Buying an old motorhome

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EdwardFT

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I may have to buy a "new" motorhome sometime, but with my budget it will be an old motorhome, I am looking at under 20,000€. Does anyone have experience or advice on this, please? Any makes that last well, or any that don't? For example, I like the construction of Hymers, but on that budget it would sure widen the search if I wasn't just limited to Hymer, unfortunately.

Bit is it worth looking for, say a Hymer that is some years older than I might be. Able to buy in another make?

Is the coach work more or less important than the vehicle? For example, is age more important than mileage?

Any thoughts welcome, especially those that don't involve a time machine to save more money when younger, or avoid two divorces.
 
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Excuse me, I did find a similar thread recently

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Buying Older Motorhome, What to look out for?

Hi All, I’m planning to buy a 4/5 berth motorhome on a small budget (£5,000 to £10,000). For this reason, it will have to be an older used model. (See below list of available at present models that would suit). I have the advantage of access to a self thought mechanic and so opening up the...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I take the point about damp, and I understand that Hymer use materials less susceptible? One of my reasons for liking them, since a previous can did get dry rot and was basically scrap.
 
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Our first motorhome was a McLouis and we bought it as complete novices. We thought it was an English make and were surprised to find that its Italian. It was very well built with no problems at all and I'd happily consider another one now. Well worth a look.
 
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I would think Layout and condition is more important than make on a older van
Plenty of older vans around that are not damp etc. Don't get fixated on Hymer, on this budget most Hymers are tired inside,where you could get a good bit newer different make.
You need to check everything works on anything you buy as it can soon mount up on costs.
Examples
New 3way fridge £500 up
Hot water boiler £450 up
Heater £350 up
Combi boiler £1200 up
Cooker £400 up
Don't buy anything damp so invest £15 on a damp meter and check all around window/ roof light's,bottom of walls etc.Dont take anyone's word about damp,including dealer's. look for yourself

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Nico said:
Our first motorhome was a McLouis and we bought it as complete novices. We thought it was an English make and were surprised to find that its Italian. It was very well built with no problems at all and I'd happily consider another one now. Well worth a look.
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I was shocked when I looked under a friends McLouis, Jagged bits of metal, exposed pipes, and generally a messy conversion.
 
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EdwardFT said:
I may have to buy a "new" motorhome sometime, but with my budget it will be an old motorhome, I am looking at under 20,000€. Does anyone have experience or advice on this, please? Any makes that last well, or any that don't? For example, I like the construction of Hymers, but on that budget it would sure widen the search if I wasn't just limited to Hymer, unfortunately.

Bit is it worth looking for, say a Hymer that is some years older than I might be. Able to buy in another make?

Is the coach work more or less important than the vehicle? For example, is age more important than mileage?

Any thoughts welcome, especially those that don't involve a time machine to save more money when younger, or avoid two divorces.
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IMO Main thing is layout, then construction then mechanicals. Your budget would stretch to an older Arto, Better construction than similar hymers but have a good look at the dg cab windows for misting and the shower tray for cracking. Whatever you look at make sure you drive it and make sure you can live with it.
 
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There is a classic example of a potentialy fantastic buy in the calssifieds on here. That Kontiki that went on sale yesterday, looks very well loved and properly maintained, I bet that won't hang around. (y)

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jongood said:
I was shocked when I looked under a friends McLouis, Jagged bits of metal, exposed pipes, and generally a messy conversion.
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we had one in for mot last year and we were also appalled at the conversion with jagged metal where they had cut bits off with oxy acetelene, think it must have originally been a van platform rather than a chassis cab
what looked like middle sill strengthening sections were just wired to the chassis channel,
 
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So possibly a good idea to save a reasonable amount off the budget, so that I can take a certain amount of follow-up expenses, rather than spend the budget and hope all is well?
 
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EdwardFT said:
So possibly a good idea to save a reasonable amount off the budget, so that I can take a certain amount of follow-up expenses, rather than spend the budget and hope all is well?
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I would say check thoroughly and if you re not sure get someone who knows to look at it and buy the best you can for the money you have.
 
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jongood said:
IMO Main thing is layout, then construction then mechanicals. Your budget would stretch to an older Arto, Better construction than similar hymers but have a good look at the dg cab windows for misting and the shower tray for cracking. Whatever you look at make sure you drive it and make sure you can live with it.
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I believe that pre 2000 Arto are ply interior walls Jon so more care needed with damp checks than later ones, but agree that old N+B well worth looking at.
 
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Noted, but N+B motorhomes seem to be heavy, I will be limited to 3500kg.

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chatteris said:
we had one in for mot last year and we were also appalled at the conversion with jagged metal where they had cut bits off with oxy acetelene, think it must have originally been a van platform rather than a chassis cab
what looked like middle sill strengthening sections were just wired to the chassis channel,
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Wow - standards must have changed and I didn't have any evidence of this workmanship in our 2004 one that I can recall
 
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It is possible to get a not so old Hymer for that money. We bought a 2002 Hymer S630 for £20K but it depends on expectations really. The running gear side of things was spot on, only 45K miles on the clock which is barely run in for a Mercedes, but the interior was tired/some things broken and missing. We knew it needed some work doing internally but if you've got a little time, DIY skills then it shouldn't cost much more to get it how you want it. Can't really comment on other brands as this is our first but knowing that damp wasn't an issue and running gear was fine it felt like a safe bet compared to other makes which are more susceptible to rotten panels etc
 
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Our current Kon-Tiki is now 26yrs old & is as fresh as a daisy.
I dislike the mechanical side of the vehicle, but that's just personal choice.

I think that the golden rule is that an old van must be DRY, preferably never had leaks as the damage behind panels can be well hidden.
Buy a decent damp meter & its always better to see a van on a soaking wet day, but the fun to be had tinkering with an elderly motorhome is superb.
 
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jongood said:
I was shocked when I looked under a friends McLouis, Jagged bits of metal, exposed pipes, and generally a messy conversion.
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We travelled a 100+miles to look at one, and were very disappointed. On paper the layout worked almost perfectly for us, till we got there and saw that the 1200mm garage door shallowed out to a 1.0mt headroom under the bed. Some doors wouldn't shut, others wouldn't stay shut, this was on a £55k new motor home, the salesman might still be awaiting my call back !!
Mike.

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I bought a 1999 AutoCruise, knowing it would need work but liked their old method of a monocoque roof that had no roof seals to worry about degrading and leaking. So held back £2,500 of my "budget" to recitify what i would find later. Sure enough new suspension front end (couldn't tell on first drive, then tried hitting pot holes after i got it and boy was there a loud bang as shock was completely empty), one new roof light (£65 fitted myself) , one reseal shower roof vent, Tyres, Fridge components (gas failing to light due to poor switch, wire and 12v feed) and a DIY rectification of the dodgy old immobilser (Only cost pennies for cables but hours to get info and be brave enough to bypass it), and most expensive - NEW water heater (Propex Malaga) to replace leaking old Carver unit. Sounds a lot but I knew most of the faults before I purchased and was competant enough to do most myself or already had spoken to somone local that could assist (good MOT centre and good MCEA local engineer for gas items). Net result, I bought well below market value and have now updated most of what I need for modern MH life incvluduing extra power sockets, solar panels etc...
 
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Friends of ours have recently (back in the summer) brought an Autosleeper apart from the paintwork fading a little its a lovely piece of kit. I was surprised how roomy they are.
 
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Jake vE said:
It is possible to get a not so old Hymer for that money. We bought a 2002 Hymer S630 for £20K but it depends on expectations really. The running gear side of things was spot on, only 45K miles on the clock which is barely run in for a Mercedes, but the interior was tired/some things broken and missing...
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That's reassuring, I personally don't mind if the interior is, can we say, even shabby, worn, with broken items even. Not if that gets a sound vehicle inside a low budget.
 
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EdwardFT said:
That's reassuring, I personally don't mind if the interior is, can we say, even shabby, worn, with broken items even. Not if that gets a sound vehicle inside a low budget.
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Yep! I think people were put off the one we bought because the bathroom sink was broken, kitchen tap was broken, some blinds needed adjusting etc it just looked tired. Granted I've made a few upgrades too but its certainly not cost a lot to fix and I see it more as a long term project.

I think we were lucky but if you're not in a rush something will come along 👍

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My current one was like that when I bought it a few years ago, when I was living in a house and working away on contract. I looked at what I was paying in hotels, and decided it wouldn't take long for a motorhome to pay for itself. Bit it was just a tool, not a proud possession.

For example the washbasin was cracked at the front and sealed with mastic. I figured that I was prepared to slap a bit of fresh mastic on it every few months if I had to; in fact it lasted 4 years before I had to apply a fresh dab.

As for taps, I have had to replace the kitchen tap once, and replace the kitchen and bathroom tap spouts more times than I remember.

And the blinds? So they need 2 hands to fold the concertina straight when opening them. I checked the price of new blinds and decided I can just do that.

So yes, I can live with "lived in".
 
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BTW I will buy in France, does anyone have experience of French makes? I like some of the Chausson layouts and the are less expensive than Hymer here. Not to mention that I could go to Germany and buy a Hymer, importing would be simple (as far as bureaucracy ever is in France) and avoid duty because it would be intra-EU.
 
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EdwardFT said:
BTW I will buy in France, does anyone have experience of French makes? I like some of the Chausson layouts and the are less expensive than Hymer here. Not to mention that I could go to Germany and buy a Hymer, importing would be simple (as far as bureaucracy ever is in France) and avoid duty because it would be intra-EU.
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Worth having a look at Rapido. Very happy with ours,2006 786F.
 
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