Used Motorhome Market

[MotorhomeBob]

People keep telling me that, probably because of CV-19, the used motorhome market has gone crazy and everything is super over priced. Is this true? It's very bad timing for me as I'm looking to buy a used MH for the first time due to a divorce and a need to accommodate myself.

Do you think that as autumn draws in there will be an increase in the number of MH's on the used market, and an associated dip in the price? Has this happened in the past? How long should I wait if so? I'm couch surfing at the moment so keen to resolve my situation asap but can put up with things for a while if there's significant savings to be had.

Thanks all!!

 

[68c]

Have you had a motorhome or caravan before? Life can sometimes be difficult living in one for an extended period, the main one being where you keep it. Despite common perception long term parking can be hard to find and expensive, so called 'wild camping' is almost impossible in the UK now unless you want a life of Industrial Estate service roads and being moved on by the Police. Think of how you would organise yourself, where to get fresh water and more importantly where to empty your toilet canister every few days, you cannot pour it down a street drain or empty it into a hedge.
I do hope you find a way out of your current circumstances but wonder if you have thought this through, the cost of a motorhome will go a long way in rent.

 

[Swifter]

I’ve found the prices in the 20-30k price range have increased and the choice of family vans is very small at the moment . Seems to be more 2/4 berth vans out there which I presume would be good for you . What is your budget ?

 

[martin2603]

There is high demand for MHs and Campervans up to 25k . We know of converters who are struggling to get Base units for convention.

 

[MotorhomeBob]

Thanks for the replies.

Budget at the moment is up to £25k maximum.

NB. I lived on a yacht for a lot of years so understand about small space living. I have a (free) place to park which has water, power, a view and a loo.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Swifter]

Sounds like you have a good plan in place . Where are you based roughly ? Best to buy local if you can .

 

[MotorhomeBob]

North Yorkshire. Any recommendations for trustworthy dealers in North Yorks or thereabouts?

 

[peterc10]

The reports I have seen say that all prices have increased. And the problem especially for you is that dealers are reporting that, unusually, most buyers of motorhomes are first time buyers with no P/X. That means that the dealer is not adding to their stock of used motorhomes as much as they usually would. And fewer second motorhomes with more demand means that the prices for those are going up to.

I suspect prices will level and drop next year, as at least some of the new users will decide that motorhoming is not for them after all and they will be getting rid of them onto the second hand market. But that will probably not help you now.

 

[68c]

Thanks for the replies.

Budget at the moment is up to £25k maximum.

NB. I lived on a yacht for a lot of years so understand about small space living. I have a (free) place to park which has water, power, a view and a loo.

Sorry, I should have looked at your avatar etc, did not notice bit about boat living. Looks like you have indeed thought it through. Good luck.

 

[Minxy]

Hi Bob, welcome to the fun house

There are some good MHs in the classified section so have a shuftie at those.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[thebriars]

North Yorkshire. Any recommendations for trustworthy dealers in North Yorks or thereabouts?

I can only suggest ones to avoid, Catterick Caravans and Ebor Leisure World in York, though they are mostly caravan dealers.

 

[Andacami]

I can only suggest ones to avoid, Catterick Caravans and Ebor Leisure World in York, though they are mostly caravan dealers.

Any reason to avoid Ebor? I'm looking to buy accessories only there in a couple of weeks.

 

[thebriars]

As I said they might be ok for accessories, but if things go wrong, they don't want to know. Bought a new caravan off one of their other dealerships a couple of years ago. Handover was truly appalling. The nev van started falling apart after the first week of use. After a further 3 week trip, the list of major and minor faults was huge. Rejected van, but nobody at head office would respond. The 2 brothers who own the place are just cowboys.Took a solicitor and 5 months to get a resolution.

I think the phrase is buyer beware.

 

[Jev88]

Worth looking at usual alternatives, Gumtree, Autotrader, Private ads .... Got lucky and found mine on Gumtree from someone that had a dislike for dealers to the extent he decided to build his own Motorhome from a converted coach. He lives in it on a small holding in Lincs.

 

[airwave]

Thanks for the replies.

Budget at the moment is up to £25k maximum.

NB. I lived on a yacht for a lot of years so understand about small space living. I have a (free) place to park which has water, power, a view and a loo.

I'm gonna get slated for this , but personally speaking mate , i would investigate the yacht angle again . I used to live on one myself , and to be perfectly blunt , living in a motorhome , and living on a boat , are poles apart . My motorhome was brought for exactly the same reason , but quite frankly had someone being as honest with me , as i'm trying to be with you , it could well have altered the course of events , i actually followed .
Motorhome living , though possible is actually not strictly legal , and there in , is your problem . The government have managed to legislate against motorhomes to the extent , it makes it extremely difficult . They have not managed the same position against boats as yet , and i doubt they will anytime soon . Yes , there are problems living afloat i know , but compared to a motorhome , their small potatoes .
I don't know your position , and don't need to , but my personal advice is to explore the floating angle again .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[orridge]

Prices over the summer were being pushed up and not that much used being added to the market, there are still a few coming onto the market with piss take prices but now seems a lot more coming through and the pricing settling back.

We looked at a new Roller Team and the dealer had upped the RRP significantly cant see how that would sell when other dealers offer the same vehicle at list or slightly below.

 

[peterc10]

Motorhome living , though possible is actually not strictly legal , and there in , is your problem .

Of course it is perfectly possible to full time legally in the UK, and plenty on here are doing ust that. You will usually have to pay for sites and CLs/CSs, but there are plenty about. Just the same as paying mooring/harbour/marina fees to sleep in a yacht I would guess

 

[Peppadog]

I have a 32’ yacht, and a 7m motorhome. I have never tried living in either, but have spent more than a month at a time on both. For permanent living I would spend my 25k on a boat personally. Probably a river boat rather than a sea going yacht as I have now. 10’ wide beam 40’ long ideal if in a marina. Narrow boat if on the river. (Two weeks max in one spot down this way. 1km minimum move and 20km per year). Free. I know this only because my son is in the same situation as you and is just buying a boat with a marina berth in Bristol (he has kids so needs to be in one place). Check if any about at the price.

 

[TheDogMan]

For the last few months the dealers have been getting more & more desperate to good good stock and the prices have moved upwards, I am amazed that 15- 20 year old vans fetch such stupid prices. I would wait a bit longer

 

[airwave]

Of course it is perfectly possible to full time legally in the UK, and plenty on here are doing ust that. You will usually have to pay for sites and CLs/CSs, but there are plenty about. Just the same as paying mooring/harbour/marina fees to sleep in a yacht I would guess

Totally agree , i knew this would happen , and i'm not trying to cause a row . I know people do , i was planning on doing it myself , that's why i said ,

though possible

However , there was an old law that stated something to the effect of "a person shall not dwell in a motor vehicle" , yet i also know people do that as well . Now , i have seen this written for myself , i believe it was in the old highway code , which i had to know from cover to cover , as i could be asked any five questions from said book , following my practical test , so i know it was there , along with many others that seem to have been discretely forgotten recently . There was also a law that stated a "driver must not be able to see a tv screen , whilst driving" . Again i have seen this one , written , yet many cars are now fitted with such things , ironically often as standard . I don't know if these laws is still in effect , or are just held back , but what i can say for sure is , their certainly not enforced at this time .
As a motorhome is a motor vehicle , it is technically included in that law , it's only the fact that particular law is not enforced that makes it possible .
Now it may surprise some , that marine law is pretty much where the highway code emanated , air law also originate from here , where even today the collision regulations are still the same . However they are also a bloody minefield , and so i'm not quite sure of the law . Basically , with the exception of an ocean going vessel , they are pretty much the same , and yet again , generally don't seem to be enforced .
Persons aboard any ocean going vessel are classed as in transit , even when said vessel is in port , the term "ship in dock applys" . Until such time as they step ashore , where subject to customs formalities , they become visitors . Should the vessel leave territorial waters , whilst persons are still ashore , the master becomes responsible for said persons repatriation to their country of origin . This is often the case why temporary unpayed hands , boarding a small privately owned sailing vessel for an ocean crossing , are required by the master , to have brought a return ticket before sailing . I also believe there is a limited stay period attached to that (and something to do with the term "overstaying their welcome" came from) , at which point immigration laws begin to apply . I know it's 6 months in Australia .
Inland waterways , are classed as sovereign land , and as such are subject to that nations law , which is pretty much the same as motor vehicles . Technically , it is illegal to live aboard , however there maybe an exception applying to longboats , often incorrectly termed as narrow boats , as these were the HGV's of the day . And this could even be the reason , that mobile dwelling laws , are not enforced today .
An interesting facit , is the sea bed is also classed as sovereign land upto a limit of 3 miles off shore , hence the term "territorial waters" . So sitting at anchor , or lying to the hook as some yachtsman will say , is technical a "ship in dock" , and subject to those same laws .
This is why the Radio Caroline ship , Ross Revenge , was originally anchored 3 miles out in the Thames estuary . It was outside territorial waters , in international waters , and hence free from arrest . An arrest attempt could have been classed as an "act of piracy" .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[peterc10]

With regards to TVs screens the driver cannot drive if there is one switched on and within his vision. We do not switch ours on when we are driving, and it is not in my vision anyway.

With regards to not sleeping in a vehicle I think you may have misunderstood what you read. There is no law that prohibits sleeping in your vehicle in a private place. Some debate about when on the highway, but I do not want to open that can of worms.

 

[airwave]

TVs screens

sleeping in a vehicle

You have a pretty nice van there , Pete . Nice stereo . I'd be surprised if it's not double din . Got a built in gps has it , eh .

The fact is , pretty much every vehicle produced post 2012 would fall foul of the screen law if it was ever enforced ,
And the sleeping bit , well like i said , I had to learn the book , not scan it . Please don't try and screw with it . I had an ex-police driving instructor .

Let's just agree , their not enforced at this time , eh .

 

[Zains Pops]

8

Thanks for the replies.

Budget at the moment is up to £25k maximum.

NB. I lived on a yacht for a lot of years so understand about small space living. I have a (free) place to park which has water, power, a view and a loo.

pm sent.

 

[Campervan_man]

Have a look on ebay but be wary of the many sophisticated scams on there.
I've just put My Avatar Dethleffs Globebus up for sale as I'm not using it and need funds for a new home kitchen.

 

[mitzimad]

glasses guide has put £700 onto second hand van prices last month

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[peterc10]

You have a pretty nice van there , Pete . Nice stereo . I'd be surprised if it's not double din . Got a built in gps has it , eh .

The fact is , pretty much every vehicle produced post 2012 would fall foul of the screen law if it was ever enforced ,
And the sleeping bit , well like i said , I had to learn the book , not scan it . Please don't try and screw with it . I had an ex-police driving instructor .

Let's just agree , their not enforced at this time , eh .

Yes I have sat nav and it is specifically NOT illegal to use a screen to provide information to assist the driver.

I don't know what book you are referring to, but if it was the highway code you are talking about it is easy enough to look it up here. Have a look and see what you can find anything about it being illegal to sleep in a vehicle on private property. And about the use of sat nav as well.

You are suggesting that everybody on this forum breaks the law by sleeping in their motorhomes, despite the fact that nobody on here has ever mentioned this law or fell foul of it. It is such a sweeping statement and of such vital importance to us all that that you need to back it up with something more than "that is what I was told". Or accept that maybe you may have misunderstood about what you were told.

 

[Eggs]

airwave you might also want to look up longboat and narrowboat, they are two totally different vessels.

 

[peterc10]

I just want to make clear that my comments about legality specifically refer to to licenced campsites and CLs/CSs, as I referred to in my post #17. The law if more complex for stopping in other areas.

 

[nicholsong]

I'm gonna get slated for this , but personally speaking mate , i would investigate the yacht angle again . I used to live on one myself , and to be perfectly blunt , living in a motorhome , and living on a boat , are poles apart . My motorhome was brought for exactly the same reason , but quite frankly had someone being as honest with me , as i'm trying to be with you , it could well have altered the course of events , i actually followed .
Motorhome living , though possible is actually not strictly legal , and there in , is your problem . The government have managed to legislate against motorhomes to the extent , it makes it extremely difficult . They have not managed the same position against boats as yet , and i doubt they will anytime soon . Yes , there are problems living afloat i know , but compared to a motorhome , their small potatoes .
I don't know your position , and don't need to , but my personal advice is to explore the floating angle again .

But he has a parking spot which he could use as a base and tour around from there, without having to be constantly on the move looking for parking.

 

[airwave]

I'll tell ya what , you all know better than me , so i'll let ya get on with it !

I've got more important thing to get on with .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}