Hello everyone , we have been members for some years but have lurked out of sight, always other things to do.
We are Jeremy and Jan (JnJ) and have had motorhomes for years, our claim to fame was buying a motorhome in New Zealand and then returning for about 4 months every year to tour around NZ going to some wonderfully remote places and making many great friends. Anybody seriously thinking of doing similar is welcome to contact us for tips.
First ones would be Do it!, second Join the NZMCA, their lists of places to stay was invaluable, third don't go for less than 5 weeks. Fourth buy rather than rent, rental vans seem to have too many problems and its cheaper to buy then sell on, who knows you might want to go out again next year. Avoid retailers look on the nzmca.org site and on Trade me (a kiwi ebay) or consider a motorhome swap, doesn't have to be concurrent and you are swapping with a motorhomer and both parties will be saving thousands. There are sites on the net that specialise in this, that's how we started it all. Insurance isn't a problem with most, but not all insurers, get good cover, recovery and agree all ground rules, who pays for what, running costs per day and per mile so neither is out of pocket but ensure that it is not regarded as a rental.
Our motorhome "Bertie" was a converted Hino rear engined 7m bus. Made in 1985 he served us well for 9 years, he had 380000Km on the clock and after an engine rebuild he was just over the half million when we sold. Don't think car its a commercial vehicle. We never thought we would go out so many times but in truth we had to go every year as he survived well for 8 months under a cover in a paddock but for 20 months I rather doubted it.
Now we have just returned from 2 months in Portugal and Spain our van is a Ducatto based Adria Twin, rather narrow but we can't get a wider van in to where its parked and get the wheelie bin out. It has a permanent proper bed an essential for us and is a joy to drive, quick and economical. Planning further places to go.
JnJ
We are Jeremy and Jan (JnJ) and have had motorhomes for years, our claim to fame was buying a motorhome in New Zealand and then returning for about 4 months every year to tour around NZ going to some wonderfully remote places and making many great friends. Anybody seriously thinking of doing similar is welcome to contact us for tips.
First ones would be Do it!, second Join the NZMCA, their lists of places to stay was invaluable, third don't go for less than 5 weeks. Fourth buy rather than rent, rental vans seem to have too many problems and its cheaper to buy then sell on, who knows you might want to go out again next year. Avoid retailers look on the nzmca.org site and on Trade me (a kiwi ebay) or consider a motorhome swap, doesn't have to be concurrent and you are swapping with a motorhomer and both parties will be saving thousands. There are sites on the net that specialise in this, that's how we started it all. Insurance isn't a problem with most, but not all insurers, get good cover, recovery and agree all ground rules, who pays for what, running costs per day and per mile so neither is out of pocket but ensure that it is not regarded as a rental.
Our motorhome "Bertie" was a converted Hino rear engined 7m bus. Made in 1985 he served us well for 9 years, he had 380000Km on the clock and after an engine rebuild he was just over the half million when we sold. Don't think car its a commercial vehicle. We never thought we would go out so many times but in truth we had to go every year as he survived well for 8 months under a cover in a paddock but for 20 months I rather doubted it.
Now we have just returned from 2 months in Portugal and Spain our van is a Ducatto based Adria Twin, rather narrow but we can't get a wider van in to where its parked and get the wheelie bin out. It has a permanent proper bed an essential for us and is a joy to drive, quick and economical. Planning further places to go.
JnJ
