Motorhome prices!

Author
Discussion

BGARK

5,494 posts

247 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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GlenMH said:
thanks!

nagsheadwarrior

2,781 posts

180 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
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If you're going to the Nec try and dodge the weekend as it's rammed busy,Tuesday is probably best.
Magazines I'd say Mmm is the most popular bit Which Motorhome is the most factual, both from the same publishing house I think.

eric twinge

Original Poster:

1,625 posts

223 months

Thursday 10th September 2015
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There is the Caravan and Motorhome show in Romsey, Hampshire 18/19/20th September.
I live 5 minutes from Romsey so I expect I will pop along with the kids and have a nose around.

Fueltank

37 posts

204 months

Monday 28th September 2015
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We started off with a budget of £17, 000 which soon changed to £21000. After 11 months of looking at wrecks we found an Hymer at £31000. You soon realise the short comings of the transit type MH. Like you we wanted a 4 birth to take 2 children so you need 2 belted passenger seats as well. Underfloor storage, garage space for bikes etc, back bed, drop down over cab bed so you dont have to make up the dining area. The Hymers built from ali and fiberglass so very little to rust unlike the transit body ones. You will travel a lot of miles looking at MH but stick it out until you find the one that ticks all your boxes and dont compromise as you will regret it.

red_slr

17,266 posts

190 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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The best motorhome you will buy is the second motorhome you buy....

BGARK

5,494 posts

247 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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Ok so after returning from the show, everything I want starts at £50k+ smile

langy

565 posts

240 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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BGARK said:
Ok so after returning from the show, everything I want starts at £50k+ smile
Oh great, I'm there on Sunday biggrin

eric twinge

Original Poster:

1,625 posts

223 months

Sunday 18th October 2015
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well the Hymer we booked has unfortunately got a problem with the electric steps so that has to be cancelled. Despite Peters very generous offer of an extra 2 days hire to help with pick up I think Soton to MK is to far a round trip.
So we are hiring a team roller 675 with rear bunks for four nights to see how we get on with that. Next week, so I will report back.

Spuffington

1,206 posts

169 months

Tuesday 20th October 2015
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red_slr said:
The best motorhome you will buy is the second motorhome you buy....
I can personally vouch for this!

Spuffington

1,206 posts

169 months

Tuesday 20th October 2015
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eric twinge said:
well the Hymer we booked has unfortunately got a problem with the electric steps so that has to be cancelled. Despite Peters very generous offer of an extra 2 days hire to help with pick up I think Soton to MK is to far a round trip.
So we are hiring a team roller 675 with rear bunks for four nights to see how we get on with that. Next week, so I will report back.
Sorry to hear the Hymer isn't available. Good luck with the roller team and do report back.

Still probably worth trying out the Hymer at some point though, since they're of far superior build quality even as ageing vans and represent great value second hand buys, which scarcely depreciate.

TimJMS

2,584 posts

252 months

Monday 26th October 2015
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Spuffington said:
red_slr said:
The best motorhome you will buy is the second motorhome you buy....
I can personally vouch for this!
I did laugh at this. Two of my friends with motorhomes would heartily agree with you both.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Monday 26th October 2015
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TimJMS said:
Spuffington said:
red_slr said:
The best motorhome you will buy is the second motorhome you buy....
I can personally vouch for this!
I did laugh at this. Two of my friends with motorhomes would heartily agree with you both.
Does that mean that in general buyers don't do enough layout research beforehand?

TimJMS

2,584 posts

252 months

Monday 26th October 2015
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In the case of my friends, they simply enjoyed it far more than they thought they would.

GlenMH

5,213 posts

244 months

Monday 26th October 2015
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And I would say that we got it right first time (knowing that the perfect layout for us doesn't exist on the market) and our 2nd MH is not as good for us as a family....

red_slr

17,266 posts

190 months

Monday 26th October 2015
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People say that because in general you think you want ABC when in reality you *need* CDE.

Some get it right first time but you often find that until you get out there and spend lots of time in a motorhome there are some features that might be more required than you think. For us we enjoyed our first van a lot and I would say we got it 80% right. Next time round we will be over 95% I reckon.

If they layout is wrong yes that's a major one as you cant really change it. But I think most people know what layout they want.

For me, from the drivers point of view should have gone for an auto. Would have made it much more relaxing to drive. Also from my POV the next one will have a lot more power. I think ours was c.150bhp and that was nowhere near enough for just under 5 tonnes. Everywhere we went it seemed to be up a massive hill!

We both agree we want something with a shower room and a toilet room. Also something with underfloor or better heating than our blown air heating system - it was ok though.

Bigger water tank would be good, along with better use of power.

I would like a dinette too.

A Monaco RV would tick all the boxes..... biggrin


Spuffington

1,206 posts

169 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
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I agree with a lot of the above.

For me, I was adamant we needed something to cart my mountainbike around INSIDE the vehicle and therefore some sort of garage. And also somewhere I could put my daughter to bed, away from us in the living space. My wife was of the opinion that we NEEDED a separate shower cubicle and a massive fridge/freezer.

As it turned out, we needed none of the above. In fact, the Rimor Superbrig 728 which we bought, with all of the above and a garage converted out of bunk beds, was not only mechanically a bag of spanners, but didn't really suit us at all. The double & single dinette were uncomfortable places in which to lounge of an evening. So even when my daughter was in bed, we couldn't properly relax. And the overcab bed which was necessitated to keep a bed fully made up but away from my daughter, ended up being claustrophobic and a faff.

So, bring on the Hymer BS640 Starline we currently have....

- Gone are the bunk beds. My daughter sleeps on a full size single in the living room. BUT there's room for my good lady and I to lounge in the captains cab seats of an evening in much more comfort than the dinettes.
- We have a bed which is made up all the time, but pulls down from the roof and is far more spacious and comfortable than the luton beds.
- We do have a shower cubicle but is made up as part of the bathroom and therefore have a spacious bathroom if we want and use the onsite facilities if needbe.
- We don't need a massive fridge/freezer, so go shopping for fresher food more regularly.
- When my daughter's not asleep, we have a really comfy area for lounging.

So for us, all of our preconceptions of what we wanted, or needed, were completely wrong. And it took us the first van to work all of that out. We wouldn't be told and had to experience it for ourselves. Although it cost me a couple of grand, I don't regret it in a way since I now have exactly what I want.

Oh - and for the comment about newer or the next one being better............my Hymer is 18months older than my Rimor! wink

And about 18x the build quality better! smile

BGARK

5,494 posts

247 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
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Spuffington said:
So, bring on the Hymer BS640 Starline we currently have....
I am learning a lot from some of the comments here. My choice seems to have narrowed to a Hymer, just not yet sure what model. I was looking for a garage to house a moped but really that could be mounted on the outside if necessary.

One of my issues is internal height, I am 6ft 4" and it was impossible to even fit into the majority of motorhomes at the show. With most having also raised the floor levels at the rear for no apparent reason making the showers impossible to use. Although I appreciate I will need to compromise here (or not bother washing).



red_slr

17,266 posts

190 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
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I keep looking at RS..... its not going to end well!!

eric twinge

Original Poster:

1,625 posts

223 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
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We pick up the hire Rollerteam tomorrow. 4 nights, two sites booked. Kids are utterly besides themselves with excitement, just hope we have some dry weather.
It will be an interesting few days to see how we get on with a motorhome. If I can I'll post some thoughts and pictures as we go along.

Spuffington

1,206 posts

169 months

Wednesday 28th October 2015
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eric twinge said:
We pick up the hire Rollerteam tomorrow. 4 nights, two sites booked. Kids are utterly besides themselves with excitement, just hope we have some dry weather.
It will be an interesting few days to see how we get on with a motorhome. If I can I'll post some thoughts and pictures as we go along.
Please do. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope you have as an amazing time in that as we do in ours.