Buy or rent a motorhome?

Do you already have camping experience and enjoy your motorhome vacation? We always recommend that you first Motorhome for rentfor those who have never been on vacation with a motorhome. For us and our customers, camping is the epitome of freedom, independence and flexibility. But not everyone is made for a vacation in a motorhome. With a Ahorn camper, camping becomes an experience in a class of its own, but it is important to remember that this is not a 4-star package tour. The independence that allows you to wake up in a new place every day also means you can do without hotel buffets and room service. If I want to explore the world in a motorhome, I can't expect an entertainment program and an all-round carefree package. For this reason, we recommend that all new customers and motorhome newcomers discover camping as a form of vacation for themselves. Campers even say that having traveled in a motorhome once is not enough to know which model best suits their own wishes and needs. The rule of thumb is that after four to five motorhome vacations, you can assess which model best suits your family circumstances and individual circumstances.

This key question also plays a major role in purchasing decisions. If you want to travel a lot through Germany and Europe, buying a motorhome is ideal. You can set off spontaneously and view natural spectacles undisturbed. Imagine being able to watch the Northern Lights from your motorhome or marvel at the sunrise by the sea with a cup of coffee in your hand. But if you prefer to travel to distant countries and fly halfway around the world, the motorhome is an impractical means of transportation. Another point that naturally plays a role here is availability. Not everyone can or wants to spend weeks on vacation every year. Here, too, there is a practical rule of thumb from the camper community, which says that you should travel with your motorhome for an average of around four weeks a year to ensure that the investment pays off. However, it is of course also a good idea to use the motorhome for Friends or relatives for rent.

Once you have clarified these central questions, you can start to weigh up the pros and cons of a purchase. One advantage of buying a motorhome is, of course, owning the motorhome itself. If you own something, you can design it according to your wishes and ideas and don't have to take anyone else into consideration. For example, if you need more storage space, you can simply create it. You can also furnish your motorhome however you like and your little home is always ready to go. This is followed by another major advantage of the purchase: Motorhomes and vans are booked up quickly during peak season and therefore need to be requested early. If you have your own motorhome, you are as spontaneous as you want to be. In some years, the public holidays are so well timed that a trip through the whole of Germany is worthwhile with just a few vacation days. Or do you spontaneously cancel an appointment at the weekend and the sun is shining brightly outside? Then you can decide from one moment to the next to treat yourself to a little time out.

Motorhomes are designed for many years of use and are therefore a long-term investment. The technical standards of Ahorn motorhomes are also of such a high standard that they will never get old. And if something does go wrong, our service team is always on hand to help. Especially if you have children, a vacation in a motorhome is usually cheaper than a package tour for three or four people. What's more, the children can continue to use the motorhome when they are of travel age themselves, making it a cross-generational investment.

Once you have decided on a model, you have made a commitment and can no longer switch to a different or new model. When you rent, you naturally have the advantage of always being able to choose the latest model. The latest technical equipment, the finest design and every face edition can be tried out - whereas if you buy a motorhome, you first have to make do with the existing equipment and interior. In addition, if there are any problems with the motorhome, you also have to deal with the repairs yourself or with the TÜV approval and emissions tests. In addition to the running costs, there are also costs for the leak test as well as costs for new LEDs, gas bottles and tires as well as insurance and taxes.

One issue you have to deal with after buying a motorhome is winterizing the vehicle. Space plays a particularly important role here. Not everyone has a large garage or a parking space for a motorhome in the front garden. It is therefore often necessary to find a suitable garage for winter storage that offers space for such a large vehicle. When choosing a parking space, there are a few points to bear in mind to avoid problems with the insurance company. The so-called enclosure can be decisive for the insurance. A chain with a lock is sufficient, but a fence with a gate is of course better. Once you have found such a place to spend the winter, you can consider yourself lucky.