Beginners Guide

A Beginner’s Guide to Using Your Motorhome

Welcome to the wonderful world of motorhoming — where adventure is simply a question of “Where shall we go next?”

Let’s dive in and get you feeling confident and excited for the road ahead!

What Exactly Is a Motorhome?

Think of a motorhome as a comfortable little home on wheels.  Most can be driven on a standard driving licence,  and every motorhome has two key sides:

• The Automotive Side – everything that makes it drive

• The Habitation Side – everything that makes it a home

Inside, you’ll find all the essentials to make your travels cosy and enjoyable: electricity, heating, running hot and cold water, toilets, lounge areas and comfy beds. While layouts vary from model to model, the core amenities stay very much the same.

Different Types of Motorhomes

At Southern Motorhome Centre, we stock three main styles:

• Van Conversions – retains the original factory van body, cleverly transformed inside.
  
  

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• Coachbuilts – keeps the original cab and chassis, with a purpose-built habitation area added on.

• A-Class – fully coach-built from the ground up, offering the most seamless, luxury feel.
  

No matter the exterior shape or size, each motorhome includes a lounge, bed, kitchen and proper washroom with a fitted toilet and shower.

A Quick Tour of the Key Features

Control Panels

You’ll have a main control panel for lights, water pump, electric power and tank level checks. A second panel will run your heating and hot water systems.

Electricity

• 230v Mains Hook-Up: ideal when you’re on a campsite.

• 12v Leisure Battery: powers the habitation area when you’re off-grid.

Gas (LPG)

Gas fuels your heating, hot water, cooker and often the fridge when you’re not plugged in.

Water Systems

Your motorhome carries its own water supply via three tanks:

• Fresh Water Tank: filled from an external hose.

• Waste Water Tank: collects used water from sinks and shower.

• Hot Water Tank/Boiler: heats fresh water for taps and shower.

A water pump sends hot and cold water wherever you need it - taps, shower and toilet flush.

Toilet

All motorhomes include a fixed cassette toilet with its own flush system.  The cassette is easy to remove and empty at designated points.

Lounge & Beds

Each layout includes a daytime living area that may convert into a bed, or you may have a dedicated sleeping space ready to dive into each night.

Kitchen

Every motorhome includes at least a fridge, sink and hob.  Depending on the model, you may also have an oven, grill, microwave or even an external BBQ gas point.

Safety Features

Your motorhome comes fitted with:

• 12v fuses

• 230v RCD protection

• Gas isolation valves

• Smoke alarm

• CO alarm

On-Grid & Off-Grid Travel

Hooked up to mains? You’ll have full 230v power.
Prefer to roam wild? Your 12v leisure battery and gas supply keep everything running smoothly.

Winterising

When temperatures drop, it’s best practice to drain all water from the system to prevent frost damage.  That means emptying the fresh and waste tanks and opening the boiler’s dump valve to release any remaining water.

And Don’t Worry — We’ll Show You Everything!

When you collect your new motorhome from us, we’ll walk you through every feature, system and switch so you’re completely comfortable before you hit the open road.

Happy travels from all of us here at Southern Motorhome Centre  - your adventure starts now!