RP Motorhomes moves to bigger premises

Luxury Mercedes-based campervan and offroad vehicle specialist, RP Motorhomes, is on the move to bigger premises to cope with increased demand.

The company, which was started six years ago, is still in its original Nidderdale factory, but is on the move to premises that are triple the size of its current facility. The new Leeds-based location has 10-11,000 sq ft of space, but the company plans to introduce mezzanines to bring the usable space up to 12,000 sq ft, in comparison with the original 4,000sq ft premises.

Although not as idyllic a location, owners Steve and Jaye Young say the new premises are much more accessible, just five minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from the motorway.

Jaye tells us the move, “gives us an opportunity to grow". Current production levels average about two motorhomes per month and the new factory will allow an instant 50% increase to three per month with the aim to eventually be able to manufacture six vehicles per month.

It’s not just about numbers though, as the company used the time in lockdown instigate an upholstery department, which needed its own area set up. The new factory allows this to be done, as well as creating individual zones for other specialist staff, such as GRP, joinery and fabrication, etc.

The move could not have come at a better time as RP has noticed significant levels of increasing interest in its models. Jaye says she thinks the demand comes from “people who have been considering a campervan for a while, but the pandemic has given them more time to think.”

The company has also used the lockdown to fine tune some new designs, including a campervan with an elevated rear lounge in the Explorer range and a specialist overland vehicle on a 4x4 chassis, currently dubbed Rebellion following on from the company’s smaller Rebel camper.

Production will be stopping at the current factory in mid-December, with two weeks allowed for the company to prepare for the big move. Manufacturing will restart at the new premises in the first week of January.

Watch this space!