Fighting the rising costs of Motorhoming

Aug. 19, 2008 - PRLog -- With the cost of petrol and diesel in the UK rising to an all time high, many motorhome owners are considering how they can cut their ‘motorhoming’ costs.

Motorhome insurance specialists Caravan Guard say that simple changes like reducing weight and increasing tyre pressure can make a huge difference to your fuel economy, and save you money every time you travel.

“Unless you’re driving across the Nevada Desert then there’s really no reason to travel with a full tank of water, and if you haven’t used something in the last twelve months then is it really necessary to bring along? Just remember the spare tyre of course…”, said Peter Wilby, motorhome owner and Managing Director of Caravan Guard.

As well as packing light and making sure tyres are pumped up to the manufacturers recommended pressure, Caravan Guard say driving smoothly can make a real impact - stamping down on the accelerator is a sure fire way to burn up fuel quickly. For a motorhome the most economical speed to stick to is between 55 and 60 Mph, every 5mph over 60mph will result in a 10% loss in fuel economy, which over long distances can make a huge difference.

For those dreaded uphill struggles make sure you’re in the right gear, not necessarily the lowest, as a rough guide for a standard diesel motorhome aim to keep the revs between 2,000-2,250rpm.

Providing it’s set to an appropriate speed, having a cruise control on your motorhome is a great tool for keeping a steady speed on flat roads - but don’t use it if you’re driving through hilly areas, as the engine will struggle to maintain the set speed.

Also, try to fill up at night as you get slightly more fuel for your money at lower temperatures, or look for busy petrol stations during the day as when fuel is fresh it’s more efficient than if it’s been sat in the pumps for a long time.

Peter had this to add ‘Making sure your engine is in good condition is vital for any of these tips to work, get it checked by a motorhome engine specialist, particularly if you’re running an older petrol model.’

There are some fantastic places to visit without travelling thousands of miles and you may be thinking about cutting down the distance of your trips to save money on fuel, but did you know lower mileage could save you money on your motorhome insurance too? Caravan Guard say you could cut the cost of your motorhome insurance by ensuring you only pay for the cover you need.

Caravan Guard statistics show that the average motorhome annual mileage is 4500 miles a year. So make sure you’ve set your annual mileage on your insurance policy correctly otherwise you may be paying too much. Caravan Guard ask motorhome owners their expected mileage at the beginning and renewal of a policy to ensure they don’t pay too much, and give discounts if annual mileage is set below 7000 miles a year.

Caravan Guard stats also show that over 50% of their motorhome policy holders don’t venture beyond the British Isles. If you tend to stick to British trips, check if your policy includes European cover and if it does, ask to take it off in exchange for a saving. Caravan Guard make European cover optional to allow owners the choice whether to pay for European cover or not dependent on their needs. If you do change your mind and decide to venture abroad you can add on European cover mid policy.


For more information call Caravan Guard on 08450 71 71 71 or visit http://www.caravanguard.co.uk/motorhome_insurance/index.php

# # #

About Caravan Guard. Caravan Guard Limited are touring caravan and motorhome insurance specialists in the UK.