Thinking of buying a Motorhome (1 Viewer)

Julz and Bill

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Hi, we are a retired couple who have enjoyed caravanning for many years, and having owned 5 caravans during that time, its rather become a way of life that we dont want to give up as we get older. The problem is that we are starting to find the hitching up and de-hitching bit a bit too much to handle, and have started to think about buying a motorhome:Smile:

There are several questions we would love some advice on please, such as is it possible to transfere a car insurance no claims bonus onto your Motorhome? what is the approximate insurance cost for a starter level home say with a value of around 25k, and built on a Fiat/Peugot Boxer base with a 100hp engine?

Is there any restrictions on parking a motorhome that render it impossible to get into town centres, and how do you get around these? We dont want to have to tow a small car around with us, as this would defeat the object of having to hitch up/de-hitch and we may as well keep the caravan, we both have rather limited mobility, and our hiking days are well and truely over, so getting to places by car/motorhome is quite important to us :roflmto:

Has anyone any experiance of having a bracket for a mobility scooter fitted to a motorhome, the type which are similar to a bike carrier?

We are restricted to a driveway parking space length of 21ft or 4.6 mtrs, and would like a 4/5 berth motorhome so that our grandaughter can come with us sometimes, any advice on models and makes of motorhome please?

all advice would be very much apprieciated thanks :thumb:

Julz and Bill
 

Heyupluv

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Hi, we are a retired couple who have enjoyed caravanning for many years, and having owned 5 caravans during that time, its rather become a way of life that we dont want to give up as we get older. The problem is that we are starting to find the hitching up and de-hitching bit a bit too much to handle, and have started to think about buying a motorhome:Smile:

There are several questions we would love some advice on please, such as is it possible to transfere a car insurance no claims bonus onto your Motorhome? what is the approximate insurance cost for a starter level home say with a value of around 25k, and built on a Fiat/Peugot Boxer base with a 100hp engine?

Is there any restrictions on parking a motorhome that render it impossible to get into town centres, and how do you get around these? We dont want to have to tow a small car around with us, as this would defeat the object of having to hitch up/de-hitch and we may as well keep the caravan, we both have rather limited mobility, and our hiking days are well and truely over, so getting to places by car/motorhome is quite important to us :roflmto:

Has anyone any experiance of having a bracket for a mobility scooter fitted to a motorhome, the type which are similar to a bike carrier?

We are restricted to a driveway parking space length of 21ft or 4.6 mtrs, and would like a 4/5 berth motorhome so that our grandaughter can come with us sometimes, any advice on models and makes of motorhome please?

all advice would be very much apprieciated thanks :thumb:

Julz and Bill

Hi Julz and Bill
And welcome from Mel in France
The mobility scooter I would think you would have no problem in finding one that fits on the tow bar ( some are Hydraulic hand operated) or depending on the age of the van, as a lot of the more modern vans have garages that would except the M/scooter....they may make a tow bar fitted bracket for the mob/scooter but if not I would think many could be converted,
Parking well most of the people on here should know if you can or if you can not park in the towns ...but my experience a lot of councils in England are anti motorhome parking....although over here in France I don't think there is a problem or I have not noticed any.
Its no point me commenting on English insurance as I live in France.....about the no claims bonus I would think it is the person not the vehicle that the no claims bonus applies to.
Mel
 

Wildman

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Hi and welcome to the site, you can transfer your no claims bonus as long as it is your only vehicle, motorhome insurance is not tranferable back to a car so don't think about six months on each. The cancellation charge on motorhome insurance makes that non viable. there are a number of vans out there that will meet your spec much depends on layout you require, Fixed bed being the main thing to concider. As to parking there are no specific anti motorhome parking laws it just depends on size and space available. Exceed a parking bay by a few inches and some jobsworth will give you a ticket, even if you paid for 2 meters. or bought 2 tickets. Many large towns have park and ride schemes keep you eyes open for those or park on the outskirts of town and take a bus in. Many of the smaller panel van conversions can park anywhere and an extra bed could always be put up in a drive away awning for the odd times you have company. Good luck and keep us up to date with your search.:thumb:

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savantuk

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Hi, we are a retired couple who have enjoyed caravanning for many years, and having owned 5 caravans during that time, its rather become a way of life that we dont want to give up as we get older. The problem is that we are starting to find the hitching up and de-hitching bit a bit too much to handle, and have started to think about buying a motorhome:Smile:

There are several questions we would love some advice on please, such as is it possible to transfere a car insurance no claims bonus onto your Motorhome? what is the approximate insurance cost for a starter level home say with a value of around 25k, and built on a Fiat/Peugot Boxer base with a 100hp engine?

Yes, you can do this. My insurance, as a 60 year old with max no claims is £300 PA and my van has a similar specification to your ideal, though mine is 130 BHP which you may find useful for long distance touring. It won't cost any more as far as insurance is concerned.

Is there any restrictions on parking a motorhome that render it impossible to get into town centres, and how do you get around these? We dont want to have to tow a small car around with us, as this would defeat the object of having to hitch up/de-hitch and we may as well keep the caravan, we both have rather limited mobility, and our hiking days are well and truely over, so getting to places by car/motorhome is quite important to us :roflmto:

I drive my motorhome everywhere - 6.9 meters long. It will fit in most car parks that have no height barrier, and will easily park alongside the kerb - especially if you have a disabled badge like me!! I tend not to think about it very much, even in smaller towns and villages. I just go in and find a place to park, much as I would with a car. My van is the same size as the bigger deliveryt vans, and they never seem to have problems.

Has anyone any experiance of having a bracket for a mobility scooter fitted to a motorhome, the type which are similar to a bike carrier?

I can't see that this would cause any problems - a specialist mobility dealer would surely advise.

We are restricted to a driveway parking space length of 21ft or 4.6 mtrs, and would like a 4/5 berth motorhome so that our grandaughter can come with us sometimes, any advice on models and makes of motorhome please?

21Ft is 6.4m, not 4.5, and at that length, it should be possible to find a model with a fixed rear bed, which will have a 'garage' under the bed more than big enough to take your scooter - a ramp would be needed. Most of the manufacturers do a 6m model, with a fixed bed/garage combination, which should be available second hand, or even new if you look hard enough, at the price level you specify.

all advice would be very much apprieciated thanks :thumb:

Julz and Bill

Good hunting, which is of course, the best part!!
 

hilldweller

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e approximate insurance cost for a starter level home say with a value of around 25k, and built on a Fiat/Peugot Boxer base with a 100hp engine?

We are restricted to a driveway parking space length of 21ft or 4.6 mtrs, and would like a 4/5 berth motorhome so that our grandaughter can come with us sometimes, any advice on models and makes of motorhome please?

all advice would be very much apprieciated thanks :thumb:

Julz and Bill

Insurance is no problem - you get good offers as new business anyway - we pay £330 for a 2L Fiat.

Can't help with scooter.

Parking is the same as a delivery van, they can do it, you can.

There are loads of vans that fit your bill but I think you need to home in on a low line because you don't want to be climbing a ladder to bed, it also saves you fuel.

Get thee round the dealers and just keep sitting in them 'till one clicks. Taking loads of photos is a good thing - remember to photograph the front and price first.
 

Heyupluv

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Good hunting, which is of course, the best part!!

I agree with a lot what Doug has said .....but the problem with fixed beds and a garage big enough to take the Mob/Scooter is the bed inside is very high and as you said you one or both of you has mobility restrictions ( although they do have ladders), but most of the beds one person would have to cross over the other to get into bed, so getting in and out during the night to go to the toilet!!! also the height from the bed to the roof can be a little close so if you are old...and not on the slim side !

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savantuk

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Peter JohnsCross MH

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Hi JUlz and Bill,

Welcome to Fun, as long time tuggers you will have plenty of experience as regards layout but bear in mind a 21 foor caravan will have essentially more room in it than a 21' motorhome as the cab end iuses up 4 feet or so.

21 feet is cutting it a bit fine as regards a motorhome, most of them are about 21'9"

Swift Sundance 630G would be suitable and the smaller Rapidos, needless to say I have them in stock:Smile:

A panel van would not be able to take a mobility scooter on the back due to the rear opening doors.

You are welcome to give us a ring for further advice, Andy and Lawrence know their onions as regards Motorhomes

Peter
 

Randonneur

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Regarding the Mobility Scooter - on two occasions we have met a couple who have a motorhome and the husband has a Mobility Scooter which actually folds down to about 12" high and it is carried in the aisle of the van when travelling so it must be fairly lightweight, he charges it up via his motorhome electrics. I don't know whether he has a larger scooter at home as he is Oxygen dependant so doesn't walk much.

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Terry

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Hi the most important thing is layout :thumb: ie comfy lounging :thumb:. Your car insurance will be mirrored by lots of insurance company's and the value of your m/h will probably not affect how much you pay whether it be a £1,000 or 40,000 value-- premiums will be anything from £220 upwards :thumb:If you stick around the 6 mtr mark you should have no problem parking just about anywhere other than height restrictions. Stick to a low profile type as you do not want to be climbing up into a luton bed :thumb: Again this comes to layout :thumb:
terry
PS you can get racks for your scooter that fit on the tow-bar or in the case of some panel vans you can drive straight into the rear up a ramp via the back doors
 
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geoff1947

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We had a panel van for 5 yrs but now have a Sigma EL with a rear U shaped lounge. This took a while to find so do your research well as you could buy the wrong van! We started out with SWB Symbol years ago but quickly found that it was too small. The LWB panel van was fine but a bit tight when the weather was bad for a few days. and not too much room to move about in either.
If you don't already know it, the MMM is a good mag to read (found in Sainsbury and Tesco). Thats where I started. You will recieve lots of advice on this forum but in the end its up to you so good hunting!:thumb:
 
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Julz and Bill

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Thanks guys for all your advice:thumb:

We have already been having a bit of a chat to the owners and nosey around the motorhomes this year that have been pitched near on the caravan club sites, and one kind lady did show us inside her fixed bed Cheyenne, which indeed was over a rear garage, but sadly it was far too high for me to get up onto or as previously said, for one of us to climb over the other during the night to use the toilet. Our caravan has an internal length of 15ft 3ins, and has the traditional two long front bench seats/single beds with the rear dinette/ single bunk, and this works well for us, so we are hoping to get a similar layout in the motorhome.
The luton overcab bed would just be used as a storage area for bedding during the day, or for our grandaughters visits, so we are fairly easy as to if the motorhome we chose had one or not. The mobility scooter is indeed one of the smaller 'boot' type, and normally travels in the boot of our car fully folded whilst towing, but the weight of the battery pack and main axel on it make easy outside carriage a must, it is just a bit too big at 24ins x45ins to be stored inside a motorhome of the size we are looking for.

We did like the Nuevo models, but having talked to a couple of owners, there did seem to be a bit of a problem with build quality, so we are now thinking along the lines of a fairly recent Swift, Lunar, or Compass, but are in no great hurry to buy, and are happy to just keep browsing until the right one comes along oneday at the dealers::bigsmile:

Julz and Bill

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Julz and Bill

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How many MPG from your Fiat/Peugot 130?

Im just wondering how these compare to the MPG we get from our car/caravan combination, which averages around the 27 mpg mark when towing on a mixture of roads and in average wind conditions.

Bill has in the past owned and driven a ford transit SWB for his job, which did about 25mpg, but im not sure how the bigger bulk of a motorhome body affects this, or if recent improvements in technology have increased performance significantly :Smile:

Julz and Bill
 

Terry

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27 MPG about the same or better:thumb: depends on driving and model
terry
 

pappajohn

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hi Julz and Bill and welcome to the FUN.

the question of a carrier isnt the availablity is a matter of weight.

a 20/21ft van wont have a massive payload and putting a carrier on the towbar will increase the weight on the rear axle weight by maybe 1-1/2 times the weight of the mobility scooter and the weight of the carrier combined.

basicly, if the scooter and carrier weighs 100kg then the load on the axle will be around 150kg (just example figures as it all depends on distance from rear axle and other variables)

Parking in towns.

providing you comply with all parking restictions, ie...inside marked bays, no motorhome prohibition notices etc, you can park where you like.

Insurance.

most insurers will 'mirror' your NCB on your car so you retain both.
no need to transfer and start again on your cars NCB.

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pappajohn

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Im just wondering how these compare to the MPG we get from our car/caravan combination, which averages around the 27 mpg mark when towing on a mixture of roads and in average wind conditions.

Bill has in the past owned and driven a ford transit SWB for his job, which did about 25mpg, but im not sure how the bigger bulk of a motorhome body affects this, or if recent improvements in technology have increased performance significantly :Smile:

Julz and Bill

2001 year, 24ft swift kontiki, 3850kg, 2.8ltr turbo deisel towing (A frame) a vauxhall corsa

around 25mpg average....motorhome solo around 26mpg average
 
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