Blog

The closure of New Zealand’s borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 has precipitated a huge upheaval in the market. Since New Zealanders haven’t been able to indulge their love of international travel, they have taken to touring their own backyard in record numbers. Many Kiwis have decided to put the money they had intended to spend on international travel into the purchase of a new motorhome. This has caused unprecedented demand and put the industry under considerable stress.

Finding the right motorhome for your adventures can be tricky with all the different brands, specifications, features and layouts to choose from. In this article we’re touching on German vs New Zealand made motorhomes and taking a closer look at some of their key differences.

Europe is the world’s biggest market for motorhomes, but not every European motorhome is made to the same high standards. Within Europe, several German brands have built a global reputation for innovative design and exceptional comfort and reliability. The Erwin Hymer Group alone accounted for 26% of motorhome and caravan sales in Europe in 2019/20. They’re proven market leaders with a host of industry awards under their belt. Their brands Carado, Bürstner and HYMER are for sale in New Zealand at Wilderness. 



New Zealand manufacturers primarily produce motorhomes for the rental market, but there are several companies, such as TrailLite and the ALM Group, that make off-the-shelf motorhomes for the retail market. In addition to supplying its rental brands, Action Motorhomes also builds for the retail market. TrailLite has been in business for over 60 years and Action Motorhomes can draw on over 70 years of experience. 

Here’s what you need to know to work out whether a German or New Zealand made motorhome better suits your lifestyle. 

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.