Hi, planning ahead!

[Colson]

Hi, we are planning ahead to our retirement in a year or two.
We currently have a Caravelle day van which is great, but…..having been on holidays in and around Europe we are always drawn to the MH people who look like they are having a great time.
So although not entirely new to the idea it’s just trying to understand what does and doesn’t work in a MH for longer term travels?

Colson

 

[Janine]

Welcome to the Fun

Everyone has different needs and expectations so look at as many layouts as you can.

 

[The Old Man]

Motorhome, bigger, costs more to maintain and drive, parking, manoeuvring, storage. Inconvenient for shopping trips and quick visits. Can all invested party cope with driving it? Not only now but * years down the road?

Smaller Day Van, generally cheaper to run and only a little different to nipping out in the car!

You have that to equate with living space, what is required is different for every person.

My opinion, a solo traveller who like his space and deals with 7.5mtrs, 25mpg, height restriction associated challenges of a large van for a six berth internal layout but only one double bed assembled and slept it.

Like I said, I like my space.

PS. Welcome and have Fun.

 

[scousebird]

 

[Brains]

You are where we were.

We rented 3 different motorhomes, which told us what we wanted and what we did not.
(We found what we thought was great, turned out it was not)

It meant that we 'bought our 3rd motorhome 1st', a well known issue, which members on here get access to the 'how to buy a motorhome' info.

As an FYI - We rented in Germany. You get much nicer and newer vehicles in Germany and considerably cheaper!
You load up your van will all you need, bedding, deckchairs, crockery, clothing.
Drive to Harwich for the overnight ferry, and pick the rented motorhome up in Dusseldorf

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[Jo662]

 

[Colson]

Thanks all, I think overall external size is a factor, but comfort for two of us is also important if we are looking at longer term breaks of a few months at a time. A garage for electric bikes and an island bed seem appealing.
Which part of the forum is best for general advice on what people have bought and perhaps hired? And thanks again for the welcome suggestions

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[Mohawk Mo]

 

[Colson]

You are where we were.

We rented 3 different motorhomes, which told us what we wanted and what we did not.
(We found what we thought was great, turned out it was not)

It meant that we 'bought our 3rd motorhome 1st', a well known issue, which members on here get access to the 'how to buy a motorhome' info.

As an FYI - We rented in Germany. You get much nicer and newer vehicles in Germany and considerably cheaper!
You load up your van will all you need, bedding, deckchairs, crockery, clothing.
Drive to Harwich for the overnight ferry, and pick the rented motorhome up in Dusseldorf

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Colson]

Brains; I would love to know what you learned from the experience of renting? What size/ layout did you go for on your purchase?
Also, having looked at Burstner, is German of better quality ?

Thanks

 

[David and Sally]

 

[funflair]

Hi Colson

Welcome to Fun,

What works? anything and everything works for somebody but it's what works for you that is important and we are all different, what works for us is a 8.7 metre 7500kg Palace (that's Palace by name ) we get comfortable space inside and loads of external storage, we get large water tanks for fresh, grey and black so can park up totally see contained and not worrying where the cassette dump point is, we get a good kitchen, big bathroom, massive bed, big garage under the bed so we can take cycles and a scooter, a few other creature comforts like Alde wet heating with underfloor, enough solar and lithium to run basically as much 240v stuff as we want etc etc, I know this will be some peoples worst nightmare of course and respect that we are all different so yes you are right to do your homework as their is no such thing as a one van fits all.

 

[Brains]

Brains; I would love to know what you learned from the experience of renting? What size/ layout did you go for on your purchase?
Also, having looked at Burstner, is German of better quality ?

Thanks

We had pop top campervans before started, so sleeping in vans was not new to us.

We rented BIG to start with.
Rear bedroom, fully fitted bathroom etc.
It might have been OK in the USA, but was borderline unusable in Europe.

Second time we got a 8.5m van with a French bed.
Basically bed on one side at the back, loo/shower on the other side at the back.
By night 3, we had decided that French bed was not the way to go, and 8.5m was still too large.
But we like all the other comforts.

3rd time we rented exactly what we ended up buying:
Massive rear garage
Twin fixed beds at the back over the massive garage
German.
Max 7m long
Side wind out awning
Winterised
No wood construction
Oven
No shower/loo in the sleeping area

We had a long list of 'must have', 'must not have' and 'ideally we want'

It took us three rentals to find out what suited us.
Which included wandering around campsites all over Europe looking at vans, and if you ask, people will let you look inside and tell you all the advantages/disadvantages of their own model

Whilst everyone will have their own valid opinions, arguably the German vans are the best value for the money.
Mostly well built, mostly winterised.

British vans tend to have a reputation of being cheaper, not as well made, have damp problems.
Italian vans look like a yacht, but typically are not designed for the UK climate, so not winterised.
French vans, depending in whether they are made for the Northern or Southern market, may be suitable.

Check the base vehicle.
Fiat Ducato's are the most popular (80% of the market)
But Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter, Iveco Daily, Peugeot Boxer, Renault Master, Citroen and others all have their fans.

I'd look at the base price of each van, which will give you an idea of which one is 'best'
Clue: The Van of the year award has been bouncing between Transit, Sprinter and Crafter for several years, Crafter and Sprinter have the higher spec, Transit is cheaper.

We decided as we were going for a German top, we would get collar and cuffs to match, so also decided on a German base, and with our spec, this limited our search considerby.

 

[Figaro]

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[MisterB]

Hi, we are planning ahead to our retirement in a year or two.
We currently have a Caravelle day van which is great, but…..having been on holidays in and around Europe we are always drawn to the MH people who look like they are having a great time.
So although not entirely new to the idea it’s just trying to understand what does and doesn’t work in a MH for longer term travels?

Colson

I don't work apparently but the boss does on our travels, I've been told often. Hope that helps ...

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard