Cheap motorhome (1 Viewer)

[apm101]

Hi all,

Following some internal negotiations involving knocking down an internal wall in our house, my budget for a motorhome is somewhat compromised...

I was looking to spend about £15-18k, but now looking more like £8-10k. From a previous thread, I know that something decent can be had for this amount of cash, but what should I look for? I am seeing some older Merc 208D based examples that look nice inside, but might have cosmetic issues, as well quite a few Talbots. We were planning to make this our primary holiday solution, but I think it will be more for weekends away in fact. We would need a 4 berth, but 5 would be handy. We had felt that a coachbuilt with overcab bed would be ideal, but I am not wedded to this.

With cars, my instinct is to go a bit older to higher quality, but does that hold true for MHs? What would that look like? Is the van base more important at this age? This all a new (and exciting) world for me!

All advice gratefully welcomed. Many thanks in advance.

Alex.

 

[MC 55 FUN]

One important aspect to consider is that a proper 4 / 5 berth with adequate seatbelts & equally adequate payload is likely to be over 3.5t GVW & therefore you'll need the appropriate driving licence.

 

[Gaston aires]

Look for a "classic Hymer type". There are a few around that price.
Phil

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[MillieMoocher]

Look for a "classic Hymer type". There are a few around that price.
Phil

+ 1 for that. There is an active Facebook group for Classic Hymers which has a "hymermarket" section, also Hymer Owners Group on FB might be worth a look.

Good luck anyway!

 

[Mickey1]

Mickey.

 

[apm101]

One important aspect to consider is that a proper 4 / 5 berth with adequate seatbelts & equally adequate payload is likely to be over 3.5t GVW & therefore you'll need the appropriate driving licence.

Many thanks. I passed my test in 1988, so have classes C, C1, C1E, D, D1, D1E. Would that do?

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[MC 55 FUN]

Many thanks. I passed my test in 1988, so have classes C, C1, C1E, D, D1, D1E. Would that do?

Yes

 

[suavecarve]

@laird of Dunstan had a lovely looking hymer for sale for his mum in law or someone similar very recently

Cant remember the specs but i took a look on the internet and thought .......... "That will do someone nicely"

 

[suavecarve]

CANCEL CANCEL

Already gone.

Not in shock ! (and it was a 2/3 berth)

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[apm101]

Coming round to this idea- already found a couple at around the right price.

How do the lavatories work on these? Don't look like a Thetford Cassette...

 

[Xabia]

This one on Hymermarket on Facebook looks worth considering. Can only copy the text and not photos so you would need to join the group to investigate further.

Iam thinking of selling my Hymer as you can see money has been no object on this classic camper i am OPEN TO SENSIBLE OFFERS <<<
THIS IS A FANTASTIC CAMPER loads of bills to much to mention
if your intersted pm and i will get in touch thanks for looking
4 new tyres new cambelt clutch brakes 200 solar panel 2 new batteries resprayed new head linning new interior and much much more and a generator
12 months MOT

 

[Reallyretired]

Coming round to this idea- already found a couple at around the right price.

How do the lavatories work on these? Don't look like a Thetford Cassette...

I think some of the classic hymers have a toilet holding tank like an RV. Need to empty much less often.

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[apm101]

So some more research, and I reckon a Hymer b534 or b544 might fit the bill. I'm feeling a bit torn, though- I love the layout of the 534, and it would suit us well. Junior (8) and his cousin (8 as well, who will sometimes come with us) can have the pull down, and wife and I can have the double at the back. The rear lounge looks lovely, a really nice place to be! Trouble is, only 2 travel seats. All I've read suggests it's not sensible to use even the front-facing seats at the back, even if you can persuade someone to fit lap belts. Which means we'd have to bring the car, too.

The 544 has the central diner and extra travel seats, but loses the lovely rear lounge.

What do you knowledgeable types think? Better to travel together and put up with the lost lounge, or go for the preferred layout and put up with having the car? I suppose with the car, we would have it to buzz around in (although these Hymers are almost short enough to use in town...

Mostly, we would use it for weekend getaways.

Cheers- what a great forum!

 

[Riverbankannie]

You have a few years yet of holidaying with your son with or without his cousin. It would seem a shame to have to limit your trips in the MH to places where you can take along an extra car. That would mean you and your partner travelling separately which is not much fun.
Travelling seats would seem to be most important even though layout not ideal. Otherwise, dare I suggest it, you might as well tow a caravan so can travel together, have car to use at destination and have a comfortable layout.

 

[Jeff and terri]

this might be worth buying spending a little to keep in budget ??

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[apm101]

Just been to look at an '86 Hymer b534, and came within a smidge of buying, when the vendor told us about the London Low Emission Zone. We're in the outer bits of Bromley, but still within, so it's a no go. It would either need to be stored outside the zone (impractical) or have a dpf fitted at too high a cost.

Curses!!

So, we need something post 2002 essentially, and it will have to be a coachbuilt.

Any new thoughts welcome!!

 

[wigster]

BROKEN LINK

This might be useful

 

[deleted-member02]

Go petrol and you won't have to worry about LEZ.

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[EX51SSS]

Apparently these are cheap and comply with LEZ.

 

[apm101]

Petrol sounds good. That Swift looks pretty good, actually.

Ideal option is a petrol Hymer- I have found one but it's in Austria...

 

[apm101]

So we are off to look at some motorhomes this weekend. Tomorrow is an American rig, a Ford E350 Tiago. It's actually quite small for a Yank tank, under 7m, with 5 berths. Has a 5.6l V8, so not expecting great economy, but a good sound! On Sunday, it's a 90's Swift Kontiki. I know they have a rep for leaking, but this one looks in good nick. 2.0l petrol, so suits our location. Still on the look out for a petrol Hymer- one did come up in Cornwall, but it doesn't look like we will get down to it. Quite excited, either way!