What's the difference between a campervan and a motorhome?
Written by Daily Fix - Published 08-Aug-2022, last updated 18-Aug-2022
A campervan or a motorhome, which one is better and what are the key differences between them? In this article we address these questions and help you decide whether to buy a campervan or a motorhome.
tldr; Motorhomes tend to be larger than campervans, and are usually built into truck/bus/large van style bodies. Campervans tend to be smaller than motorhomes, simpler, and more conventional van-sized.
Size matters. Campervans are smaller than motorhomes
Not strictly true!
Ask someone to imagine a campervan and they are likely to picture the classic campervan, a vintage split window VW campervan or a more contemporary descendant of the iconic vehicle. The VW brand name is synonymous with campervans and VW campers date back to the 1940s.
And ask the same person to picture a motorhome and they will probably think of a huge American-style recreational vehicles (RV) or the type of huge caravan on wheels you see driving around UK roads.
However, in reality, it's not quite a simple as that. You can get huge campervans and small motorhomes these days.
Small stealth campervans are the perfect campervan for some people, while others prefer larger models for their mobile home.
Campervans don't have toilets
Again, not strictly true!
There's usualy more free space in motorhomes, which means more room in general and even space for individual rooms, including toilets and showers.
Compare this with campervans which are usually smaller vans with basic facilities that don't normally have separate rooms (though some of the larger campervans do have space for rooms), so your toilet facilities are non-existent or a traditional porta-potty / cassette toilet.
So motorhomes can offer the "luxury" of your own private toilet. Especially useful if you are wild-camping and more desirable to some than sharing toilet facilities on campsites. Though you may prefer to "do your business" away from the van!
Living space is better in a motorhome
In general, motorhomes are larger than campervans, so the living area in a motorhome will be larger than in a campervan - though we've already said that this isn't always the case.
Motorhomes, often coach built or based on a bus chassis, usually have more separation between the driving cabin, living quarters, lounge area and kitchen facilities - and motorhomes will probably have a separate toilet and maybe even a shower cubicle. Larger motorhomes will also have individual bedrooms.
Motorhomes usually have more separation between the driving cabin, living quarters, lounge area and kitchen facilities - and motorhomes will probably have a separate toilet and maybe even a shower cubicle. And larger motorhomes will also have individual bedrooms.
Campervans are a different story. They will probably have a small kitchen (self-build campers may not even have a kitchen, prioritarising a large bed and lots of storage over cooking facilities), may only sleep a couple of people and have much less storage than a motorhome.
So staying in a motorhome is more akin to staying in a static caravan with all the benefits that extra space gives you. If you want your accommodation to be comfortable, you may prefer a motorhome.
Motorhomes can be more like a house on wheels. After you've parked up, you can simply take your hands off the steering wheel, climb out of the driving cab, get into the back of your motorhome and make yourself a tea or coffee without having to move seats or make other changes to the configuration of the vehicle which can sometimes be the case with campervans.
And one significant different between motorhomes and campervans comes at night. A motorhome will usually have a bed that's made up and ready to use straight away - useful when you've come in from a night at the local pub!
Campervans, on the other hand, usually have beds which are contructed by folding down the rear seats, usually in a rock-n-roll type of arrangement, which then need to be made up with your choice of sheets, duvets, pillows etc. Not quite so great whan that night at the pub was well lubruicated!
Driving a campervan is easier than driving a motorhome
Larger motorhomes provide some advantages when you park up, the extra living space for instance, but as a consequence, they can make driving a little harder.
Most people are used to driving cars and small vans, a huge motorhome can be a much more daunting drive and not for people who don't like to drive big vehicles. And some motorhomes require a separate permission on your driving license while campervans can usually be driven on your normal license.
Motorhomes are not always allowed on campsites
Another instance when campervans may be better that motorhomes is when choosing your campsite.
While many campsites happily serve both campervans and motorhomes, some smaller sites may simply not have the space for your motorhome. So if you prefer small, quirky and seasonal sites. you may find that more are available to you as a campervan owner.
Credit: Pexels
Campervans are cheaper than motorhomes
Usually!
For the most part, campervans are smaller, have better fuel economy and have fewer amenities compared to motorhomes. So if you're looking for a more economical way of experiencing the world on the road, a campervan is a more affordable option. Except when it's not!
While your average campervan will cost less than your average motorhome, if your idea of a campervan is a classic VW Camper or a high-end modern camervan (which can cost in excess of £70,000) then a new campervan can cost as much as a motorhome.
Smaller, lighter campervans can also be cheaper to run than a motorhome as they use considerably less fuel than larger vehicles and other operating costs are alsop likely to be lower.
So which is better - a campervan or a motorhome?
Which is better depends on your own individual circumstances, requirements and use case. The perfect campervan for one person is just not the motor vehicle for next person.
If price is an important factor, then a campervan is probably going to be cheaper to get into than a motorhome. Though models such as the Volkswagen California can cost over £60,000.
Used Hymer motorhomes and Swift motorhomes can be purchased from £15,000 for a high-mileage older vehicle.
If you desire more space, the comforts of home, or want to sleep more than 4 people, then a motorhome is probably where you should be spending your money.
If you want to use your vehicle as your every day driver, then picture parking a campervan at your local Tesco or in the pay-and-display car park, compared with parking a motorhome. In fact, with height restrictions you may not even be able to get a motorhome into the car park.
So the decision is yours. Motorhome escapes or more low profile campervan adventures? What is going to be your means of travel? Campervan, or motorhome?