soon to purchase!!! (1 Viewer)

greenhorn

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Jan 23, 2011
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im a newbe
We are looking for all the advice we can before purchasing a motorhome and traveling across europe for 6 months, through France, Holland, Germany and down to Portugal for Christmas. We have looked at a number of used motorhomes and would like to know if anyone knows if there can be problems with a 20 foot long home?
 

rainbow chasers

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Oct 30, 2009
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20ft should be fine. The limit for standard recovery is 19ft - but what they don't know.......(ours similar length has been recovered no worries!)

Not sure about european breakdown is like - that said, it may pay to join the German one, which name escapes me....someone will remember soon!:Doh: and save my embarrasment.

What sort of budget are you looking at? There are a wide variety that fit into that size bracket.
 

Peter JohnsCross MH

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Deceased RIP
Jan 5, 2008
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Autotrail
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1995
We are looking for all the advice we can before purchasing a motorhome and traveling across europe for 6 months, through France, Holland, Germany and down to Portugal for Christmas. We have looked at a number of used motorhomes and would like to know if anyone knows if there can be problems with a 20 foot long home?


Would help more if we all knew what your budget was, how many berths and age of passengers etc etc.

Peter

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Welsh girl

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20ft should be fine. The limit for standard recovery is 19ft - but what they don't know.......(ours similar length has been recovered no worries!)

You have worried me now we are 23ft and I thought we were covered with Fiat as we are classed as PHGV and 4 ton and Fiat assist will cover us???
 

lorger

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Hi all i would say is go and have a look at loads of mh at dealers have a sit in them not just for 5mins but a while try lying on the beds as a lot of people have bought then not liked the layout.
Our vab is 21ft and had no problems we have been to France Belgium Holland Luxenbourg Germany Swisserland Italy and austria so i think you will be ok with similar size
 

rainbow chasers

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20ft should be fine. The limit for standard recovery is 19ft - but what they don't know.......(ours similar length has been recovered no worries!)

You have worried me now we are 23ft and I thought we were covered with Fiat as we are classed as PHGV and 4 ton and Fiat assist will cover us???

If through Fiat Assist, you will be fine - but when that expires, you will have to purchase recovery packages for HGV'S to cover it. Usually people to to that Geramn...hang on, I gotta go find what the are called....ADAC that's the one! - which will cover heavier vehicles.

There are also other club based packages that will supply heavier vehicle recovery. Make sure you know you are covered in the small print - upgrading roadside comes at a premium, leaves you stranded for hours, or you end up getting a hefty bill you were not expecting.

The only reason for this is, say standard 'car' recovery covers up to 3.5t, and usually has a limit of 19ft as this is what LIGHT recovery trucks have as a maximum SWL for the bed.

Heavier vehicles are covered my HGV/Commercial recovery agents, which invariably are much more expensive, which is why it pays to get covered using the ADAC/Club recovery packages - and make sure that accident recovery is included.

Don't worry, we have the knowledge to get round most things between the funsters!

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haganap

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I'm an oldbie MH number 9
If through Fiat Assist, you will be fine - but when that expires, you will have to purchase recovery packages for HGV'S to cover it. Usually people to to that Geramn...hang on, I gotta go find what the are called....ADAC that's the one! - which will cover heavier vehicles.

There are also other club based packages that will supply heavier vehicle recovery. Make sure you know you are covered in the small print - upgrading roadside comes at a premium, leaves you stranded for hours, or you end up getting a hefty bill you were not expecting.

The only reason for this is, say standard 'car' recovery covers up to 3.5t, and usually has a limit of 19ft as this is what LIGHT recovery trucks have as a maximum SWL for the bed.

Heavier vehicles are covered my HGV/Commercial recovery agents, which invariably are much more expensive, which is why it pays to get covered using the ADAC/Club recovery packages - and make sure that accident recovery is included.

Don't worry, we have the knowledge to get round most things between the funsters!


Not really true that.
We are with Safegaurd whom have no restrictions.
Your right to highlight it as many (including dome of the more popular recovery companies) have limits. Many have limit on not just length but certainly weight.
We are 6.7 M and 4.2t and we have no problem with recovery.

Make sure when you enquire you check it out. But insist on speaking to the supervisor and not any old joey because many selling the policies don't know the truth. I was having new tyres fitted and was tempted by some insurance thing they were pushing for tyres, When assessed it was evident they only covered up to 3.5t and 6m yet the sales guy was still trying, despite me pointing this out.
Be careful out there, recovery must be checked out thoroughly.

sorry quick edit, Our recovery is europe wide.
 

rainbow chasers

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Not really true that.
We are with Safegaurd whom have no restrictions.
Your right to highlight it as many (including dome of the more popular recovery companies) have limits. Many have limit on not just length but certainly weight.
We are 6.7 M and 4.2t and we have no problem with recovery.

Make sure when you enquire you check it out. But insist on speaking to the supervisor and not any old joey because many selling the policies don't know the truth. I was having new tyres fitted and was tempted by some insurance thing they were pushing for tyres, When assessed it was evident they only covered up to 3.5t and 6m yet the sales guy was still trying, despite me pointing this out.
Be careful out there, recovery must be checked out thoroughly.

sorry quick edit, Our recovery is europe wide.


Safeguard are a leisure vehicle specialist - thus covered under 'club type', Take to long to name each company!:thumb:
 

Squire

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Dec 30, 2010
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We are looking for all the advice we can before purchasing a motorhome and traveling across europe for 6 months, through France, Holland, Germany and down to Portugal for Christmas. We have looked at a number of used motorhomes and would like to know if anyone knows if there can be problems with a 20 foot long home?


Speaking for myself, my problem with a 20ft motorhome to live in for 6 months is that it would be too small ..... :Eeek: I would get cabin fever, especially in winter when you are confined inside for greater times. AND - I would want a fixed bed - it's alright making up the bed every night for a fortnights holiday but it's a chore over 6 months - and anyway my better half suffers migraines and occasionally needs her bed in the middle of the day without rendering the rest of the van unuseable for me.

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MikeandCarolyn

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Mar 18, 2008
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Speaking for myself, my problem with a 20ft motorhome to live in for 6 months is that it would be too small ..... :Eeek: I would get cabin fever, especially in winter when you are confined inside for greater times. AND - I would want a fixed bed - it's alright making up the bed every night for a fortnights holiday but it's a chore over 6 months - and anyway my better half suffers migraines and occasionally needs her bed in the middle of the day without rendering the rest of the van unuseable for me.

To be fair-our van is 5.82mtrs (19ft) We have spent 3 mths in it,and would be quite happy to do 6mths. We have a fixed bed and a curtain which separates bed from living area.
I sometimes go to bed early and leave Carolyn playing on her computer ::bigsmile:

Mike
 

imprint

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Jul 14, 2009
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Hi, Greenhorn.

Putting aside the technical chat, all of which I hope is building up some sort of picture for you, two things spring to mind.

First, as someone has already said, go to a dealer or three, tell him or her you' re not yet buying, but can you please be shown various motorhomes in the flesh. It's easy to get a fixed impression before you buy, and stick to it too easily. I'm sure most dealers will help - and if not, walk away. (I've often commented here how good Johns Cross were about this. Not advertising, I'm 600 miles away!)

Second, don't for goodness' sake set out round Europe without some miles, not kilometres, under your belts . Make your first mistakes - we all do -on home turf, when you can at least apologise properly for getting stuck under a low bridge.

All that said, best of luck!

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Apr 27, 2008
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Take a look at some Hymer and similar A-classes. A drop down bed is almost as good as a fixed one and takes up a lot less space when not in use (actually none at all):Smile:
 

Clare

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Safeguard are a leisure vehicle specialist - thus covered under 'club type', Take to long to name each company!:thumb:
Hi Rainbow chasers,
I have been insured with Safeguard since full timing in 2000. I started out with a new Compass Drifter (what a load of rubbish, new I should have bought German). Went onto buy a Niesmann Bischoff 8000i 4.5 tonne vehicle which Safeguard would have bought home from anywhere (virtually), then I purchased a 6 tonne Concorde Charisma which with Safeguard insurance would have bought it home from Europe had it have broken down. I have many friends who have needed to use the recovery service and it is comforting to know that Safeguard deliver in every instance I have known.
My advice to anyone buying a motorhome would be set a budget, know what layout you want, look for extras fitted if secondhand as these can be expensive to add later, go for an older continental one, ie. german, french, rather than a newer English one. Build quality superior by far and probably winterised too!! :Smile:
 

haganap

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Hi Rainbow chasers,
I have been insured with Safeguard since full timing in 2000. I started out with a new Compass Drifter (what a load of rubbish, new I should have bought German). Went onto buy a Niesmann Bischoff 8000i 4.5 tonne vehicle which Safeguard would have bought home from anywhere (virtually), then I purchased a 6 tonne Concorde Charisma which with Safeguard insurance would have bought it home from Europe had it have broken down. I have many friends who have needed to use the recovery service and it is comforting to know that Safeguard deliver in every instance I have known.
My advice to anyone buying a motorhome would be set a budget, know what layout you want, look for extras fitted if secondhand as these can be expensive to add later, go for an older continental one, ie. german, french, rather than a newer English one. Build quality superior by far and probably winterised too!! :Smile:

Sorry swift owners and those that like Autotrails and other British vans, but I have to agree. If we were looking to buy again, at present it would be a continental make. Not just German, but French, Slovenian (of course) or even Italian.
Us British need to do a lot of hard work to convince me that my next motorhome would be British.

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rainbow chasers

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Lets' get this sorted out as everyone seems to be getting confused here!


Recovery

There are two types of recovery - CLUBS, such as AA, ADAC, RAC, GREEN FLAG.

Then there are Insurers, name any of hundereds of insurers - note; safeguard are insurers!

The insurers then resell the CLUBS'/RA'S breakdown insurance with their package as as a carrot. So though your recovery package comes with your vehicle insurance, it is actually owned by and operated by either CLUBS or RECOVERY AGENTS.

CLUBS own their own vehicles...AA, GREEN FLAG, RAC etc - but DO use contractors (add your local recovery operator here) to fulfill the requirements.

RECOVERY AGENTS (ERS, EA,MONDIAL,BRITTANIA etc) do not own their own vehicles - but operate full recovery control and dispatch using a huge base of CONTRACTORS. This gives them greater profits as they have no trucks to operate, they just 'Pay-as-they-go' They call the recovery contractor and state 'One of our clients is here, go get them!'

So when you buy your safeguard insurance, you will be recovered by either a specified club (ie green flag, aa etc) or a contractor sent by either the club OR the recovery agents. Check on your policy to see who you are with - it may be ERS, or whatever. Both are insurance policies, added to an insurance policy as a benefit to buying from an insurer. Your insurer (safeguard for example) being the middleman.:thumb:

Sorry, OP - All I can suggest, is to keep looking at different layouts. The best space in a 20ft motorhome, is usually with an end kitchen, as this will not have huge mid-way toilet /wardrobe compartments that loose the feeling of space!

Don't be afraid of small a-classes, the globestar is quite spacious feeling for a 20ft!
 

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