Hello all,
Having been lurking on various sites over the last few weeks I decided to post on this one but I am new so please be gentle...
Having spent the last 3 weeks trying to decide between Caravan / Motor Home / Stick with Trailer Tent / Give up having sleepless nights whilst trying to decide between the former and just go on a package holiday to Majorca (not really an option). We think we have plonked (sorry that sounds so trivial) for a Motor Home.
Actually we have been toying with the idea for about 5 years and almost bought a Hymer a few years ago.
In terms of budget we would have about 5k by Xmas / New year or if we waited until Next summer (July) we would have up to about 9-10k this would give us more choice but only in the sense of paying more for very similar models maybe a year or two newer and some at the higher price are in fact a lot older and higher mileage than the lower priced ones. - Confused ...I am
These budgets are actual pound notes and not finance (we want to pay for our first MH outright)
I know we could get a really well speccd Caravan at this price, but we would also have to sell our car (we have an economical car) and to be honest towing a huge shed is not very appealing. The Petrol saving would probably offset the maintenance and running costs of a MH.
We are looking for a coachbuilt with four travelling seats (2 Adults 3 Children one 6 one 3 and a 1 yr old labradoodle).
We have already found some great deals from 3.5k upwards. If you really do look hard and are prepared to travel there are some fantastic bargains that have been clearly looked after even if they are old.
So we now have another dilemma:shout:. As patience is not a real strongpoint with either of us, do we wait and hope the market does not change and save more or do we just take the plunge now and use the winter lull to get a good deal and prep ready for next season if we find a MH we really like?
Aside from the obvious damp, rust, HPI etc checks, Log book service history, Mot, Receipts etc, a request for the seller to prove that everything is in full working order together with the gut feel you get from those selling prior to parting with our cash. We are looking at the dodgier end of the market is their anything else that we should insist upon. I have not got a clue about the merits of one model over another.
For example:
Is there a UK law that you should have and maintain Gas/Electric checks and is there a document we should ask for if this is the case
Are there certain things (generically) that should really be replaced after a certain time frame (obviously this would vary by specific make / model so may be difficult to answer) as an example (albeit a fractional cost and insignificant one) I know that there is a charcoal water filter on a caravans water pump that needs to be replaced annually and I would assume the same applies for MH's
Is there a certificate / proof that a buyer has as regards winterisation and is this required for the UK (we would not venture far from Essex in the Winter but we do enjoy going to the seaside on a cold crisp winters day
Are there any tell tale signs that suggest that any water tank has been left full and iced over in the winter (aside from the dripping but what seller will sell with a full water tank)
Are there MHs Makes/Models where parts are no longer available or hard to source
Is Elddiss/Talbot/Fiat/Bedford better than Swift or vice versa (I have no idea).
I would guess that a 2.5 ltr diesal would be have better fuel economy than a 2.0 petrol is the case on all models though?
I don't mind giving it a little TLC and provided everything is sound. Fridges, cookers gas pipes even electrics can all be replaced (at a price of course) although I would prefer cosmetic changes only of course
Is there anything really high value that I should really keep my eye on that I have not listed above.
As one example of what we have found:
It is very old but seems well looked after. It seems to me a genuine advert, by a genuine seller and has really piqued my interest however I may be totally wrong without further knowledge/questions first one being how old is that Photo
http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1034338739/1ecbec18.html
In case the link does not work:
Preloved | 5 birth diesel bedford cf camper van / motorhome 1983 for sale in Castleford, West Yorkshire, UK
Thank you for reading through this monologue and (if you actually make it to the end of it still awake) any help would be greatly appreciated.
If we do find something we like can we post on here for feedback ?
Thanks
Jason
Having been lurking on various sites over the last few weeks I decided to post on this one but I am new so please be gentle...
Having spent the last 3 weeks trying to decide between Caravan / Motor Home / Stick with Trailer Tent / Give up having sleepless nights whilst trying to decide between the former and just go on a package holiday to Majorca (not really an option). We think we have plonked (sorry that sounds so trivial) for a Motor Home.
Actually we have been toying with the idea for about 5 years and almost bought a Hymer a few years ago.
In terms of budget we would have about 5k by Xmas / New year or if we waited until Next summer (July) we would have up to about 9-10k this would give us more choice but only in the sense of paying more for very similar models maybe a year or two newer and some at the higher price are in fact a lot older and higher mileage than the lower priced ones. - Confused ...I am
These budgets are actual pound notes and not finance (we want to pay for our first MH outright)
I know we could get a really well speccd Caravan at this price, but we would also have to sell our car (we have an economical car) and to be honest towing a huge shed is not very appealing. The Petrol saving would probably offset the maintenance and running costs of a MH.
We are looking for a coachbuilt with four travelling seats (2 Adults 3 Children one 6 one 3 and a 1 yr old labradoodle).
We have already found some great deals from 3.5k upwards. If you really do look hard and are prepared to travel there are some fantastic bargains that have been clearly looked after even if they are old.
So we now have another dilemma:shout:. As patience is not a real strongpoint with either of us, do we wait and hope the market does not change and save more or do we just take the plunge now and use the winter lull to get a good deal and prep ready for next season if we find a MH we really like?
Aside from the obvious damp, rust, HPI etc checks, Log book service history, Mot, Receipts etc, a request for the seller to prove that everything is in full working order together with the gut feel you get from those selling prior to parting with our cash. We are looking at the dodgier end of the market is their anything else that we should insist upon. I have not got a clue about the merits of one model over another.
For example:
Is there a UK law that you should have and maintain Gas/Electric checks and is there a document we should ask for if this is the case
Are there certain things (generically) that should really be replaced after a certain time frame (obviously this would vary by specific make / model so may be difficult to answer) as an example (albeit a fractional cost and insignificant one) I know that there is a charcoal water filter on a caravans water pump that needs to be replaced annually and I would assume the same applies for MH's
Is there a certificate / proof that a buyer has as regards winterisation and is this required for the UK (we would not venture far from Essex in the Winter but we do enjoy going to the seaside on a cold crisp winters day
Are there any tell tale signs that suggest that any water tank has been left full and iced over in the winter (aside from the dripping but what seller will sell with a full water tank)
Are there MHs Makes/Models where parts are no longer available or hard to source
Is Elddiss/Talbot/Fiat/Bedford better than Swift or vice versa (I have no idea).
I would guess that a 2.5 ltr diesal would be have better fuel economy than a 2.0 petrol is the case on all models though?
I don't mind giving it a little TLC and provided everything is sound. Fridges, cookers gas pipes even electrics can all be replaced (at a price of course) although I would prefer cosmetic changes only of course
Is there anything really high value that I should really keep my eye on that I have not listed above.
As one example of what we have found:
It is very old but seems well looked after. It seems to me a genuine advert, by a genuine seller and has really piqued my interest however I may be totally wrong without further knowledge/questions first one being how old is that Photo
http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1034338739/1ecbec18.html
In case the link does not work:
Preloved | 5 birth diesel bedford cf camper van / motorhome 1983 for sale in Castleford, West Yorkshire, UK
Thank you for reading through this monologue and (if you actually make it to the end of it still awake) any help would be greatly appreciated.
If we do find something we like can we post on here for feedback ?
Thanks
Jason
