Finally getting my own motorhome!
Discussion
After months of scouring the classifieds, missing out on a few and seeing some absolute dogs (plus pestering NHW a fair bit!), I am now hopefully going to be picking up my own motorhome next Saturday after spending the whole of yesterday afternoon pouring over one I spotted on eBay.
It's a late 2002 Rimor Superbrig 728 on a Merc 316CDi chassis. It's LHD, manual, on 90k km (c 55k miles) and in beautiful nick for for a 12 yr old motorhome and clearly loved and had attention lavished upon it. As NHW told me, the Rimors are utilitarian buses, not much in the way of luxury but durable and just the thing for a family IMO.
The 728 is a 6-berth with two rear bunk beds (bottom flips up for a garage storage area), double and single dinettes (which convert into beds but we'll leave the single made up like a sofa and then a huge overcab Luton (super king size).
Bonus of this van is its got a Honda generator properly built and wired in, which has a remote start from the kitchen, so you can be self sufficient which although a generator was not a prerequisite, is a nice to have given we'd be keen to do wild camping.
Hopefully pick it up next weekend (still subject to a bit of negotiation) and then look forward to making it our own and planning the first jaunt out. This is the first stage in a bit of a life plan in which I'll be taking a 3-month sabbatical in 2yrs time before my daughter starts school where hopefully we can tour Europe in the van.
Thanks to everyone for their help over previous threads and particularly to NHW.
Dead excited!
It's a late 2002 Rimor Superbrig 728 on a Merc 316CDi chassis. It's LHD, manual, on 90k km (c 55k miles) and in beautiful nick for for a 12 yr old motorhome and clearly loved and had attention lavished upon it. As NHW told me, the Rimors are utilitarian buses, not much in the way of luxury but durable and just the thing for a family IMO.
The 728 is a 6-berth with two rear bunk beds (bottom flips up for a garage storage area), double and single dinettes (which convert into beds but we'll leave the single made up like a sofa and then a huge overcab Luton (super king size).
Bonus of this van is its got a Honda generator properly built and wired in, which has a remote start from the kitchen, so you can be self sufficient which although a generator was not a prerequisite, is a nice to have given we'd be keen to do wild camping.
Hopefully pick it up next weekend (still subject to a bit of negotiation) and then look forward to making it our own and planning the first jaunt out. This is the first stage in a bit of a life plan in which I'll be taking a 3-month sabbatical in 2yrs time before my daughter starts school where hopefully we can tour Europe in the van.
Thanks to everyone for their help over previous threads and particularly to NHW.
Dead excited!
Ha ha! Well spotted, that man!
Gajon - actually on 3.5t plate but I'll probably get the boys at SVTech to take a look at re-plating it, depending on what useable load is like. Current owner says it's not been a problem, but heard some stories there can be precious little left by way of payload. SVTech can replete these to just shy of 4t without any additional work to it (just a replate). BUT, on the flip side, keeping it under 3.5t means it doesn't fall under the LEZ penalties and cheaper on the continent.
We'll see. Just need to get in it now. Spoke with owner this morning to do the deal and just contingent on a hab check and a convenient time for me to collect.
V excited now!
Gajon - actually on 3.5t plate but I'll probably get the boys at SVTech to take a look at re-plating it, depending on what useable load is like. Current owner says it's not been a problem, but heard some stories there can be precious little left by way of payload. SVTech can replete these to just shy of 4t without any additional work to it (just a replate). BUT, on the flip side, keeping it under 3.5t means it doesn't fall under the LEZ penalties and cheaper on the continent.
We'll see. Just need to get in it now. Spoke with owner this morning to do the deal and just contingent on a hab check and a convenient time for me to collect.
V excited now!
If your planning European travel and as you will have young ones on board, you might want to look at some Fiamma exterior door locks.
You can enter and exit the van through the cab doors but will stop the habitation door being opened out from inside.
Plus some extra security from would be thieves.
You can enter and exit the van through the cab doors but will stop the habitation door being opened out from inside.
Plus some extra security from would be thieves.
Thanks guys. It all appears to be coming together nicely.
HPI all completed last night, deposit BACS'd across. Insurance just sorted for a lot less than I was anticipating and may also have scored a place in my local Gold-rated storage place, which is literally 1.5miles from my house!
Hab check is proving difficult since everyone seems booked up for 6-8weeks in advance. I am trusting my nose and instincts at the moment (hope I don't regret it) but given the thing is used every fortnight, has been well looked after and lavished with care, I may just turn up on Monday with my Uncle who knows a few things about motorhomes and a damp meter and just take a punt. Had a good nose around it at the weekend and all looks, smells and feels in order.
First major trip planned for NW Scotland in June (was already booked to go in the X5 before this turned up) but will try and get away for a couple of nights locally just to try it out beforehand.
Excited is an understatement!
HPI all completed last night, deposit BACS'd across. Insurance just sorted for a lot less than I was anticipating and may also have scored a place in my local Gold-rated storage place, which is literally 1.5miles from my house!
Hab check is proving difficult since everyone seems booked up for 6-8weeks in advance. I am trusting my nose and instincts at the moment (hope I don't regret it) but given the thing is used every fortnight, has been well looked after and lavished with care, I may just turn up on Monday with my Uncle who knows a few things about motorhomes and a damp meter and just take a punt. Had a good nose around it at the weekend and all looks, smells and feels in order.
First major trip planned for NW Scotland in June (was already booked to go in the X5 before this turned up) but will try and get away for a couple of nights locally just to try it out beforehand.
Excited is an understatement!
Thanks NHW. Appreciate all your help when I was searching previously. Heading up to the Lakes soon so will aim to pop by if we have the time and at least have a cuppa & say hi.
RRH, I'll PM you although it's easy enough to find on eBay!
All going well - shopping has already started......!
- bought some Fiamma locks for the habitation door (thanks Gajon) and also for the side cargo door so will fit those soon;
- bought a leather journal for us to record our adventures in (journal will live in the van)
- bought a CO detector (believe there's one, but just to be on the safe side);
- going shopping with the wife on Saturday for toilet chemicals, Melamine crockery, glasses and cooking pans/utensils. Musn't forget the bottle opener! :lol:
- then need to sort out getting the cherished plate off retention and put on the van (it's sequential with my X5! )
- get using it!
Anything else I've forgotten?!
RRH, I'll PM you although it's easy enough to find on eBay!
All going well - shopping has already started......!
- bought some Fiamma locks for the habitation door (thanks Gajon) and also for the side cargo door so will fit those soon;
- bought a leather journal for us to record our adventures in (journal will live in the van)
- bought a CO detector (believe there's one, but just to be on the safe side);
- going shopping with the wife on Saturday for toilet chemicals, Melamine crockery, glasses and cooking pans/utensils. Musn't forget the bottle opener! :lol:
- then need to sort out getting the cherished plate off retention and put on the van (it's sequential with my X5!
)- get using it!
Anything else I've forgotten?!
Spuffington said:
Thanks NHW. Appreciate all your help when I was searching previously. Heading up to the Lakes soon so will aim to pop by if we have the time and at least have a cuppa & say hi.
RRH, I'll PM you although it's easy enough to find on eBay!
All going well - shopping has already started......!
- bought some Fiamma locks for the habitation door (thanks Gajon) and also for the side cargo door so will fit those soon;
- bought a leather journal for us to record our adventures in (journal will live in the van)
- bought a CO detector (believe there's one, but just to be on the safe side);
- going shopping with the wife on Saturday for toilet chemicals, Melamine crockery, glasses and cooking pans/utensils. Musn't forget the bottle opener! :lol:
- then need to sort out getting the cherished plate off retention and put on the van (it's sequential with my X5! )
- get using it!
Anything else I've forgotten?!
Make sure you have some gas!RRH, I'll PM you although it's easy enough to find on eBay!
All going well - shopping has already started......!
- bought some Fiamma locks for the habitation door (thanks Gajon) and also for the side cargo door so will fit those soon;
- bought a leather journal for us to record our adventures in (journal will live in the van)
- bought a CO detector (believe there's one, but just to be on the safe side);
- going shopping with the wife on Saturday for toilet chemicals, Melamine crockery, glasses and cooking pans/utensils. Musn't forget the bottle opener! :lol:
- then need to sort out getting the cherished plate off retention and put on the van (it's sequential with my X5!
)- get using it!
Anything else I've forgotten?!
Spuffington said:
Anything else I've forgotten?!
Hose for filling water tank, also water carrier or watering can, saves you moving the van if your away from a tap.Some clean water tank sterilisation tablets.
Seperate water bottle for brew up water, I use a 5ltr from the shops then fill it with a tap at site.
Fold down washing basket, we leave ours on the driving seat out of the way.
Bin liners, and a pack away swing type bin.
BBQ, sausages and loads of beer.
Just packing my van for a weekend away and one other item I forget to mention that only occured to me while packing.
Tea towels.
Not for drying pots.
To pack around stuff while your travelling and stopping rattles, things like grill pans, plates, cuttlery.
It'll drive you mad at first, then you develop a routine almost ritual like to combat it.
Tea towels.
Not for drying pots.
To pack around stuff while your travelling and stopping rattles, things like grill pans, plates, cuttlery.
It'll drive you mad at first, then you develop a routine almost ritual like to combat it.
Thanks mate. Excitement is building!
Appreciate the heads up on things. We've been compiling a list of what we think we'll need over the last week - last night we did a Sainsbury's shop for all the essentials (toothbrushes, toothpaste, washing up liquid, sponges, antibac wipes etc) which can be left in the van and tomorrow we're going shopping for melamine crockery, acryllic glasses and saucepans etc. We've been working through a packing list I found on a really interesting site - www.ourtour.co.uk which details a couple's motorhoming adventure after packing up work for a year. That's been a really good resource.
I'm sure it's one big learning experience and I can't wait to get started!
Emailed the vendor with the last few bits I need off him and procedure for transfering the funds on Monday. I also managed to secure the "Gold Insurance Approved" storage facility 2miles from my house, which is a complete touch. I'm so pleased it's going to be laid up close to us so that I can pop over to it easily when things need doing or when we're getting away in it.
Getting very excited indeed now.
Appreciate the heads up on things. We've been compiling a list of what we think we'll need over the last week - last night we did a Sainsbury's shop for all the essentials (toothbrushes, toothpaste, washing up liquid, sponges, antibac wipes etc) which can be left in the van and tomorrow we're going shopping for melamine crockery, acryllic glasses and saucepans etc. We've been working through a packing list I found on a really interesting site - www.ourtour.co.uk which details a couple's motorhoming adventure after packing up work for a year. That's been a really good resource.
I'm sure it's one big learning experience and I can't wait to get started!
Emailed the vendor with the last few bits I need off him and procedure for transfering the funds on Monday. I also managed to secure the "Gold Insurance Approved" storage facility 2miles from my house, which is a complete touch. I'm so pleased it's going to be laid up close to us so that I can pop over to it easily when things need doing or when we're getting away in it.
Getting very excited indeed now.
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