Considering a motorhone

[Merry]

Hi all, thinking of taking the plunge and getting a motorhome/van conversion. Bit of a loss as to what I'm after, or what I should look for so any advice would be great.

Requirements are:

-Less than 3.5 tonne gvw. As I'm not old.
-Ability to tow 2 tonnes (will be getting b+e) l, basically an mx5 on a trailer
-At least 4 proper belted seats, I have a 2 year old so he'll be in a car seat. More offspring could happen in the future
-Has a toilet/shower
-A layout that puts the child on the other side of the van to where we sleep or in his own separate bunk. Or even room (like converting the garage bit on converted vans with a 'garage').It's not that we don't like him, we just reckon it means we can enjoy some time to ourselves while he's asleep.

I think that's about it. I've seen a few Swift Kontiki 640s that work layout wise but I think most are over 3.5 tonnes. I'm pretty sure they can't tow much either, though stand to be corrected.

Budget is up to 15k for something nice, less than 8k for a van conversion in need of some work.

Appreciate any thoughts

[Merry]

Eric Mc said:

How old?

A key consideration is the size of the motorhome's engine. My 2005 Bessacar has a 2.8 turbo diesel.

No particularly fussed. Would like it to be not too traumatic on longer motorway journeys, so I've ruled out the old Talbot/Ducato stuff pre 1994/5.

[Merry]

chopper602 said:

An old saying amongst motor homers is the best motorhome is your second. Layout is everything. May be worth renting one for a week to see what suits you best before shelling out on something that you later find to be unsuitable.
We have 4 belted seats, a big double bed over the garage at the rear (A garage as far as I'm concerned is essential - bikes - chairs - tables - pushchairs etc etc) and a manual drop down bed over the lounge for the kids. As they don't really come away with us any more, it stays up there on the ceiling not taking up any space and not getting in the way.

I know it's a bit of a generalisation, but check very carefully for damp and fit and finish on an English built van . . .

(German TEC on a Ducato chassis with 2.3 diesel)

Thanks, plan on renting one first. Forgive me for sounding like a tard but which brands are the UK built ones vs the European ones?

[Merry]

Thanks all, I had considered the c1+e approach. Judging from a local training provider that'll be £1600. Whether that's worth it I'm not sure, factoring in the faff cost. I'd love to have it though.

I'm leaning towards van conversions. The quality varies wildly though. Just a case of finding the right one. Or leaving budget to make right.

I'd seen a '95 Swift Kontiki 640 for sale locally and that triggered my thoughts on going for a coach built.

Absolute minefield!

[Merry]

More daft questions incoming. So something like this

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Ticks all the layout boxes, but assuming it's a GVW of 3.5 tonnes does that leave the square root of naff all payload? And could it actually tow something if you fitted a tow bar?

[Merry]

Busterbulldog said:

Do not buy a motorhome with 185000 miles.

Yeah it's a bit much. I've found similar much cheaper with the 2.8 and a 3rd of the miles. MOT history on the one linked is a bit iffy too.

[Merry]

Whatever it was it must have been good as the link no longer works!

[Merry]

Hi all, I've seen a coach built Burstner A645 I quite like, helpfully the seller sent an extract from the v5, to confirm its GVW. I notice it doesn't have any towing weights on it.

Now it is an import, and doesn't currently have a tow bar,but assuming the weight plate on the vehicle has a max train weight or max towing weight does this mean a tow bar can be fitted regardless of what's on the v5? It's not something the seller has considered so they don't know.

Its based on a 98 2.5 td Ducato so I imagine power wise it isn't an issue. Not sure whether these have an alko chassis or it's standard.

Just trying to get it clear in my head before I go looking at it.

[Merry]

So I've been to see it and this is the plate:



The plate in the back from Burstner has no weights on it. The v5 has a GVW of 3500kg.Handbook says max towing weight for the model is 1600kg, which is fine for what I need.

Annoying, apart from the towing question mark it's perfect.

[Merry]

GlenMH said:

I thought they had to put a new plate in if it has been uprated? That looks a bit dodgy to me. What does the V5 say?

And there is no Gross Train Weight on there either.

V5 has no weights for towing, a GVW of 3500kg

[Merry]

GSalt said:

^ that, the original plate should not have been defaced. A second plate should have been added showing the new weight. The second plate would identify who was approving the weight up-rate. Is there paperwork to support the up-rate? - if there is, follow it up and confirm; if there's, not walk away.

It's normal for there to me no GTW on a motorhome plate.

It is imported, if that makes a difference.

There is no paperwork to say its been uprated at all as far as I can see. The v5 itself still shows 3500kg.

The plate from the convertor near the back door shows no weights at all. Despite being spaces for it.

Unfortunately I think I'll be walking away in this instance. Its a shame, the layout is perfect, but there's no room for uncertainty if you're dropping £14k.

[Merry]

Eurgh, so another disappointment. Saw an imported Hymer, ideal layout wise again and cheaper.

No train weight on the vin plate, despite having a tow bar. Although this time, while the GVW has been changed to 3500kg, it matches the v5.

Do people even check these things when the buy them?

I give in.

[Merry]

The last one was a 2002, the other a 1999. Both Fiat Ducatos.

In the case of the 1999 one there wasn't any weights on the convertor plate either, no idea about the other one, I've got the seller looking now.