.png)
What's changed the most about touring in a motorhome since you started?
Motorhome touring has changed enormously over the decades, but one thing has remained remarkably constant: the desire to get out on the open road, discover somewhere new and enjoy the freedom of taking your accommodation with you.
The biggest changes haven't just been in the motorhomes themselves. The way we plan journeys, find overnight stops, keep in touch, power our equipment and even choose where we're allowed to drive has evolved.
So, let's take a look back at how motorhome touring used to be compared with how it is today. And perhaps ask an important question along the way: Have all these changes actually made touring better?
1. From paper maps to sat-nav and smartphones
Remember unfolding a road atlas across the dashboard, trying to work out which road to take while your passenger attempted to navigate?
In the days before sat-navs and smartphones, planning a motorhome trip often meant a combination of road atlases, guidebooks, handwritten notes and recommendations from friends. If you found a particularly good overnight stop, you might write it down or mark it on a map to remember for next time.
Today, we have Google Maps, dedicated motorhome navigation systems, route-planning websites and apps that help us find campsites, aires, service points and places of interest.
We can check reviews, look at photographs, compare facilities and sometimes even see whether a site has availability before setting off.
It's certainly easier to research a journey, although technology isn't always right. A sat-nav doesn't necessarily understand the height, width or length of your motorhome, and following the wrong route can turn a relaxing day out into an interesting reversing exercise!
.png)
2. Motorhomes have become considerably more comfortable
Older motorhomes and campervans could be fairly basic. Depending on the age and specification, you might have had a small kitchen, simple seating that converted into a bed, limited storage and basic heating.
That doesn't mean they weren't enjoyable. Many owners happily toured for years in vehicles that would seem rather modest by today's standards.
By the 1980s, campervan equipment was improving, with hot-water systems, mains electricity, fitted fridges and full cookers becoming increasingly common.
Fast-forward to modern motorhomes and the difference can be remarkable.
Depending on the model and specification, today's vehicles can include:
Fixed beds and spacious washrooms.
Separate showers and toilets.
Central heating and hot water.
Large fridges, ovens and sophisticated kitchens.
Reversing cameras and driver assistance systems.
Touchscreen controls and modern entertainment systems.
Improved insulation, lighting and storage.
Some modern motorhomes offer a level of comfort that would have seemed extraordinary to earlier generations of tourers.
But there is a trade-off. More equipment can mean more weight, more things to maintain and potentially more complicated repairs.
3. Finding somewhere to stay has changed
In the past, finding somewhere to stop overnight often involved guidebooks, campsite directories, telephone calls and a bit of local knowledge.
You might arrive somewhere, look for a suitable site and hope there was a pitch available. Recommendations from other motorhomers were particularly valuable.
Today, there are websites, apps, online booking systems and social media groups dedicated to helping people find places to stay.
We can search for:
Traditional campsites.
Motorhome stopovers and aires.
Farm and pub stopovers.
Certified and privately run sites.
Places with electric hook-up.
Dog-friendly locations.
Overnight parking options.
There is also a much bigger online community sharing information about places to visit and stay.
However, the popularity of motorhome touring has also brought more pressure on some destinations. Popular coastal locations and beauty spots can become busy, and responsible parking and respecting local restrictions have become increasingly important.
The availability of information has improved, but it doesn't mean every place is suitable or that overnight parking is automatically permitted.
.png)
4. Keeping in touch – even when we're miles from anywhere
There was a time when heading away in a motorhome could mean being difficult to contact.
A mobile phone was not always part of the touring kit, and internet access was certainly not something you could take for granted.
Today, many of us travel with smartphones, tablets, mobile Wi-Fi routers and sometimes satellite internet.
We can check emails, share photographs, make video calls, watch television, work remotely and keep up with social media while travelling.
Satellite internet services have also opened up new possibilities for people who want connectivity in more remote locations, although coverage, equipment, power requirements and subscription costs all need to be considered.
For some, this is a fantastic improvement. For others, the whole point of going away is to escape the phone and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet!
5. Power and off-grid touring
How many of us remember carefully rationing the leisure battery?
In older motorhomes, electrical capacity could be limited. Lighting, water pumps and perhaps a television were among the main demands, and spending several days away from an electric hook-up required a little planning.
Modern touring has introduced a much wider choice of power options.
Solar panels, larger leisure batteries, lithium battery technology, inverters and portable power stations can all help extend the time a motorhome can spend away from mains electricity.
Some modern vehicles are also being supplied with more advanced electrical systems as standard. For example, manufacturers are increasingly offering lithium leisure battery options.
This has made off-grid touring more practical for many owners, although the amount of independence you achieve still depends on your battery capacity, solar input, weather, energy use and the equipment fitted.
The ability to run more appliances is useful, but it is worth remembering that electricity doesn't magically appear just because we've parked somewhere scenic!
6. The motorhome community has moved online
One of the biggest changes has arguably been the way motorhome owners communicate with one another.
In the past, much of the information was shared face to face at campsites, rallies, motorhome shows and club meetings. You might strike up a conversation with the owners parked next door and come away with a recommendation for somewhere to visit.
That still happens, of course, but social media has transformed the scale of those conversations.
Facebook groups, online forums, YouTube channels, blogs and Discord communities allow thousands of people to share experiences, ask questions, offer advice and post photographs from their travels.
Someone can ask about a route in Scotland in the morning and receive recommendations from people who have travelled it only recently.
The downside is that not everything posted online is accurate. Advice can be out of date, local restrictions can change and what works for one motorhome may not work for another.
The best communities are those where people share useful information, respect different opinions and help newcomers learn.
7. Touring has become more complicated in some respects
Although technology and equipment have made many things easier, motorhome owners now have additional considerations when planning a trip.
Low-emission and Clean Air Zones, vehicle weight limits, height restrictions, parking regulations and local overnight-stopping rules can all affect where we travel.
For example, Clean Air Zones operate in several English cities, and Scotland has its own Low Emission Zones. Whether a particular motorhome is affected depends on how the vehicle is classified, its emissions standard and the rules applying in that location.
For overseas touring, owners also need to consider matters such as driving regulations, insurance, breakdown cover, tolls and the requirements for travelling with pets.
The freedom to tour is still there, but a little more preparation can make a big difference.
8. The vehicles themselves have changed
Older motorhomes were often based on commercial vehicles with relatively basic driving equipment.
Modern base vehicles have generally become more refined, with improved engines, better braking systems, more driver assistance technology and greater comfort.
Depending on the vehicle, today's features may include:
Cruise control.
Reversing cameras and parking sensors.
Air conditioning.
Improved cab seating.
Touchscreen multimedia systems.
Lane assistance and automatic emergency braking.
More refined gearboxes and driving systems.
But modern vehicles can also be more complicated to repair, and electronic systems can introduce faults that would have been unfamiliar to owners of older motorhomes.
There is still plenty to be said for a well-maintained older vehicle, particularly for owners who understand its quirks and know how to look after it.
9. Has the cost of touring changed?
The cost of motorhome touring has always been something owners have had to consider.
Fuel, insurance, servicing, vehicle purchase prices and campsite fees all affect the budget. Today, there are also costs associated with some apps, subscriptions, satellite internet, upgraded electrical systems and newer technology.
At the same time, the range of places to stay gives owners more choice. Some prefer full-service campsites, while others look for lower-cost stopovers, aires or suitable places where overnight parking is permitted.
There isn't one right way to tour. Some people enjoy a fully serviced pitch with every facility, while others are happiest finding a quiet spot and making the most of their own facilities.
The important thing is finding a touring style that suits your budget and your expectations.
10. Have we lost some of the adventure?
This is perhaps the most interesting question.
With all the technology available today, we can plan almost every part of a journey before leaving home. We can research the route, check the reviews, view the destination, book the pitch and find out what there is to do when we arrive.
But there was something special about setting off with a rough plan and discovering places along the way.
Perhaps you found a beautiful beach because you took a wrong turning. Maybe you stayed an extra night somewhere because you liked it so much. Or perhaps a conversation with another motorhomer led you to a place you would never have found in a guidebook.
Technology has made touring easier in many ways, but it doesn't have to take away the sense of adventure.
We can still put the phone down, take the scenic route and see where the road leads.
.png)
So, what's changed the most since you started motorhome touring?
Looking back, the biggest transformation might not be the motorhomes themselves. It could be the way we access information, communicate with other owners and plan our travels.
We have more choice, more comfort and more technology than ever before. But the basic attraction remains the same: the freedom to travel, explore new places and enjoy life at our own pace.
And perhaps the best thing about motorhome touring is that there is no single right way to do it.
Whether you started touring in a basic campervan decades ago or bought your first modern motorhome last year, everyone has a story to tell.
We'd love to hear from you!
What's changed the most about motorhome touring since you started?
Are motorhomes better equipped, or have they become unnecessarily complicated?
Is finding somewhere to stay easier or harder than it used to be?
Has technology improved touring, or do we rely on it too much?
Do you miss the days of paper maps and discovering places by chance?
What's the biggest change you've noticed over the years?
Share your experiences in the comments. It would be great to hear from both the long-standing motorhomers and those who have only recently joined the touring community.
After all, some of the best advice comes from people who have been out there doing it for years!
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
