What are the "must have"extras (1 Viewer)

[axecroft]

I am new to the forum and to motorhoming. I am thinking of buying a Carthago C or E Line, preferably one year oldish with a budget of £100K or so. The specifications are mind boggling to a newcomer, and I am frightened that I buy something then realise there is some important bit of equipment that I don't have.
I realise there is always a compromise with these things but I would be interested to know what would be the "must haves" on the shopping list of someone with experience.

 

[CazPaul]

Hi and welcome

If you are new to motorhoming then would it be better to hire one or buy a cheap one for 15 grand to start with, then if you like it you could always buy the expensive Carthago.

 

[Jo662]

Good advice to buy a cheaper van first to see how you like it.

My top of the list must buy is refillable gas bottles,best thing I have added to our motorhome!

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[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Another vote for refillable gas and also add solar for independent wilding

 

[funflair]

I guess you are talking about factory fitted options/spec rather than stuff that can be fitted afterwords.

Martin

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[PJGWiltshire]

I am new to the forum and to motorhoming. I am thinking of buying a Carthago C or E Line, preferably one year oldish with a budget of £100K or so. The specifications are mind boggling to a newcomer, and I am frightened that I buy something then realise there is some important bit of equipment that I don't have.
I realise there is always a compromise with these things but I would be interested to know what would be the "must haves" on the shopping list of someone with experience.

Good hunting for your van.
We presently own a Carthago C line and if that is the Manufacture and model that you are looking to buy may I suggest you look at the various optional extras available from new.

Carthago are a bit like the German car makers. You list what extras you want from order.

So by looking at the option list you may identify what you would like on the used van. It would then be a case of waiting to see what then comes in.
You would then look at what practical items are added to the van yourself, as mentioned refillable gas bottles, nice to have but not essential for original purchase and can be added post purchase, this can also apply to solar panel.

It is a case of finding your used vehicle use it and spend more after.

Hope this helps

 

[Paul an Jane MK]

I would not want to be without a solar panel, it gives you so much more flexibility whether you want to park in a quieter spot on the campsite or high may not be near the hook ups or wild camp.

Also if Moho is unused for anytime the batteries are topped including the engine one so it should always start.

Paul

 

[Clarky]

Welcome to Fun.
As a Carthago owner I can thoroughly recommend the vehicles but like all motorhomes there are some things to be aware of.
The big problem with many motorhomes is weight and payload.
Many motorhomes are built to keep under the 3.5 tonnes limit. Anything above requires a C1 licence and is subject to additional rules and speed limits. This is an area you need to pay attention to.
Carthago's are light and well built but to keep within the magic 3.5 tonne limit and incorporate the many 'goodies' we all want is difficult. If you are able, ie. have the required licence plus finance, I would recommend going for a heavy chassis version at 4.25/4.5 tonnes. That will give you lots of options and still allow you to stock up on booze when returning home from France.
When discussing weight beware of salesmen speaking with forked tongues.

Richard.
PS. £15 spent in joining Fun will repay itself many times over. You can ask as many questions as you want rather than just 5 posts as a guest.

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[wp1234]

In my book :-

TV ariel
Heavy chassis if it’s a Rapido = extra payload
Quality leather seats
Solar panel
Extra leisure battery
Awning
external bbq point
Extra internal 240v sockets
Gas it / Gaslow

 

[PJGWiltshire]

also E&P level Jacks at £5000, spending goes on and on!!!

 

[axecroft]

I had not considered what could or could not be fitted after purchase. Maybe the question should have been "are there any extras that you cannot retro fit".
I do have a Carthago price list but found it difficult to discern what was needed, as everything seems desirable. This was one of the reasons I thought I should buy used, hoping that the first owner had made all the right choices??

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[Camdoon]

If spending over £100k and selling after a year, the chances are they have not made the right choices.
Gas - you do not want to be faffing about with bottles
Extra battery/ solar - you want the luxury of using your van without being stuck on a site.
Awning - essential when abroad
External gas point - gas BBQ
External shower - there is always something to wash whether summer or winter
Satellite dish - TVs at the press of a button
Everything can be added later and dealers are keener to add extras than to give discounts so use that to your advantage.

 

[Minxy]

Hi Axecroft, welcome to the fun house.

Out of interest, as you've never had a MH before, what's made you look for a Carthago? I appreciate it's your choice but it seems a heck of a big jump in the 'deep end' price wise if you're not totally sure of what you want/need.

 

[magicsurfbus]

A suitable payload for your needs.

I'd agree with solar panel - also make sure you have a battery type and capacity that is suited to living without mains electricity for a reasonable amount of time.

A smart solar charging system suitable for your type of battery, and one that will switch the top up charge between leisure and engine batteries.

Refillable gas bottle with external filling cap, ie mounted in the exterior wall of the vehicle, not hidden behind a locker door.

Enough power sockets 230v/12v/USB around the interior to suit your needs.

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[The Wino]

If you have 100k to splash out on your first m/h you probably have the cash to spend on a few extras if you want them later so don't worry go for it and get the things you find you want later.

 

[barsteward]

I had not considered what could or could not be fitted after purchase. Maybe the question should have been "are there any extras that you cannot retro fit".
I do have a Carthago price list but found it difficult to discern what was needed, as everything seems desirable. This was one of the reasons I thought I should buy used, hoping that the first owner had made all the right choices??

Desirable but not necessary needed, almost anything you desire can be added aftermarket providing you have (a) the payload and (b) the space to use the said payload. Be aware that any extras fitted will be subtracted from the payload when you buy ie payload 800kgs....solar panel fitted -50kgs...payload now 750kgs
Sales people are often economical when it comes to the truth on payload so do your homework and welcome to MHF

 

[Jands]

If you are wanting a one year old model then the original owner can't have liked it much to have only given it one season before selling it at a loss.
Either they didn't like the life and didn't put much thought into it or the van performed vastly below expectation.
Most additions can be added after purchase, look at the list of options, should indicate if can be an after sale fit.
The only important one is the upgraded weight chasis to allow owner 4t and the engine to pull it.
If you don't you will have to work to keep the payload down, not impossible, or travel illegally, chance you won't get caught.

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[DBK]

Just in case it isn't clear the factory fitted options which would be uneconomical to retrofit are not too numerous. Off the top of my head they would be.

Automatic transmission
Cab A/C
Any chassis uprating to give a higher payload.
There might also be some internal Carthargo bits such as an oven which might be specified at the ordering stage and need the internal furniture in a particular design.

Virtually everything else, solar, refillable gas, external BBQ point, alarm, even cruise control etc can all be fitted later and frequently are.

I suspect, if you are buying from a dealer, a one year old vehicle won't be much cheaper than a new one so if having a particular specification is important then buying a new one might not cost you much more. In the UK the MH market isn't like the car market, second hand values remain quite high and I've been amazed at the prices folk pay on even quite old (20 years+) vehicles.

If you do decide to buy new you could potentially save a lot of money by buying from Europe. There have been a few threads on here about that being done.

 

[Jim]

Great answers here, but come on guys, while the imparting of good information and opinion is to be applauded, its not how it's done here

The first couple of answers to a question like this should always involve pictures of corkscrews and fluffy handcuffs, only later getting on to the proper considered answers. Do remember we have a reputation to maintain.

 

[jdk62]

Great answers here, but come on guys, while the imparting of good information and opinion is to be applauded, its not how it's done here

The first couple of answers to a question like this should always involve pictures of corkscrews and fluffy handcuffs, only later getting on to the proper considered answers. Do remember we have a reputation to maintain.

Sorry but Ibdnt consider the fluffy handcuffs as an extra.... I thought they just came with the van..

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[Rockcrawler]

Welcome to the forum just a shame you have such a small budget

 

[Lot lover]

Out of interest, as you've never had a MH before, what's made you look for a Carthago?

It might impress the neighbours, if one has that sort of neighbours.

As others have hinted spending that amount of money on a whim seems a tad odd but there's nowt so queer as folk.

As for the original question has the OP any idea where he intends to travel and for what % of the year?

 

[gus-lopez]

Personally I wouldn't go with refillable bottles but have a fixed tank fitted after buying.

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[DC4JC]

Hi, I understand your dilemma.
The Carthago 'shopping list' is extensive to say the least!
If buying new from the factory you have the option of some of their packs, which will save some money and give you a lot of the essentials.
However, as for 'must haves' that would be difficult to do after build, I would suggest the following;
Obviously body work colour, you will have a choice of 3 colours.
Unless you specify it you will not get an oven and need to order the Tec tower.
Assuming you have the Alde heating system, make sure you order the heat exchanger, more than useful, particularly in the winter.
The chequred floor to the garage is worth having.

 

[peterc10]

Lots for you to get your teeth into already.

The 2 most important things are layout and payload. There are many different layouts available and that is because different people want different things form their motorhome. Make sure you look at lots of layouts from different makers otherwise you may make a very expensive mistake. You do not tell us what you are intending to use the motorhome for, how many people and pets will be travelling in it and what driving licence you have. All are important when making your choice.

As others have said when it comes to payload do not believe any figures you are given by the maker or the dealer. Insist on a weighbridge ticket to see what it actually weighs with all the extras on. Also make sure that the layout works for the number of people you are carrying and that they all have proper seatbelts. If you have kids will you still be able to use the lounge once they have gone to bed? Many a motorhome that sleeps 4 or 6 does not have seatbelts for them all!

If you got your driving licence after 1997 or if you are over 70 then you will be limited to driving motorhomes under 3.5T maximum weight, because you will not have a C1 licence. I doubt very much whether a fully loaded C liner will work at that weight, and an E liner certainly won't. You can get training and pass a test to get your C1 licence, but that will take more time and money.

Finally things which are difficult or expensive to add or change later include layout, size and power of engine, gearbox (auto or manual?) chassis size and weight capacity, type of heating and seating fabric.

 

[Alistair33]

Hi and welcome

If you are new to motorhoming then would it be better to hire one or buy a cheap one for 15 grand to start with, then if you like it you could always buy the expensive Carthago.

Bigger that get what you want ....... we bought out first van in March & essentials to me are
Satalitte tv ... we went for the one with internet but this is proving to be a mistake .... it is not suited to reci I g Intelsat 907 which is the one to receive some of the English free view channels in Spain

Self levelling system... best money I spent after a robot lawnmower

Alugas tank system

Solar panels .... as much as you can fit on

Lithium battery ... many would argue its expensive and not essential. We have 165amp hours all useable and only around 13kg

Inverter

Many usb and 12 sockets as you can fit

Fly screens

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[two]

1. Payload
2. Payload
3. Payload

 

[tacr2man]

If you are intending a lot of foreign touring LHD , length of touring ? is interior space sufficient for long term? and in case its not been mentioned Payload BTW Welcome

 

[Alistair33]

1. Payload
2. Payload
3. Payload

When we looked , couldn't see that as an optional extra.

Pitty as I would have had a couple or three as you say

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