Best small motorhomes for retired couples: complete guide

Retired couples are more and more frequently choosing to invest in a small motorhome. It’s not hard to see why either. Modern motorhomes provide the ultimate freedom to travel anywhere at any time. Plus, thousands of Australian retirees now earn a passive income each year by hiring out their motorhome through Camplify when it is not in use.

But with so many camper vehicles on the market, retired couples can sometimes struggle to decide which motorhome is best for them. The majority of motorhomes are monstrously large and well-suited to carrying a family of 4. However, most of the time, retirees simply want something that is small, easily manoeuvrable and highly practicable.

To help you out, our travel experts have compiled this list of the best small motorhomes for a retired couple. In creating this list, we have taken into consideration the length of the motorhome, accessibility, comfort, features and price.

Best small motorhomes for a retired couple

Swift Select

The Swift Select is a multipurpose motorhome, designed to handle both everyday use and longer holidays. This motorhome is perfect for retired couples because it is comfortable, functional and highly affordable. It is self-contained, with a fully fitted kitchen and washroom. The interior boasts a modern finish and is flooded with light from the over-cab panoramic glass sunroof. Driving this motorhome is a pleasure thanks to its wide array of cabin features. A great base model motorhome with a heap of optional extras to suit your needs.

Price

From $87,500

Key Features

• Fiat Ducato panel van (6m and 3.5 tonnes)

• High-performance insulation (3M’s Thinsulate) and thermally insulated window covers

• Swivel cab seats

• Double-glazed windows

• Electric entrance step

• 85ltr gas fridge, gas hobs and grill (oven included with some models)

• Full ensuite bathroom with electric flush toilet

• Insulated 59ltr freshwater tank and 41ltr waste water tank

• Airblown heating (electric and gas)

• Swift Command Touchscreen Control Centre for controlling power, heating, humidity, dimmable lighting, water and waste systems, etc.

Best For

Retired couples who are on a budget. This small motorhome is highly affordable and provides all the essentials.

Jayco Conquest

The Jayco Conquest is marketed as “Australia’s best value motorhome”. It has been specifically designed for couples to travel in comfort without having to pay a premium price. This small motorhome is lightweight and fully self-contained. The reliable Renault chassis provides plenty of power when needed but also handles easily. If you’re looking for a great value small motorhome, this vehicle has all the features and functionality that you need for quick getaways or longer holidays.

Price

From $110,000

Key Features

• Renault platform chassis (6.5m and 3.1 tonnes)

• High-density polystyrene foam insulation

• Double-glazed windows

• Manual pull-out step

• 216L fridge/freezer, gas hobs, microwave and external BBQ

• Full ensuite bathroom with a swivel toilet

• 120ltr freshwater tank and 45ltr waste water tank

• J-control panel for controlling power, heating, lighting, water and more.

• 120W solar panel

• 4m electric awning

• Reversing camera

Best For

This is Jayco’s most popular motorhome because it is slightly more spacious than other motorhomes in the same price range. It is the best small motorhome for retired couples that want a small but spacious motorhome at an affordable price.

Avan Applause

The Avan Applause is known for combining a luxurious European interior with state of the art construction methods. It is one of the best small motorhomes for retired couples because it is particularly spacious and well ventilated. Features such as overhead cupboards, double-glazed windows, full block out blinds and a large double bed make this van perfect for long road trips.

Price

From $116,000

Key Features

• Fiat Ducato panel van (6m and 3 tonnes)

• All-round insulation

• Swivel cab seats

• Double-glazed window/blind system

• Electric entrance step

• 100ltr fridge, gas hobs and microwave

• Full ensuite bathroom with a swivel toilet

• 62ltr freshwater tank and 62ltr waste water tank

• Roof-mounted air conditioner

• Wind-out awning

Best For

Retired couples who want a small but luxurious motorhome for long road trips (i.e. weeks or months at a time).

[

Trakka Akuna A2M ](https://trakka.com.au/)

The Trakka Akuna is a slightly more sophisticated option. This small motorhome is renowned for its formal interior and wide array of features. Included with the Akuna are front swivel seats, a permanent double bed with adjustable backrests and a sleek fibreglass space pod that increases the interior width at the back of the van (the bedroom). Trakka also includes its patented “Switch Mode Bathroom” which boasts an electric sliding toilet, ducted diesel heating and offset sliding door. Perfect for couples who want a small motorhome with features that you would typically only find on a larger motorhome.

Price

From $150,000

Key Features

• Volkswagen Crafter MWB (6m and 3 tonnes)

• Thermal and sound insulation

• Swivel cab seats

• Double-glazed windows

• Portable step

• 90ltr fridge/freezer, diesel-fueled ceramic cooktop, microwave and water filtration system

• Patented Switch Mode Bathroom

• 140ltr freshwater tank and 80ltr waste water tank

• Ducted diesel room heating

• Roll-out awning

Best For

Retired couples who want to enjoy all the luxuries of a large RV in a small motorhome. Although this option is high-end, it provides you with the highest quality fittings, interior and design.

Try before you buy

Before you race off and buy your new motorhome, we always highly recommend that you “try before you buy”. This is just one of the many handy tips that feature in our Ultimate Guide to Buying a Motorhome.

Camplify has thousands of private motorhomes for hire in Australia for you to pick and choose from. Find one that you’d like to try, hire it for a few nights and see if it meets all of your needs and expectations. This way, you can be sure that the motorhome you're interested in is truly right for you!

If you are interested in trying out some of the motorhomes listed above, why not hire one of these:

• Annette’s Jayco Conquest (Based in Sydney)

• Jayco Newcastle has multiple Conquest’s for hire

• Hayley and Stanton’s Avan Applause (Based in Lennox Head)

Earn a return on your investment

Once you’ve bought your motorhome, the quickest way to earn a return on your investment is to hire it out whenever it’s not in use. Heaps of Australian’s earn up to $10,000 every year by hiring out their vehicle through the country’s largest private motorhome sharing community - Camplify!

Many Camplify members are retirees who want to earn some extra income from the comfort of their own home. By hiring out their motorhome, they create a passive income stream that allows them to make the most of their retirement.

And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• 24/7 RAC nationwide breakdown cover for hirers

• Dedicated customer support

If you’re keen to get a return on your investment, it only takes a few seconds to calculate how much income you could generate each year by using our earnings calculator.