Why did you change your motorhome ? (1 Viewer)

Feb 19, 2015
1,776
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Norfolk
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35,161
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Globecar Campscout 2013
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Lots of people mention that they have had a couple and dealers have told us we are almost definitely going to swap around before settling. We are spending a lot on a Hymer and really expect to keep it for the duration (just about to set off fulltiming)
Curious as to people's reasons. Is it mainly layout?
 

mike mcglynn

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Deceased RIP
Jan 6, 2008
2,700
32,552
St. Helens MERSEYSIDE
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1,144
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Autosleeper Warwick XL
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A long time now
Hi,jacsprat we have changed a few times as it takes a little time to find out what suits you the best, were are on our 4th van now and like the 2 long sofas to flop on and the washroom along the back.

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Oct 7, 2013
5,867
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South Wales
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28,463
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Swift Escape Compact
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Since 1988
Came back to motorhoming after a break caused by buying our property in France. (We had sold our previous one to help fund it).

We bought a 7 year old model to ensure we still liked the way of life. We did so, after eighteen months, we traded up to our ideal layout.
 

GeriatricWanderer

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Feb 1, 2015
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45years
I think in many (most?) cases it can be just one thing that's wrong.
It could be layout, payload, garage (lack of), engine power, vehicle width/length, damp, base vehicle reliability etc. Any one of these might be enough to want to get another one.

And of course there's always - hmmm...... that one looks nice :)

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Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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On and off for many years.
We have always changed due to different family dynamics - so yes, layout.

One layout suited when the kids were very small, then different requirement when they were big teenagers, then it was just us two (and occasionally one extra) and now we have grand-children and are about to change to a slightly bigger mh again. Hope this one will last us 10 years. :)
 
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Jac Sprat
Feb 19, 2015
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Thanks
Yes I guess I mean despite wear and tear reasons.
As we are a retired couple I think our needs will be the same for a few years. Hopefully
 

Southdowners

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May 7, 2015
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We've just changed ours after only around 6 months of ownership. Our reasons were that we quickly realised that we needed more lounge area and that ivory coloured interior with a dog isn't the best! We also decided we'd like an island bed rather than two singles with an infill. Other than that we loved the vehicle itself - it drives really well, plenty of power, plenty of storage, comfortable, incredible good looks!

After looking at a few other makes we decided to have the same as what we have but bigger with a different colour interior and an island bed.

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Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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Thanks
Yes I guess I mean despite wear and tear reasons.
As we are a retired couple I think our needs will be the same for a few years. Hopefully

That's what we thought and then the Grandchildren came along and the elder loves being away with Gamma and Gan-dad!!!
 
D

Deleted member 29692

Deleted User
Layout for us as well.

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Jac Sprat
Feb 19, 2015
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oh lawks... We have a black n white dog and fawn covers.
How much money did you lose when you changed? (If you don't mind the question)
 
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Jac Sprat
Feb 19, 2015
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Catering for visitors ! 4 berth for two of us.
I imagine we will be very flexible with layout as we have only had years of not very comfortable camping behind us - but clearly this will not be the case going by all the evidence!

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Apr 25, 2012
794
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Near Truro, Cornwall
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A good question. Experience is a wonderful thing to have under your belt, but unless you are very lucky, the best lessons are often learned through mistakes. Someone said it may be just one thing that makes you change. True. For us, we had no issues with the quality of our first van (Dethleffs, so no surprise) but it just didn't give us enough lounging or cooking space. We could have lived with the swing-wall bathroom. Of course, had we had more money to spend when we bought that first van we might have bought mor wisely, so budget did come into it.
Looking back, although we got a good Px deal when we swapped the Dethleffs for a brand new Chausson Allegro at the NEC show, we were seduced by what looked like a very comfortable and good quality van with more lounging space, a bigger kitchen and a huge bathroom. It cost us the first van plus £16k.
It was soon obvious that the build quality was not great. Flimsy cabinet panels, poor hinges on doors, failure of the big overcab roof light, front coming loose from the high level oven. On top of that, the payload was poor for long tours for two, the storage access from outside was poor and the rear overhang was very long. Good looks_ and it was a good looking van - are not everything.
When we pxed that one for the older Hymer, we had learn a lot and this time I am sure we have chosen well. So if you are spending lots of cash on a Hymer, you should feel confident about your purchase, especially if you have carried out the right, sensible checks. Gary
 

John & Joan

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Mar 30, 2010
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After 9 years, 6 of which we have been full timing, the only reason we would change van is if we returned to bricks and mortar, as parking a 7m van could prove problematic.

For the first 3 years we had our van in storage while living in a house and that was expensive, as the insurance stipulated conditions, such as 24 hour on site security, 24hr CCTV coverage and in a secure compound.

My first MH was a Bedford CF Autosleeper and that went up in flames after being parked for 4 months over the winter outside the house. Fire Officer said it started in the steering column, not arson.

I had looked at many vans and opted for the S700 Hymer 1992 and the layout suited us fine.
 

Badknee

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Aug 25, 2014
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Living the dream.
In a less flippant post ;) We took quite a long time to find our ideal MoHo and it's a very long way away from what we set out to buy!
As tuggers for over twenty years we were determined to get away from making up beds every night, we wanted a separate shower/toilet, yadda, yadda, yadda. Our choices were getting bigger and bigger, tag axles came into it so we decided to really sit down and re-think it. I measured our drive which is where it was to be parked, we came on here and read and read, asked questions and soaked it all in.
Ok, 7.5 mtrs max, only need two berths, fixed bed takes up too much room, find bigger kitchen for Mrs Badknee to rattle the pots and pans, two long benches to lounge/sleep on and hey presto. Mo the motorhome was chosen.
Eleven years old so someone has lost a lot of money, 22k so it's not yet run in, new tyres, cam belt replaced, air ride suspension on the rear, uprated to 3.750t, low level so were not pushing a big overhead bed we didn't want, good size washroom, massive kitchen.
Job done (y)
image.jpg

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kelv

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Jun 23, 2014
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I changed mine after twelve months due to the poor build quality doors falling off,rubber seals coming off,and a host of other faults in the end I decided to trade it in for a hymer Which I am pleased with.
 
Nov 11, 2013
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Hymer T-SL 668
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March 2014
Simple. Totally unusable toilet, obviously designed by someone who never needed to poo whilst on holiday. Or never went on holiday after a big meal.

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JFD

Apr 9, 2015
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since 2014!
An excellent question! We have been 'Happy Campers' for years, and have thoroughly enjoyed all the various places we have stayed in. Trouble was, it took us a couple of hours to set up camp after arriving, which is fine, but a little limiting - you don't want to be doing a two hour set up for a night stop!

We looked into caravanning, but didn't like the idea much. Motor homes seemed a much more attractive prospect, hence we bought 'Nigel', an ancient Talbot based Pilote Atlantis 38CX, so see if we liked the motorised approach. A year later, we were sold, but needed a little more space, and a fixed bed. So Nigel was (sadly) traded in for a 2007 Rapido 746F which, so far, seems to be a worthy replacement (once we get all the little niggles sorted out!). Norfolk last weekend, New Forest the previous one, and a tour of Scotland in planning for next May, already!!

Anyone want to buy a well-used tent???
 
Jan 27, 2014
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mid wales
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29,872
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carthago chic i51.
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2004
We had a autosleeper ford legend for 4 years which we bought after seeing it for sale in a layby to see if we liked mhing
then found our hymer love it maybe a different lay out would persuade us to change otherwise very happy
 

madgeD

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Aug 17, 2014
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We decided making the bed up and down was a chore also I wanted to be able to take over the driving which I wouldn't have been comfortable doing in the larger van , so we decided to downsize and have a fixed bed , ;) age catches up with us all in time ! and O.H being 8 years older than me can hopefully look forward to being driven for a change :LOL: Ive yet to convince him of that though!!!

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nelly

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Aug 5, 2009
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Rapido 8090DF A Class
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I traded in a very nice Hymer B544 for a new Hymer B634 because of the layout my wife liked the space of the 634. It was a bad mistake the 634 was very poorly built 2006 reg. I only kept it 3 years and have now got a Rapido which is very well made.
 
Jun 30, 2010
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1992 VW Auto sleeper Mono
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Since 2005 this time
Had a G reg Pilote A Class R750, built like a tank, real wood, ceramic tiles in the work bench top, instant hot water, a loo you could sit on without your knees and forehead hitting the wall, basically:cool: indestructable!(y)

Didnt have power steering!
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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On the coast in West Sussex
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658
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Hymer B678 DL
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Since 2008 & many years tugging
Had the first Hymer for over 5 years from new, fancied a change wanted an A Class & a garage. The current one is only 18 months old , but keep getting tempted to change not because we need to change just with the Pound so strong against the Euro just makes it very tempting.

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Carthago Compactline
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Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
We have had several MHs/PVCs now with a rear fixed bed (1 French bed, 4 transverse including our current one and wouldn't have a MH/PVC without one. The main reason we changed from our previous PVC (Autocruise Accent) to our current PVC (Globecar FamilyScout L) was simply because we wanted virtually the same layout which we knew worked well for us (our previous vans had been similar) but with a bit bigger lounge - the Autocruise had a half-dinette whereas the Globecar being 36cm longer has room for an 'L' shaped lounge and more storage, there were other reasons too but this was the major decider ... can't see any reason why we'd want to change it for a long time.
 
Oct 7, 2013
5,867
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Since 1988
Further to previous post.

This is now our sixth Motorhome over a period of 30 years, so we consider ourselves reasonably experienced.

When I retired I bought an Autosleeper as I had always considered them a well built British M/H. It proved a total disaster.

Now, we would say layout rules every time. Quality is obviously important. However, you will find on this Forum those who would never buy a British van. Those who would never buy a Continental van, and those who, like most of us, will recommend the van they currently have.

Take a good look at what is available. Even if you make a mistake you do not lose a lot if you have to change.

Enjoy!(y)
 
T

Tackle man

Deleted User
Had two British made motorhomes from new that were very poorly made. The second one was a Watertrail that came with an onboard waterfall on the offside wall. We then ordered our Hymer Exsis i688 and after waiting five months for delivery have never been happier. We love it! (y)

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