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Freedom camping is one of the most peaceful experiences you can have while owning a recreational vehicle. But if you want to camp away from commercial campgrounds, your motorhome almost always needs to be a certified self-contained vehicle.

In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about certified self-containment, including the current standard and most recent amendments to the regulations. We also look at the different types of self-contained certification, how to get your motorhome certified and share some maintenance tips and checks to help your RV stay compliant.

Some friendly RV salespeople prefer to paint pictures of you watching the sunset by your new vehicle, holding a refreshing beverage — rather than tell you about the challenges of motorhome ownership.

It’s important to take your time gathering the information you need and gaining a clearer view of motorhome life before signing the paperwork and taking off on your adventures.

In this entertaining and informative blog, we reveal our top ten questions to ask a motorhome dealer before parting ways with your hard-earned cash. Find out how much work a motorhome lifestyle requires, when the RV last had a water tightness test and whether you can check the roof.

Carado has shattered the notion that quality comes at a premium — and has become the market leader and best-selling motorhome manufacturer across continental Europe.

The brand’s motorhomes go to market at more affordable prices yet retain the German heritage and exceptional quality associated with the Erwin Hymer Group (EHG). This combo of value, engineering expertise and Teutonic designa style often associated with German design principles and aesthetics has made Carado a favourite choice for many private buyers and rental companies alike.

In this blog, we discuss why Carado is your best motorhome choice if you’re a budget-conscious buyer. We look at its competitive pricing, value for money, emphasis on essential features, practical design choices, long term value, after sales warranties and support, upgrade opportunities and awards.

Remember being told when you were younger that buying a secondhand car with high mileage was a bad idea? That may still be the case for pre-owned cars — but it doesn’t ring true for used motorhomes.

A recreational vehicle with a few miles on the clock can actually be a smart investment. In this blog, we explain how — by discussing what’s considered to be a high mileage motorhome, the advantages of buying one and the challenges of owning one.

We also look at factors that will mitigate your high mileage concerns, what to consider when evaluating and inspecting a high mileage RV — and how to finance one. Finally, we offer some tips when browsing used motorhomes with high mileage.

Let’s flip the script and uncover some myth busting truths about high mileage motorhomes that may save you a bundle and get you on the fast road to camping freedom.

For Craig and Sue Pine, the transition from a recreational maritime lifestyle to travelling in a motorhome has been easy and enjoyable. The hardest part of the exercise was finding a motorhome that would meet their expectations.

After a long search through the secondhand market, they found that a new Bürstner Lyseo TD736 Harmony Line fulfilled all their needs — as Craig outlines in this owner story.

As the point of contact between the road surface and your motorhome driving along it, tyres are the very foundation of vehicle safety. Although highly durable, they’ll need replacing at regular intervals during the lifetime of your RV.

But which tyres should you choose for your motorhome when the original factory ones wear out?

In this blog, we discuss when to replace your motorhome tyres and what to consider when choosing new ones. We also highlight some essential tips about tyre codes, load indices, tyre load capacity and speed ratings — to help you select the appropriate tyres for your motorhome.

Motorhome water damage can lead to costly repairs, disrupt your travel plans and decrease the value of your investment. It’s perhaps the most preventable wear and tear on a recreational vehicle. All it takes is scheduling regular checks and maintenance.

Off-roading in New Zealand can mean anything from extreme off-the-beaten track adventuring for hunting and fishing expeditions to simply going down a wild and winding coastal track to catch a wave — or fish — at a remote beach. Peta Stavelli of Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations magazine looks at the hows and whys of remote RV travel.

The story of Jane Goodey and Ali Mossalem’s search for a motorhome has plenty of sliding-door moments. You know the ones — those times in life we all encounter, when what could have been wasn’t, and even the best-laid plans can go astray. 

In this case, the retired Christchurch couple bought a new motorhome when they had initially set out to purchase a secondhand one. Their new purchase wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision but rather a series of those life experiences when things just didn’t go to plan.

Now that Ali and Jane are proud owners of a brand new Bürstner Lyseo TD590, they couldn’t be happier that things didn’t work out as they had originally envisioned.

The more you understand your motorhome tyres and how to maintain them, the safer your RV adventures will be — and the longer your tyres will last.

As a motorhome owner, it’s important to routinely check the air pressure in your vehicle’s tyres for safety, fuel efficiency and prolonging their lifespan.

In this blog, we discuss how motorhome tyres differ from car tyres, why having the correct tyre pressure is important and how to calculate the right tyre pressure. We also cover inflating your motorhome tyres and fitting a tyre pressure monitoring system.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you’ll know how important it is to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine every night. But what about when you’re away from home — on the road or in the backcountry on motorhome adventures?

In this blog, we explain how a CPAP machine can help you sleep in your motorhome when you’re hooked up to mains power and while you’re off the grid. We look at what you need to run a CPAP machine and how much power it may use.

We also review some commonly held beliefs about the extra equipment you need, like an inverter, solar panel and portable backup battery — and determine whether they stack up.

Finally, we outline how to set up a CPAP machine in your motorhome and offer some top tips for using one during your RV travels.

French automotive magnate, André Citroën, was a man always on the lookout for a better way to make cars. Back in 1933, he asked his engineers to investigate what was then considered a radical concept — front wheel drive.

Their report came back highly positive, citing reduced manufacturing costs, more efficient use of space, greater freedom of design and better handling through a lower centre of gravity.