Considering a motorhome

[mcgtech]

Hi, my wife and I and our wee dog are looking to buy a motorhome. We live in Inverness and would like to use for as much of the year as is possible and travel to Europe at some point too.

Looking for beds (double or two singles) that are ready to jump into and don't need assembled every night, ideally with dividing door, toilet not near kitchen and bright & cheerful.

We had a look at www.highland campervans.com and really liked a 2012 Bailey approach 740 and an auto-sleeper burford duo, but as newbies we are dipping our toes in and don't want to get burnt so would appreciate any advice you guys can give.

Budget is £50K max.

 

[CAB96]

Best bet is to hire one.

Yes, it might be expensive, but a lot less than realising you just can't live with the layout of the van you have paid out for, and need to trade in for another one, or worse still, you just don't get on with motorhoming.

 

[Jo662]

 

[dunnah01]

Our Rapido 7065+ ticks all those boxes (except the bright bit, but maybe sophisticated s a better description ) but unfortunately there's no way I'd sell ours as it's the perfect layout for us. It sounds like you've done your homework so you should find what you want fairly soon. - oh and

 

[suavecarve]

Have a read of this thread to see if this chap suits your purpose.

You can then contact him as a paid up member or look up his website.

He is very well trusted from a high percentage of us and we cant all be on commission !

Select Motorhomes Ltd

Good evening everyone. Apologies if I have been rather quiet recently but I have been very busy! I have recently gained the opportunity to set up my own dealership, Select Motorhomes Ltd. As you know am lucky to have a good reputation and have built up my name with Howards Motorhomes and Alan...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Tigger-Tim]

As others have said, definitely hire one before you buy. Partly to see if the experience fits with your dreams, but also to try out a layout that you think might work.

We rented a layout that looked to be perfect for us, but it just didn't work for us. We bought a different model from the same manufacturer instead.

We had a caravan with fixed beds - but we don't regret going to a van conversion where it takes 10 mins to put it up and dis-assemble.

There's a Swift Go hire outlet in Edinburgh.

 

[WESTY66]

He is very well trusted from a high percentage of us and we cant all be on commission !

Select Motorhomes Ltd

Good evening everyone. Apologies if I have been rather quiet recently but I have been very busy! I have recently gained the opportunity to set up my own dealership, Select Motorhomes Ltd. As you know am lucky to have a good reputation and have built up my name with Howards Motorhomes and Alan...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Speak for yourself, I get a little “something” every month

 

[Tigger-Tim]

Just to add... before you dive in, make sure you understand weights and licence categories - B and C1. There's loads about it on this forum.

I can keep my van down to 3500Kg fairly easily - but that would change if I wanted to transport additional passengers, or put a towbar and bikes on the back.

 

[suavecarve]

Speak for yourself, I get a little “something” every month

A fish named after you ?

 

[irnbru]

If you pay £20 subscription fee to become a full member you will be able to read Jims book all about buying a motorhome. Best £20 you will spend.

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[Shrimp]

Sign up to the forum it’s a mine of info.
You will probably find most vans have the toilet near the kitchen as that is where the water is!

 

[MisterB]

You have thought about the beds issue, but there are others to consider aswell, some of which can't be changed easily

Fridge/freezer size
Shower size
Type of cooking facilities
Size of kitchen worktop/sink
Wardrobe and locker space
Dining arrangements internally
How is the motorhome (and water) heated

I think most people would agree choosing the right motorhome for you is all about layout, then layout and finally layout ...

 

[Hettie's Crew]

The layout that suits you. Imagine being stuck inside because of awful weather, some feel like being in a tunnel. For us the bed isn’t as important as the day time layout and having choices on where to sit, fixed beds to us are are waste of daytime space, may not be your thoughts.
Having a combination shower/toilet area saves space, some have a completely separate shower from the toilet, depends on how you plan to use the shower.
A large fridge is always a good idea, good work top space around the kitchen area.
Storage, what will you want to carry with you, bikes, barbecue, chairs and table, gazebo etc?
I don’t think it makes much difference what the base vehicle is but you may as well try to get a Euro 6 because of the increase in LEZ’s.
Be cautious regarding payload, manufacturers make a big thing of claiming their motorhome is under 3500kg but then you end up with no usable payload.
Remember it’s your home for some long periods, our previous motorhome got px’d after spending three weeks in it, we’ve spent three months in this one several times and not wanted to go home.

 

[DP+JAY]

Hi, my wife and I and our wee dog are looking to buy a motorhome. We live in Inverness and would like to use for as much of the year as is possible and travel to Europe at some point too.

Looking for beds (double or two singles) that are ready to jump into and don't need assembled every night, ideally with dividing door, toilet not near kitchen and bright & cheerful.

We had a look at www.highland campervans.com and really liked a 2012 Bailey approach 740 and an auto-sleeper burford duo, but as newbies we are dipping our toes in and don't want to get burnt so would appreciate any advice you guys can give.

Budget is £50K max.

Look at an Adria 670slt. End washroom,single beds, full cooker, large fridge, should tick all your boxes.
DP

 

[Podney]

You have thought about the beds issue, but there are others to consider aswell, some of which can't be changed easily

Fridge/freezer size
Shower size
Type of cooking facilities
Size of kitchen worktop/sink
Wardrobe and locker space
Dining arrangements internally
How is the motorhome (and water) heated

I think most people would agree choosing the right motorhome for you is all about layout, then layout and finally layout ...

And then it’s about payload,payload and payload.

As others have said,get Jim’s buyers guide on here,if you haven’t already.

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[Grasmere9]

Have a read of this thread to see if this chap suits your purpose.

You can then contact him as a paid up member or look up his website.

He is very well trusted from a high percentage of us and we cant all be on commission !

Select Motorhomes Ltd

Good evening everyone. Apologies if I have been rather quiet recently but I have been very busy! I have recently gained the opportunity to set up my own dealership, Select Motorhomes Ltd. As you know am lucky to have a good reputation and have built up my name with Howards Motorhomes and Alan...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Good luck with your search. And I second looking at Simon's website.... while you're there have a look at my N&B Arto. Sadly selling due to change of circumstances.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[mcgtech]

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses

 

[Grasmere9]

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses

This forum has been instrumental in keeping our motorhome journey alive. We have come to another crossroads and hopefully once our Arto sells we can get back on the travel bandwagon.
So definitely pay your subs and enjoy the information and entertainment... it's well worth the £20

 

[mcgtech]

If you pay £20 subscription fee to become a full member you will be able to read Jims book all about buying a motorhome. Best £20 you will spend.

I have just paid up, where do I find Jim's book?

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[Grasmere9]

I have just paid up, where do I find Jim's book?

Search Motorhome Fun Shop...

 

[The Old Man]

I find that having a long sit in the van working through role plays of various scenarios help me decide on layout.

So sit there together at the table and suggest things like, "You go and have a shower and I'll start cooking dinner!" The walk through the required actions, remembering that you might need half an hour to heat the water.

For me layout is everything.

 

[landscaper]

We moved from a 8 m Bessacarr with an end lounge (bed to be made up every night) to a Carado T339 with a central bed, just under 7 metres and a much much larger fridge and freezer space. We are now in our 70s and this layout suits us very well. Just spend, as others suggest on here, a lot of time in thinking about what will suit you. Do you want the hassle of making up a bed every night? Overcab beds just didnt work for us. We thought we needed to have a really good shower, when the truth is we never use it. We also were fixated on a cooker being a “must have” when we use our little plug in grill and our three gas burner all the time. We dont need a microwave and could easily manage with just a two ring burner. Two essentials we now have are a small electric toaster and kettle.

 

[The Wino]

I'd second the advice to rent what looks like your layout before buying. I'd also say buy a reasonable distance from where you live if you buy from a dealer or get it in writing that you can get any warranty issues fixed local to where you live it's going to be a long trip to get things fixed from Inverness!

 

[StephandJohn]

Lots of good advice on here. The only thing I would add is to try to get one near enough to home to be able to take it back if anything needs fixing. We were on a campsite in Cornwall once next to a a woman who'd bought hers in Hull and lived in Cornwall. On her first trip out she found lots of problems, including a bad damp issue. She wasn't getting any help from the dealers on the phone and wasn't sure if she could get back to Hull..
On our first trip out we camped a few miles from the dealers and then had to take it back the next day for some things to be fixed and this was on a brand new motorhome.
Don't let all this put you off though. Motorhoming is so good we never want to give it up.

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[G10]

We bought an older van to work out what we wanted from a new one. We then traded it in and got the same price that we paid for it against a new one.

 

[Clive Bishop]

Hi, my wife and I and our wee dog are looking to buy a motorhome. We live in Inverness and would like to use for as much of the year as is possible and travel to Europe at some point too.

Looking for beds (double or two singles) that are ready to jump into and don't need assembled every night, ideally with dividing door, toilet not near kitchen and bright & cheerful.

We had a look at www.highland campervans.com and really liked a 2012 Bailey approach 740 and an auto-sleeper burford duo, but as newbies we are dipping our toes in and don't want to get burnt so would appreciate any advice you guys can give.

Budget is £50K max.

There is a 2013 Autosleeper Burford with a French bed on a Mercedes Automatic with low milage on Facebook marketplace for £49,995.the same as my picture.comfortable and economical.

 

[t+t]

Hi, my wife and I and our wee dog are looking to buy a motorhome. We live in Inverness and would like to use for as much of the year as is possible and travel to Europe at some point too.

Looking for beds (double or two singles) that are ready to jump into and don't need assembled every night, ideally with dividing door, toilet not near kitchen and bright & cheerful.

We had a look at www.highland campervans.com and really liked a 2012 Bailey approach 740 and an auto-sleeper burford duo, but as newbies we are dipping our toes in and don't want to get burnt so would appreciate any advice you guys can give.

Budget is £50K max.

We love our Bailey Approach 740,2012. Had it 4 years and never an issue. The layout is as good as it gets for this size van. We have lived in hours for 9 months now after selling house. Plan was to buy another house but unlikely now as we enjoy the motorhome so much.

 

[faz55]

We moved from a 8 m Bessacarr with an end lounge (bed to be made up every night) to a Carado T339 with a central bed, just under 7 metres and a much much larger fridge and freezer space. We are now in our 70s and this layout suits us very well. Just spend, as others suggest on here, a lot of time in thinking about what will suit you. Do you want the hassle of making up a bed every night? Overcab beds just didnt work for us. We thought we needed to have a really good shower, when the truth is we never use it. We also were fixated on a cooker being a “must have” when we use our little plug in grill and our three gas burner all the time. We dont need a microwave and could easily manage with just a two ring burner. Two essentials we now have are a small electric toaster and kettle.

Same here, we are in our 70’s and were caravaners for 35+yrs so had a long list of key factors… tbh island bed was paramount for us as his bad back and spine ops and my short legs clambering over each other wasn’t an option and single beds are quite narrow…but obviously that restricts other layouts, and a large garage was another but in the end we gave that one up rather than sleep with our noses touching the roof We never used onboard showers as a caravaner and didn’t for-see the need as a moho user, Campsite facilities do just fine… it’s all about personal needs and although people can guide and advise, no two people have the same requirements, and sometimes compromises have to be made… hope you find what you need and importantly ENJOY

 

[pmacker]

Whatever you do do NOT but a second hand fiat Ducati 250 based mo ho.They are designed to fail and you get no help from fiat customer services even though they know of weak parts abs pump, display cluster, airbag ecu - et al.
There are third parties that make their business out of these fiat failures, ecutest, cartronix, crashdata etal
Buy Peugeot it has chain not belt that the service companies threaten you with. The whole after service thing is a joke from fiat.
Cheers