Advice please (1 Viewer)

[two]

I think you can have either, the fwd is extra, not necessary then?

Latest model is FWD and lighter (more payload). RWD gives better traction and turning circle.

 

[Sara2sparkle]

There are other ways to cook than a microwave and microwaves are heavy. You could install one in the garage and see how you get on but I wouldn't go having furniture changed to accommodate one until I was certain I was going to make good use of it.

As you say, I can try without first as it can be added later, thanks

 

[Sara2sparkle]

12v or 240v?

I have a plethora of 240... and use about 3 if on EHU...

I’ve installed 3 extra 12v...

Tele
Usb’s for charging and iPad to watch stuff whilst in sack...

EHU??

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[peterc10]

Is additional heating worth thinking about, or is that something we can have added at a later date?

You should not need extra heating with either. Both will keep you warm in the winter. Probably worth getting the combined electric and gas if you will be using campsites in UK.

In my opinion may be worth getting the Alde Arctis pack if Hymer still do it.

 

[Fletton]

EHU??

@Sara2sparkle Electric Hook up...

The moho plugged in to mains supply

 

[Fletton]

When “plugged in” .... say on a campsite... it’s like being “at home”...

Insofar as anything you carry in moho.. toaster... will work....

Else your on gas and 12volts only...

Unless you have an inverter... which i’m sure you’ll learn about soon...

However, i do not have an inverter ... and don’t miss one...

It’s all about wants and needs...

Do i need it.. or do i want it...

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[TheBig1]

EHU??

electric hook up as in mains electric on a campsite

 

[canopus]

Good advice. On the oven front, I was thinking of no oven but possibly a microwave tho I have seen some people think that is a waste. Was thinking of baked potatoes and veg you can steam in a microwave in minutes. I'm very aware I'm being very female here and appreciate your patience

You won’t be able to run a microwave unless you are (1) plugged into the 240V mains or (2) have a decent wattage rated inverter.

As some have said already if you go down the Hymer route you can specify a bigger Merc 190bhp RWD auto engine, Alde heating, extra batteries and inverter, wiring for solar, wiring for reversing camera, oven etc at the outset.

If you are happy with left hand drive you can save a shed load of money buying from Belgium or Germany but that may change post brexit.

 

[EX51SSS]

I can't disagree with a lot of the suggestions particularly solar and extra batteries. However, I don't have either and using our Moho over the last 11 years, we have found that our real essential are refillable gas cylinders. Ours are gaslow but there are cheaper and lighter ones available.
It all comes down to the type of usage you are hoping or planning to do.
Apart from weekends away (and the odd week) in the UK, our main holiday is (now) up to 6/7 weeks touring Europe. We rarely stay more than 3 days anywhere and not had a problem without EHU and occasionally use sites and Aires with or without EHU.
There are a plethora of extras but, for us, the only real essential that I would need in another Moho, would be refiillable cyliders.
Microwave, nope as a heavy lump land only use when on EHU and we only have a small freezer anyway. We use the oven quite a lot. TV, occasionally
A decent hose (for water), a collapsable type bucket (for grey water when not able to use drive over)
There are suggestions for one pan cooking too but we have enough to use 3 pans and the oven (also doubles as a grill). We carry a small ceramic heater but never used it.

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[peterc10]

I agree with most of the advice you have got so far. Basically get the factory fit extras that you want and that will be very difficult or expensive to add later. So basic layout, chassis type, engine, gearbox, internal and external colours, upholstery, heating system, cab air conditioning, oven, and size and type of fridge are all best chosen as factory fit extras. Only have others if they are being offered at a good price as part of a package. DO NOT buy the factory fit alarms on European makes because they are not Thatcham approved (the UK industry standard) so will not be acceptable to your insurer.

Not sure that you should get any dealer fit extras unless they are at a very good price as part of the deal, and then only done after you have hammered them down on the base price. We got some extras fitted by our dealer, but that was only because I calculated that his price was about the same as what it would have cost me to buy the bits, so I was getting the fitting costs for free.

After that use the moho for a few trips before you decide what else to add. The only exceptions may be an alarm and/or tracker, which may be a requirement of your insurer. In that case I suggest you do what a lot of us do and get them fitted by Vanbitz. Not the cheapest, but they are the best and they are specifically designed for motorhomes rather than cars. Other items that are best left to be fitted afterwards by specialists (or yourself if you think you have the skills) are additional batteries, solar, entertainment system, reversing camera(s), refillable gas bottles, awning and BBQ point. I suspect that others will add to that list.

Finally, a word of caution. The perceived wisdom is that, on average, it takes 3 purchases before you get the right motorhome for you. We were lucky and did it in two, and we are reasonably sure that the one we have now is a "keeper". Unless we win the lottery of course! So it may be better to look second hand for your first van, rather than new. Second hand prices are holding up well at the moment, because of the increasing popularity of motorhoming (cause by us bloody baby boomers). Back in 2013 we bought a 5 year old van with only 10,000 miles on the clock for £30k as our first one and part exchanged it two and a half years and 15,000 miles later for £2k less. If we had sold it privately I suspect we would have probably got what we paid for it. The downside, of course, is that you are stuck with what factory fitted extras are already on it.

 

[StephandJohn]

solar panels and extra batteries are essential

 

[StephandJohn]

solar panels and extra batteries are essential

Not necessarily. It depends on what its already got. We've used our Swift Firebrand at all times of the year. Just changed the gas to Gaslow so we can get it anywhere in Europe. we don't do much wildcamping, aires etc so generally use hookup. We did check out solar panels a few years ago anddecided it wasn't worth the outlay for us although might be worth it for other people.
Steph

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[Sara2sparkle]

Huge thanks to all of you, all this advice is invaluable x

 

[buttons]

Hi and Welcome...

 

[two]

I bet your head’s spinning now, Sara? Ponder on what’s been said. Unfortunately, there isn’t a common view because we’re all different and use our vehicles in many different ways.

Don’t be frightened to come back and ask more questions when you’ve had time to think. I suggest you raise different ones as different posts/threads to keep discussions focused on one topic at a time.

You’ll need to be patient if buying new. The lead times are not something to be holding your breath for but, if you do, I’m sure it’ll be worth your wait!

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[canopus]

Hymer on a Merc with as many extras as you can afford - no brainer.

 

[Sara2sparkle]

I bet your head’s spinning now, Sara? Ponder on what’s been said. Unfortunately, there isn’t a common view because we’re all different and use our vehicles in many different ways.

Don’t be frightened to come back and ask more questions when you’ve had time to think. I suggest you raise different ones as different posts/threads to keep discussions focused on one topic at a time.

You’ll need to be patient if buying new. The lead times are not something to be holding your breath for but, if you do, I’m sure it’ll be worth your wait!

Yup, much pondering is going on! Really grateful for all this advice. Need to get husband to think about engines etc, like the idea of getting the extras that need to be fitted at manufacturers and then seeing how we go. Again, many thanks x

 

[Riverbankannie]

Not necessarily. It depends on what its already got. We've used our Swift Firebrand at all times of the year. Just changed the gas to Gaslow so we can get it anywhere in Europe. we don't do much wildcamping, aires etc so generally use hookup. We did check out solar panels a few years ago anddecided it wasn't worth the outlay for us although might be worth it for other people.
Steph

Solar panel the first thing we had to add on, surprised all modern MH don’t have them as standard. The alarm on ours runs the cab battery down in 3 weeks. The solar panel keeps both cab and habitation batteries in good condition.
We don’t keep ours on EHU in the drive, but if you can then maybe can do without solar but I think good for future resale values.
However as has been said earlier, can get better price and good fitting by going to an independent expert such as Vanbitz.

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[Lenny HB]

With the Hymer you will probably want to add the Komfort pack which gives you a Drivers door, electric mirrors, cab air con, insect blind on had door etc, but you may not want the drivers door. You will probably need about £15k of basic extras but things like Solar panel, extra batteries, TV, Sat dish, stereo are far cheaper to add yourself. On the Hymer the comfort habitation door is well worth having as the standard one is a bit naff. The electric option on the heating is expensive for what it is & far cheaper to use gas than pay for electric if you use sites.

 

[pappajohn]

When “plugged in” .... say on a campsite... it’s like being “at home”...

Insofar as anything you carry in moho.. toaster... will work....

Not necessarily so.....it depends on how many amps are provided by the hookup.
In Europe it can be as low as 3amps.....that's just 700watts.
That MIGHT warm and dry out bread but it'll never toast it.