About to take the plunge (1 Viewer)

[Chugger]

Hi I am Chugger!

I plan to travel around Europe for at least a year from April 2018. I will be keeping my UK home but I need to get myself a motorhome.

I am looking at some older used models that the budget will permit. I do not have a C1 licence so I need to be mindful of of MAM etc.

Any advice on purchasing a used, older MH would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[jollyrodger]

&
Hi Chugger
Should be plenty around depending on your needs for your planed travel ,and of course the budget .
Personally I like the older ones ,much easier to maintain ,a good damp meter will come in handy ,and your nose if it smells of damp leave well alone
Pity your not nearer this way ,I had one up on classifieds here but needed to use it ,so took it down .
Wish you look in your search

 

[mikebeaches]

Hi Chugger - sounds like quite an adventure you've got planned!

There should be plenty of choice of vans plated at 3,500kg. And this ought to be a good time of year to buy.

Good luck.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Figaro]

The older Hymers can be a good choice but as always you have to sift the good from the bad.
There is a free buyers guide on here which gives excellent advice.
Good luck

 

[scousebird]

 

[The Dudess]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Howard H]

And

 

[Chugger]

Thanks everybody.

I am hoping to travel across northern Europe then down to South France, ending up in Benidorm.

I have about 20k saved but that has to cover my household bills for the year too. I have been looking at old motorhomes from 89-93 which seem to be coming in at around 5-6k. I am not sure whether mechanically they will do the job or whether I am better off using that mobey to buy and convert a window van/minibus.

 

[jollyrodger]

If your thinking of doing nth Europe why not look on mobile.de should be one or two on there ,use it then import it into UK on the way back


Broken Link Removed

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bart]

Hiya and welcome

 

[gus-lopez]

Thanks everybody.

I am hoping to travel across northern Europe then down to South France, ending up in Benidorm.

I have about 20k saved but that has to cover my household bills for the year too. I have been looking at old motorhomes from 89-93 which seem to be coming in at around 5-6k. I am not sure whether mechanically they will do the job or whether I am better off using that mobey to buy and convert a window van/minibus.

Or use a company that buys back ?

http://www.dutchcampervans.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=6


http://www.bwcampers.com/en/motorhomes-for-sale-bw-campers

 

[ambulancekidd]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Chugger]

The thought of buying a MH out there had crossed my mind but I am a wary enough buyer in the UK nevermind mainland Europe! Things such as insurance and MOT would be a concern and whether it is a simple process to import to the UK.

The buyback scheme looks interesting... I shall look into it, thanks.

I have been thinking of acquiring and converting an LDV Minibus but I need to clarifh a few things first, such as how easy it is to insure a conversion, whether I can drive it without C1 (post conversion) and whether maintenance cosys on such vehicles are massively higher than a normal van. I have heard maibtenance costs on a minibus are very high.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[Carol]

Hello Welcome, sounds like a good plan that you have put a lot of thought into. I would look ay Hymers but newer, mid 1990's sending about 13k
I don't think for 6k . You would get one worth having.
Good luck keep asking questions and let us know how you get on.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[tacr2man]

The thought of buying a MH out there had crossed my mind but I am a wary enough buyer in the UK nevermind mainland Europe! Things such as insurance and MOT would be a concern and whether it is a simple process to import to the UK.

The buyback scheme looks interesting... I shall look into it, thanks.

I have been thinking of acquiring and converting an LDV Minibus but I need to clarifh a few things first, such as how easy it is to insure a conversion, whether I can drive it without C1 (post conversion) and whether maintenance cosys on such vehicles are massively higher than a normal van. I have heard maintenance costs on a minibus are very high.

Converting a vehicle to go traveling is not as easy as it seems , unless you have necessary skill sets to start with ,and have a good knowledge base as to what you need to make the vehicle viable when done , its also not a cheap way of getting a good usable vehicle in the end with certainty .
There are plenty of good used moho ready , or almost to take and travel , even in the range of price you are contemplating .
Hymers although generally good VFM are overpriced in the market for the reason that people get fixated on them being the only way to go for reliability and being well built .
you need to formulate what your needs are , and then look at all possibles that tick the boxes , and then go and see, you will look at more rubbish than good , but there are also some real diamonds out there , you just need to put in the effort .

 

[Chugger]

Hello Welcome, sounds like a good plan that you have put a lot of thought into. I would look ay Hymers but newer, mid 1990's sending about 13k
I don't think for 6k . You would get one worth having.
Good luck keep asking questions and let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the advice. Just not sure I can afford to pay that much and cover my other expenses for the year. At the 5-6k mark do you think I would be better going for a campervan than MH?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Chugger]

Converting a vehicle to go traveling is not as easy as it seems , unless you have necessary skill sets to start with ,and have a good knowledge base as to what you need to make the vehicle viable when done , its also not a cheap way of getting a good usable vehicle in the end with certainty .
There are plenty of good used moho ready , or almost to take and travel , even in the range of price you are contemplating .
Hymers although generally good VFM are overpriced in the market for the reason that people get fixated on them being the only way to go for reliability and being well built .
you need to formulate what your needs are , and then look at all possibles that tick the boxes , and then go and see, you will look at more rubbish than good , but there are also some real diamonds out there , you just need to put in the effort .

I keep going back and forth on this. I had thought about doing a really cheap conversion - just a bed, portaloo and a camoing hob seeing as I only have to suit myself.

I will have a good dig around for a used MH before making a decision. My biggest fear is that a 90-95 MH wont make it round Europe. Reliability is a must as I am not mechanically minded and so running repairs would be near impossible for me.

 

[tacr2man]

I keep going back and forth on this. I had thought about doing a really cheap conversion - just a bed, portaloo and a camoing hob seeing as I only have to suit myself.

I will have a good dig around for a used MH before making a decision. My biggest fear is that a 90-95 MH wont make it round Europe. Reliability is a must as I am not mechanically minded and so running repairs would be near impossible for me.

I use a 1986 landrover , on some of my travels , last one was a circular trip to Prague , just had to refuel twice , that was the total amount of maintenance it required . So age in itself isnt that big a deal , its more the way the vehicle is cared for.
This is the sort of thing to look at

Dont buy in haste , and if you don't have relevant knowledge find someone to come along with you .

 

[Carol]

If you plan carefully you should not need a huge amount of money for living, diesel /petrol and gas for cooking being your main costs, there are plenty of Aires to use in France so cost can be kept down that way. If your prepared to cook for yourself and not eat out too much it's surprising how far money can stretch, you could pick up odd work as your travelling, I think I would get a reasonable van with a solar panel I'm sure it's all doable in your budget, keep on the reaserch ask questions you'll get there

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Chugger]

Thank you. I think that is my next task - find somebody who has good knowledge of such things and hope they take mercy on me and steer me right!

 

[buttons]

Hi and Welcome.....