Bank Holiday Opening Hours
Service Sales
Saturday 27th Closed 10.00am – 4.00pm
Sunday 28th Closed 10.00am – 2.00pm
Monday 29th Closed 10.00am – 2.00pm
Bank Holiday Opening Hours
Service Sales
Saturday 27th Closed 10.00am – 4.00pm
Sunday 28th Closed 10.00am – 2.00pm
Monday 29th Closed 10.00am – 2.00pm
Take to the wheel of any motorhome and the freedom of the open road is all yours. Take to the wheel and drive your motorhome in Europe and that open road might seem to have no end in sight.
Whatever time of year you are proposing to go, a little advance planning and attention to what you need to take with you may save heartache – not to mention disaster – further down the road.
So that your adventures on the continent run smoothly and with as little unwelcome incident as possible, however, here are some of the factors to keep in mind – from the planning and paperwork to the preparation of your motorhome, to finally driving in Europe.
Whether you have a definite destination in mind or are planning for a magical mystery tour to wherever takes your fancy on the day, beware of overly long and tiring hours behind the wheel.
In other words, always plan plenty of pitstops along the way – and that means during the day as well as any overnight stops to sleep.
Your motorhome will be taking the strain, but also needs to be fully fit to do so. In that case, remember to plan an early visit to a servicing agent – ourselves here at Derby Motorhomes, perhaps, especially if yours is an Auto-Sleepers motorhome.
It’s important to have all the documents and paperwork you need to take with you.
Since some of these might take a while to arrange, it’s worth getting them together in good time. Include the following in your checklist of essential documents:
Driving licence
International Driving Permit (IDP)
Motor insurance
Passports
Finally, don’t forget to take proof of ownership of your vehicle – typically satisfied by your Vehicle Registration Certificate, the V5C, or logbook as it’s commonly called.
Preparing for your trip to Europe means making sure that your motorhome is ready for the adventure – and that it carries the equipment and any accessories that will be needed by law as you drive through various European countries.
We have already mentioned the importance of a thorough service – inside and out – to ensure that your motorhome is roadworthy and capable of providing reliable and comfortable accommodation for several weeks at a time.
One of the first things you also need to ensure is that a “GB” nationality sticker is fixed to the outside rear of your motorhome – it is required throughout Europe.
Different European countries have different rules about the equipment that must be carried within your motorhome – so check carefully what is required in the countries through which you will be driving.
There is also considerable variation in the local requirements for equipment you need to keep on board – this may include:
Hazard warning triangles
Reflective jacket
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Breathalyser
These are by no means the only local differences you are likely to encounter in the traffic regulations of the countries you are going to be driving through. In guidance updated on the 12th of July 2022, the Money Saving Expert also offers a comprehensive guide to what you will need, as does the AA.
The rules of the road in some parts of Europe may be different from those with which you are familiar at home. Despite everything you might have read about the standardisation of rules throughout the EU when it comes to local traffic regulations, there are still important differences in each member country.
You want to stay on the right side of the law, of course, so before you go it is important to research the rules of the road in every country you are going to be visiting (and those you might need to drive through as the result of diversions or other emergencies).
Some of the greatest variations you are likely to encounter are speed limits in different European countries – especially if yours is a larger motorhome. And don’t let variable speed limits catch you out.
In some countries, the rules may be especially quirky and convoluted. In Spain, for example, some one-way streets allow parking on the side of the street where houses have odd numbers on odd days of the month – and the side where house numbers are even, on even days of the month.
Driving your motorhome in Europe expands your horizons, of course, but make sure that you go thoroughly prepared. And, as a final reminder, before you set off on your adventures in a motorhome, just double-check you have all the right documentation.
Please note that the information contained within this blog is based on our current understanding of the law. As legislation can change, we recommend you always make your own checks on documentation and licence requirements etc. before you travel.
You’ve almost certainly heard the name – since their reputation goes before them. And if you’ve ever parked your own motorhome alongside one on a campsite, you’ve probably seen for yourself that Auto-Sleepers are a cut above most others.
So, if you are thinking about upgrading your motorhome this season, what makes it an attractive choice and how might you go about trading up for an Auto-Sleepers motorhome?
What better way of finding out how well any particular motorhome is regarded than to ask those who already own one? And in terms of owner satisfaction, Auto-Sleepers have an enviable track record.
There are lots of Auto-Sleepers models from which to choose – from the compact 2-berth Symbol campervan to the luxurious and spacious coachbuilt Mercedes-powered 4-berth Burford Duo.
The characteristics of each model – frequently updated to greet each new season – make Auto-Sleepers some of the most reviewed motorhomes on the market. 2022 even saw a brand-new make and model to the Auto-Sleepers stable – the all-new 4-berth Ford Air Camper.
In its review on the 11th of November 2021, Out and About Live described the class-leading Ford Air’s proven layout and featured its “top-notch pop-top”.
Whether the fulsome reviews give you that incentive to buy or whether you prefer to take the word of those who already own a motorhome from the Auto-Sleepers stable, this is the manufacturer you might want to have in your sights when looking to upgrade.
If you already own an older Auto-Sleepers model and want to upgrade to a newer motorhome with a currently higher specification, you might naturally turn to a main dealer and franchise-holder such as us here at Derby Motorhomes. Our familiarity with every model of the whole Auto-Sleepers range – whatever its age or mileage – ensures that we can offer a highly competitive price in part exchange when you want to trade up.
Simply put, we are also interested in taking a second-hand Auto-Sleeper in part exchange.
In fact, we are interested in the whole chain of transactions typically involved when trading up to a new motorhome. If you are a private buyer interested in the motorhome you are trying to sell, for example, simply direct them to our Motorhomes Wanted page. If it is a campervan, van conversion or any motorhome less than seven years old, we may be able to offer a further part-exchange deal or offer to advertise it in our own listings on a sale or return basis.
As you will have gathered, therefore, you don’t have to own an Auto-Sleepers motorhome to offer any make of motorhome in part-exchange. The way is clear for you to upgrade to the luxury and reliability of an Auto-Sleepers motorhome simply by visiting our showrooms today and choosing the latest model that suits you and your family.
You want to enjoy your motorhome confident in the knowledge that it is safe to use and securely out of the hands of those up to no good. Let’s take a closer look at how you might do just that.
On occasion, your motorhome will be everything that your second home needs to be – and that means cooking, heating, and using a fridge. Each one of these appliances is likely to be powered by LPG gas. You are also likely to have lighting and other electrical devices connected to the onboard battery of your motorhome.
Both gas and electricity, of course, are potential sources of fire, so always ensure that supplies are disconnected when you leave your motorhome for any length of time and treat all appliances fuelled by them with care and caution.
As essential fire safety measures, smoke alarms, CO2 detectors, and fire extinguishers may also give you further peace of mind.
Although manufacturers are required to use fire-retardant materials in the construction of your motorhome, exercise care when parking up at your campsite and ensure you maintain a minimum of six metres between vehicles. That is the minimum separation recommended by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, which also suggests you keep at least three metres between your own and a neighbour’s car or awning.
Regular servicing of any vehicle is important – to keep it working just as it should but also to help preserve its resale value. In the case of a motorhome, regular servicing is even more important – both from its mechanical and roadworthiness status and to all those interior aspects that make it a home from home.
The areas covered by those separate aspects of mechanical and habitation servicing are discussed in greater detail in an article by the Camping and Caravanning Club.
Here are Derby Motorhomes, we have expertise in both mechanical and habitation servicing – and as we have recommended in a separate blog, you might want the comfort and reassurance of knowing that servicing is done by a member of the Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) set up by the National Caravan Council, the Camping and Caravanning Club, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
Keeping your motorhome secure is principally a question of keeping two main threats at bay:
The principal defence against the theft of the vehicle is an immobilisation device.
Practically every new motorhome manufactured these days comes already fitted with an immobilisation device that meets Thatcham Category 2 standards.
These devices work by cutting off the fuel system, starter motor, ignition, or a combination of all three when someone tries to start the engine without a specially coded key – the ignition key or fob (a touch key) for your particular motorhome. Without the unique code, the engine cannot be started, and a dual immobilisation circuit prevents the vehicle from being “hot-wired”.
Additional ways of immobilising your motorhome are described by the Camping and Caravanning Club. Some of these have the advantage of providing either a visual or audible deterrent – the sight of wheel clamps, for example, or the audible warning made when a lock between the gear shift and handbrake is disturbed.
To help trace your motorhome if it has been stolen, a tracking device may help by providing a 24/7 GPS locating signal. You might want to browse the latest wide range of devices supplied by one of the UK’s leading specialists, Tracker.
The simplest and most cost-effective way of keeping unwanted intruders out of your motorhome, of course, is to ensure that you lock all doors and windows whenever you leave the vehicle unattended. (Typically, of course, this is also going to be one of the fundamental conditions of your motorhome insurance policy).
Extra security might be provided by intruder alarms or motion detectors, which also warn you when someone may have broken into your motorhome.
Finally, it is worth remembering that the more secure you make your motorhome, the better your motor insurer is going to like it – and may even offer a discount on your insurance premiums as a result if you provide additional security.
The big day has come. As the proud new owner of a motorhome, you’re ready to embark on your very first trip!
It’s worth curbing that natural enthusiasm for just a moment or two longer to carry out a few helpful “pre-flight checks” and run through your travel plans once you’re on the road. As far as the following tips and suggestions go, let’s assume that you’ll be staying within the UK for at least your first foray or two.
Eventually, and with experience, you’ll almost certainly discover that the time well spent on these pre-outing preparations becomes second nature – practically instinctive.
To give you some idea of the importance of getting the packing, stowing, and last-minute preparations right, you’re unlikely to find anything more comprehensive than the Wandering Bird’s treatment of the subject – and if you’d rather watch than read, there is even a self-explanatory video to accompany their article.
As a rule of thumb, the checklist is likely to feature all or some of the following. For example:
Daunted by this seemingly long list of tips and suggestions? Don’t be intimidated by it. As we have said, most of it will become second nature after your first couple of excursions so enjoy what will be the first of many – it’s a great moment to celebrate.
Whether it’s during the summer season or tucked up at home in the wintertime, there’s one thing likely to pique the interest of any motorhome owner – and that’s any opportunity to accessorise the beloved vehicle.
Even though your motorhome is already likely to be equipped to a high standard – especially if you’re lucky enough to own an Auto-Sleepers model – there’s always an opportunity to add a dash of your own personality. Accessories can give that extra definition as well as add more comfort and luxury – it’s what motorhome owners call accessorising.
Here are our thoughts on some of the most popular and potentially most useful accessories you’re likely to find.
Satellite TV
Old-style camping might have left you with little to do in the evenings except to play cards, dominoes, or board games. Thanks to the march of technology, TV in your motorhome can these days play a part in your evening’s recreation.
At one time, trying to get portable satellite technology into your motorhome (and the dish locked onto the beam) virtually required a team of rocket scientists and a budget the size of NASA’s. Fortunately, those days are now long gone and it’s really easy to get some great and easily configured satellite dishes and associated TV receptors.
If you own an Auto-Sleepers motorhome, of course, you’re almost certain to find that it’s already fitted with built-in WiFi alongside an LCD TV Point – or even the optional extra of a Mercedes-Benz or Peugeot Media Pack.
A WiFi booster
When your motorhome is fitted with the latest onboard technology, the last thing you’ll want to discover is that your campsite has not kept up to date with all that’s available or is in an especially remote part of the country.
That’s when you’ll be glad of your own WiFi booster – a simple and affordable piece of kit that can help keep you in touch and use all of those internet-based facilities you would do from home.
Awnings
These are fantastic for extending the living space of your motorhome. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, solution types and of course, prices.
In passing, remember your motorhome insurance might require you to take certain common-sense steps to protect your awnings when you are away from your vehicle.
A barbecue
Even with the best-equipped motorhome galley in the world, nothing quite beats cooking over an open flame in the open air – a barbecue is an intrinsic part of the whole camping experience.
You’ll not need to invest in a barbecue capable of feeding a football crowd either – they now come in extremely small and lightweight sizes, suitable for use outside motorhomes.
In partnership with the British Beekeepers Association, Valiant make an especially trim and foldaway barbecue ideal for packing into your motorhome and breaking open when you fancy an alfresco meal.
Fold up outdoor furniture
This may sound like something of a no-brainer when it comes to accessorising your motorhome. Yet strangely, it can sometimes be overlooked, and you might suddenly find yourself with nowhere to sit outside on a beautiful day.
This also isn’t any longer a question of digging out that old rickety deck chair that belonged to your grandparents (in fact, they’re just the kind of item that might be collectable and valuable!).
Current ultra-modern designs offer a range of sitting and fantastically inventive table solutions – and they can be collapsed back into incredibly compact sizes for storage and transportation.
Portable external lamps
These can be essential for maximising your time outside once the sun has gone down. They come in various shapes and sizes and use different sorts of technologies.
Solar-powered varieties are great for providing a very low level of basic finding-your-feet safety but for greater illumination, you may need to look at battery-powered models.
Yet again, this is an area where prices have fallen hugely over recent years – as a brief glance at the relevant Amazon UK pages will show.
Many motorhome veterans will tell you that accessorising your motorhome can be great fun and that the choice available today is vast.
Why not take a few minutes to browse an online catalogue or two? You may get some really great ideas from doing so.
It’s no secret that at Derby Motorhomes we’re great fans of Auto-Sleepers motorhomes and we’ve developed a huge amount of experience with Auto-Sleepers over many years. We’d like to share that with you in the following selection of some of the most frequently asked Auto-Sleeper questions (FAQs) we receive.
Do Auto-Sleepers build motorhomes?
Like all the best answers, we can give this one both a yes and a no!
Auto-Sleepers is based in the Cotswolds and builds coachwork and undertakes van conversions. They do not build engines, transmission systems, or any of the mechanical features of a motorhome.
An Auto-Sleepers motorhome will use state-of-the-art power plants and chassis from companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Fiat, or most recently Ford, but everything related to accommodation and fittings will be sourced and installed themselves.
What is a van conversion and how does it differ from a motorhome?
This one comes up regularly in Auto-Sleepers FAQs we receive.
Essentially, a motorhome has had its entire accommodation unit designed and built bottom-up for accommodation purposes. A van conversion is based upon a standard van supplied by a major manufacturer which is then specifically customised and configured into luxury accommodation.
By and large, van conversions are typically smaller and have less space internally than coachbuilt motorhomes.
Some people always differentiate in speech or writing between motorhomes and van conversions. Others describe them all as motorhomes.
Whatever you call them, you can view our entire range of motorhomes in our heated, indoor, exhibition centre here in Derby.
How do collapsible caravans fit into the picture?
These are typically trailers that have a caravan/tent folded up inside. Once you arrive at your campsite, the pieces are unfolded and connected up to provide what is typically semi-rigid tented accommodation.
They are not usually considered to be motorhomes.
Is it better to purchase a new or used Auto-Sleepers motorhome?
There are multiple arguments for both. We won’t take a position! But that won’t stop us from making a few of the more obvious observations.
Whatever vehicle is being discussed, the logic behind purchasing pre-used as opposed to new is usually either:
• price – pre-used vehicles are usually cheaper, of course (all other things considerations equal); and
• model – sometimes buyers might prefer a given model that’s since been discontinued, although this is rare.
In terms of price, Auto-Sleepers motorhomes typically hold their values well. Of course, a three-year-old vehicle is likely to cost less than a brand new one, but the difference might be less than would be the case with a typical motor car – since cars attract a notoriously high rate of depreciation.
Some people prefer to own a vehicle that’s brand new in the knowledge nobody else has used it. Other buyers don’t feel strongly at all about such things. In other words, it often boils down to a simple question of personal preference.
Can I customise my Auto-Sleepers motorhome?
You have options to select one of many varying configurations and décor schemes – and can choose from a wide range of optional packs – such as our Premium Packs, Winter Packs, Media Packs, or Roof Options.
After purchase, you can customise your motorhome as you wish – although we’d urge a degree of caution about just how far you choose to go.
If you are planning to customise your vehicle, it’s important to use a fully-qualified and thoroughly experienced company to help. Secondly, remember that perhaps contrary to some expectations, customisation of a motorhome can actually reduce rather than enhance its resale value.
That’s because the value of an Auto-Sleepers motorhome is driven in part by its exemplary quality and superb engineering. If you start to dismantle things and replace them with someone else’s, then you may reach a point where some potential buyers and dealerships would no longer regard it as an Auto-Sleepers’ product – you may have undermined at least a part of its attraction and value.
Your biggest investment is likely to be the home you live in. But, after that, a motorhome comes in a close second as the most expensive item you might consider buying.
The truth of the matter all depends on your personal financial circumstances, of course. What is in no doubt, though, is that any such purchase requires significant expenditure, and it will be prudent to think carefully how you go about funding a new motorhome.
Unless you are one of those very rare individuals with stacks of cash in hand, the funds you need to buy a new motorhome have to come from somewhere – a source involving some kind of formal process.
There are several different avenues you might want to pursue in your search for such a source of funds and here at Derby Motorhomes, we’ll try to objectively outline some of those for you.
Funding through pension cash-ins, inheritances, savings and liquidating financial instruments
Savings, investments, and even your pension pot have the potential for providing you’re the funding you need. The examples are numerous and include:
Some of these options may provide you with sufficient funding to buy your new motorhome outright – with no monthly repayments going forward.
Nevertheless, you may need to bear in mind that although these options give you immediate access to the funding you may need, neither one of them might be the most appropriate or prudent way of proceeding with your intended purchase.
If you have depleted your existing savings, investments, and reserves of cash, for example, they will no longer be there if you face any financial emergency in the future and need more or less immediate access to additional funds.
These are complicated matters, and we are by no means qualified to offer financial advice or guidance. Instead, we recommend that you consult an independent financial adviser before cashing in your savings or investments or withdrawing funds from your pension pot.
Depending upon your personal financial circumstances and the standing you have with your high street bank, you might want to consider an application for a standard personal loan to fund the intended purchase of your motorhome.
This will give you the cash you can then use to pay for the vehicle, whilst you repay the loan over time, through monthly repayments to the bank.
A personal loan such as this is a fairly straightforward matter, although you might find that banks are perhaps a little less free with such lending for luxury items than they might have been some 15 years or so ago. You may also need to have an excellent credit history record and find a fairly substantial deposit towards the vehicle from your own reserves.
This essentially involves a finance company purchasing the vehicle which legally remains their property although you will be allowed to use it as the “registered keeper”.
You will repay the funds provider over time and once you make the final payment, the vehicle becomes legally yours.
An initial deposit – typically of around 10% of the purchase price – is generally required from the outset.
A secured loan is borrowing against assets you either own or have substantial surplus cash invested in.
For example, if your home is realistically valued at £400,000 and you have an outstanding mortgage on that of £50,000, then you have £350,000 notional equity in your property. It may be possible to borrow against some of that equity in order to buy your motorhome.
In that event, you must keep firmly in mind that your home is at risk if you take out a loan secured against it and find yourself subsequently unable to make the repayments on the loan.
There is a wide range of funding options available, and we’d welcome your contact in order to clarify how we might be able to assist further.
It’s always satisfying when our own beliefs and judgments are vindicated by others.
For that reason, here at Derby Motorhomes, we were delighted to see Auto-Sleepers motorhomes yet again picking a prestigious award at a major show.
The results of the 23rd Caravan and Motorhome Club Motorhome and Campervan Design Awards 2022 were published on the 23rd of February.
Judges assembled for their final decisions on the design awards during the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), near Birmingham, in February. The design awards are one of the major industry-supported events of the year.
Where past awards have gone to Auto-Sleepers’ coach-built Broadway EB and Fairford van conversion, this year’s winning prize went to the entirely new Ford Air Camper. It walked away with the top prize for the best campervan under 5 metres in length.
As a custom conversion campervan, the Ford Air Camper is compact, easy to park, and will navigate narrow city streets or winding country lanes with equal ease and agility. It’s powered by Ford’s well-proven 170PS engine.
Its compact size, though, makes it no less a well-equipped and comfortable motorhome – one that gives you the freedom of the road yet might still offer all the possibilities and flexibility of working from home.
Custom-built by Auto-Sleepers on the timeless Ford Transit chassis, this campervan has such generous interior dimensions that it will sleep four in comfort and provide travel in style for up to five passengers.
Switching between daytime and night-time layouts is simple, quick, and straightforward.
The judges at this year’s awards had the challenging task of evaluating no fewer than 72 different vehicles – on which they were required to give their views on a vast range of features, including:
Although the judges did not have to test drive every vehicle, they still got up and close and personal with their inspections at the NEC and also spent thousands of hours sifting through hard copies of manuals and online content.
The Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club thanked the judges and congratulated all the award winners, commenting how the event helped to make available to the buying public as much useful information as possible in a completely impartial manner – so assisting any decision for the purchase of your next motorhome or campervan.
Of course, as one of the country’s leading dealers of Auto-Sleepers, Deby Motorhome is always over the moon when one of these models wins a prestigious award. But our satisfaction by no means tells the whole story.
Most important of all is the way in which results such as these exist to help consumers to decide which vehicles are likely to be the most suitable for them and to reduce their risks of getting things wrong – thanks to the fact that a panel of experts has given a very close examination and subsequent thumbs-up to these motorhomes and campervans.
That’s why we are pleased to publicise these successes and to encourage you to check out the vehicles concerned and others from the same stables. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Do you like apps and gadgets? In most walks of life these days, you can’t move for one app or another to show you the way, offer advice, or pluck handy information from thin air just when you need it. And, for motorhome owners, that world is no different – there are apps galore.
Each new season opens the door to a flood of new apps and to satisfy your taste for the latest – and well established – innovations in clever technology here are our suggested top 10 apps for motorhome owners.