You know where everything lives. The bed is comfortable, the layout works, and you've finally worked out which cupboard the other half keeps the biscuits in. There's a lot to like about the motorhome you've already got. Then you start having an innocent look at newer models.
More technology, more comfort, and a few features that would be rather handy on your next trip. Before long, you're browsing motorhomes when all you really wanted was a better way to make coffee without electric hook-up.
It's easy to assume that getting those features means changing the whole vehicle. But if your motorhome still suits you, there may be plenty you can improve on without handing over the keys.
START WITH WHAT YOU'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO CHANGE
Before looking at products, think about your last few trips. What would have made them better?
Perhaps you'd like more freedom to stay off-grid. Maybe the journey leaves you feeling worn out, or getting level on a pitch has become the least relaxing part of the holiday. It could simply be that the motorhome gets too warm when you're touring abroad.
Photo: Couple working remotely inside a motorhome
Those are useful starting points. They give you something specific to solve, rather than a shopping list of equipment you might never get the benefit from.
You don't need every upgrade. You need the ones that make a difference to how you travel.
MORE FREEDOM AWAY FROM CONVENTIONAL SITES
If you're always checking the battery level or choosing pitches around access to electricity, your power setup is worth a closer look.
A suitable lithium leisure battery, solar installation and charging setup can give you more flexibility. An appropriately specified inverter can also allow selected mains appliances to run from your leisure battery. But these need to be planned together around what you want to use and how long you want to use it for.
Photo: A Roamer lithium battery installation / Roamer
The starting point is your routine. Charging phones and running the lights is a different conversation from wanting a coffee machine, hairdryer and electric cooking equipment.
Your existing electrics need assessing too. A lithium upgrade isn't automatically a case of swapping one battery for another, and solar output will vary with the weather and time of year. The right system should suit your trips, including the ones where Scotland doesn't provide wall-to-wall sunshine.
A MORE COMFORTABLE JOURNEY
If you like your motorhome once you're parked up, but find the drive tiring, it makes sense to look at what's happening on the road.
Photo: Optimised Shock Absorbers & VB-SemiAir / VB-Airsuspension
Suspension upgrades can help improve comfort and handling on suitable vehicles. The right option depends on the base vehicle, how it's loaded and what you're trying to improve. That's why we start with a conversation about how yours behaves, rather than assuming everyone needs the same system.
LESS SETTING UP, MORE SITTING DOWN
You've arrived, the view is lovely, and the kettle is calling. First, though, there's the small matter of getting level.
For owners who find ramps a chore, hydraulic levelling is an upgrade worth discussing. A suitable system can make pitching up more convenient, particularly if you move between sites regularly.
Photo: SHR Hydraulic Levelling installation / TCC Services
As with any substantial installation, vehicle compatibility, available space and the weight of the equipment all need considering. It's about making arrival easier while choosing something that works with your particular motorhome.
COMFORT WHERE IT COUNTS
Sometimes the thing you want to change is very straightforward. A cooler living space, or a better setup for getting online.
Air conditioning may be worth considering if you regularly tour in warmer weather. A dedicated mobile internet system may suit the way you stream, plan routes or keep in touch while away. For either, the conversation should include where you travel, the power or signal available, and what performance you can realistically expect.
You might only need one improvement to make your motorhome feel much better suited to you.
WHEN DOES UPGRADING MAKE SENSE?
Upgrading is worth exploring when the motorhome is in good condition, the layout still works and you expect to keep enjoying it for years to come.
If the bed is wrong, you need more space or there are significant repairs to consider, those things deserve attention before adding equipment. New technology won't solve a layout you've outgrown.
It's also worth comparing the full installed cost of your plans with the cost of changing vehicles. Think about the benefit you'll get from using the upgrades, rather than assuming you'll recover the whole cost when you eventually sell.
FROM TCC SERVICESTELL US WHAT YOU'D LIKE YOURS TO DO BETTERAt TCC Services in Turriff, we can help you explore upgrades around your motorhome, your budget and the way you tour. You don't need to arrive knowing which battery, suspension system or levelling kit to ask for. Tell us what you enjoy about your motorhome and what you'd like to improve, and we can take it from there. Get in touch with the team and let's talk about what would make your next trip better. |
