Equipment Outfitters

The living area of the motorhome tends to be built around the front end of the vehicle — the engine needs to be accessible from various angles for servicing, and one of these may be from inside the cab. Access to the cab is made easier by the fact that there is already a side entrance, and in these cases access to the driver’s seat will be via the living area. Some cabs do not depart much from their industrial origins and access here is gained via an ordinary door on each side. Depending on the country of origin, many imported motorhomes have the steering wheel and door on the ‘wrong’ side for South African roads. While this is not illegal, it does mean that the driver will have to make allowances for restricted vision. If you don’t like the idea, rather buy a locally made vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »

The luxury motorhome must surely represent the ultimate touring vehicle. As a combination of large vehicle and caravan it offers the benefits of both, and allows the traveller the sort of freedoms one would usually find only on a yacht! Passengers, for example, are able to sleep comfortably stretched out while the kilometres speed by.

Modern motorhomes are made for comfort, lightness and aerodynamic efficiency — they’re certainly more evolved than their older relatives. The interior layouts are more sophisticated and well thought out and the specification levels are higher. Although a common complaint is that the smaller versions are underpowered, fuel consumption is an important aspect of touring; while bigger engines have more power and are more exciting to drive, they are very much thirstier. Read the rest of this entry »

Heat and cold exhaustion

These arc not ailments in the true sense, in that they are a result of accident or illness. They are an inherent risk caused by the weather and as a result exhaustion is a hazard. It is all too easy to over-estimate your physical strength and once you have over-taxed your capabilities, further effort will result in exhaustion and possible collapse. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are summer hazards, far more prevalent than cold exhaustion, perhaps because they are more unexpected, and fewer measures are taken to prevent them.

Heat exhaustion can be caused by a humid atmosphere, excessive perspiration, loss of body fluids, and simple tiredness. It can lead to collapse and even death in very severe cases. Read the rest of this entry »