Which type of motor home do I buy to survive winter with no burst pipes

[osprey63]

Dear motor homers, I retire in April 2018.
My house will be sold and I'm buying a motor home to live in full time until I find my next house.
My question is which motor home do I need to survive the winter with out pipes freezing up ?
I intend to spend about 20k.
Regards Colin

 

[obanvanman]

Take a look at the EuraMobil that is for sale in the forum classified ads. (not getting any commission, honest).
We have got its big brother and have been living in it for a couple of years.

 

[TerryL]

you've just spent the best value £15 in your life!

Start by downloading Jims excellent book, Guide to Buying a Motorhome - free to full members in the Resources section - dark blue band above.

After that, ask away and remember, although most questions have already been answered somewhere on the Forum, there's no such thing as a stupid question (despite some of the "odd" replies you might get.) This is Motorhome FUN.

 

[Mickey1]

Mickey.

 

[cliffanger]

Hymer all the way (but we would say they wouldn't we ...) welcome too!

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[maz]

Dear motor homers, I retire in April 2018.
My house will be sold and I'm buying a motor home to live in full time until I find my next house.
My question is which motor home do I need to survive the winter with out pipes freezing up ?
I intend to spend about 20k.
Regards Colin

Hi and welcome to the Fun.

In answer to your question, I would suggest a German or French van. These are generally fully winterised with good levels of insulation, and pipes and tanks all onboard and within a double floor. I've full timed for over 6 years in the UK in a Hobby 750 and before that a Burstner.

 

[funflair]

I could say as long as it has wheels you can always drive it to someplace warm.

Yes Hymers are OK but anything with tanks and pipe work inside the box should be fine especially if you are living in and using it.

Martin

 

[JackieP]

I have an old Hymer. It's not fully winterised but it still does a grand job in the winter.

My husband and I spent a whole winter in southern Germany. it was one of the most amazing but challenging trips we've ever done. The temperatures were regularly minus zero - once minus 18. We quickly learned to keep the grey waste tap open with a bucket underneath. Every day the pipes froze. We were on a campsite with electricity and had an electric fire going day and night and we had a small window of opportunity around 4pm every day when the pipes defrosted enough to get some water out before they all froze up again. Happy times.

Anyway - the point of my ramblings is that although temperatures of minus 18 isn't something you'd actually seek out (unless you're us), they didn't do any harm to the van, or the pipes, or its inhabitants.

Here's the nature pure - freezing up one afternoon just as I was trying to fill the kettle!

 

[Flamenca]

Welcome. A pre-1997 Hymer for me anyday

 

[Boringfrog]

.

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[Vanman]

An indoor one?

 

[DL42846]

I am presuming you will be spending the winter in the UK. With UK winter temperatures I think most MH will be survivable as long as you keep the heating going. Things you will have to watch out for are things like. If the inside temperature drops below 4c the safety system will dump all your on board water. If I was in your situation I would be looking for a good build MH like Hymers. Some of the budget makes have poor fittings like door catches, cupboard and door hinges etc which fall apart. You will also have to give some consideration to habitation battery power and solar panels to keep your batteries charged up unless you plan on being on electrical hook up.
Good luck with your venture.

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[EuroTrotters]

Eura Mobil With double floor - Arctic Circle -21c no frozen pipes
Frankia Double floor -17 Pyrenees FROZEN PIPES
La Strada Single floor - 12c - Austria - no Frozen pipes
Hymer single floor - only managed - 7c so far. But waste is outside...........

 

[rickwiggans]

One thing to bear in mind (we ski for two months each year, using only aires) is that you also need to consider where you are going to get water. Most (but not all) outside supplies are turned off in winter. Also, if off grid, as we always are, and you are going to keep your water system full, you will need to keep your heating on. So, consider your gas supplies. Also, the length of time you are at low temperatures has an influence. The longer you stay in one spot, the colder your pipes will get, unless you keep your heating off. But, if you stay hooked up, then it shouldn't be a problem. As posted above, continental built vans tend to be better insulated than British vans - presumably because of the main markets they target.

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[The Wino]

Look at the thread on here for an older hymer for sale looks about right for your price range.

 

[Mel]

Welcome to Fun
If you have a C1 licence
There is a very nice Hymer for sale on here
@John & Joan

But you beter be qucik it wont be for sale long IMO

 

[ambulancekidd]