Motorhome prices!
Discussion
I have started to look at Motorhomes with a view To possibly purchasing at the end of the year.
Does it make any difference to pricing with regards time of year, i.e is there slower times for sales?
I am afraid it would appear that our max would be £15k and for that it would need to be a 4 birth. Other than that I havn't got a clue what is what but I am spending an extraordinary amount of time reading the posts on this section. Where else can I read and gain info from? I have scrolled through all 35 pages of topics on this forum looking at anything that sounds vaguely motorome related.
Lastly, this website : http://motorhomes.caravansforsale.co.uk/motorhomes...
Surely those prices are not correct? They seem far too cheap, is it just a spam site, what am I missing?
Thanks
Does it make any difference to pricing with regards time of year, i.e is there slower times for sales?
I am afraid it would appear that our max would be £15k and for that it would need to be a 4 birth. Other than that I havn't got a clue what is what but I am spending an extraordinary amount of time reading the posts on this section. Where else can I read and gain info from? I have scrolled through all 35 pages of topics on this forum looking at anything that sounds vaguely motorome related.
Lastly, this website : http://motorhomes.caravansforsale.co.uk/motorhomes...
Surely those prices are not correct? They seem far too cheap, is it just a spam site, what am I missing?
Thanks
Spuffington said:
Do seem a little in the cheap side to me.
Firstly, £15k isn't that much money but with a careful search you'll be able to find something which fits the bill.
I'm not so up on any seasonal changes in prices but I'd certainly say it'll be quieter for someone trying to shift a van in the winter, so there may well be deals to be done. It'll either be classic supply and demand or dependent on the desire of the seller to get rid.
Personally, having made a massive mistake first time around by buying a cheap Italian van, I would recommend seeking yourself out an old Hymer. Yes, they might look old fashioned and sometimes a bit of a museum piece, but they're incredibly solid and reliable machines. We've just picked up a 2001 a-class, ok so about £10k over your budget, but I'm fully persuaded of the solidity of these old rigs that I'd have no problem seeking out something older and within your budget and you'll likely have less problem (particularly with damp) than you may do with something a bit more modern but less well built.
Also, if you're new to motorhoming, see about borrowing one or going to a show or showroom before you take the plunge. I was 99% sure on our ideal layout before I bought my first one and didn't do any of the testing. I ended up regretting it massively since it's not until you spend time in one that you really know what you want out of it or what layout might work best. Even just sitting in a load in the showroom is better than not doing it at all.
In terms of retail sales of cheaper machines, Nagsheadwarrior always recommends Motorlands up in Preston and from what I've seen of the kind of stock which he sends up there on a trade basis, I'd say that might be a good place to start if you don't want to go private.
HTH and good luck with the search.
Many thanks for your responses, I've read your posts spuffington and they have been very useful. I must admit I do like the look of the older hymers, but the layout has to work for us, especially with two young daughters, one of which isn't as mobile as others due to disability. We have some friends who have a motorhome who have kindly offered to let us borrow it for the weekend to see how we get on.Firstly, £15k isn't that much money but with a careful search you'll be able to find something which fits the bill.
I'm not so up on any seasonal changes in prices but I'd certainly say it'll be quieter for someone trying to shift a van in the winter, so there may well be deals to be done. It'll either be classic supply and demand or dependent on the desire of the seller to get rid.
Personally, having made a massive mistake first time around by buying a cheap Italian van, I would recommend seeking yourself out an old Hymer. Yes, they might look old fashioned and sometimes a bit of a museum piece, but they're incredibly solid and reliable machines. We've just picked up a 2001 a-class, ok so about £10k over your budget, but I'm fully persuaded of the solidity of these old rigs that I'd have no problem seeking out something older and within your budget and you'll likely have less problem (particularly with damp) than you may do with something a bit more modern but less well built.
Also, if you're new to motorhoming, see about borrowing one or going to a show or showroom before you take the plunge. I was 99% sure on our ideal layout before I bought my first one and didn't do any of the testing. I ended up regretting it massively since it's not until you spend time in one that you really know what you want out of it or what layout might work best. Even just sitting in a load in the showroom is better than not doing it at all.
In terms of retail sales of cheaper machines, Nagsheadwarrior always recommends Motorlands up in Preston and from what I've seen of the kind of stock which he sends up there on a trade basis, I'd say that might be a good place to start if you don't want to go private.
HTH and good luck with the search.
We do tenting as much we can but it is a right faff isn't it, but the kids utterly adore it. As a family when I was younger we had a Commer camper van, and I will always remember being picked up from school by mum and dad and going straight to the new forest for the weekend. That is what I want my two girls to remember.
Thanks for your help and I hope not to pester you all too much!
Many thanks all, I saw a Hymer advert on YouTube that had a rear lounge that converted into a bed, along with the pull down bed and lounge bed up front. I think that layout would suit us as my youngest would probably not be able to get up,the ladder of her own accord.
However another thing to think about is where to put it, as we could not park it outside our house, so storage needs to be near by. A weekend spent in Weymouth has just confirmed what I thought, the ability to just roam around looking for campsites to stay in does appeal. I will try to update this thread as I go along.
However another thing to think about is where to put it, as we could not park it outside our house, so storage needs to be near by. A weekend spent in Weymouth has just confirmed what I thought, the ability to just roam around looking for campsites to stay in does appeal. I will try to update this thread as I go along.
So I have been looking around and a few have caught my eye.
I am quite keen on the older Hymers. This one popped up down the road from us. Does this seem a decent price? What are your thoughts? It is a bit cheaper than originally planned but if after a year we were not getting on with the motorhome scene then possibly I could move it on for not a lot less than I paid for it.
What are the differences of the 534,544,564,700?
This is down the road:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hymer-534-Motorhome-/221...
Then looking on autotrader I see some more Hymers, all around the same price, any thoughts on these?
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...
Thanks for your help
I am quite keen on the older Hymers. This one popped up down the road from us. Does this seem a decent price? What are your thoughts? It is a bit cheaper than originally planned but if after a year we were not getting on with the motorhome scene then possibly I could move it on for not a lot less than I paid for it.
What are the differences of the 534,544,564,700?
This is down the road:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hymer-534-Motorhome-/221...
Then looking on autotrader I see some more Hymers, all around the same price, any thoughts on these?
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...
Thanks for your help
thanks both for your input. I think hiring a couple is certainly the way to go, so a trip to see Hire a Hymer is in order. I sat in a couple of vans at the weekend (not hymers) and don't know if the layout would work.
I do find it odd that some vans are 4 berth but only have two seatbelts. Seems rather strange to me.
I do find it odd that some vans are 4 berth but only have two seatbelts. Seems rather strange to me.
Thought I would give a little update.
So we have been on various camping trips with our tent, and whilst doing so I have been mooching around the sites looking at the campervans. I spotted a Hymer like the one I linked to above and started talking to the chap who was sat outside, he was very helpful and basically stated how reliable it was and loved every minute of it.
So I thought I had made my mind up.
However as time has gone on the practicalities of owning and using a van has changed my mind somewhat.
We have no off road parking so the van would have to live somewhere else. This then creates issues with keeping an eye on it, maintenance etc.
I also work in London and have to get back to Southampton everyday so it is not as if we can just go at the drop of a hat.
But the biggest issue for me is the actual parking up at a site and staying there, we have two young children, the youngest of which is disabled and uses a wheelchair, so it is not as if we can cycle anywhere of any real distance and explore. I suppose my wife could follow with me in the car but that seems a bit daft.
So it seems that circumstances have put a stop to it, I can’t see how it can be done really which is a real shame. I think next year we will visit Hire a Hymer and hire one for a week. I still look at them wistfully on Ebay….
Thanks for all your help though people.
So we have been on various camping trips with our tent, and whilst doing so I have been mooching around the sites looking at the campervans. I spotted a Hymer like the one I linked to above and started talking to the chap who was sat outside, he was very helpful and basically stated how reliable it was and loved every minute of it.
So I thought I had made my mind up.
However as time has gone on the practicalities of owning and using a van has changed my mind somewhat.
We have no off road parking so the van would have to live somewhere else. This then creates issues with keeping an eye on it, maintenance etc.
I also work in London and have to get back to Southampton everyday so it is not as if we can just go at the drop of a hat.
But the biggest issue for me is the actual parking up at a site and staying there, we have two young children, the youngest of which is disabled and uses a wheelchair, so it is not as if we can cycle anywhere of any real distance and explore. I suppose my wife could follow with me in the car but that seems a bit daft.
So it seems that circumstances have put a stop to it, I can’t see how it can be done really which is a real shame. I think next year we will visit Hire a Hymer and hire one for a week. I still look at them wistfully on Ebay….
Thanks for all your help though people.
Thank you both for your thoughts, very persuasive! I'm still half looking and mentally chewing it over I think. I need to
Look at all expenses and look for storage, we are very lucky in that we are 10 minutes from the new forest so there is always places to go.
I think we need to hire one asap really, especially a hymer.
Look at all expenses and look for storage, we are very lucky in that we are 10 minutes from the new forest so there is always places to go.
I think we need to hire one asap really, especially a hymer.
Well as a little update we have booked a Hymer 644 for a few nights towards the end of October as a little 40th birthday treat for me (how the other half live!)
As others have mentioned this will certainly give us an idea if it is for us or not. Looking forward to it but it is left hand drive, and it is the largest vehicle I will have driven. I've driven left hand drive before in Italy but this will be a new experience!
As others have mentioned this will certainly give us an idea if it is for us or not. Looking forward to it but it is left hand drive, and it is the largest vehicle I will have driven. I've driven left hand drive before in Italy but this will be a new experience!
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.
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.
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.
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.
back and unpacked.
A few thoughts then.
We all enjoyed the concept of motorhoming, I found it easy to drive once I got the hang of it, just need to be wary of the overhang.
Not too sure about the layout of the van. It had two rear bunks plus the kitchen dinette table that felt very upright, so there didn't seem anywhere to really sit. A rear lounge with dinette and overhead bed would solve this I think, I would like to hire the next version up next time, I had a poke around one when I dropped this one back to the depot.
Very easy with electric hook up, the heating ran off the diesel tank although we didn't need it much. I was very surprised at how well insulated it was at night, we even kicked the duvet off as it was too warm!
The van never felt level though, both pitches we had looked level although clearly they were not, so it felt a bit odd. I couldn't get it level with the ramps either but I guess practice over time would solve this. As it wasn't 100% level the fresh water pump couldn't pump the water up the taps on the second site so for the last day we didn't have running water! I know we used a fair bit of water so I filled it up but I guess not enough and it couldn't pump up the remaining. I could have driven it down to the taps to fill it up again but that seemed a bit of a faff plus the second site was on grass, or should I say mud. So the wheels were spinning and we needed a push just to get it on the pitch!
I think we would need a few weekends just to get into the swing of things and get a routine.
Both sites were friendly and it was good to talk to other owners, they certainly seemed interested in the TeamRoller!
I can't seem to upload any pics at the moment, ill try again later
A few thoughts then.
We all enjoyed the concept of motorhoming, I found it easy to drive once I got the hang of it, just need to be wary of the overhang.
Not too sure about the layout of the van. It had two rear bunks plus the kitchen dinette table that felt very upright, so there didn't seem anywhere to really sit. A rear lounge with dinette and overhead bed would solve this I think, I would like to hire the next version up next time, I had a poke around one when I dropped this one back to the depot.
Very easy with electric hook up, the heating ran off the diesel tank although we didn't need it much. I was very surprised at how well insulated it was at night, we even kicked the duvet off as it was too warm!
The van never felt level though, both pitches we had looked level although clearly they were not, so it felt a bit odd. I couldn't get it level with the ramps either but I guess practice over time would solve this. As it wasn't 100% level the fresh water pump couldn't pump the water up the taps on the second site so for the last day we didn't have running water! I know we used a fair bit of water so I filled it up but I guess not enough and it couldn't pump up the remaining. I could have driven it down to the taps to fill it up again but that seemed a bit of a faff plus the second site was on grass, or should I say mud. So the wheels were spinning and we needed a push just to get it on the pitch!
I think we would need a few weekends just to get into the swing of things and get a routine.
Both sites were friendly and it was good to talk to other owners, they certainly seemed interested in the TeamRoller!
I can't seem to upload any pics at the moment, ill try again later
yes we need to continue. I don't think the time of year really helped, usually when we are camping we are sat outside enjoying the weather (!) bbq out, chatting, kids playing and we only really go into the tent to sleep. Of course when it is dark and cold at 5pm that is different so that would have contributed to the feeling of being on top of each other. My wife isn't to keen on camping now whereas I am trying to be more cautious.
Still cannot upload any photos, they are too big apparently.
Still cannot upload any photos, they are too big apparently.
I think I need to update this thread!
So after spending months still pontificating and dithering, wistfully looking at ebay, reading 'the camper van bible' by Martin Dorey (great book by the way) and generally boring everyone to tears we have a development.
I have put a deposit down on a 95 Hymer B544. Very happy with the layout, seems very well looked after, there was even a handwritten letter in the documentation below!
So very happy, my dad is a retired car mechanic so between the two of us we will look after it properly. I still can't believe I have finally done it!
So after spending months still pontificating and dithering, wistfully looking at ebay, reading 'the camper van bible' by Martin Dorey (great book by the way) and generally boring everyone to tears we have a development.
I have put a deposit down on a 95 Hymer B544. Very happy with the layout, seems very well looked after, there was even a handwritten letter in the documentation below!
So very happy, my dad is a retired car mechanic so between the two of us we will look after it properly. I still can't believe I have finally done it!
Spuffington said:
Well done sir!
Fantastic news and look forward to seeing some pics. FWIW, I think you've done the right thing buying the Hymer. If you're not already, make sure you join up to Classic Hymers page on Facebook as it's a mine of useful information. And the longer I've spent on there, the more I can appreciate the build quality and longevity of the older Hymers. If we hadn't have had the resources to buy our Harry and have had some time to research the older vans beforehand, then I can quite easily think we'd have been be going that route ourselves.
However, we're now firmly in the camp of those people who are emotionally attached to Harry. We've had him 17months now and none of us could ever bear to part with him. After our epic trip to the Pyrennes in June, he'd been laid up for a bit, but we went out in him at the weekend and caught the bug again and now desperately planning the next few weekends away and perhaps a cheeky getaway in November again for a week.
Do enjoy your new van and please post some pics and let us know how you get on with him. Also, don't get concerned if you need to spend a bit of time and money on it to begin with. It's well documented on here that we spent months and lots of money getting Harry right, but I'm so glad we persevered as he's been worth it in spades. Now we're on top of everything and "know" him, we understand what might go next or have a feel for when things might need doing and plan for it. It's like owning a house and a car. And inevitably there is some ongoing maintenance and some one-offs, but it's incredibly rewarding.
All the best with it!
Many thanks, it all happened a bit quickly really, we found a dealer 10 miles with 3 Hymers in stock. The chap that ran the place let us have a good nosey around for an hour or so and was very helpful. The layout is just what we wanted, and we can see that it appears to have been well looked after. Fantastic news and look forward to seeing some pics. FWIW, I think you've done the right thing buying the Hymer. If you're not already, make sure you join up to Classic Hymers page on Facebook as it's a mine of useful information. And the longer I've spent on there, the more I can appreciate the build quality and longevity of the older Hymers. If we hadn't have had the resources to buy our Harry and have had some time to research the older vans beforehand, then I can quite easily think we'd have been be going that route ourselves.
However, we're now firmly in the camp of those people who are emotionally attached to Harry. We've had him 17months now and none of us could ever bear to part with him. After our epic trip to the Pyrennes in June, he'd been laid up for a bit, but we went out in him at the weekend and caught the bug again and now desperately planning the next few weekends away and perhaps a cheeky getaway in November again for a week.
Do enjoy your new van and please post some pics and let us know how you get on with him. Also, don't get concerned if you need to spend a bit of time and money on it to begin with. It's well documented on here that we spent months and lots of money getting Harry right, but I'm so glad we persevered as he's been worth it in spades. Now we're on top of everything and "know" him, we understand what might go next or have a feel for when things might need doing and plan for it. It's like owning a house and a car. And inevitably there is some ongoing maintenance and some one-offs, but it's incredibly rewarding.
All the best with it!
I am on the Classic Hymer page on facebook and you are right there is so much info on there, very helpful. When we pick up on Sunday there will be a total handover to show how all the appliances work, and then we will be out into the New Forest for the day and planning our trips. I have managed to get storage 5 minutes drive from our house at a reasonable cost, so that is another item sorted.
It just got to the stage where my wife was getting cheesed off with me banging on about it all the time. The money was there to do it, and as my dad said, life is too short and just get on with it. If it doesn't work out, then I will sell it, no harm done. At least I will have given it a go.
So we have had the Hymer for 2.5 weeks so far so I thought I would give an update.
I have to admit I was nervous to begin with, just with regards to the commitment. Would we actually use it enough, would I ever learn what all the switches do, would I ever understand the workings of a 20 year old motorhome.
My dad offered to go halves with me on it so that felt like some of the pressure was off, he is a retired car mechanic and has to know how everything works!
We picked it up and I drove it from Gosport, along the m27 and we parked up in the New Forest. Got to know it a bit ( what that switch does, what does that pipe do etc) and made a mental list of things we wanted. You tube videos were great but I promptly forgot everything I thought I learned.
Kids were very happy although they had a fixation with using the toilet as much as possible!
I drove it home after a few hours and left it in the temporary storage facility. All good so far.
I then booked the first night out with the wife and kids, and that went very well. All electrics work, heating was very warm, beds are enormous, great fun. We went to a site in Hayling Island. Not too sure I would go back there again but it wasn’t about the site, it was more a night out in the Hymer.
Last weekend my dad took it to Setthorns in the New Forest. All went very well until the gas ran out at 10pm so he was a little cold apparently! Our fault for not checking the state of the gas tanks. All replaced and working again.
Hopefully we will be out in it again this weekend.
So really I think we have bought well, certainly seems well looked after and has had important upgrades done by previous owners such as Air Suspension, two solar panels on the roof, crank up satellite dish, LED lighting throughout, silver screens etc so there is nothing that need to be done to it really.
I am glad I did it and persevered with it when I had my doubts if we could manage, I am sure the mobility issue won’t be too much of a problem.
Any way a pic.
I have to admit I was nervous to begin with, just with regards to the commitment. Would we actually use it enough, would I ever learn what all the switches do, would I ever understand the workings of a 20 year old motorhome.
My dad offered to go halves with me on it so that felt like some of the pressure was off, he is a retired car mechanic and has to know how everything works!
We picked it up and I drove it from Gosport, along the m27 and we parked up in the New Forest. Got to know it a bit ( what that switch does, what does that pipe do etc) and made a mental list of things we wanted. You tube videos were great but I promptly forgot everything I thought I learned.
Kids were very happy although they had a fixation with using the toilet as much as possible!
I drove it home after a few hours and left it in the temporary storage facility. All good so far.
I then booked the first night out with the wife and kids, and that went very well. All electrics work, heating was very warm, beds are enormous, great fun. We went to a site in Hayling Island. Not too sure I would go back there again but it wasn’t about the site, it was more a night out in the Hymer.
Last weekend my dad took it to Setthorns in the New Forest. All went very well until the gas ran out at 10pm so he was a little cold apparently! Our fault for not checking the state of the gas tanks. All replaced and working again.
Hopefully we will be out in it again this weekend.
So really I think we have bought well, certainly seems well looked after and has had important upgrades done by previous owners such as Air Suspension, two solar panels on the roof, crank up satellite dish, LED lighting throughout, silver screens etc so there is nothing that need to be done to it really.
I am glad I did it and persevered with it when I had my doubts if we could manage, I am sure the mobility issue won’t be too much of a problem.
Any way a pic.
Spuffington said:
Great that you went through with it and it's working for you so far. I don't think the wobbles just before buying were anything more than any of the rest of us have gone through. I certainly did - couldn't believe we were dropping nearly 30k on something on something which we'd tried with the previous motorhome and had such a bad experience. But there was something in us which made us do it again. And I'm so glad we did. And I bet you're so glad you've taken the plunge too.
Don't worry, there's lots to learn and you'll keep learning for a fair bit yet. Can I suggest that if there's any cash spare, you look at refillable LPG like GasIT or Gaslow? We've got a GasIT system and it's great, although we have noticed that LPG isn't quite as readily available as it was a couple of years ago. But it's still much more convenient than wondering how much gas you have left and then swapping bottles around.
Looks like you've got a really good van there. The 544s are popular too, so if you ever needed to flog it on.....
But in the meantime, wish you loads of fun with it. We don't use ours nearly enough for what some People might deem "justifiable". Luckily for us, we don't need to justify it to anyone. We love it and wouldn't be without it, especially the flexibility it offers to just go away at the drop of a hat.
Keep enjoying and keep us posted!
Don't worry, there's lots to learn and you'll keep learning for a fair bit yet. Can I suggest that if there's any cash spare, you look at refillable LPG like GasIT or Gaslow? We've got a GasIT system and it's great, although we have noticed that LPG isn't quite as readily available as it was a couple of years ago. But it's still much more convenient than wondering how much gas you have left and then swapping bottles around.
Looks like you've got a really good van there. The 544s are popular too, so if you ever needed to flog it on.....
But in the meantime, wish you loads of fun with it. We don't use ours nearly enough for what some People might deem "justifiable". Luckily for us, we don't need to justify it to anyone. We love it and wouldn't be without it, especially the flexibility it offers to just go away at the drop of a hat.
Keep enjoying and keep us posted!
Funny you mention the gas situation that was something my dad and I were discussing the other weekend. I think I need to let the dust settle a bit money wise and then see what is what. Bike rack and perhaps a small tv for inside is first up. If it was up to me I wouldn't bother with the tv at all but living with three females my view doesn't count for much!!
Wednesday afternoon and already I am getting fidgety about going out in it again, living on the edge of the New Forest certainly has it's advantages! Also it's good spending quality time with my dad as well, recently widowed for a second time, we are now discussing all sorts of technical details till late in the night, so as a family I really think it was the best thing to do, and getting to know its little foibles is have the fun.
Little update the. All still going well, no real issues, although I need to re-attach the fridge door to the wood trim after the eldest daughter was to eager to get to the chocolate inside! For a 20 year old van , I can't complain at that!
One thing I am struggling with is reversing it, I just don't feel comfortable doing it and cannot judge the length. Possibly a rear view camera would help, but that will have to go on the list after the bike rack, tv and possibly a sat box.
I think we may change the curtains for something a bit brighter, I have spoken to the previous owner who confirmed it was totally re-upholstered last year, it is certainly like new in there, but possibly rather beige for our tastes. A winter project.
We have done a few weekends in the new forest and picnics out and it is everything we wanted it to be, very happy we finally did it.
One thing I am struggling with is reversing it, I just don't feel comfortable doing it and cannot judge the length. Possibly a rear view camera would help, but that will have to go on the list after the bike rack, tv and possibly a sat box.
I think we may change the curtains for something a bit brighter, I have spoken to the previous owner who confirmed it was totally re-upholstered last year, it is certainly like new in there, but possibly rather beige for our tastes. A winter project.
We have done a few weekends in the new forest and picnics out and it is everything we wanted it to be, very happy we finally did it.
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