Has the bubble burst

Does anyone actually have any evidence that the bubble has burst for Campsites or sales of motorhomes?

Our campsite is busy, and trying to book other sites this year seems to be harder than ever.

As for motorhome sales? we predominantly work on brand new motorhomes and are busier than ever, and we have seen absolutely nothing to support the suppositions in this thread.

Sorry to disappoint and all that ;)
 
Does anyone actually have any evidence that the bubble has burst for Campsites or sales of motorhomes?

Our campsite is busy, and trying to book other sites this year seems to be harder than ever.

As for motorhome sales? we predominantly work on brand new motorhomes and are busier than ever, and we have seen absolutely nothing to support the suppositions in this thread.

Sorry to disappoint and all that ;)
I'm with you on this. Highbridge Caravans have opened a new outlet in Devon, for example. My point is that if there are any dealer closures it's because they forgot customer service, something your organisation is not guilty of. The marketplace always sorts the wheat from the chaff.
 
I blame the government for changing the rules on pensions allowing folk to draw 25% of their pot tax free. House paid for ✓ no debt cash in bank✓ what am I gonna spend that dish on, I know a camper!!!
Have you not always been able to take 25% of your lump sum tax free?

I thought the change was being able to take it from 55 onwards?

Pat (55 years old)!
 
Have you not always been able to take 25% of your lump sum tax free?

No, you've always been able to take the whole lump sum (known as a Pension Commencement Lump Sum) tax free. The maximum lump sum normally equates to 25% of the total value of your pension, but may be more or less for certain defined benefit schemes.

You can however now access your entire pension "pot" from the age of 55 if you have a defined contribution pension, which some people seem very keen to do despite the possibility of giving a substantial part of it to the taxman if you take it all at once, and possibly without fully thinking about what they are going to live on later.
 
How many 'incarnations' has Brownhills had????

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What's the justification for such a substantial hike in VED for the latest low pollution engine/vehicle?
It's based on CO2 output that depends entirely on the amount of fuel burned. Other emissions that depend on catalytics or other technology are not used for VED calculations. So vehicles that travel further per litre of fuel burned pay lower VED.
 
It seems postage from the USA is pretty good nowadays. My Winnebago ( just before we bought it ) needed a new split windscreen.
Ordered from dealer in USA and arrived in just over a week, undamaged.

Luckily, our Burstner hasn’t needed any parts yet, but if it does, it will be interesting to see how long they take to arrive in France from Germany.
Delivery from Europe is appalling, I have been waiting 14 weeks for some parts to repair damage to my Rapido. I understand that other European manufacturers are no better. I am now considering having the existing damaged parts repaired. Has anybody any recommendations for a good repairer in the south.
Spongy
 
I don't really know alot about motorhomes , or how it used to be ect. All I will say, from a young'n with an average wage.... Motorhomes are unbelievably expensive. Its insane, some cost more than a house!! Even a cheaper one cost the same as a good deposit on a house. Something which alot of people my age aren't achieving. Speaking to gramps, his first house cost twice what he earnt in a year. Father in law, he earnt a third of his first house a year. Average wage is £29k, average house price is £230k.....motorhomes aren't a luxury my generation can afford. ?‍♂️
 
Haven't read very post, not retired so time poor :) but in addition to the new VED, remember that if we get a no deal BREXIT, the likely 10% car levy on imported vehicles will probably apply to completed motorhomes and base vehicles, in addition to the potential further decline of the exchange rate. All good for 2nd hand prices though

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I don't really know alot about motorhomes , or how it used to be ect. All I will say, from a young'n with an average wage.... Motorhomes are unbelievably expensive. Its insane, some cost more than a house!! Even a cheaper one cost the same as a good deposit on a house. Something which alot of people my age aren't achieving. Speaking to gramps, his first house cost twice what he earnt in a year. Father in law, he earnt a third of his first house a year. Average wage is £29k, average house price is £230k.....motorhomes aren't a luxury my generation can afford. ?‍♂️

I can understand your perspective.

My first house in the '70s cost be 3 x my salary before tax, but while solid it had no modern services, even no bathroom(but 2 toilets), just a gas-fired copper and a tin bath - I kid you not.

As to MH prices the new prices are high, but somehow the 'grey pound' is there to buy them. Look at new prices of upmarket German ones and you are into the Euro 220k bracket - then look at the extras list and you could spend the same again. A lot can be saved having extras fitted in the after market.

But look at good quality secondhand at 5+ years and you can almost halve those figures.

I cannot imagine where the market for MHs will be in your generation in 10-20 years time. Maybe back to VW-type campers as it was before our 'Baby-boomer' generation got rich.

At least you are ahead of the consumer generation in that you both have skills to enable you to be largely self sufficient, and are doing amazingly well on your self-build project. Good Luck to you.

Geoff
 
How many 'incarnations' has Brownhills had????

No idea but we were there the other day and they have an awful lot of SH Auto-Trails sitting in a long line. Anyone looking round would think there must be something wrong with them. Most of them are under 2 years old.
 
The younger generation will be the legacy generation , when senior members of family pass on they will inherit quite a bit and will have cash to spend ?

There will be nothing left after Care Homes and Equity Release.

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No idea but we were there the other day and they have an awful lot of SH Auto-Trails sitting in a long line. Anyone looking round would think there must be something wrong with them. Most of them are under 2 years old.
Looking to upgrade where did you see them
 
I am sorry to hear it has closed its doors.. One of the partners was a good customer of mine and a really nice chap..
He did mention back in 2014 things were slowing right back then...

As a matter of interest, the motorcycle world although seemingly buoyant with new registrations going well, seems to be very slow in the pre-owned area with stock sitting for some time
No sign yet of the "classic " bike sales slowing--surely they cant keep rising in value at the same speed -will the bubble burst soon?

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That is pretty normal, as properties change hands and circumstances change. There would have been a similar amount of new ones exempted to take their place. I certainly don't think CLs are in decline
Delivery from Europe is appalling, I have been waiting 14 weeks for some parts to repair damage to my Rapido. I understand that other European manufacturers are no better. I am now considering having the existing damaged parts repaired. Has anybody any recommendations for a good repairer in the south.
Spongy
We owned a Truck garage for our sins we serviced Renault Trucks, parts ordered by midday strived AM. Next morning from France, believe me we needed a lot of parts for those heaps of dung !! Getting back to the original post, the bubble will burst ,sales will drop when we get a year or two of bad weather people will be back to Package Holidays, except people like is who love the Motor Home life.
 
My Take on it.

Never seen so many on the roads and at the ports.
We used to be the only ones for miles around
Now, many neighbours have motorhomes or caravans.

We have several vehicles. Very lucky we are. But, given a Choice, I would and we are heading off in the motorhome.

Choose and buy wisely, you will rarely lose money.
Flight prices are increasing, airlines deceasing *
*No more Monarch for a Start and Both Vuelling and Norwegian pulled out of Manchester-Alicante

On our last Ski trip. Three nights stops through from Belgium to Austria cost a grand total of €20, Try that on booking dot com for three nights.

A weeks camping at Ski Resort with 5 star facilities in Otzal Valley £140 for two people.
The cheapest Hotel with the same facilities, £300 a night, chalet £500+ a week

We are heading to Holland with our three Grandchildren, staying at Centre Parcs and camping at Zeeland. Cost inc last minute Ferry direct to Holland, £720 plus Fuel for 8 nights.

Non Camping was £2,900-£3,800 UK Centre Parcs Cost.

I am more addicted and committed to the motorhome than ever.
 
To be honest, I think the the whole caravan/motorhome thing is going to evaporate into an over exploited, over susbscribed pursuit that used to be a relaxing simple way to get some peace and quiet in the out doors. Larks singing above you,the smell of the countryside, the distant hum of an airplain prop... That atmosphere of gentle homeland contentment, curtacy, and concideration for others, an unwriten code of respect and trust.
I have been absent from all this for about fifteen years and so far this year I have been subjected people bellowing on their phones, one halfway up Catbells for christ sake! and another ten feet away from where I was sitting slurping at a developing sunset!!! then a camp fire thing was lit which smoked like a bonfire,
sodding tv's and radios blaring, the poxy dogs barking, the doors slamming, frizbees, light pollution from led solar lighting smothered awnings, dog shit everywhere, feral brats on bikes and scooters!!!!!

The buble has indeed burst, or should I say boil.

It's so different today and I'm not sure if it is for me anymore to be honest, just too busy and like Pontins on wheels
 
To be honest, I think the the whole caravan/motorhome thing is going to evaporate into an over exploited, over susbscribed pursuit that used to be a relaxing simple way to get some peace and quiet in the out doors. Larks singing above you,the smell of the countryside, the distant hum of an airplain prop... That atmosphere of gentle homeland contentment, curtacy, and concideration for others, an unwriten code of respect and trust.
I have been absent from all this for about fifteen years and so far this year I have been subjected people bellowing on their phones, one halfway up Catbells for christ sake! and another ten feet away from where I was sitting slurping at a developing sunset!!! then a camp fire thing was lit which smoked like a bonfire,
sodding tv's and radios blaring, the poxy dogs barking, the doors slamming, frizbees, light pollution from led solar lighting smothered awnings, dog shit everywhere, feral brats on bikes and scooters!!!!!

The buble has indeed burst, or should I say boil.

It's so different today and I'm not sure if it is for me anymore to be honest, just too busy and like Pontins on wheels

I can understand that too, very well.

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I don't really know alot about motorhomes , or how it used to be ect. All I will say, from a young'n with an average wage.... Motorhomes are unbelievably expensive. Its insane, some cost more than a house!! Even a cheaper one cost the same as a good deposit on a house. Something which alot of people my age aren't achieving. Speaking to gramps, his first house cost twice what he earnt in a year. Father in law, he earnt a third of his first house a year. Average wage is £29k, average house price is £230k.....motorhomes aren't a luxury my generation can afford. ?‍♂️
Sorry I am not quite sure what point you are making here. In your own definition 'luxury' in most cases come at a cost and usually limited to those that are able to afford them. There is no right of passage I am afraid except everybody has an opportunity and choice.
 
What seems to have changed in recent years is the number of MHs bought on finance and the growing number of younger MHers (not a bad thing in itself). It's getting like the new car market which is 90% lease / PCP funded. Whereas the MH purchase used to be funded by savings, pension lump sums, downsizing the house after the kids leave, or a small inheritance.

Dealers offer easy payments for 120 months ... don't the buyers understand that is 10 years fer chrissake. Add it all up and they will have paid about double the list price, for a vehicle that will have lost at least 50% of its value. If they swap MH every 3 years they are going to be locked into ever more expensive finance deals long, long after the euphoria of owning a nice shiny new thing has passed. A very costly way to buy the dream. It makes no financial sense except to those with a grasshopper mindset who only live for today and prefer not to think about tomorrow. That's OK until circumstances change.

As a country we are living on cheap debt, way beyond our means. The signs are that a global recession (due roughly every 10 years on average) is approaching. This will trigger another financial crisis. Suddenly a lot of borrowers will be underwater and out of a job. It is going to get ugly. Dealers and manufacturers who expanded at the top of the boom will go bust.

On that note have a nice Bank Holiday weekend! :D
 
Sorry I am not quite sure what point you are making here. In your own definition 'luxury' in most cases come at a cost and usually limited to those that are able to afford them. There is no right of passage I am afraid except everybody has an opportunity and choice.
He is merely pointing out that he ,&other youngster's, need 10x salary+to just purchase a house so the likelihood of having a spare 60k+for a my is hardly likely.
 
To be honest, I think the the whole caravan/motorhome thing is going to evaporate into an over exploited, over susbscribed pursuit that used to be a relaxing simple way to get some peace and quiet in the out doors. Larks singing above you,the smell of the countryside, the distant hum of an airplain prop... That atmosphere of gentle homeland contentment, curtacy, and concideration for others, an unwriten code of respect and trust.
I have been absent from all this for about fifteen years and so far this year I have been subjected people bellowing on their phones, one halfway up Catbells for christ sake! and another ten feet away from where I was sitting slurping at a developing sunset!!! then a camp fire thing was lit which smoked like a bonfire,
sodding tv's and radios blaring, the poxy dogs barking, the doors slamming, frizbees, light pollution from led solar lighting smothered awnings, dog shit everywhere, feral brats on bikes and scooters!!!!!

The buble has indeed burst, or should I say boil.

It's so different today and I'm not sure if it is for me anymore to be honest, just too busy and like Pontins on wheels
You're visiting the wrong places. At this moment we're on Smeetons Lakes site at Newark. It's a huge site yet has all the good things you mention and none of the bad.
 
The younger generation will be the legacy generation , when senior members of family pass on they will inherit quite a bit and will have cash to spend ?

No no no

You’ve got it all wrong according to the younger generation.

We’ve ruined it all for them ???

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