What size motorhome do my wife and I need for a three month trip?

Question

My wife and I are going to live in New Zealand for three months a year so we can be near our grandchildren. We've been thinking of buying a motorhome there so we could be near them a bit, travel around a bit and have a place of our own to stay in between. We've never considered the motorhome lifestyle before.

What size motorhome would be appropriate? One rated for 4 people? 6 people? or one of those giant Greyhound bus types?

Answer 1

i'd get one for 4 people but get slide outs cuz it makes it that much bigger; and also get a decent size bathroom/shower

Answer 2

Well if your gonna spend the $...I would but a fifth wheel that attaches to a truck, and get around like that. You can always use the truck afterwards. Most people but a motorhome with plans of monthly excursions, only to find that it spends most of the time in the driveway or in storage.

The fifth wheel at least give you some utilty usage from a regualr motorhome, and they are alot cheaper as well.

Answer 3

That depends on two things:

1. How much are you willing to spend.

and

2. How well do you and your wife get along together?

I'm kidding.

Seriously though, think about how much space you're used to living in, a lot or a little, how much stuff you'll have with you and go from there.

And the price.

Good luck.

Answer 4

According to my brother and his wife, who normally get on quite well, you will need a ruddy great big one, in fact it wont be quite big enough at the end of three months !

Hope you have a wonderful time, I envy you very much, New Zealand is a wonderful place to visit, the roads are brilliantly clear and unhurried.   That is a wonderful idea, I have grand children in Ohio, USA, and spend a fair time over there, might consider that  myself !   Cheers.

Answer 5

depends on how stir crazy you'll get.   You can buy a small

one if you don't think you will kill each other and how much

time do you actually plan on sitting in it on a daily basis

Answer 6

Depending on how well you and your wife cohabitate, the type i had, was a Rally Jamboree, by dodge. And was quite comfortable for my girl and I for 6 months.

Answer 7

A pull-along pop-up camper or pickup camper should work fine and would be a lot more fun and adventure, more economical and more environmentally friendly.

Answer 8

get what you can afford.  I have a friend that has a tiny one and many of us have enjoyed spending time in it.  Even though it is cramped at times.  Go to a dealer and check out the different sizes and styles.  I don't think you will need one of those huge "greyhounds". unless that is what you really want.

Answer 9

bug big one!

Answer 10

I know nothing about motorhomes, but I do know about NZ having grown up there, and driven the whole country several times!  The roads there are not like they are here, which you are probably aware of if you have traveled there before.  What I mean is that you don't have double lanes in each direction as a minimum as you do here in the USA on most major routes, so that may be an influencing factor in the size of vehicle.  I've often wondered how on earth anyone maneuvers one of those big monsters around some of those corners!  Then again, maybe I've just lost my sense of adventure!  Good luck whatever you decide, and enjoy your three months a year in New Zealand!

Answer 11

It depends on how much you like your wife???LOL JUST KIDDING!!!  you definitely  want one that will accommodate the two plus grandchildren,, I would go for the largest that you will be comfortable driving , A couple feet makes a HUGE  difference in space and also check out the ones that expands{ that open on the sides} ,,,usually in the living area, Good Luck,, I wish I could spend time like that with my beautiful grandchildren!!!

Answer 12

A BIG ONE

Answer 13

The one rated for 6,you need enough space to have a lttle bit of a beak from each other

Have fun

Answer 14

Depends a lot on how much stuff you wanna take with, and where you will be going. I'd lean heavily toward a class A with a bed that you don't have to climb up to, but they eat gas and require some confidence to handle. These days RVs have a lot of gadgets, so make sure if you rent or lease one, that you have all the user manuals to go with. You will invariably need them. Even Class A's come in lots of different sizes, different floor plans, engine sizes, features and makes. Shop around. Rent one for a weekend and tootle around, to get an idea of how you actually would use it.

Answer 15

We have a 25' tow along.  After two weeks, we're in each other's way all the time.  You'll need something larger, but not bus, (too expensive).  You'll also need a collapsible garage, you know, those canvas ones, to store stuff in.  You can accumulate alot in 3 months.  You can leave the garage at your grandchildren's house while traveling.  Make sure you have extra waste storage too.  The on board tanks don't hold much.

Answer 16

I've done a lot of caravaning and campervanning big and small. It depends on your finances of course and if you aren't keeping it to long can you re sell with out to much of a loss. Can you find a bargain that doesn't need anything doing to it. Of course the bigger the better when you are not moving around but the NewZealand roads can be narrow and the price of fuel is not cheap . Maybe you can buy one from a dealer with knowing he will re buy it from you. All these things need thinking about . I don't think you will be wanting to be in it during the winter. NewZealand can be miserable in the wet and cold but glorious in the dry warm days. Good luck

Answer 17

Remember that anything over 3500 kilograms gross laden weight requires a heavy traffic license to drive. It would pay, for you own piece of mind, for both of you to have this license.

Added 24 hours later;

Sorry, I've always thought the cutoff point was 3.5 tonnes, but today I was reading the latest journal from the NZ Motor Caravan Association, and I see the figure has moved up to 4.5 tonnes.

You may wish to check out the NZMCA site, it's good for buying, selling and all sorts of advice.

Driver T