Motor homes.....advice gratefully received!
Discussion
Evening all. Not massively ph I admit but will be going to race meetings!!
About 30k on a motor home is the plan. 4 berth. I'm a novice. I've bought the what motorhome mag
yes I really did! So it's a serious plan.
Lots of makes and variations make me a confused chap. I'm fine with tvrs but motor homes not so...m
Any advice???
Thanks in advance.
Mike
About 30k on a motor home is the plan. 4 berth. I'm a novice. I've bought the what motorhome mag
yes I really did! So it's a serious plan. Lots of makes and variations make me a confused chap. I'm fine with tvrs but motor homes not so...m
Any advice???
Thanks in advance.
Mike
The first thing Mike is to understand what you want to use it for and where you can keep it. The layout is also important depending upon use, do you want permanent beds or happy to make up as and when. Will you mainly use as a two berth or four.
Size wise is a consideration as well, big ones are good but if you are in the lanes of Devon big is not always best.
My advice would be to go to a motorhome show and look at as many as you can. Coach built come in many layouts and qualities and accordingly price. Anything A class, is expensive and as the engine is built over costs increase if repairs are needed. If you go you can speak to the owners clubs as well and get information from them.
Chassis types, a lot are built on a front wheel drive cab with an Alko chassis at the rear. This makes the floor lower inside the unit, others are built on an unaltered chassis and tend to be taller as a result.
You could also look at van conversions as there are some nice ones of those and size wise they are easier to live with.
Bear in mind engine ratings, if you want to go into the London area, you need Euro 6 otherwise there is a hefty charge.
As always condition and as the previous poster said damp is a problem but newer ones like Baileys are much better constructed using less wood in the side panels with much better sealing than ever before. Look in all the overhead lockers for signs or damp, discoloration is a giveaway. Take a torch and have a good look around in every locker and every place you can.
I built my own van conversion and it is great for what I use it for, full bathroom etc and can tow my Westfield if needed but unless you are going to get a lot of use from it the costs can mount up
Size wise is a consideration as well, big ones are good but if you are in the lanes of Devon big is not always best.
My advice would be to go to a motorhome show and look at as many as you can. Coach built come in many layouts and qualities and accordingly price. Anything A class, is expensive and as the engine is built over costs increase if repairs are needed. If you go you can speak to the owners clubs as well and get information from them.
Chassis types, a lot are built on a front wheel drive cab with an Alko chassis at the rear. This makes the floor lower inside the unit, others are built on an unaltered chassis and tend to be taller as a result.
You could also look at van conversions as there are some nice ones of those and size wise they are easier to live with.
Bear in mind engine ratings, if you want to go into the London area, you need Euro 6 otherwise there is a hefty charge.
As always condition and as the previous poster said damp is a problem but newer ones like Baileys are much better constructed using less wood in the side panels with much better sealing than ever before. Look in all the overhead lockers for signs or damp, discoloration is a giveaway. Take a torch and have a good look around in every locker and every place you can.
I built my own van conversion and it is great for what I use it for, full bathroom etc and can tow my Westfield if needed but unless you are going to get a lot of use from it the costs can mount up
valiant said:
Bugger.. didn't see that area. Thank you..spaximus said:
The first thing Mike is to understand what you want to use it for and where you can keep it. The layout is also important depending upon use, do you want permanent beds or happy to make up as and when. Will you mainly use as a two berth or four.
Size wise is a consideration as well, big ones are good but if you are in the lanes of Devon big is not always best.
My advice would be to go to a motorhome show and look at as many as you can. Coach built come in many layouts and qualities and accordingly price. Anything A class, is expensive and as the engine is built over costs increase if repairs are needed. If you go you can speak to the owners clubs as well and get information from them.
Chassis types, a lot are built on a front wheel drive cab with an Alko chassis at the rear. This makes the floor lower inside the unit, others are built on an unaltered chassis and tend to be taller as a result.
You could also look at van conversions as there are some nice ones of those and size wise they are easier to live with.
Bear in mind engine ratings, if you want to go into the London area, you need Euro 6 otherwise there is a hefty charge.
As always condition and as the previous poster said damp is a problem but newer ones like Baileys are much better constructed using less wood in the side panels with much better sealing than ever before. Look in all the overhead lockers for signs or damp, discoloration is a giveaway. Take a torch and have a good look around in every locker and every place you can.
I built my own van conversion and it is great for what I use it for, full bathroom etc and can tow my Westfield if needed but unless you are going to get a lot of use from it the costs can mount up
Spaximus, thank you. Great advice. Appreciate it. Plan is an a class 4 berth with permanent beds I think. Also to tow a twizy or smart car for smaller lanes. Size wise is a consideration as well, big ones are good but if you are in the lanes of Devon big is not always best.
My advice would be to go to a motorhome show and look at as many as you can. Coach built come in many layouts and qualities and accordingly price. Anything A class, is expensive and as the engine is built over costs increase if repairs are needed. If you go you can speak to the owners clubs as well and get information from them.
Chassis types, a lot are built on a front wheel drive cab with an Alko chassis at the rear. This makes the floor lower inside the unit, others are built on an unaltered chassis and tend to be taller as a result.
You could also look at van conversions as there are some nice ones of those and size wise they are easier to live with.
Bear in mind engine ratings, if you want to go into the London area, you need Euro 6 otherwise there is a hefty charge.
As always condition and as the previous poster said damp is a problem but newer ones like Baileys are much better constructed using less wood in the side panels with much better sealing than ever before. Look in all the overhead lockers for signs or damp, discoloration is a giveaway. Take a torch and have a good look around in every locker and every place you can.
I built my own van conversion and it is great for what I use it for, full bathroom etc and can tow my Westfield if needed but unless you are going to get a lot of use from it the costs can mount up
Another important consideration is payload. Many of the modern coachbuilts are full of lovely bits and bobs and that all adds to the weight. Once you've got 2 adults aboard, half a tank of water, couple of bikes, food, clothes and some beer and wine stashed away, many vans are perilously close to their max weight. 400 kgs payload may sound OK but it's surprising how quickly you can use that up. Most vans are rated around 3,500 kgs max weight, though it's possible to get this uprated somewhat. We went for a Fiat Ducato on a "Maxi" chassis which is rated at 4,500 kgs giving a usable 900 kgs payload. Many traders will look blank if you ask them about payload, but it's important and plod get very unhappy if they find that you are overweight.
Depending on when you got your license, you may be limited to 3.5 tonnes.
I got mine after 1/1/97, mainly because I was only 16 then, so will need to do training and a test to go over 3.5 tonnes, which I think I really should do.
I'm in a similar position to the OP, although not considering towing a car along. (Bicycles for the running around.)
I got mine after 1/1/97, mainly because I was only 16 then, so will need to do training and a test to go over 3.5 tonnes, which I think I really should do.
I'm in a similar position to the OP, although not considering towing a car along. (Bicycles for the running around.)
Do some research and get an idea of what layout you 'think' you would like. Then try hiring one first to check that
a) The layout works
b) The whole MH experience works for you
After that, all the good advice given so far is worth listening to regarding damp; layout; payload; driving licence etc
They (whomever 'they' are!) say that the best MH you will ever own will be your second one!
Good luck...exciting times
We are picking our 3rd one up in 3 weeks time
a) The layout works
b) The whole MH experience works for you
After that, all the good advice given so far is worth listening to regarding damp; layout; payload; driving licence etc
They (whomever 'they' are!) say that the best MH you will ever own will be your second one!
Good luck...exciting times
We are picking our 3rd one up in 3 weeks time
I would say layout is the most important choice. I was adamant that I didn't want to have to make a bed every night, so we have a transverse double over a large garage at the rear (big enough for table / chairs / couple of bikes). We also have a double that drops down manually from the ceiling over the front dinette area and now the kids don't often come away with us that space is not wasted as it stays up at the ceiling.
Van conversions are good, and can fit places that a coachbuilt wouldn't but you often don't get a separate toilet or a shower, which can be problematic if you intend to wild camp.
After family have bought English built vans as their first, they have migrated to continental vans as the built quality is often a lot better (we went straight to German and still have our first)
Other advice about hiring first is sound as you will be able to see what works for you without spending too much
Good luck !
Van conversions are good, and can fit places that a coachbuilt wouldn't but you often don't get a separate toilet or a shower, which can be problematic if you intend to wild camp.
After family have bought English built vans as their first, they have migrated to continental vans as the built quality is often a lot better (we went straight to German and still have our first)
Other advice about hiring first is sound as you will be able to see what works for you without spending too much
Good luck !
Edited by chopper602 on Wednesday 1st May 14:17
Yep 
Our first MH had a bed that had to be made up every night as it had a rear lounge. What a PITA that is!
Sod that, we changed it after a year to a fixed bed option...no lugging bedding up and down the MH; no making the bed when you have a few sherbets on board; and no making up the bed when it's over 30 degrees inside the MH (summer in northern Italy; SoF;Spain etc)
Our first MH had a bed that had to be made up every night as it had a rear lounge. What a PITA that is!
Sod that, we changed it after a year to a fixed bed option...no lugging bedding up and down the MH; no making the bed when you have a few sherbets on board; and no making up the bed when it's over 30 degrees inside the MH (summer in northern Italy; SoF;Spain etc)
soupdragon1 said:
Rent one out for a few days and go on a trip. Best way to learn pros and cons before a purchase.
This!We have just had a customer who had realised that they made a terrible mistake with their purchase and a very short term ownership has cost them a lot of money.
A few weekends at a few hundred quid each are massively cheaper than making the wrong decision. You might even discover that it doesn't work at all for you...
My thinking process was
1. How many belted seats / beds?
2. Size? I couldn't go over 2.25m wide and 6.5m long on the drive
3. PVC / coachbuilt / A-class? I wanted a Hymer b544 a-class, but it wouldn't fit on the drive.
4. What companies do you like the look of? For me, given my constraints, it was Hymercar / Globecar / Possl / Rapido / Adria
5. What models are in your price range and fit your criteria? I would have been happy with an Adria Twin, a 3 berth Possl or Globecar, but I ended up with a Wildax Aurora.
6. Can you find a dealer in reasonable distance (for snagging) that isn't terrible? I looked at a few, and although the place I bought from is a 90m drive away, they've gone above and beyond whenever I've come back to them with something.
I found the guide on Motorhomefun useful, and managed do do pretty well in negotiations (best I've ever done on a vehicle purchase) - http://shop.motorhomefun.co.uk/product/motorhome-b...
That guide is free if you join motorhomefun, which you should for the tech advice you'll find on the forums.
1. How many belted seats / beds?
2. Size? I couldn't go over 2.25m wide and 6.5m long on the drive
3. PVC / coachbuilt / A-class? I wanted a Hymer b544 a-class, but it wouldn't fit on the drive.
4. What companies do you like the look of? For me, given my constraints, it was Hymercar / Globecar / Possl / Rapido / Adria
5. What models are in your price range and fit your criteria? I would have been happy with an Adria Twin, a 3 berth Possl or Globecar, but I ended up with a Wildax Aurora.
6. Can you find a dealer in reasonable distance (for snagging) that isn't terrible? I looked at a few, and although the place I bought from is a 90m drive away, they've gone above and beyond whenever I've come back to them with something.
I found the guide on Motorhomefun useful, and managed do do pretty well in negotiations (best I've ever done on a vehicle purchase) - http://shop.motorhomefun.co.uk/product/motorhome-b...
That guide is free if you join motorhomefun, which you should for the tech advice you'll find on the forums.
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