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Motorhome features like layout, berths and storage are all important considerations when looking to buy an RV, but elements like the chassis and construction are critical too, as they are key to a vehicle’s overall quality.

The chassis is crucial when it comes to on-road performance and safety, while the construction will determine the vehicle’s weight, durability, thermal properties and ease of repair and maintenance.

Writer Bill Savidan reviews the HYMER DuoMobil 634 – the popular motorhome built for two – and finds it over-delivers on comfort and room.

He is impressed by its clever use of space, with a drop down main bed over the cab allowing for a spacious 6-seat U-shaped lounge at the rear. This large lounge area is ideal for putting your feet up and enjoying the views, or for entertaining.

Part of the thrill of owning an RV is being able to explore New Zealand whenever you like – simply pack and go, knowing your transport and accommodation is ready when you are. For the ultimate in freedom, a certified self-contained RV opens up a whole new world of places to stay that the average traveller never gets to experience. So, whether you’re keen to see where the open road takes you, or want to revisit favourite locations – make sure you choose the right RV for freedom camping.

Freedom camping has had a lot of publicity in recent years, some of it negative with regards to those who haven’t followed the rules and have caused issues in some popular tourist areas. However, when done properly, freedom camping is a fantastic way to make the most of your RV and its capabilities while enjoying New Zealand’s beautiful outdoors.

The idea of being away from the sort of services provided at campgrounds and holiday parks can be daunting for some new to life on the road, but freedom camping is hugely popular within New Zealand’s motorhoming community. There are excellent guides and advice available through organisations like the NZMCA. Ask your dealer if they have a members’ club for sharing travel experiences and advice too.

After all, getting away from it all is what your RV is designed to do and it really does add an extra feeling of freedom to your travels.

Looking for a gift with a difference or dreaming of buying a motorhome for yourself? SmartRV is open in the lead-up to Christmas and over the summer holidays with our friendly teams on site in Auckland and Christchurch ready to help with advice and recommendations.

You could choose your perfect motorhome, or why not look at buying a new motorhome accessory or feature as a gift for someone else?

SmartRV’s Sales Centres will be open Monday to Saturday throughout December and January - see below for the opening hours over this period:

Plants add a homely touch to any space – they instantly lift spirits and help to clean the air. If you’re a plant-lover there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy their company when you’re in your motorhome too. There’s a huge trend for indoor plants now, with more than ever readily available at garden centres. While you’ll need to leave the larger kentia palms behind, there are several plants that are well suited to the travelling life. Here’s our pick of the best plants to take on the road.

Incinerating toilets, super light chassis and voice controls were just some of the innovations on show at Caravan Salon Düsseldorf (CSD), the largest annual European trade fair for motorhomes and caravans. A team from Wilderness, the exclusive distributors of Bürstner, Carado and HYMER in New Zealand, attend the event in Germany each year for an insight into industry trends and developments. Wilderness Marketing Director, Mary Hamilton, outlines her picks from CSD 2018 of what to watch out for in the world of motorhomes.

Writer Bill Savidan compares the Bürstner Nexxo T690G and T685 as they arrive freshly refurbished from their short time on the Wilderness Motorhome Rental fleet

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In his review for Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations magazine, he finds that while identical “up front”, the motorhomes’ differing bed and bathroom layouts will appeal to different buyers.

Whether you prefer the twin beds and combined bathroom of the Nexxo T690G, or the island bed and separate shower and toilet of the Nexxo T685, Bill also notes the practical kitchen and dining spaces in both and the high standard of their preparation for sale.

Writer Malcolm Street takes the Bürstner Argos Time A650 for a spin to see how it has stood up to the rigours of rental life as part of the Wilderness Motorhomes rental fleet.

In his review for iMotorhome, he finds the six-berth motorhome presents a great deal for a family looking for adventure on the road. Malcolm Street noted its practical layout and great use of storage space and was also impressed by how comprehensively the RV has been refurbished for sale.

Bürstner’s popular Lyseo Harmony Line motorhomes are described as “three room apartments” and writer Bill Savidan agrees that these German-made vehicles have a comfortable and spacious feel, thanks to flat floors throughout and 205cm of headroom.

In his review of the Lyseo T734 for Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations magazine, he also highlights the stylish and functional interior, ease of driving, and the ability to increase space in the garage and the bathroom when desired.

If you’re hoping to see SmartRV at the Hamilton Motorhome Show held at Mystery Creek in September, we wanted to let you know that we won’t be exhibiting there, but our Auckland Sales Centre (near Auckland Airport) will be open the whole weekend of the show (21-23 September) to welcome those keen to see our range of motorhome for sale.

We made the decision several years ago to support just one major North Island motorhome show each year and that’s the Covi Supershow held in Auckland in March. We also have our own special Oktoberfest event coming up on Saturday 13 October, so save the date and we’ll share more details soon.

So, although we won’t see you in Hamilton, our Auckland Sales Centre will be open right across that weekend, so do pop in for a coffee and a chat and to walk through our range of HYMER, Bürstner and Carado motorhomes. We look forward to seeing you!

For Wilma and Grant McGregor, it’s the little luxuries that make their HYMER Starline B680 such a pleasure to spend time in. “It’s a bit like a yacht,” says Grant. “There’s a lot of woodgrain inside and the quality is amazing. We took it for our first drive and it was like driving a luxury tour coach.”

Motorhome writer Bill Savidan took the four-berth Bürstner Ixeo I 729 out on the road and was very impressed with what he discovered.

In his review for Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations magazine, he noted its stylish integrated exterior and the use of a softer colour palette to create a feeling of light and space inside.

Savidan also highlighted the clever use of storage, the flat Thermo Floor throughout to keep cold at bay, and the compact but well-equipped kitchen that is ideal for Kiwi cooks on the road.