Newbie from Gold Coast, Australia

johnnewbie

johnnewbie

Joined
Dec 22, 2024
Posts
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MH
Don't own one yet
Hi All,

I'm John and live on the beautiful Gold Coast in Australia. I will be tripping around UK and mainland Europe from March and can't wait!

I don't have a motorhome yet so need to purchase one. I wanting to get a left hand drive and it would be so much easier if I could buy it in UK due to not knowing anything but English. I've seen a few on UK classifieds websites like Auto Trader, Campers4Sale and Motorhome Depot. I'm thinking I'll fly into London, grab a cheap rental car and drive around your country checking them out, couch surfing until I find one. LOL. I have also looked at buying one in France too but can't buy it without setting up a company and that's 2k before I get one. It may come to that but thought I'd check out UK first. And why not I'll get to see a bit of your beautiful country at that same time. Anyway I also see you have a classifieds and wanted section, so I'll post it up there.

Once I have a motorhome I'll start my first trip into mainland Europe and head to Scandinavia via Belgium and Amsterdam and then down the Baltics and thru Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany and into France which I have a 12 month long stay visa with. I plan on taking 2.5 months to do the first leg. I will then spend the next few months between France, UK and Ireland and then head back into the Schengen area for another 3 months. I'll then head back to wherever I bought the motorhome from and sell it and fly home. Or I might love it so much I might put the motorhome in storage and fly home for a few months, I don't like the cold, then come back for more :)

Anyway you'll probably see me on here from time to time asking stupid questions. Be nice please LOL

John
 
IMG_1364.gif
 
G’day and welcome. Your plans sound eminently doable. Do make use of this forum. There is nothing relating to motorhomes that will not have been answered here.
Very knowledgeable and friendly. Don’t hesitate to ask no matter how foolish, to you, the question may seem. 👍
 
Hi and welcome, exciting times ahead.

Keep an eye on the classified section here many members have lhd motorhomes and you are likely to get a more honest and helpful response to your needs.

Ps; vehicle insurance is worth looking into as unless you have uk address could be a difficult buy.
 
:hiya2: w2f

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Welcome! I wouldn't get too fixed on it having to be LHD. The majority of us visiting mainland Europe do it in RHD vehicles without any problems. If you buy RHD in the UK you will also probably find it easier to sell at the end of your trip.
 
You will need a UK address to register the vehicle and get it insured.
Do you have a friend or relative you can use?
 
Welcome mate.
A bargain MH RHD is waiting to be bought on classifieds right now. You will not get a better van for the money.
And, done more miles in Aussie than a lot of Aussie's. Love it.
 
Phill D said:
Hi and welcome, exciting times ahead.

Keep an eye on the classified section here many members have lhd motorhomes and you are likely to get a more honest and helpful response to your needs.

Ps; vehicle insurance is worth looking into as unless you have uk address could be a difficult buy.
Click to expand...
thanks Phil, I will check out about the insurance. Cheers.
 
Brains said:
You will need a UK address to register the vehicle and get it insured.
Do you have a friend or relative you can use?
Click to expand...
Maybe I'll look into it further. Thank you
 
Gooday, how about yah? 👍

Welcome to Fun!

While working/ touring with Jose Canga and the 'French Hell Drivers' in their Holden Taranas, touring Australia in the early 1970's, we had Christmas in Surfers Paradise, after doing a few shows in Brisbane and before moving onto others in Cairns and Townsville. We got chastised on Christmas Day for doing stunts on the beach ( especially where the sharks were patrolling) because we were bored and breakfasted on Steak sandwiches and Whiskey & Coke! 😄

As has been mentioned, be flexible and, although the LHD will be easier in Europe, if you buy a RHD, it's easy to compromise especially if you have a partner at the blind junctions.

Renting is the expensive option and, if you buy right, that is the cheaper option, even if you sell for less, it still might turn out to be the cheapest option?

Good Luck, take care, join 'Fun' and ask lots of stupid questions! We will try to answer them? 👍
 
Last edited:
L' Hobo said:
Gooday, how about yah? 👍

Welcome to Fun!

While working/ touring with Jose Canga and the 'French Hell Drivers' in their Holden Taranas, touring Australia in the early 1970's, we had Christmas in Surfers Paradise, after doing a few shows in Brisbane and before moving onto others in Cairns and Townsville. We got chastised on Christmas Day for doing stunts on the beach ( especially where the sharks were patrolling) because we were bored and breakfasted on Steak sandwiches and Whiskey & Coke! 😄

As has been mentioned, be flexible and, although the LHD will be easier in Europe, if you buy a RHD, it's easy to compromise especially if you have a partner at the blind junctions.

Renting is the expensive option and, if you buy right, that is the cheaper option, even if you sell for less, it still might turn out to be the cheapest option?

Good Luck, take care, join 'Fun' and ask lots of stupid questions! We will try to answer them? 👍
Click to expand...
Bloody Spellchecker again, the first line SHOULD read, Goodday how are yah? 😡

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John,

You don't say what size of van you are looking for in your ad? It might help to specify that.
I have an LHD 6 metre which does most of its miles in mainland Europe.
I think you will struggle to get an auto at under £35k. They will certainly be in a minority.

A bit of lateral thinking - I keep reading on this forum that the place to HIRE vans is Germany. By the time you have forked out for the van plus insurance and maybe a few minor repairs or additions and ferry fares etc you might find it worth making enquiry.

The weakest part of your proposal is likely to be effecting a sale after use when you have no ambition to trade in. So hiring would at least provide certainty as to overall cost.

Back to your current plans. If you decide to hang on to the van with a view to returning in 2026 (maybe because you have no buyer) be aware that storage is at a premium and can be costly.

P.S. I prefer LHD!

P.P.S. This reads OK:

Auto Trader Motorhomes - New and Used Motorhomes For Sale

Find your next motorhome with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used motorhomes. Over 7,000 motorhomes online. Simple, easy, quick!
www.autotrader.co.uk www.autotrader.co.uk
 
bobnick said:
Welcome mate.
A bargain MH RHD is waiting to be bought on classifieds right now. You will not get a better van for the money.
And, done more miles in Aussie than a lot of Aussie's. Love it.
Click to expand...
are you referring to Manics Hymer?

johnnewbie I dont know a lot about Hymers other than everyone swears by their reliability and at that price it looks like a bargain ...... and LHD ...
 
MisterB said:
are you referring to Manics Hymer?

johnnewbie I dont know a lot about Hymers other than everyone swears by their reliability and at that price it looks like a bargain ...... and LHD ...
Click to expand...
OP said up to 15 years old. Hence me pointing him to a 2010 LHD Hymer advertised at £31,500
 
johnnewbie said:
Hi All,

I'm John and live on the beautiful Gold Coast in Australia. I will be tripping around UK and mainland Europe from March and can't wait!

I don't have a motorhome yet so need to purchase one. I wanting to get a left hand drive and it would be so much easier if I could buy it in UK due to not knowing anything but English. I've seen a few on UK classifieds websites like Auto Trader, Campers4Sale and Motorhome Depot. I'm thinking I'll fly into London, grab a cheap rental car and drive around your country checking them out, couch surfing until I find one. LOL. I have also looked at buying one in France too but can't buy it without setting up a company and that's 2k before I get one. It may come to that but thought I'd check out UK first. And why not I'll get to see a bit of your beautiful country at that same time. Anyway I also see you have a classifieds and wanted section, so I'll post it up there.

Once I have a motorhome I'll start my first trip into mainland Europe and head to Scandinavia via Belgium and Amsterdam and then down the Baltics and thru Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany and into France which I have a 12 month long stay visa with. I plan on taking 2.5 months to do the first leg. I will then spend the next few months between France, UK and Ireland and then head back into the Schengen area for another 3 months. I'll then head back to wherever I bought the motorhome from and sell it and fly home. Or I might love it so much I might put the motorhome in storage and fly home for a few months, I don't like the cold, then come back for more :)

Anyway you'll probably see me on here from time to time asking stupid questions. Be nice please LOL

John
Click to expand...
Hi John and welcome. You shouldn't havd a problem finding a lhd Mh in uk. The bigger problem will be finding something that works for how you want to use it. Ive no direct experience of Australia yet but Im under the impression that your market is quite similar to the kiwi mhs, so single floors and rear lounges.

Many of us who do do a lot in Europe prefer front lounges with fixed rear bed with space for a scooter underneath. I would also be careful with "auto" because so many of them are computerised clutch manuals which are notoriously unreliable, get a long drink ready and then google comfortmatic.

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jongood said:
Hi John and welcome. You shouldn't havd a problem finding a lhd Mh in uk. The bigger problem will be finding something that works for how you want to use it. Ive no direct experience of Australia yet but Im under the impression that your market is quite similar to the kiwi mhs, so single floors and rear lounges.

Many of us who do do a lot in Europe prefer front lounges with fixed rear bed with space for a scooter underneath. I would also be careful with "auto" because so many of them are computerised clutch manuals which are notoriously unreliable, get a long drink ready and then google comfortmatic.
Click to expand...
Hi jongood,

Thank you for that info, much appreciated. In Aus, it is quite different, we tend to gravitate towards a 4wd and caravan, not so much MHs. If travelling around Aus there are a lot of areas you can only access by 4wd, so you'd unhook your caravan and take a day trip to check out.
 
johnnewbie said:
Hi jongood,

Thank you for that info, much appreciated. In Aus, it is quite different, we tend to gravitate towards a 4wd and caravan, not so much MHs. If travelling around Aus there are a lot of areas you can only access by 4wd, so you'd unhook your caravan and take a day trip to check out.
Click to expand...
We have toured a lot in Australia and will be doing more in September.
I certainly agree about the 4x4+caravan to MHs is 9 to 1.
Nephew has a Navara and single axle off road caravan
 

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