Do you think your motorhome will go the distance….

[Lumpy]

Hoping our 2012 self built Citroen Relay will last a bit longer, I converted it in 2015 and it now has 124000 miles on the clock. Have replaced some bits and pieces over the years and have been recovered in France, Portugal and Britain for fairly minor issues.
It's never failed an MOT and I do the servicing myself with correct oils etc but not sure if that's a good thing or not! and one nice thing is I know how everything works and where everything is because I put it there, I built it with all new parts and made it as close to a manufactured conversion as I could, I didn't want to be stealthy.
But like Just Smiffy I could do with a cab respray.

 

[Northernraider]

Sorry to hear that.

Kia's are excellent cars ( bar the magenta) mum had 2 , brothers had 3, sisters on her 7th .

 

[Barriesimpson]

Kia's are excellent cars ( bar the magenta) mum had 2 , brothers had 3, sisters on her 7th .

Mmmm, bit like tissues then - use and throw away

 

[Northernraider]

Mmmm, bit like tissues then - use and throw away

Not really, sisters one of those folk who likes to buy new vehicles every few years and she changed models due to circumstances. Mum bought 2 over a 15 year period , brothers had 2 different models finally bought his first brand new one last year.


I've seen less issues with all of those than I've seen owners of BMW, vw, audi etc experience.

 

[Lenny HB]

Mmmm, bit like tissues then - use and throw away

Wouldn't want to keep a tissue 12½ years.
Apart from service items like brakes etc., only things that have gone wrong has been the horn, that was expensive £2.75, and an ABS sensor that would have been expensive from Kia £125 got one from Ali Express £24. It's the 3rd Kia we have had.
By not spending money on cars we can afford a decent Motorhome

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[Tonks]

Mine is about to have a lot of money spent on it, so I hope it will do well for several more years.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Not really, sisters one of those folk who likes to buy new vehicles every few years and she changed models due to circumstances. Mum bought 2 over a 15 year period , brothers had 2 different models finally bought his first brand new one last year.


I've seen less issues with all of those than I've seen owners of BMW, vw, audi etc experience.

Fair enough then.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Wouldn't want to keep a tissue 12½ years.
Apart from service items like brakes etc., only things that have gone wrong has been the horn, that was expensive £2.75, and an ABS sensor that would have been expensive from Kia £125 got one from Ali Express £24. It's the 3rd Kia we have had.
By not spending money on cars we can afford a decent Motorhome

Ok, cool. I was having a laugh guys, please don't take me too seriously - I drive a Jaaaaag

 

[Northernraider]

Ok, cool. I was having a laugh guys, please don't take me too seriously - I drive a Jaaaaag

Well now you have to give more information... what jag?

I've had several jags and I have to say not all are created equal

 

[nicholsong]

On the subject of engine battery life, I had to replace our's last year. I cannot be sure but I think it had not been replaced before I bought the MH at 6 years. If that was the case and it was the original it lasted 20 years.

If not the original, it lasted 14+ years from when I bought it.

Those older batteries seemed to be a lot more robust.

It may help battery life that I have a B2B and that the MH is on EHU all the time it is in our yard, pls it is fed charge from the solar panel.

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[Barriesimpson]

Well now you have to give more information... what jag?

I've had several jags and I have to say not all are created equal

Well it's a petrol engined XE that I bought in 2015, new. Now has 100,200km and still like new. So nothing too special but I love it. Many years ago I had an XJ6 4.2 series III, but that's another story.

 

[stevewagner]

Thanks!

leaves site to buy grease gun off ebay................

Very important to get the right grease. I use Shell Retinax.

 

[denisejoe]

Ours is 2004 had it 11 years and still on the same engine battery but now lithium inside.
The van will be our last.

 

[Scotch mist]

Mine is coming up to 4years old , 1,600 miles , 1,400 k taking it for services

Hope to get a few more years out it yet

Sometimes think I’m cheating being a member on FUN

 

[Vic]

Looking at my previous vans.
2010 Homecar, surprised it lasted the 6 months we had it. Utter cr%p.
2nd was a 2010 Autocruise Stardream. Lovely van, but self destructed after 24 months.
2012 Bailey Autograph Aproach 740se. Again, Lovely van. Damp issues all apparently sorted in 2016, but we got shot.
2017 Hymer T678CL, still going great. I can see this going the distance.

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[gus-lopez]

Any idea as to where they are?

There is one on each side of the axle At the top I think they are?

 

[Smudger55]

I wish. Ours is over 5yrs old and if it wasn't for major issues with Fiat Ducato problems, we could be on our third at the moment, I would have said yes. We love the motorhome and can't find anything to beat it in today's build quality.

BUT.......... with expensive DPF/ERG and comformatic gearbox repairs under our belt, awaiting diagnosis of current turbo sensors, our confidence and trust in Fiat ducato has been shattered.

We live in hope that we can go on for years in our current MHOME.

 

[Just smiffy]

Our Flair is coming close to 90 thousand and coming up to 24 years old the only thing that will stop it is me coming up to 76 another c1 Liscence check hope I get through it but the 2.8 jtd is running like a train will sit at 65 to 70 all day long regularly covering 350 to 400 miles a day and still enjoy travelling in it and perfect when living in itView attachment 987139

But yours is a beauty, if you treat it right they’ll treat you right too…whenever you come to sell it I think they’ll be fighting over it to buy…. But not wishing it upon you…

 

[Mleabon]

My 2011 Fiat Ducato comformatic with 134k drives like new, I look at old vans parked up on my travels especially old fiats and they seem to be going well for there owners. Some are well worn and some even abused but still going…

I can imagine mine going for some time as it’s in very good condition underneath (undersealed) but with the dubious comformatic I don’t know…
I do try and look after everything though especially the mechanicals and service every year regardless… I do intend to keep this one till death do us part…

How far in life do you think yours will go if you keep it that long….

Same here but i do worry about the comfortmatic. I've started a comfortmatic fund where I put money away each month in case of a big bill.This was instead of buying a warranty.
Have you had to change the clutch yet at that mileage?

 

[Clive Mott]

The bigger question is will YOU still be suitable for your motorhome. Travelling is in the blood but your needs change over time. For example if your pallace on wheels is over 3500kg will you want or be able to drive it after age 70? Keeping that C1 becomes a challenge and a hurdle every 3 years. If you have opted for a smaller compact PVC where you need to convert between night and day mode twice every 24 hours will this become a physical challenge you no longer wish to take on? Or like us get the smallest coachbuilt that has all your important features available all the time, thats bed, dinette and driveability. The only exception for us is we still have swivelling front seats. This is our 4th van as we tend to keep some 10 or 12 years and every change was because of our changing needs. The last 3 underpined by Mercedes. Once smitten then hooked and our V6 3 litre with auto box is just so lovely. before that the 5 cylinder jobs the first being with a manual box. The second was a pre loved massive Concorde Charisma and now the Hymer MLI 540. Our very first camper van was a Bedford Dormobile made by Martin Walker. Rust killed that one!!

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[Helen Ariel]

My 2011 Fiat Ducato comformatic with 134k drives like new, I look at old vans parked up on my travels especially old fiats and they seem to be going well for there owners. Some are well worn and some even abused but still going…

I can imagine mine going for some time as it’s in very good condition underneath (undersealed) but with the dubious comformatic I don’t know…
I do try and look after everything though especially the mechanicals and service every year regardless… I do intend to keep this one till death do us part…

How far in life do you think yours will go if you keep it that long….

Just had our 5 year service on ours and no plans or funds to change it so hoping it will last as long as possible. Hopefully it spending a good portion of the winter abroad each year will help.

 

[Shrimp]

Our Hymer is 24 years old!

 

[Flairy]

We also have a smart for 2 17 years old 90 thousand + miles 1 new battery after been left at home during the winter anda new clutch (auto) found a realy good service dealer in Manchester.

 

[Apacheman]

Bought our van new in 2020 with the plan to get 20 years out of it, taking us into our 80s and probably to the end of our vanning days? Done 29000 miles, had a few warranty issues sorted, but so far so good and loving it. Was at Tees Barrage last weekend and there was an L plated (1993 ish) Talbot Peugeot van there that looked immaculate. I can only hope ours fairs as good.

 

[mohawkman]

Judging by the comments on here about Autotrail, our June 2024 AT is probably on its last legs already

We have a 2016 Mohawk, last one made that year. Confortmatic, 36000 on clock, so far nothing serious on mechanics. Regularly serviced by Fiat garage and used regularly most weekends. Have looked at modern ones and you can keep them. So long as they are looked after on the mechanics no reason why you get problems. Knowing my luck I will now get a major one.

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[bigwood]

Our 55 plate Transit based Autosleeper has low milage, 67,000 for its age and I hope it will keep us going for a lot more of our retirement.
The rust has reared its head on the last MOT needing inner wings and it needed heater plugs last service. Hopefully the repairs and rust proofing will hold off the dent in our finances next MOT.

 

[Davecrawf]

My 2011 Fiat Ducato comformatic with 134k drives like new, I look at old vans parked up on my travels especially old fiats and they seem to be going well for there owners. Some are well worn and some even abused but still going…

I can imagine mine going for some time as it’s in very good condition underneath (undersealed) but with the dubious comformatic I don’t know…
I do try and look after everything though especially the mechanicals and service every year regardless… I do intend to keep this one till death do us part…

How far in life do you think yours will go if you keep it that long….

Ours is also a 2011 Ducato, but without the comformatic.
I believe it was built as a 'special edition' with a 3 litre engine (timing chain, not belt) and maybe a few other features
We have only done 40k miles, and it runs smoother than my car. I also find the suspension on the Alko chassis to be very comfortable. It is a Broadway Autosleeper, with excellent habitation layout. Cannot imagine changing it, as it meets our needs perfectly. And I am not that impressed with the newer models of motorhomes, to be honest.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I was thinking the same thing.
I wonder if any 2024 motorhomes will still be on the road in 20/25 years time?
For example - if you have a problem with an automatic gearbox, what are the chances of parts (or a replacement gearbox) being available?

As long as the specialist auto gearbox rebuild companies are still in business, it will be OK.

My 2017 PVC with ComfortMatic is a bit on the small side*, but the advantages are Euro 6 emissions without Adblu, manual handbrake, hydraulic PAS, absence of electronic "driver aids", and a high quality conversion. The main worry is the big cost of the next timing belt change due in 2027. Hopefully the new airbag ECU module will not go inop.

*Edit - I no longer have a C1 licence so, that's another plus being under 3,500Kg.

 

[WESTY66]

I’m pretty sure our 16 plate Carthago 3.0L comfortmatic will see us out, it’s got everything we need and the most important stuff on it oe Vanbitz Full growler/ non starter, full Offgrid capability from Offgrid power Solutions, and levellers from SAP. These are the things you would have to replicate on a new van, so now it’s getting unaffordable for me to change to a newer van, so it’s gonna have to last us a while.
It’s on 52k now so I’ll get back to ya’ll when it goes over 100k

 

[EuroTrotters]

2000 Fiat with iveco 2.8Tdi Engine.

Still going. Reliable, not the most dynamic beast to drive. But best MPG we have had at close to 30mpg

Had no end of trouble with

Mercedes Sprinter 416CDi 2001 MY
Mercedes Sprinter 518CDi 2007 MY
Mercedes Sprinter 318CDi 2013 MY

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