The Motorhome Touring Handbook

Thinking of buying a motorhome, but don’t know where to start?
Planning a first trip abroad in your motorhome?
Want to know how to tour Europe in a motorhome, RV or camper van?
Dreaming of a long-term tour but not sure if it’s possible these days?

All the answers are here, in The Motorhome Touring Handbook.

 
 
 
 
  Excellent rating  
 Based on 453 reviews 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
Lots of useful information A well written book full of useful, practical, information and tips. Much better than the rather preachy “Motorhome Bible”. Some of the photos have the wrong aspect ratio on the Kindle, but this didn’t really detract from the book much, so I still gave it 4 stars. With decent photos, it would have got 5.
  
  
 
 JSA 
 
11. January, 2025.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
Great practical advice Helps to understand thd issues of having a motor home. Super helpfull to
  
  
 
 carol 
 
28. December, 2024.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
A must read book for first timers A good read with lots of information and tips for first time owners of campervan / motor homes. Very useful
  
  
 
 bookworm 
 
20. November, 2024.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
A handy book for the adventure minded reader. Good old fashioned way of saying and doing something that I personally forgot about or didn’t know existed. Very interesting and helpful throughout.
  
  
 
 James Perks 
 
23. October, 2024.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
Comprehensive, Informative and Essential Reading for Motorhome Owners As a very new Motorhome owner, I would recommend this book, it takes you on a complete journey of Motorhome ownership, from why you should buy one, how to choose the right one for you all the way through to taking it abroad for a year long adventure.The book is stacked out with practical, honest, humorous and heartfelt advice from the two authors, who clearly are very experienced Motorhomers, but are prepared to share their mishaps and errors, in the hope that you do not repeat their mistakes.The book is laid out in a logical, thoughtful schedule with detail and photographs that will guide you through what can be, for the newbie Motorhome owner (me), a tsunami of things to learn, terminology to understand and even etiquette to be observed.I haven't even used my Motorhome on a site yet, but feel confident of arriving at a site, setting up and enjoying the good life all thanks to this book. Can't recommend it highly enough.
  
  
 
 Mr P. 
 
29. November, 2023.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
Buy this book Well . . . what can I say . . . !! Although in our 60s and nomadic virgins, my wife and I have had lots of static caravan holidays with a couple of generations of offspring and enjoyed them immensely. We decided to buy a motorhome (delivery delayed by COVID until next month) and see more of the UK and Europe before we pop our clogs, without said offspring cramping our style. We thought carefully about the vehicle that would suit us and are perfectly happy with the choice we made; a 7.5 metre 4 berth motorhome, that gives us plenty of room to carry our ancient bones in comfort and a degree of luxury. Next step was to buy a book that would advise me of the requirements for mobile life as well as any pitfalls; but which one? The title of this book drew me, and the synopsis suggested it could be what I was looking for. Having now read the tomb, I am absolutely delighted I bought it. An easy and delightful read, packed full of useful information without going into excessive detail (it does refer you on to additional information, should you so wish). It did not change my mind about the motorhome we bought; indeed it confirmed the choice was correct for us. The information provided will prove invaluable in the coming years. I even filled up when I read about Charlie. Thank you Julie and Jason.
  
  
 
 Kindle Customer 
 
15. November, 2021.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
Buying a motorhome or van conversion? You need this book 2023 review update: Now got our campervan and just bought the latest 2023 edition of this book to gain advice on the ever growing considerations re ULEZ and other clean air zones in Europe. Our previous copy was pre-Brexit too. Can't recommend this book highly enough. It provides invaluable packing lists but advice on basics like how to fill it up with water, empty the tanks, use aires abroad, etc. We'd camped for years but it still enabled us to get up to speed with a campervan, well prepared and stress free. More seasoned motorhome/camper owners might well find the up to date EU aspects above helpful.Original review: We are considering buying a van conversion (ie. a panel van converted with a shower/toilet inside) and this book is an absolutely perfect introduction for us or a prospective motorhome owner. We are a year into our research for what will be for most of us a really major purchase, so we have some subject knowledge but we need more advice to help us try and buy the right vehicle first time round. Written by a couple who've gone through this themselves, the book covers an enormous amount of vital detail, even to the point of recommended stocking/packing lists and budgets for a trip away. It is written in a honest style, refreshingly self published rather than being a corporately edited volume, and is an easy enjoyable read about what could be a rather dry subject otherwise. It has very helpful advice when visiting most European or near Europe countries, maybe not a new experience for many, but now to be done in a larger or much bigger vehicle. We don't have a pet to take away, but for those that do there's invaluable information here too.So highly recommended if you are thinking of or are new to a motorhome or van converstion, a must have purchase really, that certainly will be repeatedly useful over many years.
  
  
 
 SimonR 
 
2. November, 2019.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 Verified 
Guides you through the minefield of motorhome selection and use With several years experience under their belts Jason and Julie Buckley have condensed much of their knowledge in this easy to read handbook. There's no finger-wagging 'you must do it this day's just gentle explanations of how things have worked out for them in a range of situations which you, we, may come across. There are lots of hyperlinks, in the Kindle version, out to other information sources out on the web to back up their narratives so look on this handbook as a solid basis for developing your knowledge of touring with a motorhome. As pet owners we are particularly interested in the various sections dealing with Charlie (their dog) as we will have to find ways to transport/feed/medicate/wash and dry/import/export our dog too. There are good sections on running costs for a motorhome, mini-snapshots of many European countries, lists of things to pack and take with you, suggestions for types of tours, even a section of various possible year long routes around Europe - all based on first hand experience. All in all a fairly comprehensive handbook for the novice motorhomer, although I am sure that experienced motorhomers will also be able to pick up some good tips from this book.
  
  
 
 KennyO 
 
12. October, 2018.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

Included in Practical Motorhome’s 21 Must Read Books – August 2020

Available from Amazon as a paperback, hardback or eBook

Why did we write The Motorhome Touring Handbook?

We’ve enjoyed over a decade of short campervan trips, and long term (multi-year, full-timing) motorhome touring in the UK, Europe and North Africa, and we’ve learned a lot doing it! We’ve made plenty of mistakes, and have tried over the years to use this blog to document practical tips, costs, tricks and advice for anyone wanting to do something similar.

As our blog has grown over the years though, we’ve found it increasingly difficult to track down the nuggets of wisdom we’ve picked up over time. It’s easy to see why so many folks get in touch with questions, they (and we) can’t find the information on here. So, we’ve put all those nuggets and our experiences in one place. We wrote the book as a helping hand to anyone starting their motorhome journey or wanting to expand their adventures to somewhere new.

What’s Inside?

The Motorhome Touring Handbook provides practical advice for anyone who wants to tour the UK and continental Europe by campervan, RV or motorhome, gleaned from years of hands-on touring experience. It is available as an ebook or a paperback (with black and white images to keep the price down) from Amazon. The book is split into three parts:

Part One: Your First Motorhome

This part gets you up to speed on all the confusing terms used in the motorhome world. It gives guidance for choosing and buying your first van, takes you through the process of a first trip in the UK and provides a ‘survival guide’ introducing all the systems in a motorhome: fresh water, grey water, black water (the toilet), 12V electrical system, gas, water and air heating and so on. 

Part Two: Your First Time Abroad in a Motorhome

Heading out of the UK is a nerve-wracking experience for many motorhomers, us included. We remember what it was like (and still is like!) to be planning a trip abroad, and this part of the book takes you through the process of sorting your paperwork out, packing your van, booking and taking a ferry or the Eurotunnel, driving on the right, finding places to stay, buying food and fuel and eventually coming back home, triumphant and ready for your next tour!

Part Three: Your First Long-Term Tour

And finally, this is the big one. Should you fancy a months-long tour of continental Europe, this part’s for you. It covers the kinds of topics this level of touring throws up: selling or renting out your house, handling post, long-term living budgets, dealing with breakdowns abroad, crossing borders, travelling with a pet and so on. A brief overview’s provided for a number of European countries, along with some sample year-long tour routes, that comply with the 90 in 180 day Schengen rules, to fire up your imagination.

You can see much more of what is available in the book if you use the ‘look inside’ feature on Amazon.

Where to Find the Handbook

The Motorhome Touring Handbook is only available from Amazon. Click here if you are based in the UK, otherwise please search for it on your local Amazon site.

The Perfect Companion Guide – The 200

If you are seeking inspiration for your next motorhome adventure, look no further than The 200. The 200 guides you across 34 countries throughout Europe and North Africa, showcasing 200 of the most memorable, fun, varied, interesting and inspirational places we’ve stayed, in over a decade’s campervan and motorhome touring, as well as offering advice on how to find your own amazing places to stay.

We’ve been asked many times: ‘what’s been your favourite place?’ Each time we struggle to answer the question, simply because we have so many favourites! We’ve managed to choose 200 of them (it was a challenge to whittle them down to that!) and filled this book with them to inspire your motorhome or campervan adventures, hoping to show you the fantastic types of places available to you.

We’ve also written several other books about motorhoming and financial freedom, you can click on the image below to find more information about them.