What Size Motorhome or Campervan Do You Need?

Booking a motorhome, campervan, station wagon or 4WD camper is a wonderful way to vacation and explore Australia on your own terms. You get to park and sleep wherever you want, prepare your own meals, and store enough luggage to travel comfortably for as long as you’d like.

But to really enjoy your trip, you are going to need to hire a vehicle which is going to offer you the right amount of space and amenities. Choosing a vehicle which is too small will mean you are staying in cramped quarters. A vehicle which is too large on the other hand may be more expensive and cumbersome to drive than you would like. This guide will help you to pick the right size rental for your perfect vacation.

Ask Yourself These Questions

A great way to start figuring out what size vehicle you need is to ask yourself some questions to ascertain your needs.

1. How many people will be travelling with you, and are any of them comfortable sleeping outside?

Check how many berths are available for the vehicles you are considering. Make sure that there are enough to accommodate all members of your party. If some people do not mind sleeping outside, you might be able to get away with a smaller vehicle that includes a tent you can set up outdoors for extra space (many 4WD campers actually have a tent you can expand on top). Otherwise, if you have a large party, you probably will need to go with a larger vehicle.

2. How much freedom do you want to prepare and store your own food?

Kitchen space and features can vary a good deal between the different types of vehicles. If for example you choose a station wagon, you may have no cooking or food storage features. With a low-top caravan, you might get a sink and a fridge, but nothing more. A high-top campervan may throw in a microwave, and a full-size motorhome may add an oven and a stovetop.

Keep in mind that even if you go with a station wagon, there may still be ways to prepare some of your own food. You can even cook if you stay in locations which include a fire pit or grill. But obviously you have a lot more versatility with a motorhome kitchen.

3. How much luggage will you be bringing?

For a short trip with minimal luggage, a station wagon or 4WD camper may offer you all the space you need for your bags. If you will be travelling for a couple weeks though, or you have a big party, trying to squeeze in all that luggage into such a small space could make for a cramped trip.

Go with a high-top campervan or a full-size motorhome if you have a lot of bags and suitcases to bring. This will give you access to more storage compartments, making it easy to store and access luggage without intruding on living space.

4. How long will you be travelling?

This goes back to the luggage question. If you are going to be packing for a month on the road, you are probably going to want to bring a lot more than you would for a week.

But it is also relevant to other concerns as well. Budgeting is even more important for a longer trip than it is for a short getaway. That means that having a full kitchen to prepare your own food each day may be worth it to save hundreds of dollars in expenses.

Similarly, having the space for everyone to spread out and relax without feeling confined becomes even more essential when you are going to be living together in relatively tight quarters over a longer duration. So for extended trips, consider larger motorhomes.

5. How much privacy does your party need?

Often, families travelling think about berths in a literal sense when picking a vehicle to hire, but beyond bed space, they give little thought to other space-related needs. Particularly if you are travelling with older children, you should put an emphasis on privacy.

This may mean choosing a motorhome which has the berths situated further apart, or which offers screens to section off the space as you need it. It might also mean staying at campgrounds which offer private showers and toilets.

6. Are you looking for entertainment features?

You probably plan to spend as much time as possible exploring outside and enjoying the sights. But what will you be doing in the evenings? If you are looking for a vehicle which includes entertainment features like a flat-screen TV and a DVD or Blu-ray player, you will probably have more luck with full-size motorhomes than smaller rentals.

7. Do you have a hard time driving larger vehicles?

It is easy to make the assumption that larger is always better, since bigger vehicles obviously have more space and features. But there are some drawbacks which come with size as well, particularly where handling is concerned.

You can certainly get used to driving a large motorhome, but there is no denying it is a challenge compared to driving a station wagon or another more compact vehicle. Plus, there are some roads in Australia which may not be accessible to you if your vehicle exceeds the dimensions which are permitted. To drive safely and legally on those roads, you need something smaller.

8. How much space do you need to feel comfortable?

Finally, consider the intrinsic value of space itself. If you tend to be somewhat claustrophobic, you may simply feel more at ease in a large campervan than you would in vehicle which is less spacious.

Some of Your Rental Options Include:

Now that you have had a chance to weigh your needs and priorities when hiring a vehicle for a trip, here are some of the different options available with a little information about the features for each.

Station Wagons

A station wagon makes for a fantastic budget rental, and is ideal for a solo traveller or two people travelling together. If you do not mind packing and setting up tents, you can travel with a small group in a station wagon as well.

You will find that a station wagon, while cozy, offers a surprising amount of storage space. The biggest downside is that there is nothing resembling a kitchen. You can pack a cooler however along with cooking implements to use at grills or fire pits.

4WD Campers

Another relatively compact vehicle you can hire for your trip is a 4WD camper. With this type of vehicle, you can go on off-road adventures. These too are best for 1-2 travellers, but may be all right for small groups if you make arrangements for pitching tents.

If you like the idea of hiring a 4WD camper, but you need some extra space, go with one of the models that includes a pop-up roof or built-in expandable tent. This can provide you with extra berths and/or storage space.

Want to be able to store food overnight? You can usually find a camper with a fridge if you are willing to shop around. You may even find one which manages to fit in a shower and a toilet.

Low Top Campervans

Campervans come in a couple of varieties. Those with lower roofs and less space are known as “low top” models. Usually they can sleep up to 2 passengers. The kitchen includes the basics, a sink and a small refrigerator, but generally doesn’t offer more than that. You may need to crouch while you are in the campervan since the roof is so low. The upshot is that it saves you money over a high top campervan.

High Top Campervans

For more spacious accommodations, look to high top campervans. With a high top campervan, you can stand fully upright under the higher roof. These models can sleep as many as five people. While a high top rental costs more, it may include a microwave along with the sink and fridge as well as a full-sized dinette.

Motorhomes

Finally, the most spacious vehicles you can rent are motorhomes, which may feature as many as six berths. The kitchen offers everything you need to cook whatever you want, and there is generally a bathroom with a toilet and shower. You get the maximum in terms of storage and living space.

Not Sure What You Need? Give Us a Call

If you still do not know what size rental to hire for your vacation in Australia, our friendly customer service team would be glad to chat with you about your needs and help you to pick the most suitable type of vehicle for your trip. Just give us a call at
02 8488 6893, and we will be happy to assist you.