How hard is it to drive a motorhome?

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Hello! We are thinking of hiring a motorhome for a few days in April and road trip up to Scotland (from the northwest). Driving on motorways will obviously be fine but all I can envisage is small country roads when we’re making our way to the various campsites where we might stop overnight - at least, most of the campsites I usually drive to in my car are always down winding country lanes. Is it difficult for a first timer? And reversing it etc?

What size Motorhome? We have a 7.5 metre length MH, there’s the width, overhang, increased stopping distance. Width is biggest issue, we have a sat nav that can programme our vehicle width in to work out the route. We have a reversing camera, wing mirrors are huge, very good. You just have to be a confident driver. Plus be aware that some campsites can’t take motorhomes and unless you are on a totally flat site you will have to drive up on to chocks.

I did six months in Europe in mine, over the Alps, up Italian hill top villages and squeezing through French villages. It had absolutely no bells and whistles, reversing cameras etc and the biggest issue was not having a suitable satnav. Reversing down narrow mountain roads I should never have climbed was not easy. Apart from that, fine!

width is the main issue. I recommend getting or borrowing a lorry sat nav and setting it to 7.5t so you avoid the majority of the really tight roads until you get really close to the campsite. We have had three motorhomes in the last 12yrs and all of them have sustained some kind of tree rash or wing mirror damage.

If you're not confident reversing a considerable distance and neatly into a passing place on a single track road, then please just don't even consider it.

This. We hired a camper van (so large van/smaller end of motor home) in Menorca.

I can't get my head around driving on the other side of the road or the vehicle so I don't do it. Fortunately DP is a confident and experienced driver of all sorts of vehicles.

We met a bus at a bridge on a narrow twisty road and he had to reverse quite a way. He could do it but there's no way I could have, despite being a confident and experienced driver in the UK.

I’m not versed in MH sizes but it’d be for 6 people so I guess on the larger side? Ah, I didn’t know you could get sat navs where you can specify the width, good to know! Thankyou.

You mean in a car? I’m a confident and experienced car driver with no issues parking or reversing or single track roads… just wasn’t sure if those skills are transferable to a larger vehicle.

Who are the 6 people? I would say you have to deeply love them to share such a small space. A couple of my friends have hinted they would like to come away with us but do I want to catch a glimpse of their arse or do they want go catch a glimpse of mine, probably not.

For six people you have to check the weight of the MoHo you are looking to hire and your entitlement to drive it.
To drive any vehicle over 3500kg you need C1 entitlement so check you have this first.
Most hire firms will be renting out the more popular sub 3500kg models but six people plus all your "gear" will easily take you over the limit (most MoHo's in this category have a very low payload to make them more saleable but it is the owner/driver responsibility to keep within it).

I am no-longer entitled to drive our new Moho (7.5m / 4000kg) as I have a restricted license (medical) but previously I did and it is just a case of being aware of your length, width & height plus of course the rear overhang when parking up or manoeuvring.

I concur with PP asking who your passengers are.
A MoHo (or caravan for that) is a very confined space, made worse if the weather is inclement and you don't want to sit outside and/or the pub is too far away.
Ensure the campsites have adequate washing/toilet facilities as sharing a single (compact) washroom is not a lot of fun and you can soon use up your hot water & toilet waste capacity.
Likewise at night, getting up to use the toilet is always going to disturb someone as you climb over them to get out of bed.

Don't let me put you off, we grew up caravanning (when facilities were much more basic) and it didn't put us off.
Have to admit we like a bit more space in later life and have a six berth for just two of us & Ddogs. Both have a separate double bed which results in no disturbed night's.

You'll need a motorhome with enough belted seats for six people... are they adults?

As others have said, having six people in a motorhome will be cramped to say the least. We had a 7.5 tonne motorhome 9mt length and we wouldn't have had room for six people. I think most rental vehicles will be much smaller than this as to drive anything over 3.5 tonne you need a C1 licence.

I found it easy to drive - remember that if vehicles such as delivery vans, busses etc can get through, then so can you. Do remember that you might well not fit under barriers and when reversing into spaces remember that you have an overhang.

Perhaps get two motorhomes and drive along together? It's a great way to travel.