A staple of the Australian way of life for decades, motorhomes offer countless Australians a chance to explore the country from coast to coast, drinking in its sprawling landscapes and breathtaking views. As more Australians join the masses of motorhome owners each year, we figured it was time to put together a comprehensive guide to buying and owning a motorhome, so you know exactly what to look for when you’re embarking on your motorhome journey.
Read on and start planning your first trip with Jayco Sydney!
Choosing the Right Motorhome
What’s Your Travel Style?
Every purchase begins by figuring out what’s right for you and your lifestyle. Are you envisioning long, continuous adventures, or shorter, sporadic getaways? Your motorhome’s amenities should support your travel style and enhance your life when you’re on the road, whether that is through its storage capacity, self-sufficiency features, or entertainment options.
Chassis Selection and Drive
The chassis, encompassing the engine and structural frame, is the backbone of every motorhome and determines its on-road performance and safety. Opt for renowned chassis manufacturers such as IVECO, Mercedes, Fiat, and Renault. Your choice between front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, combined with the desired engine power, will influence handling, towing capacity, and cost.
At Jayco Sydney, our Conquest motorhome is available in your choice of a Renault, Fiat, or Mercedes-Benz chassis, while our Optimum motorhome is available in a Mercedes-Benz, Fiat or Iveco chassis.
Which chassis you choose will depend on your desired specs and features, so make sure you review all the options that are available and pick the one that best meets your needs.
Understanding Motorhome Weights & Licence Requirements
One of the most confusing aspects for any new buyer is the number of different terms for weights. Below are the three most crucial:
- Tare Weight: Represents the vehicle’s unladen weight.
- Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): The maximum legal loaded mass.
- Payload: The maximum weight allowance for passengers and goods.
While most motorhomes can be operated under standard car licences, the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of a motorhome will determine which class of licence you need to legally operate it.
- Car License: Up to 4.5 tonnes.
- Light Rigid: Between 4.5 and 8 tonnes.
- Medium Rigid: Above 8 tonnes with a maximum of 2 axles.
At Jayco Sydney, both our Conquest and Optimum motorhomes can be operated with a standard car licence, making it that much easier to get your journey underway!
Amenities and Features
When you’re choosing a motorhome, you want to strike a balance between essentials and luxury. Since it will be your home on the road, certain amenities such as a bed, toilet, shower, fridge and cooking facilities are definitely essential, while others like a TV or dishwasher might be considered ‘nice to have’.
Luckily, with Jayco Sydney, there’s no need to compromise, as all of our motorhomes come equipped with the essentials of life, plus a whole lot of luxurious extras, including instant hot water, rooftop solar, hydraulic levelling systems, and more.
Prioritizing Sleep
At the end of a long day’s travel, you’ll want somewhere comfortable to rest your head at night. When deciding on sleeping arrangements, consider not only the duration and nature of your travels but also whether you’ll have anyone joining you. Will you be fine with just a master bed, or do you want extra berths to accommodate friends and family?
Many motorhomes will feature another bed above the cabin for this exact purpose, and while most models are designed for two occupants, it is possible to find 4-berth motorhomes and 6-berth motorhomes.
At Jayco Sydney, both the Optimum and Conquest motorhomes are available in a 2-berth or 4-berth configuration, so you can bring your friends or your kids on the road and share in the memories together.
The All-Important Test Drive
Even if you’ve got your eye on a particular make and model of motorhome, your mind won’t be made up until you’ve given it a test drive. This is going to need more than just a few laps around the block though, and you’ll want to test drive several models on several different occasions, to really get a feel for how they drive and compare to each other.
Ultimately, the perfect motorhome will be one that is comfortable, easy to drive and has all the features and amenities you need to enjoy your time on the road to the full.
Jayco Sydney: Your Ultimate Motorhome Destination
At Jayco Sydney, our dedicated team is here to guide you through every step of the buying process and match you with the perfect motorhome. With an expansive inventory of new and used motorhomes, complemented by competitive financing options, we are the only place to stop if you’re searching for motorhomes in Sydney.
So let us help you as you embark on your motorhome journey and get ready to experience Australia like never before with Jayco Sydney!
