Issue of the day: The motorhome boost

FOLLOWING months of lockdown life, sales and rentals of motorhomes are surging as families desperate for a break opt to socially distance within their own abodes-on-wheels.

Sales are rocketing?

Retailers of motorhomes – or “recreational vehicles/rvs” – are reporting spikes in sales as lockdown-life sparks an innate need to get out of our houses and out of our towns for a holiday and yet, find a way to socially distance while doing so.

Homes – and offices– on wheels? The flexibility of camper vans

to allow you to rest and work if need be are said to be contributing to sales and rental rises amid the pandemic. One firm, Glamperrv, based in Buckinghamshire, reported a 546 per cent surge in new users for its website and a 985% rise in page visits in July 2020, compared to July last year.

The motorhome is historic?

The first motorhome is said to date to 1910 and was basically a cart with folding seats, which debuted at an auto-show at Madison Square Garden. Through the years, the design developed into the most iconic version – the Volkswagen Camper, an icon of the 1950s and 1960s that is associated with the hippy lifestyle.

Nowadays?

Motorhomes can cost anything up to the price of a small home; to rent one in peak season could set you back around £1,500 per week, depending on the model and its luxuriousness.

Some are ultra luxurious?

Lucy Caille, co-founder of Glamperrv, said: “The idea is to create something more akin with a private jet or luxury yacht, than the classic motorhome, which perhaps doesn’t have that same reputation for luxury.” With this in mind, some motorhomes include underfloor heating, flat-screen TVS and games consoles, surround sound systems, fireplaces, reclining chairs and luxury showers.

So RVS are the way to go?

Ms Caille said: “Campervan holidays are the thing this summer and we’ve seen a massive increase in bookings. People can go away but be socially distant and they can work on holiday, so it ticks all the boxes.”

In the US?

In the United States alone, sales of mid-range motorhomes were up 90% in June, compared to the same month last year.

In the UK?

Car Dealer Magazine reported that one campervan dealer sold a month’s worth of stock in the first week back after lockdown, while Auto Trader reported motorhome adverts were up by 17%. British Car Auctions (BCA) held its first exclusively online caravan and motorhome sale in June and most of the 50 vehicles went for in excess of their expected values.

The new normal?

Research by MAYDAY UK Breakdown Cover found 80% of Scottish caravan and motorhome owners plan using their wheels for a break for the next few years. The NC500 reports record numbers and Caravan and Motorhome Club is signing 1,000 more members a week than normal.