Advice - FWD motorhomes
Discussion
Hi all,
Following my previous thread, the search has continued and although I have been in two minds whether to a) continue to search for a van with my c. 20k budget or b) wait a year or so and push that to 30k, I've come across something which is a bit different to what I had in mind (a Superbrig type thing) and wondered if any of you motorhome experts could shed any light.
It's a 2007 Hymer C622CL with 76k on the clock. Originally I felt the mileage was two high, but then I thought about it again and realised these things are far better for having been used and at c. 5k pa we're unlikely to put huge amounts of mileage on it. 95% of those miles have been on motorways according to the one and only owner. And has a FSH. Van (chassis & box) looks mint apart from stonechips commensurate with mileage. I'm also keen on the box because it's well sub-7m which means I can get it on the driveway, which will make it even more useable than having to store it off-site, locally.
BUT, I have been looking for a RWD van since I've always been concerned about the ability of FWD to deliver their drive properly given (I'm assuming) the majority of the weight will be over the rear wheels.
What are people's thoughts on both FWD and on the Ford Transit (Mk7) 2.2TDCi drivetrain?
BTW - private vendor wants c. 23k for it. I was thinking 21k - any thoughts?
Many thanks in advance.
Following my previous thread, the search has continued and although I have been in two minds whether to a) continue to search for a van with my c. 20k budget or b) wait a year or so and push that to 30k, I've come across something which is a bit different to what I had in mind (a Superbrig type thing) and wondered if any of you motorhome experts could shed any light.
It's a 2007 Hymer C622CL with 76k on the clock. Originally I felt the mileage was two high, but then I thought about it again and realised these things are far better for having been used and at c. 5k pa we're unlikely to put huge amounts of mileage on it. 95% of those miles have been on motorways according to the one and only owner. And has a FSH. Van (chassis & box) looks mint apart from stonechips commensurate with mileage. I'm also keen on the box because it's well sub-7m which means I can get it on the driveway, which will make it even more useable than having to store it off-site, locally.
BUT, I have been looking for a RWD van since I've always been concerned about the ability of FWD to deliver their drive properly given (I'm assuming) the majority of the weight will be over the rear wheels.
What are people's thoughts on both FWD and on the Ford Transit (Mk7) 2.2TDCi drivetrain?
BTW - private vendor wants c. 23k for it. I was thinking 21k - any thoughts?
Many thanks in advance.
Delete!
Just found out the van I was looking at doesn't have an oven / grill and worse still (in Mrs Spuff eyes), doesn't have a freezer!
Now back looking at a Kentucky Camp @ Motorlands - seem like really good guys and I am pretty keen to give them my business if I can get a free pass from the wife to get up there to see it.
Just found out the van I was looking at doesn't have an oven / grill and worse still (in Mrs Spuff eyes), doesn't have a freezer!
Now back looking at a Kentucky Camp @ Motorlands - seem like really good guys and I am pretty keen to give them my business if I can get a free pass from the wife to get up there to see it.
Hi blongs, thanks for that.
I think from speaking with the missus that she wants a bigger kitchen than that offered in the Hymer. The merits of it (length, Transit chassis), garage and modern look are offset by lack of big fridge / freezer & oven, mileage and (for me, anyway) driven wheels. Not sure why I have it in my head but difficult to overcome!
In terms of layout, we've only actually seen one but we like the layout - the Rimor / Kentucky rear bunks, rear bathroom and double & single dinette. Main thing for us is having room for my mountainbike to be kept inside the can (under the bottom bunk) and space for my daughter to sleep whilst myself and the wife lounge around in the evening and sleep in an over an bed.
The 2.4l of the RWD Transits have a good amount of poke and carrying capacity too, which is important as I don't want to be too worried about weight limits.
Kentucky Camp Estro 2 currently in pole position. Just need to get up to Preston now... 😐
I think from speaking with the missus that she wants a bigger kitchen than that offered in the Hymer. The merits of it (length, Transit chassis), garage and modern look are offset by lack of big fridge / freezer & oven, mileage and (for me, anyway) driven wheels. Not sure why I have it in my head but difficult to overcome!
In terms of layout, we've only actually seen one but we like the layout - the Rimor / Kentucky rear bunks, rear bathroom and double & single dinette. Main thing for us is having room for my mountainbike to be kept inside the can (under the bottom bunk) and space for my daughter to sleep whilst myself and the wife lounge around in the evening and sleep in an over an bed.
The 2.4l of the RWD Transits have a good amount of poke and carrying capacity too, which is important as I don't want to be too worried about weight limits.
Kentucky Camp Estro 2 currently in pole position. Just need to get up to Preston now... 😐
Thanks for all the help, guys - much appreciated.
NHW - so long as you don't have anything better to do, would be interested to hear what you think about the Kentucky. It was Brad I spoke to on the phone, who seemed like a pleasant and helpful chap.
The interesting thing is the two vans will be competed against eachother now by Mrs Spuff. She's back on board for the Hymer given I think she realised the lack of an oven is not a dealbreaker and she likes the modern looks and compact dimensions of the Hymer (plus if I'm honest, the garage suits me better for my mtbing. I'm comforted by the advice on here that FWD makes little difference to the overall experience / usefulness.
But I'm also keen on the Kentucky on the basis of the perceived robustness of it, the fact it's a good couple of grand cheaper, I'd be less precious about it when mtbing and has a little more in the way of space & convenience items (awning, big fridge/freezer, oven/grill etc) and a huge payload (up-plated to nigh on 4t). But it's also probably less fuel efficient (expecting somewhere around 20mpg vs. 28-30mpg for the 2.2 Hymer).
We'll see. I'm currently bidding the chap on the Hymer in the hope he'll meet me half way between top end of my budget and his asking price given I know he's keen to get rid. If he's not that keen, then I'll try and get up to Preston - both to see the Kentucky and also to buy NHW a cuppa for all the advice over this and other thread!
NHW - so long as you don't have anything better to do, would be interested to hear what you think about the Kentucky. It was Brad I spoke to on the phone, who seemed like a pleasant and helpful chap.
The interesting thing is the two vans will be competed against eachother now by Mrs Spuff. She's back on board for the Hymer given I think she realised the lack of an oven is not a dealbreaker and she likes the modern looks and compact dimensions of the Hymer (plus if I'm honest, the garage suits me better for my mtbing. I'm comforted by the advice on here that FWD makes little difference to the overall experience / usefulness.
But I'm also keen on the Kentucky on the basis of the perceived robustness of it, the fact it's a good couple of grand cheaper, I'd be less precious about it when mtbing and has a little more in the way of space & convenience items (awning, big fridge/freezer, oven/grill etc) and a huge payload (up-plated to nigh on 4t). But it's also probably less fuel efficient (expecting somewhere around 20mpg vs. 28-30mpg for the 2.2 Hymer).
We'll see. I'm currently bidding the chap on the Hymer in the hope he'll meet me half way between top end of my budget and his asking price given I know he's keen to get rid. If he's not that keen, then I'll try and get up to Preston - both to see the Kentucky and also to buy NHW a cuppa for all the advice over this and other thread!
Thanks NHW - would be really keen to know your thoughts (PM me if you'd prefer) on the Kentucky since, all things being equal, I'd rather go with a dealer supplied van given there's some recourse if it all goes Pete tong and also as a first-timer, takes a lot of the confusion out of it.
I've been conversing with the Hymer owner. He seems pretty straight up but is fairly intransigent on price. He's already knocked it down a lot in his mind but I think it needs to go a fair bit further to take account of the high mileage and the resale issues I'll have later down the line.
Kentucky back in pole position!
I've been conversing with the Hymer owner. He seems pretty straight up but is fairly intransigent on price. He's already knocked it down a lot in his mind but I think it needs to go a fair bit further to take account of the high mileage and the resale issues I'll have later down the line.
Kentucky back in pole position!
Thanks for all the feedback.
I've bid on the Hymer, which has been provisionally accepted providing the auction runs its course without any improvement on that. If all goes my way then we'll hopefully have it before Xmas!
As and when, I'll be changing the tyres for Mud & Snow ones anyway, just to give that additional purchase on slippery ground as I know how good they've been on my 550i.
All being well, I'll hopefully have positive news in the next day or so!
I've bid on the Hymer, which has been provisionally accepted providing the auction runs its course without any improvement on that. If all goes my way then we'll hopefully have it before Xmas!
As and when, I'll be changing the tyres for Mud & Snow ones anyway, just to give that additional purchase on slippery ground as I know how good they've been on my 550i.
All being well, I'll hopefully have positive news in the next day or so!
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