Can you afford your Motorhome....?

[Crazylegs]

Interesting thread, we purchased an elderly Hymer in Germany five years ago with cash. We are not wealthy nor do we have a lot of savings or a gold plated pension, however whilst I’m still working albeit very relaxed hours, we enjoy a good income.
So last year we enjoyed in excess of one hundred nights away in the Motorhome, we are happy to freecamp in the right location, but equally happy to stay safely on a campsite and we are not too concerned about the site fees if it’s a good location. We also enjoy eating out and enjoying the fare that places like Greece and Portugal have to offer, so often have we spoken to folk in shiny new Motorhomes who look at us in horror when we tell them we are going out for a meal. If the price of a new Motorhome is living frugally we are more than happy with our old girl.
Furthermore because we only spent the equivalent of a secondhand car on our Hymer we do not feel the need to exclusively holiday in it, we have just returned from a very enjoyable package holiday in Gran Canaria, and in two weeks we are both off to Ypres On a motorbike.
Happy dayz.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Simple answer is No.

I don't expect I can afford it. But I hope to have fun trying to not bankrupt myself !

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

50 % of those are a waste, when was the last time you seen a 1300cc woman?
The bike always lets you tinker with it. The bike is always prepared to go the distance ,AND , the extra mile. Most importantly , barring major repairs , you know how much it takes to run the bike.

I've never fell off a woman and hurt myself

 

[Northernraider]

I've never fell off a woman and hurt myself

Then you just haven't been trying

 

[Martin B]

Bought our first mh in December 2018. All on finance but decided that at 53 my lifetime dream of owning one was not going to wait any longer. As for affordability, it's a question of where you want your leisure money to go. We have always traveled throughout the year and decided that instead of flights and hotels, a motorhome and the open road was far more appealing. We have wild parked with great enjoyment and also paid for campsites. Life is for living and the sight of my wife (who bought into this lifestyle by my enthusiasms) absolutely loving the time we now spend away together makes the whole investment totally justified. Peace.

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[carolyn]

We are lucky enough to be able to afford it but having fallen in love with the lifestyle we would happily downsize the house to continue doing so if necessary. We bought our first motorhome on a bit of a whim when a friend died young, thought we could afford it, eldest suddenly decided to do a Masters after all whoops. All worked out fine with the help of a short term loan!
Discovered the helpful people of Motorhomefun a few months later googling sliding door problems whilst in France,£10 well spent that's for sure.

 

[Spriddler]

- I've been obsessed with motorbikes since I was 14 - but you should give it a try in a safe environment

Ditto.
Only a biker knows why a dog sticks its head out of a car window.

 

[The Wino]

Save a fortune with ours

Swiss Ski Chalet (Grimentz) £3,200 per week - Aire £20 a night

Many the same

I suspect that is said tongue in cheek unless you have a really post m/h with staff quarters to do the catering etc. We use ours a lot but never for skiing last week we on the Sella Ronda there was a campsite just down the road (Campsite Marmelada) but if you can get a late deal at £397 all in chalet board with flights transfers half board cooked breakfasts afternoon cakes left out including unlimited free wine is it a lot cheaper in the m/h?. There were a few in the chalet who held out longer than us who got the same holiday at £244!!!!!!!

 

[EuroTrotters]

I suspect that is said tongue in cheek unless you have a really post m/h with staff quarters to do the catering etc. We use ours a lot but never for skiing last week we on the Sella Ronda there was a campsite just down the road (Campsite Marmelada) but if you can get a late deal at £397 all in chalet board with flights transfers half board cooked breakfasts afternoon cakes left out including unlimited free wine is it a lot cheaper in the m/h?. There were a few in the chalet who held out longer than us who got the same holiday at £244!!!!!!!

No, it’s true.

To be fair, it’s high end luxury with hot tub, private.

I will see if I can link it.

 

[Ivory55]

When you see some deals offered it would not be worth taking a motorhome. If the other half was ok with flying we probably would never have brought a van or caravan, just the way life goes.

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[EuroTrotters]

Here’s one that’s cheaper

 

[EuroTrotters]

A recent journey.

Zeebrugge - Bavaria, Germany via Luxembourg.

Fuel 94p litre
LPG 48p
2 free Stellplatz
1 @ €10 per night including 16amp ehu

Massive savings over hotels and car

 

[nicholsong]

I suspect that is said tongue in cheek unless you have a really post m/h with staff quarters to do the catering etc. We use ours a lot but never for skiing last week we on the Sella Ronda there was a campsite just down the road (Campsite Marmelada) but if you can get a late deal at £397 all in chalet board with flights transfers half board cooked breakfasts afternoon cakes left out including unlimited free wine is it a lot cheaper in the m/h?. There were a few in the chalet who held out longer than us who got the same holiday at £244!!!!!!!

I was a great fan of catered chalet holidays when I was skiing, partly because I went solo so there was social company in the evenings and sometimes I joined others for skiing.

I could not imagine taking a MH just for 2 weeks skiing, so either touring various ski resorts for many weeks or 2 weeks skiing then head South to Italy, Greece etc.

Geoff

 

[The Wino]

I was a great fan of catered chalet holidays when I was skiing, partly because I went solo so there was social company in the evenings and sometimes I joined others for skiing.

I could not imagine taking a MH just for 2 weeks skiing, so either touring various ski resorts for many weeks or 2 weeks skiing then head South to Italy, Greece etc.

Geoff

Yes we had a great time there was a really nice atmosphere and we all changed seats every meal to meet each other. I can see the appeal of a weeks late season ski-ing then heading south to spring (it was up to 19 degreees below the mountain last week!!!) but not driving all the way there and back and the tunnel/ferry plus sit fees/catering etc when there are cheap last minute packages at the £300 each mark all in

 

[nicholsong]

Yes we had a great time there was a really nice atmosphere and we all changed seats every meal to meet each other. I can see the appeal of a weeks late season ski-ing then heading south to spring (it was up to 19 degreees below the mountain last week!!!) but not driving all the way there and back and the tunnel/ferry plus sit fees/catering etc when there are cheap last minute packages at the £300 each mark all in

A week? Only 5 1/2 days skiing not 12 1/2

I never went for less than 2 weeks - it allowed for a couple of days white-out and long lunches The John Morgan rep took me to a small family restaurant in the next valley for cheese fondue - boring? not when you dip the bread cubes in Pomme or Poivre before the cheese. 4-5 glasses each. Then up the lift for the run back down. Visibility 10m - is it fog or Poivre? Look at each other, shake heads, catch chair down, alive.

Even late packages were never that cheap but I went to top resorts, for skiing, not social - Val, St Anton, Zermatt, Verbier etc. St Anton was the best for skiing (Class 2 with brilliant instructor - plenty of schnapps and good lunches) unfortunately my worst chalet, but there is the Krazy Kangeroo!

Geoff

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[bfb]

I spent several years looking for the ideal and reliable motorhome. Plumped for the Hymer BM640 with the 2.9 Mercedes diesel engine. Bought cash. 7 years never let me down in France Belgium and Holland. It gets between 22-25mpg ish but don't get bent out of shape as far cheaper than going to hotels when training/holidaying and so convenient. It can be a bit of a bugger sometimes for parking but we always find a way. Have upgraded lighting and a few other bits and bob's and am looking at getting refillable gas bottles for longer European trips. It's 21 years old but has more than paid for itself and has plenty of life left in it. Would I change, possibly for a bigger version with a garage for more long term but can still do what I want at a pinch with the old girl I have

 

[WESTY66]

Hell no!!!

 

[CazPaul]

A recent journey.

Zeebrugge - Bavaria, Germany via Luxembourg.

Fuel 94p litre
LPG 48p
2 free Stellplatz
1 @ €10 per night including 16amp ehu

Massive savings over hotels and car

Hull to Zeebrugge not cheap though Trev.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hull to Zeebrugge not cheap though Trev.

In Winter/Early spring is not too bad.

I booked 3 of us in a Family Club 5 Bunk. £600* return. BUT, that includes Brasserie Evening meals and Breakfasts. So 12 meals.

I think the fare was £69 out £169 in, plus cabins.

Far easier for me than the Dover/Folkestone routes. Arrive fresh and ready for a drive, not knackered after the fight to get there.

Safer and Works for me as the only (current) driver.

Would work out at around £395 with standard cabins return.

*I had a 10% Booking Discount

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hull to Zeebrugge not cheap though Trev.

Updated reply above

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[PhilG]

I've spent all my money on women and motorcycles - the rest I've just wasted

My biggest worry is that when I'm gone, the wife will sell it all for what I said I paid.

 

[kelpie]

I've never fell off a woman and hurt myself

Have you ever had one who's so "round" , to be polite , that you've burned your bum on the lightbulb? Neither have I thank goodness.
John

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Have you ever had one who's so "round" , to be polite , that you've burned your bum on the lightbulb? Neither have I thank goodness.
John

Don't knock it 'til you've tried it

 

[WESTY66]

My biggest worry is that when I'm gone, the wife will sell it all for what I said I paid.

I’m like that with everything in my garage

 

[ceejayt]

I am as much use as a chocolate fireguard when it comes to any maintenance on the van so have to pay for that but I make sure I trust the person doing it.

Absolutely impossible to justify the cost of the van when divided by the number of nights of use (which is as many as we can do) if you compare to the cost of staying in a hotel - could stay many many nights in 5 star accommodation and still be in pocket.

BUT how can yo compare a hotel to having all your own stuff, the opportunity to have a different view any and every day. We love staying for free on Britstops, Aires and France Passion - in other words, I am willing to accept that I have ploughed a lot of dosh that anyone who doesn't motorhome doesn't understand in exchange for the lifestyle it provides.

The 6 months we spent motor homing around the US and Canada in our own vehicle was amazing and couldn't have been better any other way.

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[EuroTrotters]

A week? Only 5 1/2 days skiing not 12 1/2

I never went for less than 2 weeks - it allowed for a couple of days white-out and long lunches The John Morgan rep took me to a small family restaurant in the next valley for cheese fondue - boring? not when you dip the bread cubes in Pomme or Poivre before the cheese. 4-5 glasses each. Then up the lift for the run back down. Visibility 10m - is it fog or Poivre? Look at each other, shake heads, catch chair down, alive.

Even late packages were never that cheap but I went to top resorts, for skiing, not social - Val, St Anton, Zermatt, Verbier etc. St Anton was the best for skiing (Class 2 with brilliant instructor - plenty of schnapps and good lunches) unfortunately my worst chalet, but there is the Krazy Kangeroo!

Geoff

Where we all differ, money, health and time!.

We all still work and our incomes are not great.

We travel with our Daughter who is my Ski buddy. She lives with her partner and works long hours as we all do.

All have demanding jobs, our Daughter is a Spa Manageress. We run businesses and my wife is a Carer PA/ Part time.

Its our time together. I threw our Daughter in at the deep end when she was a teenager in Norway. Since then I broke my Calcaneus 6 years ago.

We enjoy the road trip, stopping off at various places new and old. Its suits us, even though I don't think I will manage 3 days on the slopes this year. Lots of Pain killers that I usually live without and some Beers afterwards will help. Then some relaxation.....

https://www.aqua-dome.at/en/

 

[EuroTrotters]

I spent several years looking for the ideal and reliable motorhome. Plumped for the Hymer BM640 with the 2.9 Mercedes diesel engine. Bought cash. 7 years never let me down in France Belgium and Holland. It gets between 22-25mpg ish but don't get bent out of shape as far cheaper than going to hotels when training/holidaying and so convenient. It can be a bit of a bugger sometimes for parking but we always find a way. Have upgraded lighting and a few other bits and bob's and am looking at getting refillable gas bottles for longer European trips. It's 21 years old but has more than paid for itself and has plenty of life left in it. Would I change, possibly for a bigger version with a garage for more long term but can still do what I want at a pinch with the old girl I have

Sounds like you got a good one!.

Three Mercedes motorhomes, two almost new and one brand new one. Great when they ran, but an absolute nightmare costing us tens of thousands in repairs.

Now run a 20 year old Fiat Hymer I bought very cheap. Never skips a beat.

 

[EuroTrotters]

But touring abroad for any length of time have anyone thought of a major breakdown where your return date is a couple of months down the line and breakdown co will only take you to a main dealer and 8 to 10 thousand repair bill I hadn’t but it can happen?

Never get out of bed if I thought like that every day.

 

[ABZSteve]

Wife bought our first Moho new for my 50th Birthday, although she couldn't afford it, she said I could . Three years later I bought our second new Moho for her 50th Birthday. You guessed it, straight out of her account . Affordable or no, crack on and enjoy until it is really, really, really unaffordable and hopefully for all, that is never.

 

[Hazelnut]

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