Motorhomes - an education please.
Discussion
I've decided I want one.
I've got 2 kids (5 & 7) and want something nice, ideally 6 berth so I can bring friends/family occasionally.
I have no idea what is good/bad/ugly/vfm.
Budget prob £25-30k I just need to know the more revered models/makes.
Useage will be weekends away to countryside or occasional weekends to race meetings (kids are starting karting, so may be a future purchase for that if they like it) or the very occasional Euro trip to LeMans/Ring/South of France etc.
Looking for something relatively modern, not keen on 80's flock/dayglo upholstery.
Unfussed on mileage - buying on condition etc.
Spinning front seats a must. This is non-negotiable.
Decent appliances/tv/audio etc nice to have,
Is it right the depreciation curve is pretty slight - they don't seem to lose a lot of money?
Thanks all - any comments however stupid will be appreciated/rebutted with fairly good humour.
I've got 2 kids (5 & 7) and want something nice, ideally 6 berth so I can bring friends/family occasionally.
I have no idea what is good/bad/ugly/vfm.
Budget prob £25-30k I just need to know the more revered models/makes.
Useage will be weekends away to countryside or occasional weekends to race meetings (kids are starting karting, so may be a future purchase for that if they like it) or the very occasional Euro trip to LeMans/Ring/South of France etc.
Looking for something relatively modern, not keen on 80's flock/dayglo upholstery.
Unfussed on mileage - buying on condition etc.
Spinning front seats a must. This is non-negotiable.
Decent appliances/tv/audio etc nice to have,
Is it right the depreciation curve is pretty slight - they don't seem to lose a lot of money?
Thanks all - any comments however stupid will be appreciated/rebutted with fairly good humour.
Thanks - thats helpful!
I'd probably tow a trailer if the kids were karting with the kit, it would just be a base more than anything and the pleasure side would probably be the primary reason for having it.
Are there better makes than others - I seem to recall Hymer being well regarded, or is that just people with Hymers?
I'd probably tow a trailer if the kids were karting with the kit, it would just be a base more than anything and the pleasure side would probably be the primary reason for having it.
Are there better makes than others - I seem to recall Hymer being well regarded, or is that just people with Hymers?
Fat Wolfie said:
Something not mentioned yet is what licence do you have ?
Unless you have C1 (automatically there if you passed your test before I think 1997) then you’ll be restricted to a MH with a maximum gross weight of 3,500 kg .
With the specification you are looking for, this (1) might be hard and (2) if you can find such a van, the payload might be very small.
I suggest as a minimum you’ll be needing a 500kg payload, which would mean an empty weight of 3,000 or less. Many vans have (for example) a 100 litre fresh water tank, so running full of water will take 100kg, then theres the weight of passenger (payloads generally calculated with a 75kg driver only so any passenger weight over 75 kg will also eat payload) , and so on. Then there’s extras which eat payload, even metallic paint on my Hymer weighs an extra 30kg over the standard white. It can be a minefield!
There’s a wealth of information on another forum, https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/ which is well worth a look and asking questions there.
You’ll get 5 questions free there and then have to pay £15 for an annual subscription - but you can of course research the topic without joining, albeit you’ll not get access to all areas.
Good luck with the search!
Balls - April 1997 (Louie we must be of similar vintage) so no C1. Ah well - I've always wanted an HGV licence!Unless you have C1 (automatically there if you passed your test before I think 1997) then you’ll be restricted to a MH with a maximum gross weight of 3,500 kg .
With the specification you are looking for, this (1) might be hard and (2) if you can find such a van, the payload might be very small.
I suggest as a minimum you’ll be needing a 500kg payload, which would mean an empty weight of 3,000 or less. Many vans have (for example) a 100 litre fresh water tank, so running full of water will take 100kg, then theres the weight of passenger (payloads generally calculated with a 75kg driver only so any passenger weight over 75 kg will also eat payload) , and so on. Then there’s extras which eat payload, even metallic paint on my Hymer weighs an extra 30kg over the standard white. It can be a minefield!
There’s a wealth of information on another forum, https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/ which is well worth a look and asking questions there.
You’ll get 5 questions free there and then have to pay £15 for an annual subscription - but you can of course research the topic without joining, albeit you’ll not get access to all areas.
Good luck with the search!
nagsheadwarrior said:
Get out and rent one.
While waiting to do that get out to as many local dealers and look at as many as possible, sit in them, ask questions.
I'm a dealer and good ones are happy to help even tho you may not be buying today or aby time soon.
Buying a Motorhome is a journey and everyone is at different stages of that, it should be an enjoyable process.
You have a good budget and depreciation of vans in that bracket is thankfully minimal.
Feel few to ping me a pm if you have any questions on anything you see anywhere or pop them up here.
Quite (and @Glen previously, thanks!) I'm looking into it for a weekend, winter on the way so lower rentals I would imagine.While waiting to do that get out to as many local dealers and look at as many as possible, sit in them, ask questions.
I'm a dealer and good ones are happy to help even tho you may not be buying today or aby time soon.
Buying a Motorhome is a journey and everyone is at different stages of that, it should be an enjoyable process.
You have a good budget and depreciation of vans in that bracket is thankfully minimal.
Feel few to ping me a pm if you have any questions on anything you see anywhere or pop them up here.
I'll ping you with anything I find, much appreciated.
As a dealer though, what makes would you recommend - or conversely - which ones to avoid? I can tell you the paint code of a 911 from 50 yards but couldn't tell a Fiat from a Ford on Motorhomes!
Wacky Racer said:
The most important advice buying ANY second hand motorhome or caravan is:-
Check for the dreaded DAMP with a damp meter.
Mechanical stuff is relatively easy to fix, but damp problems in the floors/walls can run into thousands of pounds.
Check that the vehicle you are thinking of buying has had YEARLY habitation checks from new.
This can be a problem with motorhomes that are even a year or two old.
Any damp reading over 15% is cause for concern.
Do a Google search for this issue.
I know I'm multiple quoting but is damp really that prevalent?Check for the dreaded DAMP with a damp meter.
Mechanical stuff is relatively easy to fix, but damp problems in the floors/walls can run into thousands of pounds.
Check that the vehicle you are thinking of buying has had YEARLY habitation checks from new.
This can be a problem with motorhomes that are even a year or two old.
Any damp reading over 15% is cause for concern.
Do a Google search for this issue.
Is that through lack of care/cover/storage, or "they all do that sir."?
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