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new to motorcaravans


Annie

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Posted
Hi, and wellcome to the forum, if I was you I would try posting this on Motorhome Matters I am sure you will have more people looking at the post and able to help, Good luck with it. Carol.
Posted

Annie:

 

Hopefully you won't take this amiss, but, if you are brand new to motorcaravanning, you would be best advised to get some general background information before actively entering the purchasing arena.

 

I strongly recommend John Wickersham's latest book, the "Motorcaravanning Handbook", that is intended for people who are considering acquiring a motorhome for the first time. It's widely available, but here's a link to one supplier:

 

http://www.vicarious-shop.co.uk/category.php?c_id=1

 

The main thing when buying any motorhome, whether new or second-hand, is that its physical condition is of major importance. This is vital with an older model, where there may be maladies with the mechanical side of the vehicle and/or serious degradation of the 'caravan' part.

 

A 1992-built Pilote motorhome may be in excellent order and provide good inexpensive service for many future years, or it may be a damp-ridden nightmare that would cost a small fortune to put right. I'm trying really hard not to be negative and I certainly don't want to put you off motorcaravanning, but I'm sure that anyone considering buying a 16-year old car would be extremely careful to check out its condition thoroughly before parting with their cash. 16-year old motorhomes (other than probably having covered a lower mileage and commanding an asking-price much higher than a similar age car) are just as potentially problem-prone - in fact, because of being a vehicle/caravan mixture, probably more so.

 

I'm sure that, if you read John's book, you'll be better able to decide a) whether a Pilote 800 would be a good choice of motorhome for your requirements and b) that the one you have your eye on is the right one to buy.

Posted

I completely agree with Carol and Derek.

I started a year ago and although I thought I did extensive research, I now realise how clueless I really was.

I also suggest reading this Forum top to bottom on all subjects. There is so much free advice there based on experience which no book could provide.

You will see things you had'nt thought about and it will, hopefully stop you buying a vehicle which dosnt suit.

Apart from the book mentioned, I recommend "Go Motorhoming - Europe" available from the same shop. Even if you do not intend to leave the UK, there is a lot of good advice in this book.

Good luck.

Herri

 

Posted
Hi Annie and welcome. Agree with whats been said, but if you really have your mind set on this Pilote then please take someone qualified to give honest and sound advice. Might be a bargain, but so much that could be wrong with a van of this age.
Posted
Hi, Thanks Derek.Hymer,Herri and Howie for your advice, i will buy that book. my husband and i cannot agree which to buy a motorhome or a caravan. we had a caravan a few years ago sold it when the kids left home,the cost puts him off a motorhome, but i think it would suit us more then a caravan.what do you think? thanks Annie
Posted

Logically, Annie, I think a car + caravan will make better sense for most people most of the time (particularly when it comes to the financial aspect) - but my wife and I would rather have a motorhome and we've never seriously considered the caravan alternative.

 

It's a difficult question to try to answer, but you might want to click on the following links to earlier discussions on the subject:

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=10212&posts=23

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=9364&posts=40

Posted
Hi Annie, there are different reasons for a motorcaravan/caravan one of the things I would say if you have children I would personally go for a caravan as that way you have transport to take them around and about, and there would probably be more room in a caravan for children, but if it is just the two of you then a Motorhome every time for me, you can up and go in no time not a lot of fiddly setting up, you always have water on board. like the threads above there is a lot of information out there make sure what you want for your leisure then go from there. Carol,
Posted
Hi Anne have you ever thouht about hiring one out to see if you like it first i know it isnt cheap to hire but think of the lose if it didnt suit

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