Motorhome Matt

Advice, industry insights and an impartial view into the world of motorhomes, caravans, campervans and travel, with the motorhome nerd himself, Matt Sims. Sitting by his side asking all the right questions is his partner in crime, journalist Keith Gooden, deciphering the perplexing jargon. Listen in and learn everything you need to know about buying, owning and selling a leisure vehicle. Discover the industry trends, new developments and future plans for motorhomes and leisure vehicles in the UK and beyond. Got a question for Matt? Ask Matt! Submit your queries and feature on the podcast at mhmp.info/askmatt. Brought to you by That Leisure Shop.

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Episodes

Monday Nov 28, 2022

Is it safe to fit a multifuel or wood-burning stove in your leisure vehicle? The Hobbit, a popular model from Salamander Stoves, is already fitted in many shepherd's huts, canal boats and bell tents, and now it is a popular choice for van conversions. Who wouldn't want to create a cosy home away from home in their van? However, fitting a stove in a moving vehicle is currently unregulated, with no official guidance issued by manufacturers or regulatory bodies in the UK and across Europe.
So, is it actually safe? Well, fitting a multifuel or wood-burning stove into any small space creates a risk of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. It is something that must be carefully researched, and you must know the facts of how to minimise risk before fitting one in your leisure vehicle.
In this episode, Matt visits Salamander Stoves and asked its Managing Director, Mark, about the realities of fitting a stove into a campervan. David Whitehead, Director of Technical Services at the National Caravan Council, talks to us about the risks associated with fitting such a stove. And lastly, Matt speaks to Calvin May, the Head of Technical Services at HETAS. HETAS is the government-approved regulatory body for biomass and other solid fuels and we ask them what regulations exist and what research should be carried out prior to fitting a stove. 
No joking around from Matt and Keith this week. If incorrectly fitted, a stove can kill you. Carbon monoxide is a silent, deadly killer responsible for many deaths and life-changing injuries every year. If you are considering fitting a stove into your mobile leisure vehicle then listen to this episode and get the facts.Read more about HETAS here →Read more about The NCC here → Read more about Salamander Stoves here →Learn about fitting a Carbon Monoxide alarm here →
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Sunday Nov 20, 2022

How do you get good internet whilst on the road? It's a question we've been asked a lot, so Matt and Keith are here to take a deep dive into getting the best WiFi in your motorhome or caravan, including what you need, top products and how it's installed.
We spoke to Adam from Motorhome WiFi at the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 to get the low-down on their high-tech products. We asked them about the technical side of mobile data so that you can consider the right products for you.
Another fantastic WiFi option is Avtex's new mobile WiFi router, which Matt and Keith unpack and discuss key features of.
Check out all our Black Friday Deals, including Avtex's WiFi router at www.thatleisureshop.com this week only!
Win yourself an Avtex Sound Bar for FREE, visit www.thatleisureshop.com/win.
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Monday Nov 14, 2022

It's part two of our look at some of the exciting new products launched at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022! Firstly, Matt caught up with Truma, who launched a new range of solar panels, plus a control panel that we will undoubtedly see in new motorhomes and caravans in the future.
Next, we spoke with Thule about an amazingly designed and thoroughly tested rooftop tent, The Approach - comfy enough that even Matt climbed the ladder for a quick in-between-interview snooze.
If you're planning your own van conversion, there's an ingenious new safety device from BCA and PowerPart that you should be looking at: a plug-and-play electrical wiring loom. This kit has everything you need for your van electrics, making it not only easier to set up, but much safer too. Visit thatleisureshop.com/electrical-kits to read about the kits available.
In the corner of the hall, you may have noticed a roped-off stand from Grove Products. This stand is for trade only, so Matt ventured in to find out about new products launching for 2023. Expect to see them at That Leisure Shop in-store and online soon.
Get a free weekend away in a motorhome with The Motorhome Holiday Company.
Thank you to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. 
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Monday Nov 07, 2022

Take a look back at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 with us in this part 1 of 2 where Matt and Keith discuss some of the new products new released at the show - and Matt has a surprisingly different view of some of the highlights.
We joined Craig from Outdoor Revolution in one of their new inflatable awnings. Paul, from Moving Intelligence, gave us an insight into their new top-of-the-range tracker and we had a tour from Andrea of the award-winning star of the show from HYMER. Last, but certainly not least, we spoke to Matt from GasStop about our personal star of the show.
Get a free weekend away in a motorhome with The Motorhome Holiday Company →
Thank you to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. 
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Monday Oct 31, 2022

Andrew Ditton, one of the motorhome industry's best-known vloggers and journalists, was recently awarded the John Wickersham Award at the Caravan Writers Guild. Matt got to spend a little time with him at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 to discuss his award-winning moving video, My Caravan, My Sanctuary, made during a difficult time in his family's life.
Andrew shares what drives him to do what he does in an open and honest conversation that reveals the personality of one of the industry's loved spokespeople. On the industry side, Matt and Andrew also discuss one of the biggest challenges facing consumers: delayed lead times on new motorhomes and caravans. Thank you to Andrew for joining us and sharing your experiences.
This episode is sponsored by our wonderful friends at Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal and The Ethicurean Restaurant.
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Monday Oct 24, 2022

The Motorhome and Caravan Show is over! Matt and the team spoke to hundreds of visitors throughout the week and what a pleasure it was to meet so many of our listeners. In this special end-of-show episode, we hear from some of those attendees about their experience of the show.
Matt also caught up with a few industry friends to compare their views on the week, grabbing a moment with Inspiration Theatre host Rowland Rivron to ask him about his own caravanning experiences.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello, asked a question on the stand and proudly showed off their Motorhome Matt tote goody bag! And to those of you who couldn't make it to the show, we hope these last few episodes have given you an insight into what's been going on. We have plenty of insights and advice from Matt and the exhibitors at the show, so stay tuned for future episodes.
Thank you to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. 
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Sunday Oct 23, 2022

The results are in: happy campers really do exist! The Outjoyment Report is a new study that shows camping and outdoor enjoyment are good for your mental health and well-being.
Commissioned by The Camping and Caravanning Club, the report was done by academics at Liverpool John Moores University and Sheffield Hallam University and included a survey of nearly 11,000 campers and non-campers. It assessed attitudes towards the benefits of all types of camping, including motorhomes, caravans, tents and even glamping. The results? It showed overwhelmingly that campers enjoy better well-being, feel more connected to nature and are less stressed.
Matt and Keith talk to Dr Adele Doran, one of the leading academics on the study, about her view of the importance of the results.
Simon McGrath, from The Camping and Caravanning Club, talks to us about why they felt it was important to commission the study. Candy Evans gives her view as an experienced journalist on how this study can influence the industry and beyond and what we can do to raise awareness of the findings.
Read more about The Outjoyment Report here.
Thank you once again to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. 
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Saturday Oct 22, 2022

Live from our stand at the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022, Matt and Keith are joined by both The Urban Motorhome and Wandering Bird! We discuss The Motorhome and Caravan Show, the highs and the lows of motorhoming and the future of the industry.
Darran, known as The Urban Motorhome, has lived full-time in his vehicle for over 4 years. Kat travels in her motorhome across Europe, often with her dog. Both share their experiences on their YouTube channels.
The group share their views, as consumers, on what they think the future holds for motorhome stock and value, although Matt disagrees with the consensus and shares his reasons why. Keith is on hand to keep the chaos on track during a fun and fast-paced chat. Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for the ride!
Thank you once again to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. 
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Friday Oct 21, 2022

It's the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 and we’ve made it to day 4 - just two more days left to explore! Matt and Keith took a moment at the end of Friday to reflect on the show so far. Our highlight is meeting so many of our listeners and discovering that you really do enjoy our ramblings. The low for Matt, on the other hand, was drinking toilet chemical. Honestly, he chose to drink it.
We also answer a few questions at random from the many we’ve been asked this week. Thank you to everyone who took the time to say hi to the team. If you are visiting the show this weekend please visit us in Hall 9, stand 9.32 and grab a goodie bag!
Thank you once again to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. All brought to you by thatleisureshop.com. Come and meet the team on stand 9.32B and look out for us walking around the show recording content live!
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Thursday Oct 20, 2022

It's day three of The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022!
Today, Matt and Keith have been joining the queues and speaking to a number of visitors, asking what they are most looking forward to, as they wait for the show to open.
Inside the show, the team have had another day packed with interviews. John, from Maypole, gave us a whistlestop tour of their product range on display and available to buy. As well as security and safety essentials, Maypole has a range of motorhome covers, caravan covers, roof toppers and silver screens.
We were then joined on our own stand by audio-visual market leader AVTEX. We explore their new TV range and mobile Wi-Fi products, a hot topic this week from our visitors. Hear how easy it is to watch TV on the move with a Wi-Fi connection.
Thank you to our sponsors Avtex and Maypole for joining us on this episode. Don't forget to come and meet the team on stand 9.32B - and look out for us walking around the show recording content live!
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Thursday Oct 20, 2022

Welcome to day two of The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022! In this special mid-week episode we answer many of the questions we have been receiving from visitors. Parking, shuttle buses, food, mobility scooter hire and last-minute ticket information, Matt is here to give you the low down on everything you need to know before you make your journey to the NEC in Birmingham. Plus, we bump into backroom industry celebrity, Nick Harding.
Thank you to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. All brought to you by thatleisureshop.com. Come and meet the team on stand 9.32B and look out for us walking around the show recording content live!
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

Monday Oct 17, 2022

We’re here at the big show! Yes, it's the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 at the NEC Birmingham. We are in for an exciting week and there are hundreds of brand-new motorhomes and caravans getting ready for you to view.
We will be here all week recording for the podcast, plus producing and releasing new videos every day on YouTube. Head to our channel where we will be reviewing highlights of the show, the best things to see and answering many of your questions.
Thank you to our sponsors Avtex, Cabbunk, Creative Funding Solutions, Maypole, Towtal, The Ethicurean Restaurant, The Motorhome Holiday Company and Vanlove Fest. All brought to you by thatleisureshop.com. Come and meet the team on stand 9.32B and look out for us walking around the show recording content live.
🔶 ASK MATT YOUR QUESTIONS Have you got a question about motorhomes, travel or the leisure industry? Ask Matt and hear the answer to your questions on an upcoming podcast. www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt
📹 WATCH THE PODCAST Watch and subscribe on YouTube @MotorhomeMatt
LISTEN🔸SUBSCRIBE🔸REVIEW🔸SHARE Help grow our community by leaving a review and sharing on your favourite app.
The Motorhome Matt podcast is brought to you by That Leisure Shop, camping and leisure vehicle accessory specialists, ready for the adventure. Get £10 off your first order over £100 with the code MOTORHOMEMATT.
Thanks for listening!

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Who is Motorhome Matt?

Referred to as “BBC Radio 5’s motorhome consultant” on Wake up to Money 5 live, Matt Sims runs multiple award-winning businesses around motorhome hire, sales, storage and accessories.

What is this podcast about?

Quite simply, the Motorhome Matt podcast is a lighthearted look at the can of worms that is buying, owning, using and selling a motorhome. It’s the place to find useful, honest, genuine and impartial advice on a host of subjects around motorhoming.

Why should I listen to him?

Do you have questions that you felt were too stupid to ask? Well, on the Motorhome Matt Podcast no query is out of bounds! Matt knows the reason for his success is always asking the questions that everyone is thinking – yet no one is saying.

With years of experience in the motorhome industry, he has helped thousands of consumers navigate the trail to owning, selling and (of course) using a motorhome.

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