New to it all- HELP please

[Slimjan]

Hi Everyone In life, there come moments which you just cannot let go by without grabbing it by the ears, looking it in the eyes and saying “I am going to do this!” And here I am today asking you to take part in one of these adventures, even though it is somewhat personal. I have “recently” immigrated to marry my (British) wife just before she gave birth to our twin boys. I started a new life, with a new career in a very new industry (Virtual Reality) and worked the hours, travelled the distance and and and… Early this year, just before meltdown, I stepped out of my job and decided that decent time with my family, especially at this crucial stage, is more important than money. My wife and I have therefore decided that a 5-month trip through Europe with a MH would help us mend our lost time together. Now, the daunting task of getting it all in place in a very short space of time is on hand, and I thought what better way to get it done than asking tips from the experts (that will be you guys!) Last night I stumbled across this forum and, I have to say after reading some of the subjects discussed, felt that you have a very good understanding of Motor Homing. If you could spare me the time to share your experiences, then my gratitude will be more than you can imagine! (even more so after this dramatic introduction) Background We have decided that the purchase of the right MH is the main priority. Our Budget is up to £25K for the MH. I have given notice to leave our rented property on 8 June 2006, thus we need to have the MH at least two weeks before then, MOT, Tax etc done, to allow us to test it for faults (god forbid). The boys are just over 2 years old and we though that a 6 birth would be best for the length of time we want to spend in it. We though that a fixed bed in the back will help with the boys afternoon- nap and a garage (a must?) for plenty of storage and ,of course, a separate shower. We planned that if we can get a good MH from the ML (mainland), it could pay for the trip or part of it when we sell shortly after the trip, even if we have to go over the budget slightly. But if a suitable MH can be sought from the UK, then we would definitely consider. Now for the questions: Buying the Motor Home 1. Is it better to buy a UK or Mainland MH? 2. I believe that France, Germany and Italy are the best to buy from, is this true and can you advise where to look at? 3. Which models are the best to buy for this price? 4. I was told that non- British models would be best in our circumstances, do you agree? 5. Will a left-hand drive be difficult to sell in the UK on our return? 6. What major adjustments should be done on the chassis and MH- unit when travel through the Mainland? (gas conversions etc) 7. Which chassis and engines would be best for a 6 birth? 8. If the MH does not have AC, would Webasto be the best AC manufacturer for this time of the year in places like Spain and the French South Coast or is there a better alternative? 9. What is acceptable mileage for MHs? I’ve been told that 100k in the UK is the “deadline” (in South Africa we drive cars until they cannot be mended) 10. I was told that a 6 year MH is “getting on a bit”, is this true? 11. Can one recover VAT or how does this work? (I have read the piece on the 6000 miles and 6 months issue, but I was hoping to find how and where to claim this from and how long it will take, please) 12. Does the “model numbers” of the MHs describe something, i.e. Dethleffs Fiat A6970 Esprit, is the A6970 of any “value”/ description? a. If so, is this “description” different from UK to Mainland or country-to-country? 13. How much more beneficial will a solar panel be over the 5 month period and what size should be sufficient for a 6 birth? ( I know it’s a vague question and needs more detail, but if you could generalised please) 14. What are the major points to look at where power consumption is related? 15. How long will the MOT, taxing and registration take and what deadline should I give myself to have a MH from the mainland purchased, if that was what we decide to do? 16. Will a garaged MH have that much more space than a MH without a garage? 17. How does the flush system of various WCs work and which types can be recommended? 18. Is it advisable to have an additional small fridge- freezer in the garage if the MH only has a small fridge- freezer? 19. Where can I found out about costs for ferries and is there a preferred place to set off from the UK shores? 20. We were thinking of taking our PC instead of a TV to play DVDs and copy all the photos from the camera to a “onboard storage” facility. Will the PC take too much energy? 21. Silly question, but can someone please point me into the right direction to cleaning products and also advise me on what types we would need? (I just read through this and realised that I might crash a server somewhere if I don’t end this shortly) As I have mentioned earlier, there might be loads more questions like Certificate of Conformity, which campsites are best and damp tests on the MH, but it seems like I have already asked too much. I sincerely don’t hope that I have overstep the boundaries with this mammoth request, but all suggestion will help us a great deal (“every little helps”). Many thanks Christiaan & Sally :$

[caradoc]

Hi from an expat South African (thoroughly English for years now, though) I wasn't sure how long you've been in the UK and what you actually know about licencing / taxing vehicles / MOTs etc. Forgive me if you've been here for ages and know it all, but these are quite alien concepts to South Africans recently arrived here and perhaps a bit longwinded to go through here, but you're welcome to email me on laurie.durandATtiscali.co.uk (replace AT with @ - just trying to prevent spambots!). Ensure your chosen vehicle has a full MOT - you may otherwise be buying an expensive lemon. An MOT takes under an hour, but if the vehicle fails you may be looking at expensive and lengthy repairs, depending on parts availability, before you pass the MOT. Reputable dealers will sell vehicles with MOTS on them of 9-12 months. You will generally have to pay the tax disc yourself - £170 a year. You will have to insure the motorhome before driving it legally. Try specialist insureres like Safeguard, who also include breakdown recovery in their policy. Budget about £300-£400 for such insurance. You are certainly not going to get a new motorhome for your budget, especially the size you are looking at. The other issue is your licence entitlement - if you have exchanged your licence for a UK one, you will probably find you do NOT have entitlement to drive a biggish vehicle, and that you can only drive category B (up to 3500kg) if you had a normal licence. If, of course, you had a HGV licence, there is no problem. You will require C1 or better entitlement to drive a vehicle over 3500kg. Check the DVLA'S website for details - if you are still using your South African licence, remember it is only valid here for up to a year and then you must exchange it for a UK one. Luckily, it is one of the very few licences from the rest of the world that is fully acceptable in the UK, with the exception that the entitlement to drive up to 10 tons on a normal car licence is certainly not the case here. This will make a very big difference to your choice of motorhomes, as you certainly do not want to purchase one which you may not legally drive! If you have a UK licence, check the reverse of the photocard - this will give your entitlement classes of vehicle, a bit like the new SA licences. Be careful when selecting used motorhomes. Buy a good magazine like MMM and read it through. Phone some of the dealers who advertise in your area, or a big national like Brownhills to make enquiries. Unless you are very clued-up mechanically, stick to reputable specialist motorhome dealerships rather than private sales or small non-specialist garages that took a motorhome in as part-exchange. Ensure that whatever motorhome you acquire has had a full mechanical and habitation service - gas, electricity and water in a small space can be dangerous unless correctly and carefully maintained. You also do not want an unreliable vehicle which will strand you in unfamiliar surroundings with your small children. Vehicles in the UK have a very short "shelflife" compared with Africa - secondhand cars for instance don't generally carry great value compared to new prices. Motorhomes are similar although to a lesser extent. They are extremely expensive to buy new - and even a six year old could be around the 25K mark depending on what you buy. the 100 000 mile mark generally signals a much lower purchase price for any vehicle - although I would personally prefer an impeccably maintained 100 000 miler to a poorly maintained 30 000 miler. You are not going to make a mint on any resale, particularly if you buy at around 80 - 90 000 miles and go over the 100 yourself before selling on. If you buy right, you may recoup most of your purchase price - remember, a vehicle is not an appreciating asset!! You could also consider joining the Caravan Club (I avoid the competition Camping and Caravanning Club due to the President's diatribe against 4X4s, which I drive ) as their advice and info are invaluable both for the UK and Europe. Left hand drive vehicles have a much lower resale value in the UK than the RHD equivalent generally. Be careful not to go for relatively inexpensive LHD American type RV behemoths as their sheer size will limit your travels both in the UK and Europe, unless you want to tour the motorways and sleep in carparks! Route 66 equivalents don't really exist in the UK and Europe. Also, you will invariably require some form of HGV licence to drive them legally. You might want to consider towing a small car to make yourself more mobile with your little ones in the small towns and lanes of the UK and Europe, but thereby hangs a long story which you may not be interested in anyway, nor have a budget for , or the time to research and arrange. Those are some pointers, without getting too much into your specifics, I'm afraid - I'd be happy to email you as per above details if you prefer. We have purchased a nearly new Autosleeper Ravenna but we are only two adults, no children, and the cost is way above your 25K. However, medium size coachbuilts like the Ravenna are readily available in older versions around that price, and represent the biggest you can legally drive on a B entitlement. If you have B plus E towing entitlement, you could tow a small car, but B alone will deprive you of even this unless you use the tiny Aixam as your car - under the 750kg limit, I gather the only one on the market, but excessively priced and not really suitable for a family your size. I am sure some of the other very experienced folk will respond once they have returned from their Peterborough visit......

[Mel E]

You will find a lot of help in answer to your questions in: 1. The supplement to May's MMM 2. John Wickersham's Motorhome Users Manual.

[Clive]

Waffle time! Most motorhomes, certainly UK ones do not cover a lot of mileage. (Unless it once belonged to Don Madge!). Most new motorhomes are purchased with grey money, that's people spending their kids inheritance! Most motorhomes are lovingly cosseted . So providing you see what you want, the providence is genuine (one old lady owner), mileage typical (5K per year is not uncommon) and its passed a damp test you have a good starting point. Bargains can be found from couples or individuals who are down sizing for personal reasons. Have a good look underneath for paint, cleanliness and not a chassis backed full of caked on mud or rust. Lay on you back and slide underneath for a good look. Look at the design of the body and roof especially for non reliance on mastic for water repulsion. e.g. Autosleepers have a 1 piece GRP body so its prety difficult to get water in the body joins as there ain't any. Autotrail coach builts have a GRP roof that wraps well round the sides and these are prety good as well. Others may also but I haven,t looked. If you buy something like ours which we still think is nearly new (9 year old Autotrail Scout) expect to replace the tyres as these may have bags of tread on but are most likely a year older than the motorhome. (No, Arthur is NOT for sale) You need to be a crafty handyman to tour for 6 months as stupid little things are bound to go wrong. Van electrics may need a poke or two. I carry lots of tools, bulbs, multi-meter, cordless drill, various tapes, cable ties, nuts bolts jubilee clips, solder soldering iron, hacksaw file etc. But for your money a nice 6 berth with a garage (Garages were very rare in European vans until about the last 5 years) will be about 1997 vintage I guess. The contentious bit now, chassis types. Older Fiat / Peugeot / Sevel gearboxes are renown for 5th gear problems. But this range are the most prolific as they are front wheel drive and lowest cost. Renault make better front wheel drive base vehicles. Of late Ford Transits are available with either. VW based motorhomes are well respected. Rear wheel drive. Mercedes Sprinter based vans are tops in my book (1997 vintage don,t forget) rear wheel drive with a world wide service support network which is beyond reproach. Something you may put towards the top of your priority list for a long tour. Bulk gas tanks are usefull for a long european stay as many filling stations can fill you up with LPG as well as fuel. RHD will fetch more money in the UK than LHD. Buy where you plan to sell the MH. Many people are suspicuous of grey imports. But then again it depends on the price asked. Expect a second hand mainland motorhome to have covered more miles than a UK one of the same age. Its a bigger country! Aircon - The most popular is probably Dometic but are you sure you need this? For a long stay you need a MH with a gas convector heater like Truma or Carver. These do not flatten batteries as they need consume no amps when running. Do not get a one with a diesel heater as these flatten batteries in a few days. Solar panels - Will never save you money. But if you have lots of area (80 watt panel minimum) they can keep up with battery requirements in summer in Europe if you are economical. But if you go on sites with mains hookup there is no point in spending hundreds of pounds on solar panels. You get what you pay for be it UK of mainland European manufacture. Expect to pay over the odds for Hymer. Expect some good bargains on second hand American motorhomes with gas guzzling huge engines if you can afford to run them. The smallest Yank I looked at was based on a Ford Econoline 6.8 litre petrol lump. Is that an oxymoron? But most important DON'T RUSH or you have totally missed the point! Good luck

[Slimjan]

Dear Mel and Clive Many thanks for the very needed information! I took your advise, Mel, and have the magazine and manual in possesion. Tons of useful information indeed. Clive, your reply will help us (and I bet also alot of newcomers) definately in a hugely way with decisions on the MM. (I like you mission statment at the end of your letter) We will sure be in communication again, but seen at the missus and I had another untimely fallout this week, I will have to make my exit for now... Christiaan

[Clive]

You cannot run away so far in a Motohome, Walkabout is the alternative!! Good luck and happy grovelling C.