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There are few topics that get motorhomers more animated than the question of whether owning a motorhome with an offside habitation door is a good idea or not. When European motorhomes were first imported into New Zealand around 2010, many motorhomers were concerned that having the habitation door on the offside was an accident waiting to happen. More than ten years later, these motorhomes are now mainstream and the safety concerns seem to have lessened.

In this article, we take a look at why motorhomes with offside doors are imported, address the safety and legality issues and weigh up the pros and cons of an offside entry door.

Motorhome ownership gives you the fantastic opportunity to take to the road any time. Understanding motorhome weight and its implications is key to ensuring that each motorhome trip you take is as safe as it is enjoyable.

We’ve noticed that most first time buyers rarely consider motorhome weight. In our experience, their focus is on the layout and the more superficial aspects of the vehicle. However, buyers that return to purchase their second or third motorhome almost always have thought about the factors that influence how they can use their motorhome including weight. That’s usually because they have discovered that their first motorhome didn’t have sufficient payload to carry all the extras that they want to take with them.

We’ve created this article to help you understand why motorhome weight matters and how you can enjoy your motorhome while keeping its weight under the legal limits. In this article, we’ll explain weight terminology, help you understand how to factor weight into your motorhome purchase decision, give you tips on how to avoid overloading your motorhome, and show you how to increase your payload or carrying capacity.

Motorhome owners and would-be owners converged on the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland for the 2021 Covi Supershow this past weekend. The Supershow, an annual event held in March, is billed as New Zealand’s biggest motorhome show. Enthusiasts from all over the North Island and some from further afield gathered in Auckland to view the latest and greatest in recreational vehicles.

There's only a few days to go until Covi Motorhome Caravan and Outdoor SuperShow 2021! We can't wait to catch up with you there and help you find your dream motorhome.

This year the Covi SuperShow will be held from 19 - 21 March at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane. There will be a vast range of motorhomes, campervans and caravans and accessories on display. There's also fantastic prizes to be won and seminars to attend on topics like buying a motorhome and motorhoming in Australia.

At the SmartRV booth (251), we'll be displaying 11 of our most popular motorhomes for you to explore from premium German brands Carado and Bürstner. Our friendly team is there to help guide you on a great option that suits your lifestyle and budget.

We're also offering attendees an exclusive 10% off all motorhome rental bookings through our sister company Wilderness Motorhomes if they book by 31 March 2021. We have no restrictions on trip length and pick up from your choice of Auckland or Christchurch. Drop by our booth to claim your code!

Apart from the purchase of a house, for many people the purchase a motorhome is likely to be their most expensive outlay. For this reason alone, it’s good to have an understanding of the purchase process, one that usually goes from “just looking” to actually signing on the dotted line. 

Although buying a car is a similar procedure, there are some differences to consider.

It’s not often I get the time to conduct a long-term, in-depth review of a motorhome. But with the country open to travelling once again, my wife Jill and I managed to secure a Wilderness motorhome (a Bürstner Lyseo IT590) from Wilderness Motorhome Rentals and head away for a 19-day trip from Auckland to the South Island and back.

Deciding to buy an RV is the first step towards a life of exciting adventures and freedom on the road. Many factors will influence the price of a motorhome and it’s important to understand these

For many motorhome buyers, checking warranty cover is at the bottom of the checklist after details like engine, chassis, or interior touches. 

Bürstner’s Lyseo Harmony Line picked up another win at the 2020 German Innovation Awards - fitting recognition for a motorhome manufacturer whose innovation has led the pack for decades.

Looking for your first motorhome or want to upgrade? Come and see SmartRV’s exclusive range of value brand Carado, popular Bürstner and premium HYMER vehicles at the Covi SuperShow in Auckland in March.

A week touring New Zealand in our Carado T449 sold iMotorhome reviewer Richard Robertson on intelligent European design philosophy and dismantled many preconceptions he had about layout, kitchens and right-side entry doors.

Motorhome writer Malcolm Street finds the new Bürstner Lyseo IT745 offers a clever combination of extra living space during the day and superb comfort at night.