After gathering all the gear I needed in anticipation of being covered in fish guts, sea spray, and sunscreen — with no running hot water or flushable toilets in sight — it was a massive relief to see the size of the TrailLite motorhome, kindly lent to us for the Manukau Counties One Base fishing competition at Te Poro, South Manukau.
When TrailLite's managing director, Shaun Newman, gave us a quick tour of the huge model we were to use, my relief was palpable.
As Shaun showed us the switches, knobs, and turn handles that would make our stay more enjoyable, I was overwhelmed. The last time I had stayed in a motorhome it had tasselled window blinds and a coal range! So to have instant hot water, a fridge/freezer, on-board water supply, a toilet, and a TV — well, this was a complete and unexpected luxury.
The drive from Pukekohe was pretty relaxed, as I was following my fishing partner, Jo, and the massive Mercedes engine had no trouble cruising along.
I must admit, I'm a bit of kid when it comes to new cars or hotel rooms, and since this vehicle is just like a mobile hotel room, I was in seventh heaven. I opened, undid, and inspected everything, right down to the owner's manual.
The TrailLite for beginners
I imagine that on purchasing one of these vehicles, the new vehicle buyer is given a full introduction on how to use and maintain everything. But since we'd only been given a quick tour — and let's face it, there was a lot to take in — it was down to us to kind of figure things out.
For example, it took some time to figure out how to make the motorhome a bit more private. With sun/privacy shutters, and bug screens to cover all the windows, it took me some time to configure all the windows to suit our preferences.
I managed to get the bed sorted that night and was surprised by how comfortable it was, despite having to sleep with my feet at what should have been the head end because we hadn't deployed the stabilisers!
The water heating had been left to Jo to figure out the night before, and with me being inexperienced at such things, upon waking up I immediately put on the kettle to heat water for washing up… Jo just rolled her eyes. After all, there was plenty of hot water available from the tap.
After making lunch and a quick clean up, we ensured that all non-essential switches were turned off before heading to the boats for a day's fishing. The highlight of the day was hooking up on a marlin. The lowlight was losing it five minutes later.
The weather closed in at about 1pm so we decided it was best to call it a day and start the slow four-hour journey back to Manukau Heads. The bar crossing was interesting to say the least, and to finally make it back to the campground in one piece was a relief.
The verdict
Now, having spent most of the day out on a boat in rough conditions, what's the best thing about coming back to a modern motorhome? The roomy, hot-water shower, of course! Pressure was just what I needed and when I say hot, it was heaven!
The motorhome was getting buffeted a bit by wind by this stage and although the night was a bit cool, we were toasty warm inside. It's extremely well insulted for heat as well as sound.
The couches around the table were very comfortable and the fact you can turn the driver and passenger seats around made more space for entertaining.
The fridge/freezer was more than adequate for two people. Bathroom and shower were more than enough and well thought out in terms of space and convenience.
Our stay in the motorhome was a pleasurable and relaxing experience and it sure as heck beat the old-school version hands down.
For the latest reviews, subscribe to Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations magazine here.
