Hiring out my private motorhome

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stephennn

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Hi
I am very keen to buy a motorhome, 4 berth with fixed bed. I'd love a newbuild but the wife would never sign off on the cost, a 10year old circa £15k maybe she would.
Either way, is it possible to cover costs for a loan + storage by renting it out? I can ask the websites that do it all for me but I'd get a very biased answer and I'd prefer to get feedback from anyone who has had some experience.

thanks
 
Hi firstly welcome, now your budget looks a bit low for a 10 year old. Secondly the hire business is full of problems, insurance, drivers not used to a large vehicle, users who do not know how to work everything, to name a few. I'm sure there are posts on here about the subject so have a look but be careful.
 
Before you make any decisions, check out things like insurance costs, I did once and it put me right off renting. That’s before the clients treat your van in a deplorable way. There are companies which rent out your van as well for a commission, I have heard many horror stories about these as well.
Phil
 
Hi and welcome.
You only need one customer to cause some damage and all your plans are scuppered.
I wouldn’t even lend my van to family.
Good luck in your quest.

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If you rent, and the vehicle returns with damage (very possible) or a fault (possible) then you have nothing to hire out until It’s fixed and therefore could possibly be letting down your next hirers and they would not be best pleased. :gum:
 
I spent over ten years maintaining a fleet of hire vans. Having seen what happens to them please don’t.
hirers want new or nearly new, if you only have one what happens when it is off the road for parts, still waiting for bits for my 10/2019 van. Whilst a lot of hirers are responsible there are plenty that aren’. If no dogs allowed I have seen people waiting down the road with a dog, then denying they had one with them and cannot understand why the van is full of dogs hair. The next hirer refusing to take the van. Some drive around in a small car and are not used to the size of the van. Things get broken mislaid or pinched, just one big horror story. Many firms no longer hire them out as in the long run it isn’t feasibl.
 
I echo the above comments. We don’t even lend ours to family. If they damage it they will feel guilty and probably help with repairs. Hirers will not. They will consider that you hired it out, therefore your risk.

Insurance costs would rise and with a 10yr motorhome valued at £15k you may even find it written off if parts for repair are difficult to source.
 
stephennn said:
ok. I had similar thoughts and probably won't do it.

thanks
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Don't let this put you of getting a motor home. Have a look at a PVC some are small enough to use as a daily drive
 
Don't even lend van to our sons, it's my van.
 
Get a ‘van......but don’t rent/lend it out!
(and welcome from Ciren!) (y)
 
Unfortunately, £15k is unlikely to be sufficient for a decent 10-year old van.

Most hirers prefer newer vans.

Hiring vans is a nightmare - I know from looking after a friend's. It is much as others have said, almost always returned with something broken or damaged.

Getting spare parts quickly for motorhomes can be near impossible, especially bodywork and bespoke manufacturer-specific stuff. And likely even more difficult on a 10-year old van.

My advice - avoid!

Sorry - not the answer you were seeking. :unsure:

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I know the rental fees appear appealing but just reckon up your maintenance costs.
I tried this a few years ago and after 4 months I was out of pocket big time.
It's a big fat NEVER from me.
 
Tend to agree with previous comments. However thank goodness people do hire out MHs...without those hire companies we would have never experienced motorhoming and after two fantastic holidays in a hire MH we bought one, then another etc etc 😀
 
Another £10k on top of your £15k for anything 10 years old even then it wouldn’t be in good condition. Don’t rent it. It won’t work.and welcome 😷👍
 
Buy an older van that you can afford to run without worry. Mine at present is sat on the drive fully paid for not costing me anything to park up but in the first year alone full service belts and bits new tires (I knew all this when I bought it cost nearly £2000 plus tax and insurance

But I would normally pay that for the main 2/3 week holiday. I have had 7 full weeks away 2,x 2 weeks and a 3 week and every weekend that was possible.

I work full time but already she is worth her weight in gold to me. Set your sights a little lower there are some great older and cheaper vans out there .

Would I rent or lend mine NO CHANCE

And the final thought what if the 'dream' turns into a nightmare and you just don't enjoy it you will not be the first.

Other than that, go get a van and enjoy every bit as much as you can :welcome4:
 
take the time to search on here for horror stories like a brand newly converted van on it's first hire, returned with damage and dog shit inside. May not have been dog though, or the blood

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:pink:...

you’ll be lucky to get a 10yr van for under £30k....
 
I wouldn't rent mine out even if they paid me :rofl:
 
Bessy765 said:
I spent over ten years maintaining a fleet of hire vans. Having seen what happens to them please don’t.
hirers want new or nearly new, if you only have one what happens when it is off the road for parts, still waiting for bits for my 10/2019 van. Whilst a lot of hirers are responsible there are plenty that aren’. If no dogs allowed I have seen people waiting down the road with a dog, then denying they had one with them and cannot understand why the van is full of dogs hair. The next hirer refusing to take the van. Some drive around in a small car and are not used to the size of the van. Things get broken mislaid or pinched, just one big horror story. Many firms no longer hire them out as in the long run it isn’t feasibl.
Click to expand...
P
 
My sentiments exactly, DON’T do it.

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Gaston aires said:
Before you make any decisions, check out things like insurance costs, I did once and it put me right off renting. That’s before the clients treat your van in a deplorable way. There are companies which rent out your van as well for a commission, I have heard many horror stories about these as well.
Phil
Click to expand...
There is a company offering short term insurance for private owners wishing to lend their van to a friend, see this link, https://www.tempcover.com/temporary-van-insurance/motorhome. I lent mine for 10 days to a friend who used them. Cannot give you the costs as he was happy and I was with the cover.
 
stephennn said:
Hi
I am very keen to buy a motorhome, 4 berth with fixed bed. I'd love a newbuild but the wife would never sign off on the cost, a 10year old circa £15k maybe she would.
Either way, is it possible to cover costs for a loan + storage by renting it out? I can ask the websites that do it all for me but I'd get a very biased answer and I'd prefer to get feedback from anyone who has had some experience.

thanks
Click to expand...
DON’T DO IT! There are horror stories of rented out Motorhomes. It’s the same in all markets, the hirers have no respect for what’s not their own. I ran a decent size trailer hire fleet and we were ALWAYS having disputes about damage. Horse boxes and car transporter trailers seemed to be the worst.
that aside, there are insurance implications, and you mentioned a loan? It may well be part of the agreement that you cannot hire for reward....

you would of course need to take ‘substantial’ deposits to cover the damage risk and then be prepared to argue the toss with the hirer. There is always the issue too that you might miss something on it’s return.... assuming it is returned! Yes, I had them nicked too..... 😡🤬
 
I totally agree with what's been said. With regard to price, we paid £17000 for an 18 year old Swift Kontiki. We were fortunate and it was in great condition. There has naturally been a few wear and tear issues due to age over the last couple of years, but nothing too daunting.

Before buying we had considered the possibility of hiring it out, but once we set foot in it we realised we wouldn't trust anyone else to treat it as lovingly as we would. We made it clear to family and friends not to bother asking because they weren't allowed to borrow it.

We rarely even take the kids (22 & 32) away with us nowadays because it's our little escape space. It's become a very personal space with our belongings arranged just the way we like it. 'Konnie' is part of the family. I couldn't imagine trusting her to anyone else.

Do still buy a van if you can though. Motorhoming is something I always wanted to do and I'm so glad I have. It's changed our lives immeasurably.
 
I currently have a £35,000 garden ornament due to Covid-19. what happens to Hire-out plans when such unforeseen circumstances arise?
Luckily I paid cash for mine so no outgoings but there is still depreciation (I still go out and just sit in it).
 

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