gas Level Monitor works with all current steel or aluminium European cylinders, but not plastic or refillable bottles.
9. Easy TV and web
Motorhome Wi-Fi has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, which can negate the need for faffing around with satellite dishes or TV aerials.
With decent Wi-Fi, you can simply log into all your domestic streaming services for TV and music, without worrying about the weather outside, or trees and hills.
Multiple devices can be used at the same time, and the 4G/5G Wi-Fi antenna, booster and router can even be removed from the ’van and used elsewhere. Systems cost from around £350.
10. Gazebo living
Go one better/lazier than an awning, and plump for an instant pop-up gazebo. These sturdy and portable shelters cost from £100 for a decent brand that will last, and can be erected in a minute (literally!). The best ones are about the same weight as an air awning and measure around 5ft x 1ft x 1ft (150cm x 30cm x 30cm) when packed.
We have a Quest Screen House 4 Pro Gazebo that cost around £300. It’s brilliant.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. Double check any warranty is not affected before proceeding.
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