First Motorhome

[Tonyfranco]

Hi Guys & Gals,

I am looking to buy my first M/H and would be grateful if you knowledgeable folks on here could give me some advice on the best to buy.

It will be a used M/H as my budget is 25K, I am looking for a 6 berth that has a fixed bed and a sensible layout.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[TUCANO]

Sorry I can't help with a choice of van but for advice. You will need six seat belts if you intend to carry six people, you will struggle to carry much of a payload with that many people also.
Autotrader Motorhomes is a good place to look initially to give you an idea of what is available for your budget, apart from the weight issue the next biggest concern will be damp, a real concern in any van, used or new.
Welcome to the FUN.

 

[Tonyfranco]

Thank You Tucano.

A 4 Berth would be sufficient but I was thinking a 6 berth would maybe give me a bit more room

 

[Puddleduck]

You will struggle to carry six people in a vehicle with a 3500kg maximum permitted weight so do you have a C1 license?

We had an older style Hymer that had a drop down bed at the front, a dinette that converted to a double and a rear lounge that also made into a bed (or twin beds) - and could be left in bed configuration if wanted. That worked for us at the time.

When you do find something you like insist on a weighbridge ticket making a note of any water and fuel and if the driver is included - ideally no driver as then you know your base weight assuming no people, minimum fuel and all tanks empty. We found a lovely van at a dealers and asked them to weigh it - with no people, minimum fuel and water it was already over weight. Knowing what I know now I may have negotiated on the price to enable up-plating (we both have C1 licenses) but didn't have that knowledge at the time.

 

[Hoovie]

The OP said 6 BERTHS, and not 6 Travel Seats. Very different. There seems to be a theory promoted on forums that a motorhome MUST have a travel seat for each berth. That is rubbish. My own Autotrail is a 4 berth but only has 2 travel seats. Autotrail also do quite a few 6 berth motorhomes which have only 2 travel seats. And Autotrail are not unique in this.

Thank You Tucano.

A 4 Berth would be sufficient but I was thinking a 6 berth would maybe give me a bit more room

Makes sense. More berths usually (but not always) means more room. This is why I went for a 4 berth even though only 2 people max will be camping out in it. Same theory would work looking at a 6 berth if only needing 4 sleeping.

However, as said, weight could be an issue. plenty of 4 berths will be at 3.5t or less, but a 6 berth at 3.5t could be tricky. I think your budget could be tricky as well to find something decent without needing to spend more on fixing things.

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[Tonyfranco]

You will struggle to carry six people in a vehicle with a 3500kg maximum permitted weight so do you have a C1 license?

We had an older style Hymer that had a drop down bed at the front, a dinette that converted to a double and a rear lounge that also made into a bed (or twin beds) - and could be left in bed configuration if wanted. That worked for us at the time.

When you do find something you like insist on a weighbridge ticket making a note of any water and fuel and if the driver is included - ideally no driver as then you know your base weight assuming no people, minimum fuel and all tanks empty. We found a lovely van at a dealers and asked them to weigh it - with no people, minimum fuel and water it was already over weight. Knowing what I know now I may have negotiated on the price to enable up-plating (we both have C1 licenses) but didn't have that knowledge at the time.

Thank You Puddleduck

I do have a C1 licence

 

[Tonyfranco]

Thank You Puddleduck

I do have a C1 licence

 

[TUCANO]

The OP said 6 BERTHS, and not 6 Travel Seats. Very different. There seems to be a theory promoted on forums that a motorhome MUST have a travel seat for each berth. That is rubbish. My own Autotrail is a 4 berth but only has 2 travel seats. Autotrail also do quite a few 6 berth motorhomes which have only 2 travel seats. And Autotrail are not unique in this.


Makes sense. More berths usually (but not always) means more room. This is why I went for a 4 berth even though only 2 people max will be camping out in it. Same theory would work looking at a 6 berth if only needing 4 sleeping.

However, as said, weight could be an issue. plenty of 4 berths will be at 3.5t or less, but a 6 berth at 3.5t could be tricky. I think your budget could be tricky as well to find something decent without needing to spend more on fixing things.

The guy was asking for advice, I gave it, as you did also.

 

[Spriddler]

You've been a subscriber for a couple of years so no you've no doubt seen the Motorhome Buyers Guide in the 'Resources' section?

 

[Tonyfranco]

Hi Spridler,

Just so as you know I’ve been a subscriber for a couple of months and no I haven’t seen the Motorhome buyers guide but thanks for pointing me in the right direction

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[pappajohn]

Hi Spridler,

Just so as you know I’ve been a subscriber for a couple of months and no I haven’t seen the Motorhome buyers guide but thanks for pointing me in the right direction

Odd!!!!

 

[Tonyfranco]

Blimey my apologies I’ve obviously joined twice

 

[Spriddler]

Blimey my apologies I’ve obviously joined twice

Fun is evidently as good as New York, then.

 

[TUCANO]

So, are you absolutely certain you don't have a van.

Blimey my apologies I’ve obviously joined twice

 

[Tonyfranco]

So, are you absolutely certain you don't have a van.

That’s one thing I’m short of

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[Lenny HB]

Thank You Tucano.

A 4 Berth would be sufficient but I was thinking a 6 berth would maybe give me a bit more room

Number of berths is not related to size quite a few 9m plus vans with only 2 berths.

 

[Tonyfranco]

Hi Lenny,

Thanks for that i guess a 4 berth would be ok for my needs.

I see you are in West Sussex I’m in the East

 

[Puddleduck]

Our Sunliving has 6 berths and 4 travel seats.

Centre drop down double, dinette converts to double so you get a sort of bunk bed two over two plus a double fixed bed at the back. It's 7m.

Second hand might be outside your budget though.

The Hymer was probably a more practical layout but was 8m long (from memory etc) which did make a difference when it came to parking etc