Can you really work from a motorhome?
Yes, and more and more people do it on trips of one or several weeks. The key is to accept that a motorhome is not an office: power is limited, connectivity depends on where you are and space is compact. With a little planning, you can work comfortably.
The most practical approach is to mix working days with travel days. Choose where you will work the day before, check the signal when you arrive and save long drives for the evening or the weekend.
Power: lithium battery, solar panel and inverter
Our Sunlight V66 Adventure has a 300 Ah LiFePO4 lithium battery, a 100 W solar panel and a 2,000 W inverter, which turns battery power into 230 V so you can plug in your laptop charger.
As a general guide, a 300 Ah battery at 12.8 V stores about 3.8 kWh nominal. A typical office laptop draws somewhere in the region of 30 to 60 W while you work, so an eight-hour day might use a few hundred Wh. But the battery also runs the fridge, lights, water pump and phone charging, and the inverter has losses of its own.
The battery recharges while you drive, from the solar panel and when you hook up to mains power. The panel contributes a fair amount on a sunny summer day and far less in winter or under cloud. With normal use you can spend several days off-grid, but autonomy is not unlimited: keep an eye on the level on the control panel.
- Switch the inverter off when you are not using it: it draws power even on standby.
- Charge devices while driving or when the sun is out.
- An external monitor, a printer or an electric coffee maker add a lot of consumption.
- Avoid heating appliances (kettles, hairdryers) unless you are hooked up.
Getting online: Starlink Mini or mobile data
You can add a Starlink Mini as an extra for €10 a day, up to a maximum of €60 per booking. It works via satellite and can get you online where the mobile signal is weak, but a connection is not guaranteed: it depends on service coverage and needs a clear view of the sky. Trees, buildings or narrow valleys can block it, and the unit draws power continuously while it is on.
The simplest alternative is mobile data: tethering from your phone or using a 4G/5G router with a generous data plan. Before you leave, check your plan's roaming terms if you are going abroad; remember that Andorra and Switzerland are not in the EU. Carrying SIM cards from two different networks helps in areas with patchy coverage.
For important meetings, always have a plan B: a spot where you have already checked the signal is good, or campsite wifi, which can be handy but is often unreliable.
Your workspace: the dinette
The dining area, the dinette with its table, is your office. There is room for a laptop, a mouse and a notebook, and natural light from the windows makes a real difference. If two of you are working, take turns on video calls, or one of you can set up outside with the outdoor table and chairs included.
A few small things help on long working days: a laptop stand, a cushion for your back and a headset with a microphone. Tidy up every evening: in a small space, order is part of comfort.
Hooking up at a campsite for heavy use
If you will be working several days in a row with long hours on screen, an external monitor or lengthy video calls, the sensible option is to stay at a campsite or motorhome area with an electric hook-up. With the CEE cable and adaptors supplied, you plug into the mains and stop worrying about the battery.
A good strategy is to alternate: intensive work days at a campsite with electricity, and lighter or travel days at motorhome areas, making the most of the sun and charging while you drive.
Choosing a quiet place to work
To concentrate you need peace and quiet, a decent signal and somewhere you can stay for several hours. Campsites and authorised motorhome areas are the most reliable choice. Apps such as Park4Night or Campercontact include reviews from other travellers, who often mention the mobile signal.
Remember that in Catalonia wild camping is generally not permitted, and being parked is not the same as camping: outside a campsite or motorhome area, do not put out the awning, chairs or levelling chocks. For long working days, choose somewhere you can settle in properly.
- Check the signal when you arrive, before you unpack.
- Look for shade in summer: the interior heats up, and so does your laptop.
- Avoid busy spots during working hours if you have calls.
- In winter, the Truma heating runs on gas: return the bottles full or the gas used is charged.
Setting off from Granollers
Collecting the motorhome from Segimon Rental, next to Granollers and 5 minutes from the AP-7 and C-17, means you leave without crossing Barcelona and can reach quiet areas such as Montseny, the Costa Brava out of season or the Pyrenees within one or two hours.
From 7 days mileage is unlimited, which is useful if you combine working weeks with long stages. At handover we walk you through the control panel, battery and inverter so you know from day one how much power you have.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the battery last working on a laptop?
It depends on the laptop, what else is switched on, sunshine and season. With a 300 Ah lithium battery and solar panel you can work several days off-grid with normal use, but autonomy is not unlimited. For heavy use, hook up at a campsite.
Does the Starlink Mini work everywhere?
It is not guaranteed. It depends on service coverage and needs a clear view of the sky; trees, buildings or narrow valleys can prevent a connection. It costs €10 a day, up to €60 per booking.
Is there room to work inside the motorhome?
Yes, the dinette with its table works as a laptop workspace. The hire also includes an outdoor table and chairs.
What is the alternative to Starlink?
Mobile data: tethering from your phone or a 4G/5G router with a suitable plan. Check the roaming terms if you are travelling outside your home country.
