Hi Guys, popping in to ask advice. Hubby and me are thinking of changing our TT for a motorhome/campervan.We don't have a huge budget but really dont know where tostart. There is only the 2 of us and our dog, we dont want anything too big as it will have to double as our second vehicle. We looking for something that will get us away at weekends and hopefully in the summmer hols. Can you give us an idea of make/models to start with please.
------------- "Money can't buy you happiness but it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes"
How long is a piece of string??? Write down on 2 pages ie. most required/needed and on the other what you would not wish to have and then take a look at the result. Ie is the toilet/shower a must have?? full cooker with electrics or a 2 burner with just a grill below, coachbuilt or van converison? I personally would visit your nearest dealer and see what is on offer and you can actually get in them and try out different layouts, its a very mind boggling field, my wife wanted a full fixed bed, now a year later she hates it because its difficult to make up ie, cover properly with sheets and covers, so there you have it, do want to buy my hobby siesta 600???
I'd suggest something like a Talbot or Peugeot Boxer size. Pretty much the same but, depending on your budget, Talbot would be cheaper because they're the older version. Try to get diesel if you can if it's going to be used as an every-day vehicle. They're a good size for two people and most of them will have a shower and toilet.
Have a look on Ebay, sort by distance and go and have a look at a few.
Second what Wineciccio says.
Go to a campsite and just ask if you can look around someones camper.
We went for a T4 because it can be used as a daily driver, in winter it can be used to ferry junk around but in spring and summer its a fine camper for us, fold down full sized double bed, 4 ring cooker 2 sinks fridge and TV and it has full headromm. BUT it has no toilet, if we go wild camping or camping in the New Forest we either have a toilet tent or just carry our mini Porta Potti but most campsites have toilets as do supermarkets etc.
------------- Target for 2012 2oz of Gold Total for 2011 1.4oz Gold
Pop along to a few dealers and have a look around as wineciccio suggests.
Take into account the practicalities - the bigger the vehicle then the more space, luxury, storage and facilities you have when sited - but the more difficult it is to negotiate towns and country lanes and to park off site.
Looking at as many different ones as you can will help you decide what would be most suitable for you.
Then you can start the search for one that matches your dream as closely as possible within the budget you have.
Don't know which end of Shropshire you hail from but there are a few dealers in the county, Salop Leisure at Shrewsbury usually have a few in, Lazy Days near Market Drayton have a good selection, Moran Motorhomes at ludlow, plus lots of others about.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
Thanks guys,\it never ceases tro amazemehow helpful you all are. You've seen me through tents, folders, TT's and caravans. Next stop motorehome, fingers crossed
------------- "Money can't buy you happiness but it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes"
Dealers...they have loads to sell, not so many customers. You are king at any dealer. Your cash is like gold. Just wander in and look around. ASK as many questions as you can think of. Go back the next day, and the next, be very interested in something...choices are very good. Keep asking questions, if they get fed up with you.....move on. I am not saying that you stick with a dealer who is absolutely out to sell you something, anything, looking to get his sales ratio UP!. Find a guy you are getting good info from, someone who will say during conversation, lets go for a trip in the one you like the most, someone who answers you with helpfull tips etc. Do the rounds, you will find someone who you would prefer to deal with. Then when you think...this is the one for us...see what you can get off the price, or what they will add to its bits and bobs to clinch a deal. PLUS you want a warranty for at least 3 months. The nearer the dealer the better, any bits that need sorting, if its 20 miles away is rather easy, and not so much fuel, miles and miles away and its expensive to do. Oh, Tyres...they may have good tread on them...but check the walls out for cracking. Most motorhomes have less miles on them than another vehicle of same age, and diesels go on for ever. Plenty of shows on at the moment as well, go and look in a number of the type you prefer etc. Plus....good luck, started in 2008, and have been enjoying life since.
We had always lusted after a VW camper for many years and assumed that this would be our first purchase. 12 years ago we had the good fortune to spend 6 months touring around the USA, and what did we buy for our first camping experience? - - a 28ft beast with all mod cons. The only down-side to that was that when we decided to buy a camper here in the UK last year and looked at VWs and the like we found we had been spoiled by having a permanent bed, shower , toilet and the like. We finally bought a 22ft, 8 year old motorhome with 16000 miles on the clock for much less than the equivalent VW. In addition the insurance and road tax costs were far higher for a VW than for the vehicle that we bought. I think the lesson we learned is that you need to spend time in one to know exactly what you want. Did anyone on here get it right the first time?
We graduated from a tent to a VW 'tent on wheels'. We've had it nearly 2 years and the thrill of owning it never goes away. It has been to France 4 times, plus many short breaks in the UK. It is used as a regular vehicle if we go out separately, and is great for carrying bulky items.
Because we had been tenting before, we just needed an alternative place to sleep, no on board shower or toilet, and the small size of the pop top 'van means it will park in normal car parks, go under barriers, and travels on toll roads at car rate.
So yes, we did get it right first time, but we thought long and hard before going ahead.
Well I am not exactly experienced but I've just been through the same process, so I know what a forest of info it is out there.
A couple of powerful filtering criteria to help decide are:
1. Do you want a cassette loo, or are you OK with a Porta-potti? If the former, it narrows the field.(Rules out Toyota Hiace conversions and Bongos for a start...)
2. Are you happy to always have a double berth, or might one of you want to sometimes travel with a friend? Some van conversions only do double, or "Rock and Roll" beds.
3. Manual or automatic? Lots of Bongo autos, far fewer Boxers and Transits.
That's just the 3 criteria that helped me choose an automatic Autosleeper Duetto based on a Transit van base.
Tip -- use Google Images and even YouTube -- there videos of people showing off their pride and joy! And yes-- go to dealers.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Recommend a good starter motorhome/camper
