Mid noughties motorhomes...
Discussion
We've decided to take the plunge on a motorhome and are looking at spending up to £25k (but would rather less if possible). We have three kids and are tall so are looking at overcab 6 berth efforts with a nearside dinette so I can slide the driver's seat back.
Anyway, the question I have is what to avoid? What chassis are crap, what engines go pop and what firms made a crap job of the back bit?
Anyway, the question I have is what to avoid? What chassis are crap, what engines go pop and what firms made a crap job of the back bit?
First thing is not blokey or ph but chassis is really the least important bit,its the conversion that matters most and all the cabs are pretty close,the fiat/pug clone dominates and is very good.
Converter wise stick to manufacturers from Britain,Germany or France who are still in business and you wont go far wrong,avoid temptingly cheap budget italian vans like ci,elnagh,mclouis etc they can be good but often arent and parts are hard.
Buy from a good dealer or get the habiation checked by an expert if buying privately.
Converter wise stick to manufacturers from Britain,Germany or France who are still in business and you wont go far wrong,avoid temptingly cheap budget italian vans like ci,elnagh,mclouis etc they can be good but often arent and parts are hard.
Buy from a good dealer or get the habiation checked by an expert if buying privately.
Edited by nagsheadwarrior on Saturday 5th January 22:45
Rust and unreliability are more of a concern. Interesting that you mention Ci, as they're very cheap Cis do look cheap but they started off cheap in the first place before the euro drove the price up,they can be ok but they can suffer terribly from damp which is a real killer and the spec and build quality are a little low.
Chassis wise rust wont be an issue on a coachbuilt of that age and reliability wise they are a truck designed to do 40k a year that has done 4k instead,normally at a sensible speed!
There are still different things to look out for on each cab and many many potential things conversion wise.
I work in the trade but am knowhere near you although i know some good people in the trade in your kneck of the woods,id happily help point you in the right direction and give you an idea of what to look for on different models etc if that helps.
I'll drop you a p.m
Chassis wise rust wont be an issue on a coachbuilt of that age and reliability wise they are a truck designed to do 40k a year that has done 4k instead,normally at a sensible speed!
There are still different things to look out for on each cab and many many potential things conversion wise.
I work in the trade but am knowhere near you although i know some good people in the trade in your kneck of the woods,id happily help point you in the right direction and give you an idea of what to look for on different models etc if that helps.
I'll drop you a p.m
nagsheadwarrior said:
Cis do look cheap but they started off cheap in the first place before the euro drove the price up,they can be ok but they can suffer terribly from damp which is a real killer and the spec and build quality are a little low.
Chassis wise rust wont be an issue on a coachbuilt of that age and reliability wise they are a truck designed to do 40k a year that has done 4k instead,normally at a sensible speed!
There are still different things to look out for on each cab and many many potential things conversion wise.
I work in the trade but am knowhere near you although i know some good people in the trade in your kneck of the woods,id happily help point you in the right direction and give you an idea of what to look for on different models etc if that helps.
I'll drop you a p.m
Cheers. PMs seem to be taking days to get through for some reason, so I'm not ignoring you if I don't reply immediately Chassis wise rust wont be an issue on a coachbuilt of that age and reliability wise they are a truck designed to do 40k a year that has done 4k instead,normally at a sensible speed!
There are still different things to look out for on each cab and many many potential things conversion wise.
I work in the trade but am knowhere near you although i know some good people in the trade in your kneck of the woods,id happily help point you in the right direction and give you an idea of what to look for on different models etc if that helps.
I'll drop you a p.m
Good point on the reliability front, that had occurred to me but firms do still occasionally drop a b
k designing things, however I guess it'd have to be a monumental one to affect a motorhome 
Are there any issues with something that gets used that little? At least when they do move it tends to be a good run.Spec-wise I'm after a slightly odd mix and really want a mobile bunkhouse rather than the "luxury" experience most motorhome buyers seem to be after. It's tempting to get something cheap and rejig the interior to suit us but the cheaper stuff won't be as damp proof (I assume) so it's probably a false economy.
Sorry for the rambling post, and thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.
With 5 of you, You need to consider all the stuff you'll be humping around, certainly for a holiday with kids.
So maybe a garage layout with rear bed over, front overcab and dinnete that converts to a bunk.
Take a look at Rimors or Kentucky camps on the Transit cabs, good sturdy vans, used alot by the moto X boys, simple and tough.
Also should be in your budget.
So maybe a garage layout with rear bed over, front overcab and dinnete that converts to a bunk.
Take a look at Rimors or Kentucky camps on the Transit cabs, good sturdy vans, used alot by the moto X boys, simple and tough.
Also should be in your budget.
Yep, with you on the garage plan. We borrowed a van last summer with bunks/smallish garage and it was marginal with all the crap we had so I'm hoping to get a double/garage at the rear.
Sunlight, who are Dethleff's budget brand, do twin bed arrangement with an optional centre fill in giving a 2x2m bed over a garage that would sleep all 3 kids. SWMBO is 6ft and I'm taller so it'd be nice not to have to share the dinette.
ETA Obviously at about twice our budget
Sunlight, who are Dethleff's budget brand, do twin bed arrangement with an optional centre fill in giving a 2x2m bed over a garage that would sleep all 3 kids. SWMBO is 6ft and I'm taller so it'd be nice not to have to share the dinette.
ETA Obviously at about twice our budget
Edited by Bill on Sunday 6th January 18:59
The most important thing for you will be payload.
Depending on which licence you hold may direct you towards certain makes.
The 'budget' models do tend to have better payloads because the materials are cheaper and lighter.
Our last MH was a Niesmann + Bischoff on a 4 tonne chassis and that just about gave us enough capacity for 2 of us with a garage without having to worry too much.
Dealers are pretty rubbish on this, and don't usually know. As an example we looked at a Rapido with a payload of 300kg, with 5 of you in it that will be pretty much used up.
It is worth thinking about how you want to use it, most UK vehicles are 3 season and don't stand up well to be used in cold climates.
Depending on which licence you hold may direct you towards certain makes.
The 'budget' models do tend to have better payloads because the materials are cheaper and lighter.
Our last MH was a Niesmann + Bischoff on a 4 tonne chassis and that just about gave us enough capacity for 2 of us with a garage without having to worry too much.
Dealers are pretty rubbish on this, and don't usually know. As an example we looked at a Rapido with a payload of 300kg, with 5 of you in it that will be pretty much used up.
It is worth thinking about how you want to use it, most UK vehicles are 3 season and don't stand up well to be used in cold climates.
nagsheadwarrior said:
chassis is really the least important bit
Strongly disagree. Something on say a low line Alko chassis will be very different to something on the std chassis that came with the cab. Compare a Swift Bolero with a Swift Sundance. The Bolero will go around corners, the Sundance wont. I don't mean boy racer antics, it's just nice to not feel it's going to topple over.Russ T Bolt said:
The most important thing for you will be payload.
It is worth thinking about how you want to use it, most UK vehicles are 3 season and don't stand up well to be used in cold climates.
I'm old so the licence isn't an issue, so I'm planning to replate the van if it's still 3.5t (which I believe is fairly straightforward...) However I'm sure I read somewhere that overplated vans are worth less because fewer people can drive them?It is worth thinking about how you want to use it, most UK vehicles are 3 season and don't stand up well to be used in cold climates.
It would be useful for it to be winterised but I have to admit I've no idea what can be done retrospectively. AIUI the water tanks are generally in the vehicle while the grey water tanks isn't, but you can fit a heater to get around this. I'm not sure what else is necessary or desirable.
Balmoral said:
trongly disagree. Something on say a low line Alko chassis will be very different to something on the std chassis that came with the cab. Compare a Swift Bolero with a Swift Sundance. The Bolero will go around corners, the Sundance wont. I don't mean boy racer antics, it's just nice to not feel it's going to topple over.
I assume Alko is the manufacturer?The van I borrowed was pretty terrible on roundabouts and I assumed that was normal, but an improvement would be a bonus.
Balmoral said:
trongly disagree. Something on say a low line Alko chassis will be very different to something on the std chassis that came with the cab. Compare a Swift Bolero with a Swift Sundance. The Bolero will go around corners, the Sundance wont. I don't mean boy racer antics, it's just nice to not feel it's going to topple over.
I dunno about that,the alko non alko difference used to be large but with the fiat camper chassis the gap is closed massively,we sell baileys on alkos amd adrias on camper chassis and unless you are driving in a most ungainly manner theyre both superb.Bill said:
I assume Alko is the manufacturer?
The van I borrowed was pretty terrible on roundabouts and I assumed that was normal, but an improvement would be a bonus.
Alko make the chassis and change the rear suspension.The van I borrowed was pretty terrible on roundabouts and I assumed that was normal, but an improvement would be a bonus.
On multi berth family models you dont normally see alko chassis bar 6 wheelers as it pushed the price right up.
Pm prob wil take ages,i work for a northern dealer rhymes with shambles!
Balmoral said:
trongly disagree. Something on say a low line Alko chassis will be very different to something on the std chassis that came with the cab. Compare a Swift Bolero with a Swift Sundance. The Bolero will go around corners, the Sundance wont. I don't mean boy racer antics, it's just nice to not feel it's going to topple over.
We have an 08 Swift Suntor, same as Sundance but different layout and it drives great, and used for towing.I cant compare to an Alko chassis model tho' as never driven one.
Just to put another idea in the mix..
I was looking for a van around Feb/March time last year and noticed a few exhire vans, 08 Chauson Flash models on Ford Transit chassis (This gives you cruise control, aircon and few other nice bits missing on comparable Fiat /pug vans)
Unfortunately for me the front wheel drive Transit has a v low tow capacity and the Flash has rear bunks and i needed rear garage with bed over.
These vans with 70-80k miles where on offer for around 20k ! Seemed like a bargain. ?
Eta.. One on AdTrader now, 08reg 6berth 44k miles £21k !
Edited by R TOY on Sunday 6th January 23:50
wve got Flash 09 and I founfd it great value. t was bunks at the rear and two doubles as well as a small single dinette ( baby or small child) full size fridge, ford transit base. Ive been very very happy with it.
just seen the comment above about towing with the flash, I used to tow my tuscan racecar with no problems whatsoever and being rear wheel drive with twin wheels ont he axles its been very good in damp fields.
just seen the comment above about towing with the flash, I used to tow my tuscan racecar with no problems whatsoever and being rear wheel drive with twin wheels ont he axles its been very good in damp fields.
Also have a Chausson Flash but an 03 model which is FWD and limited to 1000kg towing (if that is an issue to you). RWD Transit can tow much higher load than FWD. Chausson model seems to be fine, nothing has fallen off it despite kids best efforts to take it to pieces. It's quite cramped with four of us and the kids are still only small, have you considered a rear lounge plus centre dinette layout? That will give you somewhere to park people whilst you are cooking food and still have the necessary berths and seats. With a rear double over garage everyone will be in the dinette when it's raining and you want to cook something - cramped and a perfect scenario for it kicking off!
Be wary of Swift models from the mid-noughties as they had issues with spongy floors that need to be replaced. The only one I looked at had the problem. I understand Swift were being very co-operative about it but do you really want to go through the hassle.
Be wary of Swift models from the mid-noughties as they had issues with spongy floors that need to be replaced. The only one I looked at had the problem. I understand Swift were being very co-operative about it but do you really want to go through the hassle.
nick997 said:
It's quite cramped with four of us and the kids are still only small, have you considered a rear lounge plus centre dinette layout? That will give you somewhere to park people whilst you are cooking food and still have the necessary berths and seats. With a rear double over garage everyone will be in the dinette when it's raining and you want to cook something - cramped and a perfect scenario for it kicking off!
This is true, and one reason we want a double over garage rather than bunks. At least then the bed can be used as a play area during the day if needs be.The main thing to do is watch out for damp.
I've just replaced the entire roof and all the timbers (except the floor which is perfect) in my Swift bar the ply bulkhead on the driver's side. This has been a massive job and it would genuinely have been easier to build a new body from scratch. Making and fitting the roof (and wooden frame) was the easiest bit...
I've just replaced the entire roof and all the timbers (except the floor which is perfect) in my Swift bar the ply bulkhead on the driver's side. This has been a massive job and it would genuinely have been easier to build a new body from scratch. Making and fitting the roof (and wooden frame) was the easiest bit...
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