The equipment and accessories for your motorhome options are available when you purchase a brand-new or used motorhome are huge as is the demand for retro-fitted equipment is even greater.
Certain motorhome accessories can be included as an extra when you select a new motorhome and lucky buyers of second-hand motorhomes will benefit from the accessories and gadgets that come with the motorhome. You can also purchase many of the motorhome accessories on the internet and either put them in yourself or get it done by an professional.
What Motorhome Equipment and accessories do you really Are You Looking For?
When making a decision on options and equipment when you are deciding on the specifications of purchasing a brand new motorhome or locating the ideal used motorhome think about the weight each one will contribute onto the MRO (maximum running order) that’s the weight of the vehicle after it is removed from the factory.
The greater the MRO the lower the payload you’ll have for your basic packing list of items you use every day. Get the manufacturer’s list of weights available before deciding what’s important and what’s nice to include.
Motorhome Equipment List
Automatic Electric Energy Select Fridge
A majority of refrigerators now come with the AES feature. This means that you won’t need to choose the energy source to cool your refrigerator. The refrigerator will select electric if it is connected to gas, or electric if you’re not, and 12v if driving. It’s good thing, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to think about every time you leave or arrive at the destination, or to alter the settings of your fridge.
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Air Conditioning
Take into consideration how you’ll utilize your motorhome. It’s likely to fall into the “nice to have” category, particularly if you’re traveling in Europe or the UK and using the camper van for few weeks throughout the year. If you’re planning to visit France with your motorhome during the month of August, it might be essential.
Air conditioning is a costly additional expense and requires at least 10A of EHU to function effectively at all. Any less and it will stop working. Don’t even think of using your leisure batteries without a specialist setup! Depending on the model you have, you may also opt for blowing hot air that can help with heating, or provide all the power you require.
Modern models can be controlled with a silent mode’ that is suitable for use at night. I’m not sure they’re as quiet, and typically when your van is getting to a comfy temperature, you won’t need your AC in the evening unless you’re sleeping in the cab, which can become very hot and stuffy in hot conditions.
Awning
We believe that an awning light is an essential item for the protection of sun and weather. A light for awnings that connects to an internal switch, can be useful if you’re cooking or just sitting out in the evening after dark. It is necessary to tie down straps, and you may also need to think about bolt-on options, such as central rafter, sun screen and a wind diffuser as well as an area for safari that closes the awning from all sides. Thule is the primary manufacturer of motorhome awnings and accessories for motorhomes in the UK.
If you tend to camp out in the wild and camp in the wild, you shouldn’t need an awning in the same way as there’s no place where that you’ll have to put it up, or be worried if you’re moving on…that’s our knowledge. We have friends who have a big parasol rather than an awning!
It is important to tilt your awning in order for rain to drain away or it will overflow and then collapse. Be sure to ensure that the awning-straps are used in the event of even the slightest possibility of wind. Awnings can be a costly piece of equipment that you can lose.
Bike Rack
There are a myriad of styles of bike racks to meet any need, including motorhomes as well as campervans. Research and verify recommendations prior to buying. Generally, you get what you spend for. We recommend Fiamma bike racks.
If you have a towbar, rack, you can purchase racks that be affixed, meaning that you don’t need to drill into the rear of your vehicle. But, if you’ve got an extended back end, this could add weight to your vehicle and could result in you crashing on speed bumps and ferry rides.
It is possible to purchase to cover your bike and this is required to be accompanied by a warning signal attached (as do bikes with having a cover) as per rules of your country that you are traveling in. Fiamma has a wide selection.
Corner Steadies
Sometimes referred to as legs. These rear corner steadyes can be manually lifted or lowered by turning the spindle that is threaded. They are able to contact the ground and offer stability for people who move around the motorhome. It is possible to carry two pieces of wood that you can place beneath the legs in order to spread the burden.
Electric Step
This basically means that you are able to extend or move a fixed step into the habitation entrance electrically (runs from 12 volts). The step is attached to the chassis and then is able to slide down when it is retracted. This is often done in the driver’s chair or by using an electronic switch near the door. A sound alarm will be activated when you begin the engine in order to remind you to lower the step before leaving.
External Gas Point
It is a great thing to have to cook a lot with the Cadac or another similar grill. The point is usually located inside a storage area near the front door of the van. It is linked to your gas supply. They are easy to operate and means you don’t need to carry an additional gas bottle.
Heating
Think about how you intend to use your motorhome. If you are planning to use it for short vacations, you will not require heating. If you plan to stay on the southern coast of Spain or Portugal at a camping site that has EHU, you can be able to do so with an oil-filled fan heater or radiator. If you plan to travel towards Northern Europe as well as the mountains during winter, you’ll certainly require heating.
There is a choice of blowing air or wet. Our experience has shown that wet is definitely the most efficient and comfortable. Blowing air can dry your skin! The wet system can also provide hot water. It’s worthwhile to look into a system that has the boost feature if want a longer shower or if there are more than two people. It is also important to look into how you can get gas in Europe rechargeable systems are the best, and will be will be discussed further down on the page.
Every heating system requires regular maintenance, usually 2 times per year, and requires any kind of fuel. With an 11kg or 6kg gas bottle, the running time for continuous heating is around 48 hours, based on your heating system. In reality, when you’re hot the van can retain heat for a long time. Our heating has never been to be on for more than an hour or so per day, even in sub-zero temperatures.
Inverter
An inverter converts 12V power into 230V which means that you can make use of three pin plug-ins and appliances. It isn’t recommended to use items such as a toaster however and other appliances that require a significant amount of power since they greatly deplete the batteries.
Be aware that certain inverters don’t provide the full 230V from each socket. You may have 230V sockets, but others with 12V sockets. Be sure to know the type of socket you’re installing and be sure to get an inverter large enough for your requirements.
Leisure Batteries
All motorhomes need a leisure battery. The number, dimensions and type of leisure batteries will be contingent on the purpose you intend to utilize your motorhome. If you’re purchasing an old motorhome, it is important to consider the age of the batteries. The battery life can be anywhere from four to five years, based on the usage and the type.
The batteries are recharged automatically when you’re connected to 230V and when you run the engine and are trickle charged with solar power, provided you have a solar panel installed. A regulator is typically in place that regulates the various charges and helps keep the batteries in a good condition. Batteries are a complicated topic, so talk to an expert dealer who will provide you additional information on the subject.
Motorhome Levelling
There are a variety of choices here, from simple ramps for levelling to’steadies that are the adjustable legs that wind down in the corners of the rear, to complete all-round hydraulic systems that are operated from the cabin.
Oven & Grill
Certain vans have some vans come with a (usually) Dometic stack of fridge freezers and ovens or microwave. Take note of what your campervan’s needs before you go out. Our van was equipped with an oven. We have a microwave with a low power inside our clothes! We never thought we’d utilize an oven and certainly not during the summer months however, when winter comes around we’re grateful for it. If you opt for an oven, think about including an element of grilling. It’s great for toasting when you don’t need carrying a toaster around or is off grid a lot.
Satellite Television
Satellites require either a dome or dish as well as a large amount of wiring and are best arranged during the purchase phase. More information on satellite television and streaming TV here. You can also access internet at a motorhome and WiFi by using a satellite dish that is, you can use your mobile phone without costly data. It is important to note that it’s not an inexpensive alternative to consider and isn’t necessarily effective in the more southern regions that include Europe, Morocco and Turkey.
SOG Toilet
A brilliant invention (unless you own the Thetford Porta Potti!) which stops a stinky toilet and reduces the requirement for chemicals. When you open the blade of the toilet (the smooth plastic lid that divides the bowl from the cassette) it creates negative pressure, removing the unpleasant odours from the cassette by letting them escape through the roof or sides of the van, depending on the area where the toilet is. This means that there is no need for costly chemicals, no smells. Best is that it’s ecologically green. We’ve installed this to all of our vans, for us , it’s an essential part of a motorhome.