Is owning a motorhome for you?

‘Roly', my motorhome, is my ‘escape-mobile' from the stresses of life. I can just get in ‘him' - and go. It's very heartening to know that ‘he' is there, waiting, whenever we have a couple of days to spare.

There's certainly no better feeling than peeking out at a glistening expanse of sea. We've ‘wild camped' on a few cliff tops, waking up to the sound of seagulls. And there's nothing that makes me feel more snug - or smug - than watching the tent-campers battle against driving rain as I cook my bacon and eggs with my gas fire keeping me warm. This is the great thing about taking your home with you; rain or shine you're very comfortable - unless you spring a leak or leave your roof vents open in a storm. I can laugh about some of our mishaps now, such as bailing out water because of a faulty outside locker seal.

Owning a motorhome may be a pretty expensive pleasure, but if you use it often, it's an investment; not in the monetary sense, but in terms of exploration, fun and, above all, freedom.

Yes, I may have sweltered so much in the back seat that I had to strip to my underwear, giving coach parties and lorry drivers an eyeful. We've since bought a fan. Then we had a terrifying encounter in Pembrokeshire on a steep, narrow bend with a massive drop below - all because we had underestimated Roly's length. There's also the difficulty with cooking. Our three burner hob actually only takes two tiny pans and the ‘van has to be kept rock steady with nobody moving. This explains why we barbecue a lot.

Experts will tell you to look at as many motorhomes as you can in your price range before committing. I knew Roly was ‘the one' right away because the curtained-off over-cab double bed gives our teenage daughter her requisite privacy, there is plentiful storage and his fairly compact size makes him easy to park and drive. He is also winterised, so we could take him skiing in the Alps and still be cosy.

Choosing the right motorhome is about compromise, space and money. A fixed bedroom, for instance, will add length, costing you twice as much to park (two spaces), much more on ferry crossings and making it harder to drive down country lanes. If you want a lounge area in a compact ‘van, you might lose out on worktops -  my biggest bugbear. Whatever you do, don't let your motorhome just sit on your drive. After all, the motorcaravanners' mantra is "Be spontaneous."

Things to think about

● Your budget, what you'll use your motorhome for, size and, crucially, layout. Do you want to wake up next to the sink? Can people pass each other?  

● Beds; over-cab beds save space, but are only for the fairly agile who don't need the loo in the night. Corner beds are for very short people only. Mattress quality is paramount.

● Where will you keep your vehicle? A storage compound costs me £350 a year

● How often are you going to use it? If it's just for a few weeks a year staying on a couple of campsites, you might consider a caravan instead - it's a lot cheaper.

● Safety; all passengers need a seatbelt and can't travel on side seats.

● Be realistic; mimic using the shower, take the maximum number of passengers you are likely to be carrying and make your test drive long enough to get a feel for comfort levels.

● Consider noise; things rattle and I can't hear the radio or the people in front if I'm travelling in the back.

● Try before you buy; many escorted holidays provide a hire option with experienced leaders to give advice.

● Equipment/add-ons; awnings, tracking, satellite TV, bike rack - luxuries or essentials?

● When buying, go on mileage rather than age; factor in fuel economy and possibly more major repairs for a well-used vehicle. But there are plenty of older vans with low mileages which are great bargains. Running costs of a well-kept older vehicle would be similar to a new model.

For more advice try these sites

● www.motorhome-chooser.com Lots of help for first-time buyers

● www.ukmotorhomes.net News, motorhomes for sale and to hire

● www.motorhomefun.co.uk An online community of motorhome enthusiasts

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