aultymer Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Well here I am at 4 in the morning, planning the rest of the years trips. Playing on my mind is the fact that this is our last year with " the van "! We have been as far as Venice and Berlin ( not in the same year ) and many points in between but I have little chance of keeping my over 3.5 ton entitlement come my 70 birthday. Any hints and tips re the best way and time to sell? It's an 07 year Rapido 999M if that helps. Thanks for any advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 There’s plenty of ‘selling a motorhome’ advice on-line https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=selling+motorhome&* http://www.exchangeandmart.co.uk/sell-a-caravan/selling-guide/part-exchange-or-private-sale but, to some extent, it’s going to depend on whether or not you eventually choose to continue motorcaravanning after you reach 70 and (assuming that you do) how you plan to obtain your next motorhome. For instance, if you were to buy your next motorhome through a dealership, trading in the Rapido should be a simple and hassle-free process. Alternatively, if you were to buy your next motorhome privately, you’d probably be best to sell the Rapido privately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aultymer Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 Thanks for that info, Derek. Up till now we hadn't thought about downsizing! That may well be the way to go - unfortunately we don't have many Rapido dealers up north and there is one at least that will never see me in the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 All you really need to do is "down-weight" as opposed to downsize. I guess that your van would have insufficient payload if reduced to 3.5 tonnes (only a paper exercise) but there is a huge range of vans with an MAM of 3.5 tonnes, with which you could continue motorhoming without needing medical examinations to maintain your licence. Also, if proposing to trade the Rapido, you should have no problem at any dealership, as Rapido is widely acknowledged as a relatively high quality manufacturer. So, you shouldn't need to stick to Rapido dealers for the change. More recent vans are tending to come in lighter, due to developments in construction, so reasonable payloads are available at 3.5 tonnes. However, you do need to check how the MIRO is being calculated, as a number of manufacturers are now calculating on the basis of a reduced "travelling" fresh water volume, some of which are quite low, sometimes rather buried in the specification "fine print". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Using a dealer has many advantages but there will always be a substantial cost involved - dealer are in business and they need to make a substantial profit on motorhome sales (as well as other activities) in order to pay all their business expenses (like salaries, business rates, cost of offering guarantees etc etc) and end up with a profit. Your motorhome will have a forecourt value of something approaching £30,000 and the dealer's margin on this sort of sale needs to be around £5,000. A dealer can get a better price than you can do with a private sale and if you let them sell on commission (i.e. they don't have to pay you before the MH is sold) they may settle for a much lower margin, perhaps £2,000 or so. The net proceeds to you (selling on commission and taking into account the higher price the dealer gets for your MH) might therefore be quite close to what you would get selling privately - and you will have been relieved of all the work and potential hassle of selling yourself. Shop around to see what the different dealers will offer in the way of a commission arrangement. Remove things like TVs and similar accessories, especially DIY installations, because dealers don't like having to guarantee those sort of items. Do the work of presenting your MH for sale yourself, so that the dealer sees it genuinely clean and ready for sale rather than full of your personal stuff because you are still using it. Consider approaching family firm dealerships which stock a variety of used MHs, such as Todds in Lostock Hall near Preston; they have a huge indoor showroom so your MH gets free garaging while it is being offered for sale. It doesn't matter is that's not close to you because you only have to take it to them once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Looking at an online review the 999M is standard 3500kg but only 260kg payload, hence the reason yours has the upgraded MAM, I suspect. 260kg would be inadequate IMO, but as Brian already posted,,there are various newer A classes that are within/at the 3500kg threshold & having a more usable payload Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 aultymer - 2017-03-20 12:25 PM Thanks for that info, Derek. Up till now we hadn't thought about downsizing! That may well be the way to go - unfortunately we don't have many Rapido dealers up north and there is one at least that will never see me in the door. Don't give up at 70! if you don't want to. We did not start MH until we where 70!, Gave up sailing , at 70. Still got Mh, though not sure for how much longer, and we both now in 80. s, and have health problems. Just down size to 3500. You don't have to buy new, just PEx your van for a smaller one. Look for a make and layout, you now you will like, as you have the experience, as to what will suit you. Good luck, let us know how you get on PJay If you are still capable of driving your large van, then a smaller one will be even easier, 70 is still young these days!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 We ran a 987M for a number of years at 3500k. The payload was minimal so we carried no unnecessary clutter, the enjoyment was the interior space, 2 large beds and the scenery we passed through. We simply adjusted to what was essential (very little) ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aultymer Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 All great comments, only trouble about downsizing is that Merc based vans are hard to find and I don't want a Fiat. Ours has the V6 engine and full auto box so had to be on the 3.8 plate. Having struggled to pass the treadmill test 4 years and many bottles of wine ago, I am certain I wouldn't pass now so it's not a case of me giving up so much as I will be forced to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Motorhome driving is not really catered for in the categories we use for driving licences in UK (and the EU of course) and we therefore get dealt with as an afterthought, forced into being pseudo-lorry drivers and, once we reach the age of 70, suddenly being subjected to Group Two driving medical standards, i.e. raising of standards, just because we want to continue drive a MH which is a few hundred kilos over the magic limit of 3500 kg. It's not what you would choose to prescribe for motorhome driving if you were doing it for its own sake; there would be no sudden hike of medical standards of this sort. But at the same time medical fitness to drive does become more uncertain and the age of 70 isn't a bad watershed at which to look more closely at each individual, as each individual gets older and more frail and vulnerable. There are a few differences in medical standards which can make an individual who has hitherto been fit to drive a 3,850 kg MH suddenly unfit, but not very many. For example if you have a visual field defect (eg blind spots in your vision) the HGV standards are less tolerant and you could suddenly become unfit to drive, simply because the rules had changed. The differences from age 70 are however mostly of needing more positive proof that you are OK to drive, so DVLA may require specialist medical testing, for example that your coronary heart disease does not make you too vulnerable to further, sudden heart problems. These are the same extra hurdles which HGV drivers have faced from when they first applied for an HGV licence and for which they have had to have annual medicals since age 45. So providing you are willing to undergo such extra medical testing as might be required (and spend the money on having these tests) you shouldn't necessarily suddenly lose your C1 licence entitlement. If you are already at high risk of sudden incapacitation, you probably shouldn't have been driving a MH anyway. And having the basic age 70 medical, to fill in form D4, is not expensive or complicated - and you can go to any doctor to tell him your story, and pay as little as £50. So why not give it a go, instead of giving up before you try? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bop Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 aultymer - 2017-03-20 3:59 AM Well here I am at 4 in the morning, planning the rest of the years trips. Playing on my mind is the fact that this is our last year with " the van "! We have been as far as Venice and Berlin ( not in the same year ) and many points in between but I have little chance of keeping my over 3.5 ton entitlement come my 70 birthday. Any hints and tips re the best way and time to sell? It's an 07 year Rapido 999M if that helps. Thanks for any advice. Don't be daft, you're just coming into your element at 70. Why not leave the missus behind and go solo. I'm cheeky aren't I. All the best, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I wonder if there will become a time when the implications of 70 affecting the Licence will be reviewed. As Governments seem intent on extending the Retirement Age & with the reported shortage of HGV drivers, maybe it's time they should begin to look, as the age point was introduced many years ago. Add in the costs to the NHS for the slightly older that could be saved by having a happy & adventurous 3rd age population, creating reductions in many common illnesses (stress, hypertension etc.) It could prove to be an interesting study to determine the feasibility of a two tier format, as longevity & lifestyles for moved so much further forward. Also the benefits for the economy & the individuals. Oh well I'll wake up to the real world now ;-) :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 flicka - 2017-03-22 10:43 PM I wonder if there will become a time when the implications of 70 affecting the Licence will be reviewed. As Governments seem intent on extending the Retirement Age & with the reported shortage of HGV drivers, maybe it's time they should begin to look, as the age point was introduced many years ago. Add in the costs to the NHS for the slightly older that could be saved by having a happy & adventurous 3rd age population, creating reductions in many common illnesses (stress, hypertension etc.) It could prove to be an interesting study to determine the feasibility of a two tier format, as longevity & lifestyles for moved so much further forward. Also the benefits for the economy & the individuals. Oh well I'll wake up to the real world now ;-) :-( Why? If you want to retain your C1 licence you need to pass a medical, you still have a choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 aultymer - 2017-03-21 8:00 AM All great comments, only trouble about downsizing is that Merc based vans are hard to find and I don't want a Fiat. Ours has the V6 engine and full auto box so had to be on the 3.8 plate. Having struggled to pass the treadmill test 4 years and many bottles of wine ago, I am certain I wouldn't pass now so it's not a case of me giving up so much as I will be forced to. But, do bear in mind that what is forcing you in that direction is the desire for a Merc based vehicle. Were you to relent on that, especially if you are prepared to compromise on the merits of an A class, there is a great variety of choices. Also, don't forget that if downsizing you could go for a PVC, and Sprinter PVC conversions (including automatics) are also available. The previous (now retired) editor of MMM had one until a couple of years back. Over the past 11 years we've had two Fiats and one Ford based coachbuilt motorhomes, and none have yet let us down. Bearing a that motorhome is a just truck with a posh body, I don't think Herr Benz has that much to offer that others don't, and he definitely charges a substantial premium for his product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I suggest the OP initially applies for a free NHS health check. That's what I did when approaching 70. No "treadmill" test involved, just general blood tests including blood pressure. They do a basic eye test but it's probably best to visit your optician. When I last changed vans I was keen to purchase one on a Mercedes chassis. However, that didn't happen and I ended up with a Fiat which has been very reliable and a pleasure to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aultymer Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 Thanks for all the comments guys. For clarification on a couple of points A few years ago I had my licence revoked because I was diagnosed as having mild sleep apnea. DVLA only deal in yes or no answers so slight is the same as severe! When I was certified as compliant with treatment it still took five months, an HGV medical and a treadmill test to get my licence back. The treadmill test was ordered and paid for by DVLA. On the test my heart rate came within about ten beats per minute of the point where the test is stopped and you fail. Having a retired GP in the house and a son working as a G P my medical advice is pretty good. On my desire to stick with Merc products I can only say that in spite of many people's good experience with Sevel vans I was utterly disgusted by the treatment of many during the scuttlegate and juddergate times. Having seen the anguish caused to one couple I know where it took almost two years and a lot of money to get the unusable vehicle rejected there is no way I could support those companies. It looks like we will be going from the A class to a PVC so parking will be easier and we can give up on our wee toad, and we won't carry so much junk! Many thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 flicka - 2017-03-22 10:43 PM reported shortage of HGV drivers, ( There are a lot of LGV (HGV) licence holders not driving lorries. If pay and conditions improved they could probably be enticed back. For instance people on here think parking a campervan overnight in England is difficult - they should try it with a 16m 44 tonne lorry carrying a valuble load and under the constraints of an electronic tachograph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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