Looking to purchase a small motorhome or campervan? Want to know the most effective small motorhome with a rest room or bathe, or what’s the simplest small motorhome to drive? Here are the professionals and cons of small campers, finest small motorhomes to contemplate AND essential errors to keep away from!
Don’t neglect to obtain your FREE motorhome shopping for guidelines that can assist you get the most effective camper for YOU.
*We work exhausting to make this the most effective motorhome weblog and street journey web site attainable, stuffed with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so when you purchase by hyperlinks on this web site we could earn a commission- at no additional price to you. All opinions stay our personal.
If you discover this put up helpful, you possibly can additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to get pleasure from it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)
Small Motorhomes and Campervans- the issue
Buying a campervan or motorhome could be daunting. After all, kind ‘Motorhome for sale’ into Google proper now and there are 135,000 outcomes!
How on earth are you supposed to decide on which dimension or kind of small motorhome or campervan is finest for you? And heck- what even IS a small motorhome? Just how small is ‘small’?
Conversely, how huge a motorhome is TOO huge? Should you purchase an RV? What dimension motorhome works finest in Europe? Should you select a van over or underneath 3.5 tonnes?
Here’s a information to the primary sorts of motorhomes and campervans accessible, together with some helpful ideas that can assist you select the most effective one for you.
Small Motorhomes- what’s a small motorhome?
There isn’t any definitive reply on what are small or mini motorhomes. Many Americans, used to a lot larger automobiles and Class A RVs, have a look at our 6.8m class c motorhome and assume that’s small!
In the UK and Europe, any camper underneath 6m is taken into account small because it suits into a typical parking house (by length- not at all times by width!)
Some of the most effective small motorhomes even have low profiles- that means they don’t have above-the-cab beds. Or no ‘hump’- if that makes it simpler to know.
Pros and Cons of small motorhomes
There are a number of upsides to having a smaller car, whether or not it’s a motorhome or a camper van:
- Cheaper to buy- extra inexpensive motorhome
- Ferry and tunny prices are cheaper
- Easier to park
- Easier to drive
- Cheaper to run and probably higher gasoline effectivity
- Often cheaper to insure
- Easier to retailer when not in use
The downsides to small campers are:
- Less inside house and front room
- Less cupboard space
- Usually solely 2 seatbelts and berths
- Less house on the roof for photo voltaic panels
- Can have much less max weight/ payload restrict
- You will in all probability kill your associate and find yourself in jail. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
What sorts of small Motorhomes are there?
Unsurprisingly, there are LOADS of several types of small motorhomes in the marketplace.
Small and tiny motorhomes are one of the vital standard classes that individuals shopping for a camper search for; folks use them rather than a automotive or want them sufficiently small to suit on a driveway.
The principal classes of small (and medium) motorhomes are:
Micro motorhomes
Micro motorhomes are lovable. These tiny automobiles are basically a small van or folks service with a pop-top roof. They could be designed for 2 folks… however I believe you’d should REALLY just like the particular person (and each be fairly small!) to make it work for any size of time.
Many of the fashions are designed with just one particular person in thoughts.
The Romahome is a well-liked instance of a micro-motorhome. I doubt I’d be capable to final in there very lengthy, however when you’re shorter than me, and need a small motorhome which may double as a automotive, this may be an incredible resolution for you.
Are there small motorhomes with a rest room?
One of the primary issues my husband requested after we have been renting a motorhome underneath 6m was “Does it have a bathroom?”
We just lately employed a Bailey Alliance 59-2 motorhome (5.9m lengthy) and have been gobsmacked to expertise how spacious it felt. We had 4 adults and a canine inside most evenings and it didn’t really feel cramped in any respect. It solely has sleeping room and seatbelts for 2, however there was loads of house for a pair (with or with out pets!)
So I wish to reassure anybody else involved that yes- many motorhomes underneath 6m have rest room facilities- many also have a lavatory with a separate bathe!
Of course, some solely have a moist room or ‘wet bath’, and a few solely have a porta-potti- so do your analysis rigorously!
Best Small motorhome underneath 6m?
There are LOADS of different compact motorhomes underneath 6m. It’s unimaginable to listing all of them, however some finest compact motorhomes and standard producers are listed within the part under.
I’ve additionally completed a number of motorhome and campervan opinions, focussing on vans underneath 6m in size. Here’s one of the vital latest:
We hope you discovered the video helpful. If you probably did, we’d like it if you adopted us on Youtube. New movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe are launched weekly.
Who makes the most effective small motorhomes to purchase in UK?
Honestly, just about each huge motorhome producer has not less than one mannequin in its vary which is sub 6m and is available for purchase within the UK.
Some to take a look at (in no explicit order) are:
- Hymer
- Bailey
- Swift
- Chausson
- Adria
- Autotrail
How a lot are small motorhomes (UK)?
Oh, it is a powerful question- as a result of it’s all down as to if you’re shopping for a brand new motorhome or used, how excessive the mileage is, situation, ex-hire and so forth.
We purchased our Swift 496 motorhome as an ex-hire and acquired a unbelievable deal on it- however we did have to repair a number of errors which had been induced. It all relies on how a lot work you might be keen/ capable of do.
Price particulars on a number of model new small motorhomes are within the video above.
Best Small camper vans
Small or mini campervans are one other standard alternative. Many folks use them rather than a automotive, which saves cash in all types of the way. Again, the talk rages- what constitutes a ‘small campervan’ or only a campervan? For me, I believe the defining level for campers is a rest room.
Many van conversions now have a ‘proper’ lavatory; I recommend that any which don’t are ‘small campers’. The hottest fashions of small campervans are the VWs… though their newest mannequin has a rest room, so I suppose that’s now an enormous campervan… And don’t get confused by pop-up campers, which aren’t campervans in any respect!
Man, that is getting complicated! Let’s regroup with a pic of a cute canine (I might love to coach our canine Mac to do that!)
Moving on…
Panel Van Conversions – Best Small Campervans
Many of the larger campervans are also referred to as panel van conversions– and boy are they getting high-spec! We checked out a number of of those vans on the newest NEC present and it opened our eyes to a totally new listing of prospects. We actually cherished a few of them.
For me, these are the most effective sorts of van for ‘vanlife’ when you don’t need a motorhome or conventional camper. They could be customised, have room for sufficient storage (important when you’re going to reside onboard for a good size of time) and have sufficient room for one or two folks (and probably a canine) to have some epic adventures!
I want I’d identified vanlife was a factor in my 20s… I’d have gone all around the world in one among these!
Best Campervan fashions (with bathe and bathroom)
A toilet is a deal-breaker for me, which is why I’ll by no means be cool sufficient to have a small campervan like an previous VW. Headroom is one other drawback; at practically 6ft I need to have the ability to arise in my residence!
Many panel van campers have bogs and headroom. Some even had a hard and fast bed- which is mind-blowing for me! How do they match a lot right into a tiny house??
Who makes massive or small campervans (accessible in UK?)
Vanlife is rising in popularity- that means there are an increasing number of designs coming onto the market. It’s exhausting to listing the most effective designers, as a result of SO MANY folks take a panel van shell and create a customized inside.
Some of the designs are AMAZING, however they’re customized jobs or small companies who solely do a few renovations a 12 months.
Seriously, it’s in all probability unimaginable to listing all of them.
To get you began, listed here are the larger producers for the most effective small campervans within the UK. It’s certainly not exhaustive, however hopefully, it provides you a spot to begin wanting
- Swift Motorhomes (yep, for campervans)
- Autotrail
- VW
- Adria
- WildAx
- Autocampers
- Danbury
Review of a number of the finest small campers for vanlife
Before we purchased our new small motorhome, we have been significantly contemplating downsizing to a panel van for long-term vanlife, for plenty of causes.
We would LOVE to design and construct our personal, however time constraints may be an element (together with means!!) So we’d in all probability purchase one pre-fitted.
Watch our assessment of some standard massive and small campervans within the video under:
We hope you discovered the video helpful. If you probably did, we’d like it if you adopted us on Youtube. New movies with ideas for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe are launched weekly.
UK Tax on brand-new motorhomes and campervans
One factor to contemplate is the brand new Government tax on brand-new leisure automobiles, which incorporates motorhomes and campervans. If you’re shopping for a brand new motorhome or camper, concentrate on any additional tax it’s good to pay, even on small vans.
Small Motorhome camping- is it attainable to go wild tenting in a small camper?
Absolutely! We had a blast within the sub-6m motorhome we borrowed for the weekend. We took it wild tenting in Wales with completely no preparation and little or no additional tools.
We additionally spent a few nights on a campsite and didn’t really feel claustrophobic within the slightest, even after 5 days.
Low profile coach-built motorhomes
Of course, you will get a low-profile motorhome underneath 6m, however you too can get them a lot longer- our final camper was 7.9m and 4.2 tonnes! Read concerning the execs and cons of a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes
We choose a low-profile motorhome when touring Europe in a motorhome as something over 3.1m excessive is classed as a truck, with the corresponding (a lot larger) toll charges!
There are a whole bunch of layouts (I’ve not formally counted, however when you ever go to the NEC Caravan and Motorhome present, you’ll see how many differing types there are- and people are simply the brand new fashions!)
Motorhomes with over-cab beds
These are the extra ‘traditional’ motorhomes, with an additional mattress over the cab. I’ve not seen many of those underneath 6m- in truth, I’m struggling to consider a single producer who makes a number of the finest compact motorhomes with over-cab beds! If of 1, let me know!
Our first motorhome was an over-cab mattress and we thought it will be the proper format for us and our daughter. Sadly, it didn’t work out- she hated being over the cab.
However, many individuals love it- which is the rationale there are such a lot of several types of motorhome in the marketplace – making it straightforward to search out the most effective small motorhome for you!
A-class motorhomes
A category motorhomes imply the cab is lots bigger- we at all times assume it seems like a spaceship or a 747 cockpit! The entrance window goes straight up and down, as a substitute of being slanted again like a conventional motorhome.
We’ve by no means owned an A-class, however associates of ours swear by them. It’s solely down to non-public desire when deciding on the most effective compact motorhome for you.
Really lengthy motorhomes want an additional axle for stability and to assist with motorhome weight distribution. These are those with two wheels shut collectively on the again! You solely get tag axle motorhomes over 6m lengthy.
Types of RV – American type motorhomes
We’re starting to see an increasing number of RVs in Europe. It’s enjoyable to see them, however I’m unsure how sensible they’re, particularly within the UK the place the roads are so slender!
Still, we have been camped up subsequent to at least one on the Kiel canal in Germany– they have been having a grand previous time. They even had a bit automotive which went within the boot!!
There are a number of sorts of RV- Class A, B, and C.
Class A RVs are the HUGE ones you consider, usually with slide-out residing areas and different cool gizmos.
Class B motorhomes and RVs are, surprisingly, camper vans and van conversions. These are the smallest kind of RV and make a number of the finest compact motorhomes. There’s additionally Class B+, that are simply larger campervans!
Class C motorhomes and RVs are just like UK motorhomes in dimension and format. They usually don’t have slide outs and could be top-of-the-line small motorhomes to purchase.
Fifth wheels
We don’t see many of those in Europe, though we did see one in France, being pulled by an precise truck, towing a caravan! It was amazing- I want I’d been capable of take a photograph of top-of-the-line small campervans on the market.
In America (and Canada!) they tow these with huge vehicles; we’ve at all times thought that will be fairly cool!
Unimog and journey automobiles
My husband is determined for one among these- a Unimog or only a 4×4 van. Maybe we’ll get one for after we discover South America! He’d fortunately convert one among these- however they’re loopy costly!!
Build your personal Motorcaravan
If all else fails, you possibly can at all times attempt your hand at constructing your personal campervan or motorhome. We’ve rebuilt a number of boats, so I’ve at all times stated I wouldn’t do this- however truthfully, the concept is kind of interesting!
It could be so good to see all of it come collectively and be capable to lay it out simply the way in which we wish it. Still, it’s good to take into account getting it correctly inspected- that is essential for insurance coverage and registering with the DVLA.
I don’t know all the main points, having by no means completed it, however this wonderful e book is a good device to information you thru it.
Frequnently Asked Questions about small motorhomes
What is the smallest dimension motorhome?
The Romahome is among the smallest motorhomes you could find within the UK and Europe. If you’re primarily based within the US, Class B motorhomes (that are the identical as camper vans) are the smallest.
What dimension motorhome is best to drive?
Don’t be intimidated by driving a motorhome– I’ve pushed my 6.8m motorhome far and wide! But frequent sense dictates that the smaller a van is, the better it will likely be to drive- and park!
What is the most effective second hand motorhome?
Ha- that is at all times subject of debate with a bunch of motorhome bloggers. I defer to Practical Motorhome journal, who just lately ran this survey.
In their opinion: “Hymer gained the most effective pre-owned motorhome producer, attaining a rating of 90.1%. Bailey was subsequent with a powerful rating of 88%. Roller Team got here third (87%), whereas Auto-Sleepers and Auto-Trail achieved 86.9% and 86.3% respectively.
What is the smallest campervan with rest room?
One of the smallest is the Romahome, however you’ll must go larger to search out one with a correct lavatory/ washroom space.
Final Thoughts
Of course, now it’s good to take this data and begin deciding what’s the most effective motorhome or finest small campervan for you
If you’re contemplating shopping for your first motorhome or camper, this beneficial listing will information you thru it so that you don’t neglect something.
Let us know what you find yourself with- we love listening to about your adventures as you select the most effective small motorhome for you.
Next steps
If you’d like some extra assist determining what car to get (and purchase the RIGHT one for you), seize a replica of our Complete Beginners information to Motorhome Buying right here– a course of movies, downloadable eBook and worksheets that can assist you make the BEST determination for YOU!
More issues that can assist you transfer forwards:
FREE Checklist
