Starter van £20k budget is it enough

Sandpitdave

Sandpitdave

Free Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2025
Posts
5
Likes collected
20
Funster No
111,427
MH
Looking
Hello: clearly an active forum. First question, which forum is best to post about buying our first MH? Second ,it if it is here: we are wanting to try MH using a small lump sum. If it was £20k budget would this get us anything worth investing it (not mechanically minded at all), or would the rise to £30k change our options and potential enjoyment (60yo who is less mobile than she was!!!).

Previously we've caravanned so have an appreciation of the heating/toilet/etc involved.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
You buy the best you can at a price you can afford
But mine 6 years ago similar price 19 years old now
Yes it's getting on now
But it's reasonably easy and cheap if things wear out
Starter motor last week cost £66 +vat the model after mine £245 +vat
Remember 10% on top for things that go wrong within weeks of purchase
Would I enjoy the places I go and people I meet in a newer van more ...probably not
And that extra £10,000 is a LOT of fuel /jollies
 
Upvote 0
I think your doing the right thing by renting, wish we would ave gone down that route , instead we purchased 2 vans before finding the one for us , Burstner Harmony Line 690g we have now.
20240408_120219.webp

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Sandpitdave said:
Hello: clearly an active forum. First question, which forum is best to post about buying our first MH? Second ,it if it is here: we are wanting to try MH using a small lump sum. If it was £20k budget would this get us anything worth investing it (not mechanically minded at all), or would the rise to £30k change our options and potential enjoyment (60yo who is less mobile than she was!!!).

Previously we've caravanned so have an appreciation of the heating/toilet/etc involved.
Click to expand...
Welcome! It really is a question of what you want and what you can afford per oldiesontour
Motorhoming is not exactly cheap holidaying, but it gives you much more flexibility and personal choice than hotel or cruise holidays. If the place or weather isn’t great - you can move. If you like it, you can stay.
New vehicles break, old vehicles break. In our case we (happily/ luckily) found a dealership we continue to trust. 3 years ago we spent £40k on a 10-yr old small coachbuilt - which of course is only sellable at £25k-ish now. In recent conversation they wouldn’t have that low a value on their forecourt, they’d ‘move it on’.
Yes, as Nanniemate says, be prepared for a bit more. We’ve had a few chunky fixes - clutch £1k (year 2 en route in France); boiler £1.7k (year 3) but we’ve had wonderful travels at our own pace. Own bed, own toilet, own mealtimes, own decisions. It will be a sad day to pass on a good, looked-after van - not just yet, though!
 
Upvote 0
When we were looking, admittedly 2 years ago, I felt that at dealers £30k was the lowest worth considering, anything less wasn’t in reasonable condition. You might be lucky privately but that was my dealer experience.
Good luck !
 
Upvote 0
Go and see as many second hand motorhomes as you can and focus on layout first - get that wrong and you won't fully enjoy the new toy.
I always say put 15% of a cash budget away somewhere for running repairs and upgrades you later decide you need.

Prices are all over the shop!

Before lockdown we bought an old Autocruise (1999) Coach-built partly because the original company used monocoque roof and so far less likely to leak with age.
We paid £9K but knew it needed immediate work that cost around £3K (new front suspension, new tyres, new boiler, repair to fridge and added solar).
After lockdown we sold at £17K but didn't pocket a profit as we then paid higher for the RV we have now. Just trying to show what happened historically to prices.

Where are you based and other members may suggest places to go and view...... There's also a classified section here for members.
 
Upvote 0
Yes you can get a lot of van for £20k actually there's a member on here selling a cracking van in that price range with o load of modifications and extras

dawsey

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Brains said:
We rented three before we started looking!
I'd suggest you do the same!
Click to expand...

I am not sure in the OP's case, as they have had caravan(s) before, so I would have thought that just a thorough look at many layouts and using their experience and a bit of imagination they could soon see what layout suits.

Also renting would eat into their budget.
 
Upvote 0
The vans priced at £20K were, in their day, state of the art but now compared to more modern ones appear agricultural. Notwithstanding the probable increased age, the difference in reliability of mechanicals at £30K will be pot luck anyway. At the age range you are considering, chassis rust and damp bodywork will be the main factors to consider.
 
Upvote 0
I paid £23k privately for my 2006 C class 4 berth motorhome 3 years ago when prices were still higher due to Covid.
I thoroughly checked it's mot history and checked the van over thoroughly for damp, rust and that everything worked.
3 years on and touch wood I've had no problems.
It passed it's MOT 2 weeks ago with no advisories.
I've spent some money on solar, LifePo4, B2B, inverter etc so that I can off-grid when I want.
I think you could definitely get a usable van for £20k provided it's thoroughly checked over.
I would just make sure that whatever you spend you've got a few grand left over for any upgrades you require to make the van more usable for the way you want to use it.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 1
Hi & good luck on the hunt for the new van. We spent about 3 months once we had made our mind up to change from our much loved home made conversion.
Looked at many & found lots that in the ads looked great but on viewing were total rubbish. Rust & damp being common.
Found our new one by accident as we happened to be in the right location at right time when it popped up on eBay. We were viewing several around Wakefield at the time.
Love at first sight😂.
That was three years ago & yes it’s a bit slow & agricultural (24 years old) but it’s been great & we won’t change now. Lots of history & looked & was very well cared for.
The couple wanted £14k & I didn’t bargain. I thought it was worth every penny. All I’ve done is add an extra solar panel & a couple of usb sockets.



IMG_1998.webp
 
Upvote 0
Fascinating and helpful replies. One rental booked (motorhome) and then a summer rental planned using a PVC, to help us determine can we - with 60+ year old mobility for one of us - actually make this work.

Next questions: do you all take bikes, folding bikes or have e-bike investments started to become the thing?
 
Upvote 0
Sandpitdave said:
Fascinating and helpful replies. One rental booked (motorhome) and then a summer rental planned using a PVC, to help us determine can we - with 60+ year old mobility for one of us - actually make this work.

Next questions: do you all take bikes, folding bikes or have e-bike investments started to become the thing?
Click to expand...

Loads of people take bikes, folding bikes and many now take E-bikes. Having secondary transport is really useful. I carry a 110cc Honda Scooter on the back of ours.

Only you will know how mobile you are but I have pretty bad arthritis in both knees. I can manage a few miles on a folding mountain bike but I can go all day on the Scooter! :D

If I were you at that budget I would buy private. My last two vans were private sales including our first one in 2008 which we only parted with last year. Back in 2008 I reckoned (With a similar budget to you) I saved about £5k off a forecourt price and between £8k - £10k with the one bought last summer to replace it. You enter the market at a funny time though. Prices are coming down but a lot of sellers have not realised that yet and are still asking post pandemic prices. Take your time, find out the exact layout you want and search and search and search again for the right van at the right price from the right person.
 
Upvote 0
Sandpitdave said:
Fascinating and helpful replies. One rental booked (motorhome) and then a summer rental planned using a PVC, to help us determine can we - with 60+ year old mobility for one of us - actually make this work.

Next questions: do you all take bikes, folding bikes or have e-bike investments started to become the thing?
Click to expand...
dawsey - is yours still looking for a new owner ??
 
Upvote 0
Sandpitdave said:
Next questions: do you all take bikes, folding bikes or have e-bike investments started to become the thing?
Click to expand...
In my case a folding Ebike - a MiRider One GB3 though I don't actually fold it for use with the van given that I have a garage. My two main reasons for a folding Ebike are:
(a) dropping my car off for service at the indy garage and then cycling the 8 miles home.
(b) I have the option to fold the bike and take it on any train sight-seeing when on my travels with the van. (I think the same would apply on the ferries on Lake Como. I need to check sometime).

I commonly park up the van on a campsite and then explore the location on the bike.

If there are to be two of you with bikes (especially Ebikes) you will either need a garage or a bike rack on the rear on a PVC. There are exceptions to every rule so something like a Malibu Genius would not need a bike rack but you would need a really deep wallet and likely a C1 licence!!!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Sandpitdave said:
Hello: clearly an active forum. First question, which forum is best to post about buying our first MH? Second ,it if it is here: we are wanting to try MH using a small lump sum. If it was £20k budget would this get us anything worth investing it (not mechanically minded at all), or would the rise to £30k change our options and potential enjoyment (60yo who is less mobile than she was!!!).

Previously we've caravanned so have an appreciation of the heating/toilet/etc involved.
Click to expand...
Now in my 4th year of Motohoming, part exchanged my car against a 2009 Burstner Nexxo , on forecourt at 30k. Actually paid 22k. Dolphin Motorhomes are highly recommended, as is the tie-in to a local garage if mechanical work required,
 
Upvote 0
We were in a similar position to you 7 years ago with a £15-30k budget. Me £15k, Mrs B up to £30k. It was our first and only MH purchase so far.

We quickly worked out exactly what we wanted. A MH that we could live in without having to use any ‘public’ facilities, as Mrs B is not one for using public facilities!! Self sufficient for everything. We only intended to use the MH outside the UK.


We quickly narrowed it down to the following. A Class, drop down bed that could be accessed without a ladder, big lounge with two sofas so each of us could lay down, big fridge freezer, big bathroom with large separate shower, gaslow LPG, solar, two leisure batteries, gas oven grill and a bike rack. This essentially meant we were looking for a European built MH. A decent payload is essential so a 4T MH was required which was okay as we both have C1 licences.

We looked at several from manufacturers such as Frankia, Rapido, Hymer, Pilote and Burstner. Eventually we settled on a 2004 Burstner i681 which was well built had done 50k miles, registered at 4T so cheap road tax, and close to 0.5m longer than the others. Obviously we checked as others have said for rust, water ingress etc. We bought from a dealer for £28k and it had everything in our list included. We got a 12 month warranty which we used to fix a few initial issues but nothing substantive.

I set aside a £1500 budget each year for servicing and routine maintenance which has been enough. I also like getting my hands dirty to keep costs low. So as an example after our last trip to Morocco I’ve done a few jobs, take out the main roof light and reseal it, fit a new replacement small bathroom roof light, replace windscreen washer pump, fit new front exhaust pipe, fit new fridge vent that was blown off. There are always a few things that need doing.

We have now done a further 70k miles, so 120k in total, typically we spend close to 6 months abroad in Europe and Morocco each year. We do not have a TV and do all our cooking using the gas oven, grill and hob. We only have lead acid batteries but with the solar we only need to plug in now and again to charge Mrs Bs e-bike. If it wasn’t for that we would have no need to plug in to EHU at all.

In 3 weeks time, after the MOT, we are off for a 10 week trip to the Balkans and across the Adriatic to Italy. We have no hesitation in making such a trip. We are going back to Morocco next Jan as well.

If I was starting again I would probably buy the same MH again or something very similar. As Mrs B always says, we are doing exactly what we want now so how would spending another £50k improve it. I have to say she’s got a point.

The only issue with older MHs is the continuing onslaught of emissions in the UK. So if you intend mainly UK trips that might be a concern. In the EU this is not such an issue, I’m thinking of France and Spain, so an older MH would still be okay for another 5-10 years I believe.

Long post but hopefully from our experience you see what is possible. Good luck and hope you have as much fun as us!
 
Upvote 0
My personal experience is that with a relatively small budget - buying privately is the only way to go.

Unless you’re lucky, be prepared to see a lot of vehicles.

As many have noted DAMP is the biggest potential problem - rust you you be able see if you make the effort to inspect properly.

Service history is important - properly documented.

BUT you will need some expertise to make a good private buy - so you really need to find a friendly and competent motorhomer to guide you.
 
Upvote 0
Sandpitdave said:
Fascinating and helpful replies. One rental booked (motorhome) and then a summer rental planned using a PVC, to help us determine can we - with 60+ year old mobility for one of us - actually make this work.

Next questions: do you all take bikes, folding bikes or have e-bike investments started to become the thing?
Click to expand...
May I suggest if mobility is an issue, you look at a Travelscoot, which is the latest and is foldable scooter. This was recommended to me about five years ago when I needed one by a fellow Motorhomer who had had the same model for 13 years then. I can highly recommend them and there is a London distributor, plus they are sold on eBay secondhand. Which is where I bought my first one.

Carol

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Exciting time for you. In theory buying privately will save money, but do not buy any vehicle that has not got a full service history verifiable. Go on line and check the MOT history making sure the mileages given are mathematically possible! Check the number of owners/keepers from the V5 document. Be wary of vehicles that have had several previous owners. Do all these checks buying privately or through a dealership. Good luck.
 
Upvote 0
I’d say 20thou isn’t enough and you’ll be buying something that will continuously cost you money and be old fashioned and old tech. 30 thou gets much better van. Certainly that’s what we found.

We didn’t hire as it is silly expensive and having camped, ground tent, and roof tent on Land Rover, thought we knew what we wanted.

We got exactly what we wanted, and many years on wouldn’t change it. I think you maybe in even a better situation having had caravans. So it’s very likely you know what works for you.
 
Upvote 0
Landy Andy said:
I’d say 20thou isn’t enough and you’ll be buying something that will continuously cost you money and be old fashioned and old tech. 30 thou gets much better van. Certainly that’s what we found.

We didn’t hire as it is silly expensive and having camped, ground tent, and roof tent on Land Rover, thought we knew what we wanted.

We got exactly what we wanted, and many years on wouldn’t change it. I think you maybe in even a better situation having had caravans. So it’s very likely you know what works for you.
Click to expand...
I might just of been lucky but my £23k, 2006 van hasn't cost me a penny apart from the usual servicing, starter battery, tyres etc.
It is better spec'd and more modern as standard than my sisters £30k 2012 van.
 
Upvote 0
Fascinating and helpful replies, all. Thanks. Yes, I agree private brings risks and a potential saving. We are regulars on Autotrader to keep seeing prices/layouts - are there any other sites people have used for used vans?

Two rentals booked - Arisaig 3 days in a motorhome, and a week in a PVC for the NC500 - giving us a taste of each - space, park-ability, drive-ability, fuel use, etc, etc.

We have a few recommended garages in Glasgow for servicing lined up - the 10% for repairs remarks are helpful
 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top