New, and in need of some experienced advice! (1 Viewer)

[Shetland_Dave]

Hi all - long read...if you don't want to read it all then the base question is:

Bearing in mind the windy weather, and the rainfall, and the lack of motorhome dealers on the islands are there any recommendations/thoughts on the best van for my use?

The story is that I'm currently a full-time carer for my wife on the south coast of England, but, after 11 years of full-time care (and 11 years prior to that juggling her MS and working) she has deteriorated to the point where she needs more professional help than I can give. I've just burned out and need to take control of my life again. At 53 years old I feel it's now or never.

I'm planning on re-locating 'home' to the Shetland Islands (where I was brought up), but with little money and no assets (thanks Government, for all the loving support towards carers) I need to do this on a shoestring.

I've been selling the contents of my woodturning workshop and a few other bits and pieces and have managed to raise around £8000 in cash.

I also have a 2010 VW Caravelle Startline 2 litre TDI that's been modified to allow a wheelchair passenger in the rear, so it has a ramp and electric winch and clamping system. All WAV work was carried out by Lewis Reed and the only other owner than me was Motability. The van has just under 40,000 miles on it and is exceptionally clean and tidy. It's being MOT'd and serviced next week and I'm not expecting any issues.

I'm reckoning (hoping) that is worth around £15,000 or more on trade in, so maybe around £20,000 to play with (as I have to keep some cash to live on when I first move back to the islands).

There are no motorhome dealers on Shetland, although there are the usual 'big' vehicle dealers, including FIAT and Peugeot.

I'm hoping to move and live in the van for the first few weeks while I find a bricks and mortar place to rent, and then to use the van to spend my weekends and holiday times touring the islands and poking my nose into every nook and cranny. I'm also intending blogging and providing YouTube guides on Shetland from a motorhome perspective.

The main roads up there are really good, with little traffic, but off the beaten track the roads narrow and are often single carriageway with passing places. I'm not sure on the status of breakdown services yet (I'm talking to a long-time motor mechanic friend that has lived and worked there for over 40 years now tonight to ask that very question, among others).

Calor gas is readily available and there are some good campsites with electric hook-ups, showers, laundry facilities and the like.

I'd rather have a van with toilet and shower for those longer trips on the more remote isles though.

My concerns are the winds, that can get quite scary in exposed areas, and often have strong gusts hidden in them, the rainfall, as I've been reading a lot about coach built vehicles nearly always leaking somewhere, and the lack of maintenance facilities for the motorhome specific equipment.

That said, however, I like the idea of a small coachbuilt, and love the layout of the Avondale Seaspirit (for example), but with no experience in this I don't know if I'm jumping off the deep end with a lead weight attached to my feet!

Lastly...I know this is what I want and that I can do it. I'm ex-Royal Navy and am used to small living spaces and 'roughing it' to a degree. My Dad lives on a canal boat near Oxford, so I guess there's something of the nomad in the family.

So...thanks for reading if you got this far...any thoughts?

 

[snailtrailer]

and

Dave. Can't help you but if we keep bumping up this thread, someone will come along with advice.

Cheers, Auntie Pam

 

[TerryL]

First off, to the Funhouse. You've come to the right place and there'll presently be loads of comments (and even maybe some advice!).

To start with get yourself a full membership - at £15 p.a. it's the best investment you'll make in motorhoming and gives you unlimited postings and access to a wealth of advice, some of it actually useful! Otherwise you're limited to 5 posts and restricted access.

My first thoughts were to convert your existing van, but fitting it out as you want may not be practical. Rather than offering it in part-exchange though, you may get a better price by trying forums/websites specialising in help for the disabled. Given the cost of specialist vehicles you ought to be able to sell it quickly there.

That will also allow you more flexibility when looking to buy, having no part-ex to worry about. Although there are dealers in your price bracket you may be better off buying private - have a good look around then if anything catches your eye come back on here to ask for opinions. I bet there are very few models of motorhome that nobody on here has experience of. You already have a good idea of how you're going to use it, so probably the most important point is layout, then layout, followed by layout. Yes it's that important and will make all the difference on how you enjoy (or not) your experiences. After that, overall size - in the Shetlands you won't want an American RV or super-liner, but as most normal size vans are as easy to drive as cars you don't need a micro-van! You'll no doubt read reports of poor quality, problems etc. but generally they tend to be one-offs and provided you take care there are dozens of eminently usable choices.

As a full member you can download a free copy of Jim's excellent publication, Buying a Motorhome, from the Resources section which will answer lots of questions, including ones you've never thought about.

Good luck with your plans. We told ourselves to just go and do it while we still can and so should you.

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[Camping Gaza]

Sounds like a plan!

I have a small coachbuilt good enough for me, I could live in it no probs, but if I was full timing, I would be looking at something larger, and older. Dont take much notice about damp vans, leaks and all that most people have super duper mobile palaces and get sniffy if a cupboard door creaks, just use your common if you ever get a leak etc, but do heed advice from those in the know on here and if you buy private you will get more bang for your buck. watch for the scams on ebay if you go that route.

If damp worries you you can buy damp meters you can take with you to test. Obviously dont buy a rot box, use you nose when viewing too.

Heating is prolly you biggest concern up there, if you get a van equip it with a cheap chinese diesel heater off ebay for about 120 quid, if it has poor heating or you want to save a fortune on calor gas, as that's a right rip off. I have LPG re fillable bottles and that's cheap.

All the best

 

[Hollyberry]

Another vote from me for Jim’s book Buying a Motorhome, invaluable before you part with any cash.
Spend a few days visiting dealerships —- leave your chequebook and cards at home!!!! You’re just trying them out—- do you need a full size cooker, a fixed bed, a bigger/smaller shower room etc... I always thought fixed beds took up too much space until I unintentionally spent 9 months living in my Moho, then realised how comfortable and how convenient it was.
Imagine it’s raining, non stop, for 48 hours and you are stuck in your Motorhome, look at comfort, storage, space to stretch out.
This will start you making ‘ must have’ ‘ don’t want’ and ‘ nice to have lists’
Good luck in your search.

 

[WillH]

Spent three weeks in Shetland a few years ago in a 7.0m coachbuilt and experienced no problems at all, When it gets really windy, and it does, turn the van so the nose is into the wind. No rocking that way, at least not that type of rocking.

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[ambulancekidd]

 

[TUCANO]

I am sorry that I can't help you with any suggestions but the very best of luck and a warm to the site.

 

[Shetland_Dave]

I've been away looking into some of the great advice given here, so thank you all very much

I've paid the membership here and read Jims 'Buying a motorhome' guide, so that was very useful - especially the 'negotiation' parts as I'm really not comfortable in a vehicle salesroom.

Converting the VW I have just won't work. I can't stand up in it, so can't 'live' in it for the first few weeks. It would also take too long and cost too much to do properly.

I can't sell it privately either, not that there's anything wrong with the van, it's more to do with the funds hitting my bank account and being seen as 'disposable income' - that could cost me as much as £1000 per month if I can't find a suitable motorhome quickly enough.

Then I have the issue of travelling to view motorhomes - I need the van to do that.

It's also a huge issue finding a carer to stay here with my wife whilst I go view something - especially as I gather the purchase of a motorhome isn't as 'quick' as with a car, so can take a while to check everything (from reading the 'Buying a motorhome' guide).

So I think I'm going to have to trade the VW in against a suitable MH and it'll have to be at a dealer fairly close to me, and at a 'lower end of the market' price tag.

So it seems I may be in for a bit of a wait to get what I want!

Thank you all for the advice

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[jollyrodger]

&

 

[suavecarve]

I cant help either but wish you luck.

One thought did spring to mind was if you are good with wood etc. Why not take a full lathing system with you for those days of being van bound to earn a little pocket money.
You could youtube your work with the shetland videos.

Best of luck

 

[Shetland_Dave]

I cant help either but wish you luck.

One thought did spring to mind was if you are good with wood etc. Why not take a full lathing system with you for those days of being van bound to earn a little pocket money.
You could youtube your work with the shetland videos.

Best of luck

I did think of that, but I decided to sell the contents of the workshop to help fund a new vehicle.

Shetland is a little barren for wood, so decent hardwood isn't easily available there and the transportation costs for what is available make it uneconomic to do really.

I'm pretty 'craft' minded though, so I'll find something else to make and sell a little - stones and peat are readily available there...and sheep

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[Silver-Fox]

Firstly

Secondly sorry to hear about your good lady.
It’s another of those shit human conditions.

Thirdly I would buy an A class as it gives all you require with a bit more space.

Fourthly I’ve heard sheep rustling can be quite profitable ?
That isn’t a serious suggestion.
Could you not get hardwood delivered to the mainland and arrange your own collection?
Just a thought.

Good luck in the future

 

[Shetland_Dave]

Well...I think I just had my bubble burst.

I phoned the dealer I bought my VW from 4 years ago after finding online that they also sell motorhomes and after sending some pics and info was told they'd only offer £12,000 trade in, or £10,000 to buy it outright.

I paid £20,000 for it 4 years ago and have only put an additional 4000 miles on it since then.

I'm not prepared to take that kind of hit.

The trade in was against a 21 year old Transit with 115,000 on the clock and would have cost me an additional £3000 for the pleasure.

I think it's becoming very obvious I don't sell/buy vehicles often and have way too many expectations!

I'm toying with the idea of doing a basic day van conversion myself (for the weekend caping I want to do) and buying a small caravan to live in initially and selling it on when I find a home to rent, retaining the van for my weekend jaunts.

 

[buttons]

Hi and Welcome….

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[The Wino]

Well...I think I just had my bubble burst.

I phoned the dealer I bought my VW from 4 years ago after finding online that they also sell motorhomes and after sending some pics and info was told they'd only offer £12,000 trade in, or £10,000 to buy it outright.

I paid £20,000 for it 4 years ago and have only put an additional 4000 miles on it since then.

I'm not prepared to take that kind of hit.

The trade in was against a 21 year old Transit with 115,000 on the clock and would have cost me an additional £3000 for the pleasure.

I think it's becoming very obvious I don't sell/buy vehicles often and have way too many expectations!

I'm toying with the idea of doing a basic day van conversion myself (for the weekend caping I want to do) and buying a small caravan to live in initially and selling it on when I find a home to rent, retaining the van for my weekend jaunts.

Look online at values of ones for sale I recon you would get a fair bit more selling privately

 

[Bart]

Hi and welcome Dave yy yy
Sorry to read about your wifes health.
I hope you get something sorted.