Buying first motorhome

Julie w

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Hi all hoping for some expert advice there’s so many different makes models etc is there any site I can enter the spec I would like that would recommend the make and model to match ? Also where would members recommend I look auto trade, eBay etc???
Any help greatly appreciated
Thanks
 
Hi Julie, and welcome.

If you don't know what you want, I'd not be in a rush, go to a few dealers, big ones, and ignore the sales persons, look in and sit for a while in as many as you can, try to figue out what you want from one, how you would use it, one thing you do need to think about is where you will park it, size does matter in this case.

I always buy from eBay as there is more choice and it's easy to search.
 
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Welcome, Julie. As Pudsey Bear says, go to some dealers and when the salesman / woman (I've never actually seen a saleswoman in a motorhome dealer) asks if they can help, say I'm just looking around at the moment, I haven't got the money. That should deter them if nothing else does.
If you are looking for a new model, you should go to the forthcoming Caravan and Motorhome show at the NEC

There will only be new models on show but if you like the look of a new one but really really can't afford it say so and offer them £5,000 less than the asking price even if it's a special offer. Well they all claim to be Very Special offers at the NEC. If you haven't got a trade in, £5,000 less than the discounted asking price is perfectly reasonable. Many dealers have got lots of stock to get rid of. My nearest dealer still has 2024 models on sale, for £10,000 less than the list price. Another bit of information you need to know is that I have personal experience of many trade in-ins where the dealer makes £10,000 on a part exchange deal, and in one case specifically £15,000 on a 68k model.
If you are not looking for a new one, you could do with learning a bit about emissions ratings if you don't already know. Over the years the emissions have got lower and lower until they are now less than the ordinary air you breathe, to the detriment of the running costs. New vehicles - cars and motorhomes, cost a lot more in repairs than an old model, and they are so complicated that even the main dealers can't fix them.
Something else you can do at the show is talk to the insurance companies. Many of them require your vehicle to have a tracker which typically costs £500 to fit plus quite a lot each year for 'monitoring'.
The motorhome press knowledgeable chaps reckon that the best built and least expensive to maintain motorhomes were built about 2010 to 2012 and I would agree, having owned scores of motorhomes over about 45 years. I currently run a 1999 model because it is well built and is cheap to repair.
Lastly whatever you do, don't get either a Ford Transit based one newer than 2018 - ask anyone who knows what a 'wet belt' is (typically £3500 to change the cam belt, and if it's not changed by 40,000 miles you will need a new engine), and don't get a Fiat Ducato so-called 'semi-automatic' which has what they call a 'ComfortMatic'. This has a computerised clutch which even the main franchised Fiat dealers can't cope with.
 
Questions to consider:
Have you ever camped?
Have you ever had a holiday in a caravan?
Who is going to use this vehicle?
When and where are you going to use it?
Do you have experience of driving a "large" vehicle?
As has been mentioned, where will you park it?

It is easy to be attracted to the romance of a life (or just a weekend) on the road but if you're familiar with chemical toilets, making beds out of settees, storing things in limited spaces, etc then you will have a more realistic view of what might lie ahead.
If there is more than just you, can you survive in close proximity for the length of time you are considering? Will everyone share the joys of cooking, cleaning, toilet-emptying? How will you cope if the weather is too hot, too cold, too wet?
Will you expect to move on every day or two, or will you stay for a week or longer?
IF you get a large vehicle (for all the extra space), do you have the licence to drive it (C1 for over 3.5 tonne)?

Good luck with your search.
 
Take your time and spend at least an hour looking and scrutinising every van you look at.

Wiggle every bit if wood, check everything works.

We spent £77k on a new van in January and its riddled with issues, its a Bailey, shocking build quality.

We made a video on YouTube if you search our user name, dont want to make a plug for the channel as I know thats not the done thing, but our 2 Bailey videos may be of help,

Good luck with your search

Andy & Mandy
 
I could have mentioned AutoSleeper motorhomes. I had a Bourton, a theoretically lovely Mercedes Benz Sprinter based vehicle. I fixed all the electrical problems caused by 'illegal' wiring design by Sargent Electrics which caused one fire in the wardrobe and sparks and false screaming alarms in the under bed box, the faulty wiring to the electric step, water pump and lights. Then I found that the two outer side walls of the bodywork had big cracks in them. The walls were split from the front side windows to the front chassis door frames. That was the last straw and the wagon had to go. If you want my advice, don't buy a new British made motorhome, I am sorry to say.
As for Baileys, I don't know about Andy and Mandy's but a few years ago Bailey made a big fuss of their 'Alu-Tec' body construction where they don't use wood for the bodywork frame. I had a motorhome inspected for its annual habitation check and the tester told me that with Baileys, water gets in through the joints, runs down the aluminium framework and rots the floor which is of course plywood.
If I were buying a new motorhome now it would be German.
 
All the above is sensible advice. Especially when it comes to British builds, Italian as well.

German, Slovakian if buying a ready made. Bespoke builds? Buyer beware, but there are some brilliant products out there, but cheap, not so. The price I’ve seen exceeds £140k. (Wildworx)
Me? Well, I suppose I’m a little different from normal. In my case, I had everything planned in my mind what I wanted. A left hand drive panel van. Globemobile, Possel, Adria. A quality built continental Fiat Ducato camper van,
I spotted one at a dealer around 120 miles away, who had the right hand drive version of what I wanted. Ideal, I thought to check out if the build quality was as good as I had heard. It was.
A short road test, and despite my intention of going to Europe to buy, I knew I’d found what I wanted. An eleven year old camper with 7000 miles on it. It had rarely been used. We’ve had our problems, I’ve spent a small fortune on updating the equipment. A replacement new engine almost broke my will to continue. BUT, I don’t regret that decision to buy.
81,000 miles in my ownership, in seven years, every trip brings a smile to my face. I’ve been to places I would never have imagined, meet some of the nicest people. Most of them have become great friends.
If you decide to be a full member on this forum. I promise you, you’ll never regret it.
 
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I did notice in Sweden and Norway that their prices for new vehicles would mean I would go there to buy one if I was in the market. Their prices are typically £20,000 cheaper (for a LHD one) than our RHD ones of the same model.
 
gasgas said:
I did notice in Sweden and Norway that their prices for new vehicles would mean I would go there to buy one if I was in the market. Their prices are typically £20,000 cheaper (for a LHD one) than our RHD ones of the same model.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, like many others, a new vehicle is way beyond my means.
Plus of course, Demi has the new engine, making her a keeper 😁
 
I think the best place to look at and buy if you find what you are looking for, are the Warners weekend shows. There is a larger variety of used motorhomes than you will find in any dealer, and some bargain new ones. These shows are finished for this year, I think the next one will be March
 
So many people with great advice you hardly need more but my twopennethworth...

There's really no substitute for feeling in the flesh so go to as many dealers as are within range, including new ones from dealers & manufacturers but also secondhand outlets.
Google campervan or mobile home sellers near me or something like that.

My favourite is eBay as you can filter results by price and nearness.

Go looking. Don't get fixated on one particular brand. Think about drivability - panel van or coachbuilt.... Don't follow somebody else's preference however hard they promote the idea ttat theirs is best. Only one van / Moho in the entire world is best FOR YOU.

Go looking.
 
gasgas said:
I did notice in Sweden and Norway that their prices for new vehicles would mean I would go there to buy one if I was in the market. Their prices are typically £20,000 cheaper (for a LHD one) than our RHD ones of the same model.
Click to expand...
20% VAT to add to the price for UK import, plus sundry other import duties and fees? My lithium battery ordered from Spain in Jan 2023 was £853; when I placed the order for delivery to UK, the price rose to £1012.50 ... The extra cost was all duty/taxes

Steve
 
Ah but if you buy a motorhome abroad and import it here, you don't pay the VAT in the country you buy from. Some of the European countries have VAT at a higher rate than 20%.
Also I think but I'm not certain, that buying a used vehicle does not attract VAT and you don't pay any here either. I did buy a scooter in Holland when I worked there. I brought it to England and wanted to be a good honest Christian and register it here. I got an MOT, insured it, filled in all the forms and sent them to the DVLA with a cheque in payment. DVLA returned all the documents, less the cheque and said I hadn't paid. I said I have, and you have cashed the cheque. Bank statement enclosed showing they had cashed it. They said that isn't proof of payment. So I said well I have done everything I should, I have got insurance, MOT and I have paid you. Since you are totally incompetent at your job I will continue to ride the Vespa around the country, collect parking tickets and if possible speeding tickets, and as you refuse to register it to me, you will never find me.
 
gasgas said:
Ah but if you buy a motorhome abroad and import it here, you don't pay the VAT in the country you buy from. Some of the European countries have VAT at a higher rate than 20%.
Also I think but I'm not certain, that buying a used vehicle does not attract VAT and you don't pay any here either. I did buy a scooter in Holland when I worked there. I brought it to England and wanted to be a good honest Christian and register it here. I got an MOT, insured it, filled in all the forms and sent them to the DVLA with a cheque in payment. DVLA returned all the documents, less the cheque and said I hadn't paid. I said I have, and you have cashed the cheque. Bank statement enclosed showing they had cashed it. They said that isn't proof of payment. So I said well I have done everything I should, I have got insurance, MOT and I have paid you. Since you are totally incompetent at your job I will continue to ride the Vespa around the country, collect parking tickets and if possible speeding tickets, and as you refuse to register it to me, you will never find me.
Click to expand...
Secton 3 Cheques Act 1957: 'An unindorsed cheque which appears to have been paid by the banker on whom it is drawn is evidence of the receipt by the payee of the sum payable by the cheque.' Ergo you have a legally protected proof of payment

Steve
 
If you buy a vehicle abroad it would be a pain for warranty claims and returning for repairs.

Plus there are so many stories about European motorhome having just as many issues, Pilote, mobilveta & Benimar are some i have seen with alot of issues
 
Yes, that is true Andy n Mandy. There are, but I think not as many as the British makes. Last week I took a close look at the wiring in a German Globecar, and it did at least adhere to sensible, legal standards. See below the wiring in my AutoSleeper, wiring done by Sargent electrics trying and failing to stuff two 1.5mm wires into each pin designed to take one wire. Result: sparks, false alarms, fires, and at best sockets with no volts coming out of them. The only cure is to rewire the whole electrical system properly (which I did) but I imagine a dealer a) wouldn't do that job and b) if they did, they would charge ten hours labour. I think the going labour rate is about £100 / hour so you would have to pay £1000 just to rectify the manufacturer's faults. The Globecar I looked at used the same plugs and sockets, but correctly fitted one wire per pin.
Back to foreign ones: I had a Rapido with a sort-of similar fault where which ever 'I-couldn't-care-less' moron in the factory assembled the electric bed wiring MUST have seen that he hadn't correctly pushed an 8 pin plug and socket together, leavin one pin sticking out of the plug body. Brownhills failed to find this three times when I sent it back for fixing, they told me to contact Rapido in France, who told me to contact the bed manufacturer in Italy. They were brilliant, they send me the installation workshop manual for the bed and I was able to trace the fault and fix it. Why Brownhills couldn't, I don't know. I suspect their electrical operative was not given enough time to trace the fault. Or incompetent. One or the other. I won't be buying another Rapido or AutoSleeper - or any other make with Sargent electrics. Also below see the fire in the wardrobe caused by electric wiring aparently done by a 13 year old schoolboy on a Friday night after he had finished his homework.
84248BDF-F10D-4549-A804-01C18D55904B.jpeg
ADD04CEF-6428-450D-ACBC-8EA55568C1DC_1_201_a.jpeg
 
@Andy n Mandy Travel
I was in France and had a fault on my Mercedes Sprinter motorhome. I needed it fixed so I called in at a MB commercial dealer. The fault was with the cab area heater, so it was a Sprinter fault, not a motorhome issue. They quoted €750, did the job and the bill came to €630. I was surprised at the invoice which showed every different skill charged at a different labour rate. The least skill eg 'take the car into the workshop, put it on ramp, connect analyser ' was charged as 0.1hr @ €60. The most skillfull job ' fit 3 new servo units, reprogram new servo units' was charged at 1.5hr @ €110 per hour. Apparently in France it is law that they have to charge different rates for different skills, although presumably it is only one technician that does everything. My conclusion, as my nearest MB commercial dealer in Leicester charges a flat rate of £180 / hour for all skills is that if you want anything done more than check the tyre pressures and top up the screen wash bottle, it is cheaper to get the ferry, go to France and have the work done there. I was surprised looking at the dealer's posters in the waiting area, at how cheap replacing discs, pads, exhausts and tyres were.
 
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