Perfect Motorhome

[Haitchjay]

When we bought our first MH I was told you don’t get what you really want/need until you’re on your 3rd one. What’s been your absolute best MH and more to the point, was it number 3? ?

 

[Podney]

For me,it’s the one I now have,which is my first. Had it for three years,it will probably be my last too.

There is always a compromise,just like when you buy a house.

And I don’t crave the latest gadgets/style/layout/ power/ autobox/etc.

Just a good ol’Rapido,built before the manufacturers gave their souls to the accountants and forgot about quality.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Second for us and its staying that way!

 

[bladerunner]

Cracked it on number 2
Wouldn’t want it any bigger driving or any smaller when living in it.
Still loving mr trucky and finding new aspects to enjoy.

 

[Lenny HB]

1st one was great kept it for nearly 6 years, 2nd was also good as it's the layout we wanted at the time, current one still good very similar to the last one.

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[dunnah01]

You're absolutely right with 3 - although rented the first two ?

 

[EX51SSS]

Second one for us but first purpose built as first was a self built (someone else not me) and hadn't had it long and found our ideal one. Exsis.

 

[BobtheBass]

Toss up between 5 and 6 that we have now. The other 4 were OK but not a patch on what we have now. Loved the last one but we didn't need a garage any more so went for more internal space.

 

[busby]

Favourite was our Autocruise Starburst that a kind blind German wrote off for us in 2009..Had a caravan and three motorhomes since.Love the one we have now..Competion now,,will I out last the van or will the van outlast me.?? BUSBY.

 

[wiljoy]

It was number 6 for us. An Autocruise Gleneagle. Very well built with good after sales. Now we just look back as to how quality used to be.

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[funflair]

No1 was pretty close to perfect and we kept it for 8 years after only buying it to dip our toes in and see if we liked it No2 will be very much the same but without a front bed 190mm longer 40mm wider a touch taller, and new

Martin

 

[Geistguy]

On purchase everyone of our 8 motorhomes ( since 1991 ) has been almost perfect, there will always be a compromise but our current Pilote Pilote 700gj suits us and is perfect- well almost ! ?

 

[nicholsong]

Based on a lot of research I bought our secondhand N&B Arto(2003) 10.5 years ago and have never thought it was wrong for what we need/want.

Ours has cost us about £1,000p.a. in depreciation, maybe less.

I have always thought that those who changed frequently in the first few years maybe did not do enough research.

Just my opinion.

Geoff

 

[Lumpy]

2nd for us factory made first, 2nd I did the conversion , so is exactly what we want and if our needs change I'll just change what we have ;-)
Ray

 

[AXO66]

6mtr drive constrains us.

Sat in many after buying ours, first one, and no real urge to change .........yet.

might consider a chausson 520 as the boot storage space looks better.

the similar burstner equivalents waste space , with a their larger kitchen imho but do seem to be finished off better.

otherwise a go faster PVC, if they didn't feel so claustrophobic .!

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[Nasher]

My first was a VW T5 mainly bought take me & a motorcycle to the Isle of Man for the TT and to provide accommodation when I got there (it's difficult to get accommodation during the TT)

It worked well, but was a bit small, so for my second van, I designed it, purchased the base van & had a local company convert it

It's perfect, for me, and if I had to replace it, I would just do the same again!

I wonder if it's the change of how people use their van/lifestyle that changes their (sometime perceived) requirements?

 

[Two on Tour]

On number 3 and after 2 and years we have seen nothing that would tempt us to change.

 

[PP Bear]

Did my homework, still on my first one and it's brilliant, even after all the years

 

[Haitchjay]

Thank you all. Interesting in that it seems the number is irrelevant. Maybe sometimes you look back on the favourite not realising until you no longer have it that it was actually ‘the one’. Also very interesting re older vans being better built too. Think there may well be something in how lives change that decides how we use our MH’s and may prompt change. Definitely changing too quickly loses money so hopefully our next will be ‘the one’. Oh what a quandary ?

 

[dipsie]

A new Auto Trail Cheiftain in 1999. We were lucky as we knew Stewart, sales director there and he invited us up to the factory as the van was in build.
We had asked for several alterations so we were able to check them out. In those days Auto Trail were pretty flexible when building. The build in those day’s were superb, Nothing wrong in 3 years/27 thousand miles.
More than happy with our Auto Trail V Line camper van, very well built, a compromise size wise compared with some of the 13 motor homes we have owned over 26 years, it ‘ nearly ‘ does what we want, do’nt seem we are likely to change for a good while.

BernieT.

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[busbuddy]

I wonder if it's the change of how people use their van/lifestyle that changes their (sometime perceived) requirements?

I agree with that 100% ?

Even during a small time span of 10 years people can have new kids, wave goodbye to older kids, start/stop cycling, become a couple or single, get a small/big drive, get more/less money which all affects your choice of the perfect van
I started with a big rv pulling a 4 ton trailer also had a 70s VW camper, a lhd coachbuilt and currently in an '03 swift....all of which were perfect at their specific time

 

[Speve]

3 was great but 4 even greater and sticking with it??

 

[Devon Sue]

The perfect motorhome is a Nevergoeswrong Myth.
Seriously there may be a motorhome deemed perfect then one of the manufacturers brings out something that is even more perfect. Then we get to layout and payload. Try sitting in lots, pretending they are yours, do you feel at home, can you cook and eat a meal, use toilet and shower, be comfortable in bed? Is your priority a comfortable bed, or would you prefer a comfy lounge. Do you need storage accessible from outside? Get those right and go with your gut instinct

 

[clanjones]

Our first one, which we still have (Rapido 881f) and have no intention of changing. Bought in 2015.

If you do your research and take your time you can get it right first time!

 

[cornish boy]

Bought our first and only in 2016, does everything we want with the space and features we want.

Havent needed to look for number 2, nor seen anything that makes us motivated to change.

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[Haitchjay]

We did loads of research before buying our first motorhome and it was fab.....until we realised that getting up in the night was only going to get worse as we got older so changed to single beds. We only needed 2 berth whereas now we could really do with 4 berths. Times and lives change. What was once perfect(ish) needs updating. Maybe we started too early ?

 

[Spriddler]

Mine's like my garden shed; if it was 3' longer it'd be perfect.

 

[Haitchjay]

Are we still talking MH’s Spriddler

Mine's like my garden shed; if it was 3' longer it'd be perfect.

?

 

[the1andonly]

I wonder if it's the change of how people use their van/lifestyle that changes their (sometime perceived) requirements?

We downgraded from a mazda bongo to a new 6m behemoth coachbuilt. Mainly due to perceived problems of ageing and joint replacement. Not everybody can tune into small space living. what amuses me is the wifes problem with the new van (now 2 yrs old) of not having somewhere to sit when i'm still in bed or having to climb over. Not insurmountable problems with a bit of thought. Fixed bed what a waste of space. A huge kitchen exactly what we want. It took 3 show visits 20 delear visits 1000 miles and a lot of talking to get what we wanted. The only perceived problem we have could be easily solved by me getting up earlier. This was not something that even made our list of requirements. So dont just think out what you want /need but what obstacles may become important.
It doesn't need to take 3, but add in to the equation how do you buy cars houses, do you change cars every year or run it into the ground, are you ever satisfied with your choices.

 

[Haitchjay]

We downgraded from a mazda bongo to a new 6m behemoth coachbuilt. Mainly due to perceived problems of ageing and joint replacement. Not everybody can tune into small space living. what amuses me is the wifes problem with the new van (now 2 yrs old) of not having somewhere to sit when i'm still in bed or having to climb over. Not insurmountable problems with a bit of thought. Fixed bed what a waste of space. A huge kitchen exactly what we want. It took 3 show visits 20 delear visits 1000 miles and a lot of talking to get what we wanted. The only perceived problem we have could be easily solved by me getting up earlier. This was not something that even made our list of requirements. So dont just think out what you want /need but what obstacles may become important.
It doesn't need to take 3, but add in to the equation how do you buy cars houses, do you change cars every year or run it into the ground, are you ever satisfied with your choices.

I’ve had over 30 cars since I’ve been driving as I seem to be very fickle when it comes to them. ??I’m not the same with our MH’s otherwise it’s going to be an expensive hobby! Really hoping that when we do change next, 3 really will be the magic number.

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