Opinions on manufacturers

[Baboboy]

Hello everyone

Mrs C and myself are giving serious thoughts to getting a motorhome.

We’ve had and lived on narrowboats so we’re fully aware of living frugally and in confined spaces etc. The van would be used for short breaks with the view to go further afield in the future. A few things have happened which have made us say do it now and not when we retire early as you never know what the future holds.

We’ve spent a few weeks trawling various motorhome sites, and have been out and had a look at a few dealerships as well. We’d we looking for a well built van. Don’t want anything that would slowly fall to pieces.

I was looking for people’s experiences the below.

Adria
Deleths
Sunlight
Rapido
Hobby
Berstner

I’ve read to get a German van due to the quality Mrs C likes a Hobby Van as seen on a YouTube Channel lol.

Main requirements would be has to be an Automatic. Fixed Bed, Garage space and due to my driving licence 3500kg.

I’ll sit back with my popcorn.

Once again a warm welcome from us.

 

[Orion]

So if you find you can only get a vehicle with the additional equipment on it, what do you do? pay to have it taken off and waste the cost of the factory options? Then pay to fit Lithium and Alugas?

Cheaper to take the C1 course and test.

In my example the wind out awning and one leisure battery were included in the basic vehicle ‘pack’ all the other items mentioned were my specified factory fit extras. Presumably there will be a requirement for a gas source of some kind or another anyway, so Alugas or other lightweight refillables would be a better option than steel to save weight. Keep the single 100Ah AGM battery if cost is a factor, or change to a similar output lithium (which have dropped rapidly in price recently) if a reduction in payload outweighs it?

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Another manufacturer to add into the mix is Knaus, Germany build, but can be heavy.

 

[PlacidoD]

To the OP some information and a bit of lateral thinking.

1. Several manufacturers are being sued or prosecuted in Europe for misleading payload information. Hence all now having configurators on their websites. Their primary purpose is not to inform buyers but to protect manufacturers. The rules re payload are unnecessarily complex which does not help them or you.

2. Very many vans can be up-plated as a paper exercise. You might want to consider buying something plated at 3500kg that can easily be up-plated if you find that your common useage is taking you over 3,500 kg having meantime taken your C1 test?

3. In what I regard as a bizarre system regarding road fund licencing sub 3500 kg are taxed at circa £345 annually whereas 3500>kg pay circa £180 annually. Go figure!!! The difference over a couple of years will fund your C1 training.

4. Don't hold your breath on B licence change to 4250 kg. I can see that taking five years or more.

Finally you don't say in what area you live. That info might help someone to point you in the direction of a trustworthy dealer or a van being advertised local to you that might suit your needs.

 

[Baboboy]

To the OP some information and a bit of lateral thinking.

1. Several manufacturers are being sued or prosecuted in Europe for misleading payload information. Hence all now having configurators on their websites. Their primary purpose is not to inform buyers but to protect manufacturers. The rules re payload are unnecessarily complex which does not help them or you.

2. Very many vans can be up-plated as a paper exercise. You might want to consider buying something plated at 3500kg that can easily be up-plated if you find that your common useage is taking you over 3,500 kg having meantime taken your C1 test?

3. In what I regard as a bizarre system regarding road fund licencing sub 3500 kg are taxed at circa £345 annually whereas 3500>kg pay circa £180 annually. Go figure!!! The difference over a couple of years will fund your C1 training.

4. Don't hold your breath on B licence change to 4250 kg. I can see that taking five years or more.

Finally you don't say in what area you live. That info might help someone to point you in the direction of a trustworthy dealer or a van being advertised local to you that might suit your needs.

Thanks all good information thanks for writing the above.

I struggled to pass my driving test. I always say I passed first time on my sixth attempt mainly due to nerves and not driving ability which was always to be instructors frustrations. So the thought of training for a C1 which looks like it relates to actual trucks as well just fills me with dread especially if it's something we want to do is going to be a game stopper.

We're living on the Nottingham, Derbyshire Border so any advice would be greatly received.

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

 

[Orion]

So the thought of training for a C1 which looks like it relates to actual trucks as well just fills me with dread especially if it's something we want to do is going to be a game stopper.

My youngest daughter took her C1 test last year in order to drive her Iveco Eurocargo horse transporter. The training course and test had her driving a Mercedes LWB Sprinter, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

 

[nicholsong]

My youngest daughter took her C1 test last year in order to drive her Iveco Eurocargo horse transporter. The training course and test had her driving a Mercedes LWB Sprinter, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

The minimum weight for a vehicle for the test is 4t, so I suppose a LWB Sprinter could be registered for that weight. Sounds not so daunting as an18t rigid truck.

 

[nicholsong]

Thanks all good information thanks for writing the above.

I struggled to pass my driving test. I always say I passed first time on my sixth attempt mainly due to nerves and not driving ability which was always to be instructors frustrations. So the thought of training for a C1 which looks like it relates to actual trucks as well just fills me with dread especially if it's something we want to do is going to be a game stopper.

We're living on the Nottingham, Derbyshire Border so any advice would be greatly received.

What is the biggest vehicle you have driven so far in your life?

If you are nervous driving in some challenging situations, doing the C1 course and test might give you more confidence for handling a motorhome in any situation you might encounter in future. My OH has not got C1 but was surprised when she got behind the wheel of our Arto, in a deserted S/market CP, what a good view she had and how easy it was to handle. Can you get friends with a MH to let you do the same in theirs?

You have had a lot of advice about the challenges of trying to run a 'well-built' MH at 3500kg to maybe convince you that maybe the challenge of the C1 test is the easier option.

 

[Orion]

The minimum weight for a vehicle for the test is 4t, so I suppose a LWB Sprinter could be registered for that weight. Sounds not so daunting as an18t rigid truck.

Yes, she said it was a good couple of days course and passed the test with flying colours. Afterwards she took to the Iveco like a duck to water and really enjoys driving it, so much so that the double horsebox rarely gets an outing mowadays!

 

[Baboboy]

What is the biggest vehicle you have driven so far in your life?

If you are nervous driving in some challenging situations, doing the C1 course and test might give you more confidence for handling a motorhome in any situation you might encounter in future. My OH has not got C1 but was surprised when she got behind the wheel of our Arto, in a deserted S/market CP, what a good view she had and how easy it was to handle. Can you get friends with a MH to let you do the same in theirs?

You have had a lot of advice about the challenges of trying to run a 'well-built' MH at 3500kg to maybe convince you that maybe the challenge of the C1 test is the easier option.

I’m not nervous driving its tests etc I’m not particularly good at as I put to much expectation on myself.

I’ve driven multiple vans with no issue. Over the 20 + years I’ve had my licence.

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

 

[Puddleduck]

My youngest daughter took her C1 test last year in order to drive her Iveco Eurocargo horse transporter. The training course and test had her driving a Mercedes LWB Sprinter, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

My daughter (also very nervous during exams) has an PSV full licence so can, and does on occasion, drive a double decker bus full of school urchins.

I always thought the bigger the vehicle the easier to drive as "right of size" is a real thing.

 

[rod_vw]

deleted

Sorry I hadn't seen your comments about recent driving experience of larger vehicles.

 

[jongood]

Thanks all good information thanks for writing the above.

I struggled to pass my driving test. I always say I passed first time on my sixth attempt mainly due to nerves and not driving ability which was always to be instructors frustrations. So the thought of training for a C1 which looks like it relates to actual trucks as well just fills me with dread especially if it's something we want to do is going to be a game stopper.

We're living on the Nottingham, Derbyshire Border so any advice would be greatly received.

Wouldn't some additional traing be a good idea? The truck guys are usually able to share techniques thatcwill probably help your confidence.

 

[Baboboy]

Wouldn't some additional traing be a good idea? The truck guys are usually able to share techniques thatcwill probably help your confidence.

My brother in law is a Class 2 Driver. I also know someone who has drives a fire engine for a living. I just get anxious around tests and all logic goes out of the window.

I've no real issue with the driving as after a few miles of any vehicle you get a feel for the dimensions etc.

 

[PlacidoD]

I have just checked - My Hobby T500 handbook says "Masse im fahrbereitem Zustand - 2817 kg." That translates as Mass in Running Order. I have a solar panel, carry a steel spare wheel (215/75 R16), two light weight refillable SafeFill 11 KG cylinders, the usual collection of EHU cables and hoses, 4 outdoor chairs & a table, one leisure battery, an Ebike and full water and diesel and I have an awning. I also have aTV and notebook PC onboad. I came out under 3050 kg on a weighbridge in Oswestry on the way to visit my daughter in Fishguard. I was deliberately loaded down with all the gear I would need for a fortnight away. True there is only one of me but room for two (Any offers?!!!)

Stick to under 6.7 metres in your search. There will be a few casualties in vans that appeal but you should be OK sub 3500kg if you are modest in what you carry. (No way do you need something like a Satellite dish and cabin aircon is heavy and drains batteries!)

P.S. You are in strong position to drive a hard bargain with no trade in whether buying new or used. With luck you may be able to buy something lightly used privately and save yourself a few £1,000. Recourse to a dealer is attractive but adds to the cost.

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

 

[nicholsong]

My brother in law is a Class 2 Driver. I also know someone who has drives a fire engine for a living. I just get anxious around tests and all logic goes out of the window.

I've no real issue with the driving as after a few miles of any vehicle you get a feel for the dimensions etc.

Maybe you at 40+ would not be so nervous as you were twenty years ago.

Also I think that the instructors for C licenses are probably better instructors than those for cars, and if they say at some point on the course that you are ready for the test, then take that as read. Instructors do not like too many failures on their record because their job depends on passes.

When I was doing my commercial flying training, one Sat morning when I had done only 6h 30m from scratch, the instructor said 'don't stop the engine, then got out saying one circuit and landing'. I swallowed, but he was right - I was ready, to my amazement.

[As an aside, I would rather be the student than the instructor, having to take the responsibility like that of sending a student onto their first solo and landing]

 

[Baboboy]

I think I've re-interpreted one of the sites that says I could have just over 400kg payload after all the "extras" are added onto it. Mrs C and.... ahem my additional weight. With adding the worst case 5% figure onto it.

The MIRO on the site claims it accounts for 90% Fuel, 20 Litres of Water, 1 x 16kg Aluminium Gas Bottle as well. So with the fuel and water they can be juggled if wanting to go "wild" camping etc to factor the carrying of water.

I've not ruled anything out and getting a C1 is a viable option as well but not as drastic my fears were last night.