Finalizing Retirement Home on Wheels Purchase

[Autobug]

Hi all, we're glad to find this forum of like minded adventure people.
We're ready to buy our retirement adventure home on wheels. We've enjoyed looking around at dealers & have 99% decided on the layout that would suit our needs...though we have a few niggles in our minds before splashing out our hard earned savings of many years.

 

[Lenny HB]

 

[simsy56]

Craig

 

[DandJ]

Welcome....what are you looking at and what are the niggles ? I feel certain some on here will have answers to all the niggles questions.

 

[LostInSpace]

The "niggles" are part of the fun. Everyday is a school day.

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[grasscutter]

Welcome. Proper way to spend retirement.
You have come to the right place for advice.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Hello and welcome. Good idea to pit on here which models and layouts you are thinking of. Someone, will have been there, and got the T-shirt.

 

[RetiredPope]

Welcome, if your undecided on layout it might be worth hiring a van for a week to see what it's like in real life. Could save money if you get a van and decide you don't like the layout.

 

[bigtwin]

and

Ian

 

[bobandjanie]

to the fun

We full-timed for 2 years but then moved to Spain and only do 6 months or less in the warmer / hot months so a 6m panel van is no problem, but if your in cooler climates you should consider something double floored with tanks inside and one with a decent payload. Bob.

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[Go_buddy_go_]

 

[Figaro]

Have you read the motorhome buyers guide in the resources section ?
Extremely useful, it'll raise questions you probably not even thought about yet.
Good luck

 

[Autobug]

Welcome....what are you looking at and what are the niggles ? I feel certain some on here will have answers to all the niggles questions.

Hi,

The niggles are more about dealers being transparent with us (well actually not transparent) about their motorhomes, their sales talk & what they're offering/not offering.
We're settled on a motorhome with a decent lounge at the front, mid kitchen/bathroom & rear trans bed over large garage (which we need). 2/4 berth.

A used Autotrail Mohawk at £35-40k or a brand new Bailey Alora S, of which there are amazing deals on at the moment on 2024 stocks £64k...due to a revised 2025 model now being available, new 8sp auto transmission.
Yet Bailey themselves wouldn't tell us this on enquiring 1 week ago & neither would any Bailey dealers we've spoke with.
Only now we've found a dealer who's been totally up front with us & explained all.

Anyway, unless anyone knows of other similar layouts in other brands? They're what we've seen so far & like.
We like tag axles also, but unsure if we'd have problems with such, especially if wanting to do some off grid/off site adventures?

Any help/thoughts are appreciated

 

[rolosroller]

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

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[Trelou]

 

[Lee Fryer]

 

[Janine]

Welcome to the Fun

 

[steve69]

Welcome and good luck.
If you're thinking of full-timing in your motorhome, make sure you keep an address/base in the UK. For many - quite obvious - reasons.

 

[Autobug]

Welcome and good luck.
If you're thinking of full-timing in your motorhome, make sure you keep an address/base in the UK. For many - quite obvious - reasons.

Not full time, but a month or so away at a time.
Thanks

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[Mart 63]

Hi,

The niggles are more about dealers being transparent with us (well actually not transparent) about their motorhomes, their sales talk & what they're offering/not offering.
We're settled on a motorhome with a decent lounge at the front, mid kitchen/bathroom & rear trans bed over large garage (which we need). 2/4 berth.

Hello and welcome. We had a Benimar Tessoro 442, which was 7mtrs. It had a large garage and a rear transverse bed. We found the rear bed a pain, as the wife needed the toilet in the night and had to climb over me. I had it a year and lost €7k on a private sale. Nice vans though.

 

[Brains]

Rent before you buy.

What the salesman says you need.
What you think you need.
And what you find out you really need.
(and what you don't need)
Are all very different needs!!

The only way to find your real needs
is to rent a couple before you buy.

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[Autobug]

Hello and welcome. We had a Benimar Tessoro 442, which was 7mtrs. It had a large garage and a rear transverse bed. We found the rear bed a pain, as the wife needed the toilet in the night and had to climb over me. I had it a year and lost €7k on a private sale. Nice vans though.

Yes that's an issue we've heard many times. It's the reason we want it to be a two bed motorhome, so if we want, we can sleep separately.
The trouble we're finding with other bed layouts, say twin beds at the back or island beds, is that they take up more space within the van & so the lounge/kitchen are comprised.
Some new models with drop down electric beds could be considered, due to this.

 

[Autobug]

Rent before you buy.

What the salesman says you need.
What you think you need.
And what you find out you really need.
(and what you don't need)
Are all very different needs!!

The only way to find your real needs
is to rent a couple before you buy.

Yes we agree & have done just that last summer

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[Autobug]

Question guys & gals.

A brand new unregistered 2024 Bailey Alora can be had for £64k on the road, Inc free awning & TV fitted. Usual/before offer price for the same was £78k.

How much do you think we'll lose after year 1, 2 & 3?

 

[Just smiffy]

Question guys & gals.

A brand new unregistered 2024 Bailey Alora can be had for £64k on the road, Inc free awning & TV fitted. Usual/before offer price for the same was £78k.

How much do you think we'll lose after year 1, 2 & 3?

Check the payload…

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Hi,

The niggles are more about dealers being transparent with us (well actually not transparent) about their motorhomes, their sales talk & what they're offering/not offering.
We're settled on a motorhome with a decent lounge at the front, mid kitchen/bathroom & rear trans bed over large garage (which we need). 2/4 berth.

A used Autotrail Mohawk at £35-40k or a brand new Bailey Alora S, of which there are amazing deals on at the moment on 2024 stocks £64k...due to a revised 2025 model now being available, new 8sp auto transmission.
Yet Bailey themselves wouldn't tell us this on enquiring 1 week ago & neither would any Bailey dealers we've spoke with.
Only now we've found a dealer who's been totally up front with us & explained all.

Anyway, unless anyone knows of other similar layouts in other brands? They're what we've seen so far & like.
We like tag axles also, but unsure if we'd have problems with such, especially if wanting to do some off grid/off site adventures?

Any help/thoughts are appreciated

One thing to consider is the weight of the vehicle in its ready to use state. I’ve not seen any mention of what driving licence you have. Larger vehicles will tend to be tight to keep below 3500kg limit of Category B licences. Dealers will tend to quote unladen weight, and omit to advise on the actual weight, leaving you with no useable payload. You mentioned tag-axles, which will almost certainly be over 3500kg.
Above 3500kg, you need Category C1 on your licence. If you’re mature enough to be considering retirement, you probably passed your test pre ‘97, so would have C1, but we have friends who don’t having moved to UK from S Africa.

 

[CAB96]

Question guys & gals.

A brand new unregistered 2024 Bailey Alora can be had for £64k on the road, Inc free awning & TV fitted. Usual/before offer price for the same was £78k.

How much do you think we'll lose after year 1, 2 & 3?

Look at similar but older models on Autotrader.

But bear in mind the market is in something of a correction at the moment.

 

[WESTY66]

Hi all, we're glad to find this forum of like minded adventure people.
We're ready to buy our retirement adventure home on wheels. We've enjoyed looking around at dealers & have 99% decided on the layout that would suit our needs...though we have a few niggles in our minds before splashing out our hard earned savings of many years.

Buy it quick, before WE change your mind

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