Absolute Beginners

[Enjoy_Yourself]

Hi Everyone,

Just about ready to buy our first motor home. Anyone got any advice before we sign the cheque?

 

[Jim]

Best advice is to check that the person you are buying from owns it
Exciting times - What motorhome are you are you buying?

 

[Enjoy_Yourself]

Good Advice

Jim

Like the Taoist quote by the way...I knew there would be some philosophers out there!

Looking very seriously at a Lunar Champ A511, but very bewildered by the choice!

 

[Terry]

Hi go for comfort in your van. It is not a lot of use having a drop down bed if you cannot climb into it or perhaps get out in the middle of the night if you had too much wine LAYOUT / comfort is the single most thing you should be looking at We have tied all sorts of layouts from 2 / 4 berth to 6 to 4 again then 6 again and now in a 2 witch suits us great. Get out and look / try out as many bed layouts and don't be scared to put up climb in etc, etc, before buying Use one of the shows or a dealer to try this and get a good idea what is going to suit you then look for what you want.
Also try hiring one for a weekend or mid week this will give a good idea as to what you want
terry

 

[Jim]

If you are an absolute beginner it might pay to get an independent inspection, or even try and solicit a friendly local funster to give it the once over for you.

CLS ASH GEO and DMS are all members here who run motorhome service companies and might undertake a look for you, depends where you are and of course they will charge but I have no idea how much. There are so many systems to check and it can be a bit bewildering.

If you go it alone, make sure you get a test drive and that any promises made to you by a dealer are written down, go through everything with a fine tooth comb. Most dealers are honest but there are a few where you should count your fingers after shaking hands.

Do your due diligence on the dealer, ask your local trading standards if they have had any complaints, ask around on forums for experiences with that dealer.

There is lots more advice I could give but I have got to dash, I'll revisit your thread tomorrow:thumb:

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[Enjoy_Yourself]

Terry and Jim

Many thanks for your advice. Having never spent this sort of money on anything that wasn't made of bricks and mortar before we are certainly proceeding with caution, but I'm starting to feel like we are going around in circles a little. Like everything else worthwhile though, I guess its just a matter of putting some work in.

oh:

 

[billy]

Take your time don't let your heart rule your head expensive mistake if you get it wrong.

Be prepared to walk away if you have any doubts

Check everything make sure everything works as it should do.

Get a HPI check done.

When you find the one get a independent inspection as damp in a motorhome can be quite expensive to put right.

If it is a new fiat check the forum on reverse judder.

More experienced members will post on your question when the log on.

Join Motorhome fun and become a funster it could be the best £12 spent especially as you are looking for your first motorhome with lots of questions to ask as i found out:thumb:

billy

 

[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Welcome to fun xxxx

Best advice apart from getting an independent inspection is check it out thoroughly yourself.

Lie on the beds, if they are not fixed beds, check can you physically turn the table etc into a bed.

Sit in the drivers seat but not for just 2 minutes, is the seat comfortable for you

Will the oven etc cook what you want to = remember size is deceiving and some ovens are extremely small

 

[DESCO]

Hi

Best advice I can give is make haste slowly, look around see as many motorhomes as possible, visit a show you can see many motorhomes in one place, try them out cook a dummy meal, sit as though its evening does it work for you.

I always think you will know the motorhome you want when you see it.

Then as others have said get independent checks done, if you don't feel up to it.

Best of luck

Dave :thumb::thumb:

 

[chatter]

Whenever i have found something i want (or think its what i want) i walk away and sleep on it for a night maybe two and then if i havent changed my mind i get it.
I never buy a completly new unit, i let others pay a premium and have the niggles to sort out, but one that is at least a couple of years old, as it has still not done any real milage and has had little use

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[Theonlysue]

Check the loo and shower. Make sure you can sit on loo comfortably and use shower with door shut! One chap I saw testing the facilities would have had his head sticking out the rooflight in the shower cos he was so tall

Jim also does a checklist - well worth taking with you to check everything.

Have fun, S.:thumb:

 

[billy]

Hi

Best advice I can give is make haste slowly, look around see as many motorhomes as possible, visit a show you can see many motorhomes in one place, try them out cook a dummy meal, sit as though its evening does it work for you.

I always think you will know the motorhome you want when you see it.

Then as others have said get independent checks done, if you don't feel up to it.

Best of luck

Dave :thumb::thumb:

Quite right Dave we looked at hundreds over two years then by chance we went to look at one being sold privately and we knew straight away this was the one and we bought it.

 

[Enjoy_Yourself]

Thanks to everyone for your replies and your advice. (I think I need to get my subscription off to Jim because Motorhome fun is going to be invaluable) We have finally (after sitting in about 200 vans!) decided that the layout we want will include an overcab bed, a centre dinette and a bench seat along one side. This configuration gives us the sense of space without sacrificing too much in length that I am still a little wary of.

We looked today at a Roller Team 500 (2007) and although it isn't the prettiest it seemed to have everything at the right sort of price. Everything that is apart from an oven!

Anyone know if a retro-fit is possible?

 

[billy]

Thanks to everyone for your replies and your advice. (I think I need to get my subscription off to Jim because Motorhome fun is going to be invaluable) We have finally (after sitting in about 200 vans!) decided that the layout we want will include an overcab bed, a centre dinette and a bench seat along one side. This configuration gives us the sense of space without sacrificing too much in length that I am still a little wary of.

We looked today at a Roller Team 500 (2007) and although it isn't the prettiest it seemed to have everything at the right sort of price. Everything that is apart from an oven!

Anyone know if a retro-fit is possible?

Aye get your hands in you pocket

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Hi Everyone,

Just about ready to buy our first motor home. Anyone got any advice before we sign the cheque?

Hi,

Make the Cheque out to Johns Cross and you wont go far wrong

Peter

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[DESCO]

T

We looked today at a Roller Team 500 (2007) and although it isn't the prettiest it seemed to have everything at the right sort of price. Everything that is apart from an oven!

Anyone know if a retro-fit is possible?

It depends on space available but could be possible. We do not have an oven as such but have a small microwave fitted instead does what we want but you have to be on EHU to use.


Dave :thumb::thumb: