Think motorhome and you almost certainly think white.
But we here at Emm Bee think a major change for colour options on motorhomes may be on the way.
We might be some way from seeing a range similar to that on offer for cars.
We aren’t expecting to see huge numbers of red, blue or green motorhomes on the roads this time next year. But we believe there could be a subtle move away from subtle colours.
Take the leading Burstner range of motorhomes. It is already possible for buyers to select from the likes of Champagne and silver – the Burstner Travel Van being a great example of how major manufacturers are starting to offer optional upgrades to the exterior.
Burstner have gone further still: the Travel Van is also available in ‘Lago’ Blue and blue. Dethleffs have options for Laguna Blue (somewhat similar to Lago blue!) and Bright Sand for some models – you can see more on their models on their official site.
IH Motorhomes go a step further still, offering metallic black, blue, golden white and, perhaps inspired by a popular novel, various shades of grey.
Admittedly though it is currently a few new options from a few, selected manufacturers, so why our belief that there could be an explosion of colour?
We think the demographics might point to a change. Though not the majority of buyers, motorhomes are increasingly being bought by people with young families and even young couples.
Of course, people of all ages might appreciate a wider choice of metallic paint options, however a younger demographic could create a demand for that fun element which was so much a part of the camper van culture of the 1970s.
We had a look at the latest figures published by the Camping and Caravanning Club and they reveal that out of more than 30,000 members, roughly a third fall into their Young Campers category with an average age of just 41. Many of these people are campers, but a large number are also motorhome owners and on average the people in this group have two children under the age of 12.
With the Club also identifying another group, the ‘Hands-on Helpers’ with a similar average age and containing a significant proportion of motorhome owners it is clear that there are large numbers of thirty and forty-somethings who either own motorhomes or are potential owners.
Increasingly, the optional extras are also a key differentiator between the makes. The engines are now good across the board, so that means that often the entertainment system, or driver aids, or quality of the kitchen are the type of differentiators which buyers are using to make decisions.
Currently, exterior colours aren’t a key factor – having a blue option is a nice extra, but unlikely to be crucial. However, if there is greater homogenisation of other features, being the manufacturer who offers the best bespoke colour schemes, both internally and externally could be an important USP.
At Emm-Bee, we stock an unrivalled range of new motorhomes and so are best placed to see the emerging trends in the industry. All manufacturers are starting to offer ever-more extras, but it will be interesting to see what buyers deem to be the most important. If a bespoke metallic colour is likely to cost around £1,500, is that a more appealing upgrade than a driver aid or enhanced entertainment system?
The effect on re-sale is also an as-yet unknown. Motorhomes hold their value well, but will buyers of new vehicles be concerned that having a vibrant colour might make it harder to sell in years to come. That’s why we think that any move to a wider colour palette will be gradual, the market needs confidence both that it is an option a significant number of buyers of new homes will want and then that there is no discernible difference to re-sale value.
Would we say it’s inevitable that by 2020 there will be a complete rainbow palette to choose from? Perhaps not, but we would expect to see at least some manufacturers offering reds, greens and more – perhaps a red Fiat to tie in with their heritage, or Burstner will offer a wider range having already shown an intention to experiment with colours in recent years.
Ultimately though it will come down to you – the customer. Would you welcome a wider choice of colours and, if so, which colours would you like to see?
What colour motorhome would you like to be behind the wheel of? Let us know by sending us a tweet or commenting on our facebook page And, in our position as one of the UK’s leading dealers of both new and used motorhomes we will of course pass your suggestions on to the manufacturers. Who knows, if enough people want a pink motorhome it might just happen!
