To buy or not to buy (Motorhome v Camper)

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JawD

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Hey folks,

So, I've been toying with a purchase for a while and thought I'd post here to get the opinion of those with experience and knowledge.

I'm a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids).

Last year we hired a 4 berth camper a few times. Our youngest 3yo slept with us and the older two in a double. The kids loved it but for us it was a little cramped. Basically everything out to covert for sleeping and then back out for putting back up for driving.

I'm purchasing with thought of owning for a good few years though so my 3yo wont be sharing with us forever (thankfully!). So really I need a 5 berth.

I've been considering converting something like a sprinter or even using a camper with a Go Pod! But my wife isnt keep on that idea which I understand.

The camper was good to drive and being smaller we didnt have any parking or driving issues.

So, now I'm looking at a Motorhome and someone I know has put me on contact with someone selling ex-rentals and I could pick up a Zefiro 696 for £35K and I'm looking to hire it a couple of times before I decided (naturally) also im still trying to see how that sleeps 5 as I dont want 3 sharing.

My concerns I guess are with regards pushing a motorhome around the lake district / highlands / devon etc and the smaller roads. That said, I'm aware everyone else seems to do it without issue! Of course posting this on a Motorhome forum I'm only expecting one sway of opinions! But as I'm leaning to a Motorhome I'd like to know pit falls and things to take in to account before I dive in?

So in my weighing up I think (correct me if I'm wrong please!)

Motorhome over Camper
- Slower to drive
- Harder to park
- Less maneuverable
+ more spacious
+ more onboard facilities
+ Room for growth of kids! (size, not more of them!)
+ Able to bring dog
+ good storage
 
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I'd suggest that payload & berths = legal seatbelts, should be your priority, a 5 berth & belted Moho / Camper is likely, or will need to be, above 3.5t G.V.W., so you'll need the appropriate licence entitlement to drive it.

https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/motorhome/33599-roller-team-zefiro-696

Payload is grim @425kg for 5 people & all the paraphernalia you'll no doubt need & it only has 4 belted travel seats & 4 berths.
 
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Think you'll have to go over 3.5t.
As you said, payload pretty dire.
With that many bodies i would go for a larger mh, so youve got space when you have to stay in.
 
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A larger MH is certainly an option, that is only one I've looked at. I think I'm just a little concerned that a large MH will restrict the places I'd like to go to and the reason I'm after one afterall. That said, if experiences are that access is mostly fine (with some research before travel etc) then that would allay my fears somewhat.

A caravan, while not totally ruled out, isnt really what I'd prefer to go for. Also worth noting as I have an older licence, I have C1 so over 3500kg would be fine

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The first question is what type of licence do you have. If you passed your test after 1997 (think that is the year) then you will probably be limited to a motorhome with a maximum weight of 3500kg or less, unless you have passed a separate test for heavier vehicles. And the problem with that is that you will have very little payload (difference between actual delivered weight and the maximum weight) for a family of 5, especially as they grow up and want to take bikes etc with them.

We drive a 7.5m long motorhome with a weight of 4500kg and find we can get it everywhere we want to go in the Uk and Europe, so size really is not a problem IMHO. If you have a C1 licence which entitles you to drive up to 7500kg then you will have plenty of choice that will give you everything you need.
Edit. Sorry did not see your previous post when I posted about licence
 
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As others have said forget about vans under 3500 kg and as you have the licence go for something with a minimum of 1000 kg payload preferably a lot more as kids grow. Also bear in mind a lot of motorhomes come out of the factory 100 kg over weight so that reduces your payload by 100 kg, also all manufacturers and dealer fitted options reduce the payload further thats why you need to start with what may seem like an OTT payload in real life it won't be.
 
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peterc10 said:
We drive a 7.5m long motorhome with a weight of 4500kg and find we can get it everywhere we want to go in the Uk and Europe, so size really is not a problem IMHO.
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I bet you'd rather use the park'n'ride than drive it into a city centre.
 
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Guigsy said:
I bet you'd rather use the park'n'ride than drive it into a city centre.
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Took my 8M into a busy supermarket car park first trip away. With care, good mirrors, and low speed, it's just like driving a big box. So far hasn't prevented me going anywhere I'd want to go. We tow a Smart on a trailer to bring it up to a proper length :D.

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The consensus seems to be that with a family of 5, and getting heavier by the year, it has to be over 3.5t and you have the licence, so that is one decision.

Then the next problem is finding a model that has 5 belted seats. I think you can forget any idea about fitting another seat belt as most threads addressing this subject come to the conclusion that it is very difficult to get access to an anchor point that is legal.

I think some models with dinettes do have 5/6 seatbelts but these are a bit out of fashion so might be older, or there is limited choice.

I don't want to put a downer on your plans, but just to point you at the problems to be considered.

Geoff
 
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Really appreciate these replies, exactly the considerations I need to be aware of.
 
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when your brain panics about the size of of a big motorhome just remember busses coaches and bin lorries all use the same road and they are bigger
 
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the best £15 you will ever spend in researching motorhomes is to subscribe as a member here. you only get 5 free posts
 
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DBK said:
I'll probably be expelled from here but a caravan might be the answer. :)
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Agree a bit with the above

Take into account that with a growing family you may have a better experience if you have flexibility to explore when you get to sites

Suggestion is a 5 seat camper with pop top pulling a small caravan to start
Also great for days out to beach or other when you leave the caravan at home/ in storage
As family grows,enlarge caravan
Use camper as a daily user as well
No payload or berth issues
 
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The decision between a motorhome/campervan and a caravan in the end depends on what sort of touring you intend to do. If you are happy to base yourselves in an area and then explore a caravan would possibly fit the bill better. You could buy a very nice car and caravan outfit for your budget, but you would be restricted to campsites and the inevitable setting up/taking down.

You don't get this with a m/h, but having 3 growing kids means you're really looking at a larger vehicle. There are smaller 6-berths but the payload is practically non-existent even with allowed upgrades. A larger vehicle, though, is not really much of a hindrance if you plan your sojourns a little. I've never had problems on narrow roads (well apart from the occasion when I let the satnav dictate my route!) you just drive accordingly and be prepared to give way, take your time. Parking in towns and cities can be a challenge but with some thought can be overcome - we use public transport if necessary.

Your list in the original post is 5/3 in favour of a motorhome. Give it some thought and do a similar comparison with motorhome v caravan. Although I get the feeling that your heart is really with a motorhome.

Whatever you decide, good luck.
 
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I motorhome with 3 kids, in fact I’m sat here on an aire in France having just got them all in bed, home tomorrow after 3 weeks away!

Have a look at this old thread;

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...milies-of-5-please.169290/page-2#post-2705945

Biggest bit of advice I’d give is you don’t want a 5 berth, you want a 6 or 7 berth, and watch bunk sizes.

Motorhome versus camper van - 2 very different things really. A camper van will be more like a “tin tent” in use, you’ll be very reliant on the weather being good and using outside space for living in, and I’ll bet you’d need a tent for extra sleeping space. A motorhome is self contained and much more useable in bad weather - and better for touring, much less to do to make and break camp each day.

After 4 years we’re still very happy with ours, won’t be changing it until we get to the point where we have less kids coming away with us
 
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Thanks again, I'll do some more reading!
 
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JawD said:
Thanks again, I'll do some more reading!
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Forget the reading. Get yourself out and get to some dealers and look at things in the flesh. Remember that each dealer will have a limited range of makes, mainly based around those makes that they represent. So to really get an idea of the market you need to go around several dealers. It may be best to start with a second hand motorhome anyway, so find dealers who have lots of those in as well. Do not buy the first one you look at, no matter how much you think it is the right one for you, because you may change your mind when you see others.

Just one final point. You only get 5 free posts in this forum, after that you will be able to read but not post any more. So best to subscribe, I reckon it is the best £15 I spend on the motorhome each year.
 
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Think you would be better with a coach built unless you are 100% against a wider van, but be careful with payload. I would want at an absolute minimum of 150kg per person plus an extra 20kg per person if bikes and rack are required . For 5 people you are pretty much restricted to a dinette layout to get 5 belted seats.
 
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Motorhomes are typically for (older) couples, possibly with a pet, for touring Europe.
Campers are for hippies (with, maybe, a child-in-arms).
Caravans are for families (and wrinklies who have not ventured into motorhomes), in the UK.

A growing family will need more space and caravans with awnings provide that in abundance.
Think hard about it and consider the differences between motorhome and caravan. From what you said, I think you should get a caravan. They have many advantages over motorhomes, especially for use in the UK.

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When our kids were small the caravan was brilliant, and it worked very well ... sometimes with Grandparents and kids in van and us in the awning! We sold it though when they were teenagers.
So now, with one at uni and the other a teenager we have been looking again. The camper suits best for the roads we want to travel (Highlands and Islands) but we ultimately decided we need more space and luxury (toilet privacy) so have ordered a PVC.
Where PVCs fall down for you is number of belted seats. I wonder if a caravan may give you the space, flexibility and payload you need at this stage.
 
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