Guest Rod Bridgett Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 I am looking for a motorhome, but my needs are for a two berth home with plenty of floor space to move around in. From the vans I have seen, they all appear to be over specified, far to many cupboards huge cookers and fridges. These may be naive observations, but I would appreciate some guidance and recommendations of which motorhomes to look at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RonB Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Rod What are you going to use your motorhome for? For short term use you will not need all the mod-cons. However, for longer term use (such as 2-3 months overwintering somewhere)you will really appreciate space,comfort and good onboard facilities. Regards Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Docted Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Rod As Ron says the first thing to consider is what use you will be making of the van. Other points to consider include size, chassis and facilities you want to have on board. There are loads of vans out there but if none of these fit your bill what about converting a van yourself to yopur own spec or get one of the smaller converters to do one for you. Good luck Docted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Derek Uzzell Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 Rod: You need to provide the forum with a realistic idea of your budget and whether you anticipate buying new or second-hand. Otherwise trying to advise you will be like shooting blindfolded at a moving target. Size also matters if you plan to use the vehicle like a car or have any storage/parking constraints. You might find my Buyers Guide helpful - see 8 postings earlier (Free Buyers Guide) dated 28/01/2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bill Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 I totally agree that most motorhomes are wildly more complicated than they need to be, and therefore more expensive than they need to be. About 18 months ago I was in your position: totally bewildered by the choice on offer, and not knowing what I wanted. I decided to buy an old but good van on the basis that I could run it for a year, get some experience under my belt, then sell it for about what I paid for it, and buy what I really wanted. That still seems a good idea - provided of course that I really do get (most of) my money back when I come to sell - and I commend it to you. I am planning to do as Docted suggests, and get one of the specialist converters to do one for me. Ron-B is very right to ask what you intend to use it for. For example, if you want it to go to the Med in summer, you don't need a heater, but if your bundle is ski-ing in winter you don't need air-conditioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clive Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 You can always hire one for a week or two, not cheap but less costly than making an incorrect purchase initially. We have done two van conversions, VW Bay window and Bedford CF. Then we went for space and we converted a 29 seater coach. Then we were 4. Eventually (now we are two) we went downsizing (from the coach) and now have an Autotrail Scout coachbuilt on a Sprinter. Just enough room for HIS and HER spaces. We use ALL of the equipment. I have to admit that as time passes we continue to refine our escape vehicle and add little bits an bobs. Most Motorhomes do little mileage so bargains are there to be had on the used market. (there are some exceptions though) Condition and lack of damp are most important, especially if you are not a DIYer. Ensure that the vehicle has a full formal service history. Have a look at the dipstick for the colour and level of the oil. Check the radiator coolant level and colour. Remove the oil filler and make sure that you cannot see lots of whiteish emulsion on the underside of the cap and surrounds. Then if you are still tempted get it checked out by a professional. Spoil yourself. Oh yes, you need to be nuts as well, then you will blend in well with the rest of us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rod Bridgett Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 Thank you for all the replies, some good advice was offered and some basic questions were asked which will take some thought. I think for the first attempt we will hire a van, then look at the used market before buying new. As to use, I retire in 2006 (age 62) and we hope to try one or two month long trips in the UK. Then we want to venture abroad to Norway and perhaps Finland. This is pure fantasy at the moment, but I am gathering brochures and advice from experienced people like yourselves. I like the idea of a specialist conversion to suit individual tastes. Am I incorrect in believing that there are problems with the engine and gearbox of Fiat based homes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Docted Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 Rod The Fiat is currently the most commonly used base vehicle with much more sales to converters than any other. Thus problems with this base will tend to raise more publicity than those of other bases. To put your mind at rest speak to operators of the different types of vehicles, e.g. the Ambulance service tends to use much the same types of base vehicles. Motorhomes however are more prone to lack of use problems than overuse problems and most of the problems reported are down to this rather than manufacturing weaknesses. Good luck Docted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PeteC Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 Hi Rod - Bridget Been there & agree its quite a mine field You are wise to hire first. But rmember going for a weekend - or even a week: is totaly different from going 3 months + in spain or winter or Finlad for summer Also another thing to think about is where you may drive A large say over 20 ft(6M) gives more space but is somewhat large when going over the Alps or even going shopping Some manufacturers put smallish engines in which means that you will be underpowered Again at 70 you willneed a new license and have to take a medical if your van has a gross weight of OVER 3500kg (3.5 tonnes) We opted for a van conversion, which is narrow compared to a coachbuilt. However we have crossed from West coast of Portugal to East coast Spain & down through Italy through some narrow villages with no pavements and roads where you can meet timber lorries (The unspoiled country is great and worth the trip) Our 2.8 TDi has taken us over the Alps in 4th gear where reports from manufacturers have said they got UP TO 2nd gear We have a roof rack & box where we carry chairs and awning poles Another thing about Van conversions as opposed to coach built is that we have 1100kg payload (the amount of weight that we can add) as opposed to the 450kg or so for a coachbuilt We get 32+ mpg and cruise at about 60mph from choice Gibralter to Bilbao in 2 days The 6m means you get on the boats for the price of a car; except where height restrictions cost a bit more Contact trvelloger-info@yahoo.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bill Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 I agree with most of what has been said, but I am more than somewhat dubious that hiring for a fortnight or so will provide anything like enough experience. And I think to hire for 6 months would be prohibitively expensive (though I suppose you might be able to negotiate a keen price for a “long let”). Also, when you hire any maintenance requirements/issues are the hire-company’s problem. This is a thorny area. I have learned a lot from having my own that I would not have learned had I hired. I am interested that PeteC feels that a van conversion is best. I’ve come to the same conclusion myself, and have noticed that many experienced motorhomers have downsized from coachbuilt to hitop. There is much that I could tell you, but don’t want to post it on the Internet – I don’t want to be sued! My e-mail is wj_tomlinson@hotmail.com and I live in Godalming, Surrey. If you live anywhere near I’d be hapy to meet you for a pint and discuss these matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rod Bridgett Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 To those who have replied, thank you and to those who have provided email address I may get in touch. I think I will start with more specific questions. 1. Is there a legislative/industry/Defacto standard regarding insulation, e.g. Each van will have 25mm of insulation down to -10 degrees C and for each decrease in tempertaure of -5 degrees C a further 5mm of insulation is required. Would this apply to floor, walls and roof? 2. Do you need a four ring cooker or will two suffice? With this question I am trying to differentiate between needs and wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clive Posted February 2, 2005 Share Posted February 2, 2005 I have risen to the bait! Base vehicles. Yes the Sevel group are the most profilic and typically a coachbuilt on one of these front wheel drive bases will be £10,000 cheaper than a comparable vehicle on a Merc or VW which are rear wheel drive. Sevel engines have cam belts. Merc, VW and some of the new Transit engines have chain driven camshafts. You get what you pay for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David Wallace Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I'm very glad I found this site. You're asking and replying to the very questions I've been losing sleep over! Like Rod, this is our first venture into motorhomes. My main priority is space and the "al fresco" effect. That is, to open up the side door and bring in the view. I, too, had heard reports about the Fiat engine and appreciate the input given. Having done a limited amount of homework, our inclination at the moment is to take the plunge and buy new, but it does feel scarey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ja Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 we love the al fresco effect, which does limit your choice to camper vans rather than coachbuild. we had a 1.9td fiat, reliable solid boring now have vw 2.5 much more fun. but fiat do lend themselves to camper van conversions try visiting shows and chatting to existing owners before you take the plunge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rod Bridgett Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 To David Walace; I would be interested in the question you asked yourselves and if there were any surprises, good or bad, about your choice of van. I am leaning towards a hightop on a Mercedes base converted by a specialist. I have to sort out needs and wants first before I decide on the lay out. I favour bench seats, dismountable table, rear kitchen and ablutions; hopefully this will maximise floor space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brian Ramsden Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 Like Rod & Bridget, we are rtired, and our trips tend to last about three months. we started off in a hi-top, but we have now settled for a small coachbuilt (A/S Talisman). This has a reasonable payload (after the chssis was uprated to 3.5T). It is small enough to fit into a parking space and go down almost any country lane and yet has that little bit more living space than a hightop, which at our age we appreciate. Also, it has a large bed - this can be another problem in hightops. There is also plenty of storage space - no point in having a large payload if you can't use it without hanging things outside the van. Now if you could find a large hightop which was under the 2 metre width limit which you so frequently encounter, that would be worth looking at! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David Powell Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 I think you are now on the right track. One thing I would like to add to all the good collection off Forum knowledge that has been passed along is:- as you are thinking High Top, go for a van that is built as a high top, not one that has an added high top. The reason being a built high top has no joint around. The joint can cause several problems. One of them being that the side door is not full height, so banged heads can be a bit annoying, another is, if the fitted high top is GRP or similar material there have been problems fitting a 'wind out'awning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David Wallace Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 To Rod Bridgett Delay in answering your post due to lack of access to internet while in Devon, though this gave us an opportunity to revisit Murvi. Eventually placed an order for the Morello on a Fiat 2.8 diesel LWB. Although the Mercedes is a superior base we are already over budget, and reading various reports on the Fiat it sounds okay if not slightly noisy. For all the reasons you mentioned, movable bench seats, rear kitchen and ablutions, and maximum floor space, this hopefully is the van for us. Two other considerations that appeal are the lack of wooden décor (very popular, but for us rather ‘old hat’), and a decent sized bed as I’m 6’1”. The downside is that we have to wait until October/November for delivery. Would like to hear how you are progressing. David Wallace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rod Bridgett Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 To David Wallace, Thank you for the reply and yes, I would appreciate any information you can pass on. The lead time for your van seems to be rather excessive. Is this because of the specification or are they so popular that the waiting list is so long? Rod Bridgett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David Wallace Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 to Rod Bridgett Still housesitting in Devon. Having to use library services to access internet. I am assuming that the delay for our Murvi is high demand as our specifications are not unuaual. Still no regrets about purchase. My only concern is the driving position for my long body. Should be back on comp;uter soon. My email is davidwallace@walla.com. I'm exploring the feasibility of carrying a small two-seater scooter on the back. So far this looks promisiing. Have you any inp;ut on this? David Wallace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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