bigtree Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Hi, I have been searching for my ideal motorhome for a while now and have narrowed it down to a few models,wants are a garage large enough to house a motorbike,good payload and a decent size lounge area.Models I have looked at are Hymer and Frankia,what I'am wondering is is a 2003 model a bit old at an asking price of around £50k. Any advice would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Hi, I should say so. You can buy a 2008/2009 for that price. A 2006 S820 should only cost you in the middle 40's. Do a lot of research. First set your upper price limit. Then decide on the layouts. Then google the models and see what they cost. I see Motorlands at Preston have a nice Hymer B700 (mercedes) 2004 @ £35,000 Ned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtree Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 It's something like that i would like but looks a bit small in the lounge,I had something bigger in mind between 8-8.5 metres,Mercedes based tandem axle.I want one of the top end types like a Concorde,Frankia or the like that will stand up to long term use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 If you check out Autotrader you will find well over 100 Hymers this will give you a good guide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I doubt you'll find a tandem axle on the Mercchassis asits rear wheel drive. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 I'd buy something much smaller and cheaper if I were you;-)......... or hire something to get a better idea of what will suit you....... Lookings fine, but living in one for a week or two will make all the difference between what you think you want and what you need:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Check carefully. The "garage" may be large enough for a 'bike, but many have weight restrictions that would prevent heavier bikes being carried, especially if other gear is to travel in the garage as well. I agree with Dave that you are very unlikely to find a tag axle Merc, though I would also, on a van of that size and weight, steer away from a front wheel drive chassis. Look at Mercedes, Iveco, MAN etc. Two wheels doing the steering as well as the pulling, ie towing a tandem axle rear, always looks wrong to me. I know they exist, and I know many users find them satisfactory, but that depends, in large measure, where you might go, and how you might travel. If all you'll do is cruise the autoroutes en route to Spain for the winter, or similar, fine. However, if you may go elsewhere and think traction may become important at some point, I think I'd go for rear wheel drive on a large, heavy, van with a 'bike in the back. Traction where the weight is, seems the best maxim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Dave Newell - 2011-11-27 6:45 PM I doubt you'll find a tandem axle on the Mercchassis asits rear wheel drive. D. It is possible nowadays to purchase a Mercedes-based motorhome with twin rear-axles, but not with a £50k budget. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ePtxYJ5SU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtree Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 Maybe I have got it wrong between a tag axle and a tandem axle and maybe someone on here can correct me,I was under the impression that a tag was 2 pairs of wheels and tandem is 4 on the one axle.I do know the difference between front wheel drive and rear wheel drive that is why I want a Mercedes based vehicle with whatever you all think tandem/tag is.I have camped,caravanned for 30 plus years so I'am not new to touring.I currently have a Volkswagen T5 caravelle exec. that I use to carry my bike a gear in and have toured from Scotland to the Algarve and Italy and everything in between.All I was asking was do you think some of the prices some people are asking for second hand motorhomes were a bit high,that would include the B starline 700 and the Concorde that are advertised on here? I want opinions from genuine motorhomers on here instead of dealers that will tell you,yes you can stick a 200kg bike in the garage no probs or put it on a rack at the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Now we have more info;-) you will get a more accurate response I'd of thought, although I think twin wheel Merc's are like gold dust:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtree Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 What I'am talking about is something like this on fleabay, 270861361490 but with the big garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Does it have to be a Merc? There are motorhomes on Ford Transits with twin/tandem (4 wheels on one axle) rear wheel drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtree Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 I want an A class rear wheel drive,preferably manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Just a few options from a quick search on fleabay, to give an indication of what you can get for what money. Twin rear wheel Mercedes Hymer S820 (2003) choice of 2 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=Hymer+S820+ Single rear wheel Mecedes Rapido (2005) £34,900 Single rear wheel Mecedes Pilote Explorateur ( 2005) £31,750 LHD Single rear wheel Mecedes Rapido 997M (2007) £52,000 Or have you considered a Twin rear wheel Coachbuilt (2006) £28,995 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-RIMOR-SUPERBRIG-747-TC-MOTORHOME-MERCEDES-416-CDI-6-BERTH-/140645764127?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item20bf240c1f Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtree Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 Hi, Thanks for the links, I have trawled most sites and narrowed it down to certain models and have been in touch with a few sellers.The Merc. tandem seems to have a good payload and is favoured by experienced tourers against fiat/iveco's. What I want to get an idea of is what would you pay for a top end 8 metre 6 ton GVW motorhome that is not one of the latest models? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Derek Uzzell - 2011-11-27 7:22 PM It is possible nowadays to purchase a Mercedes-based motorhome with twin rear-axles, but not with a £50k budget. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ePtxYJ5SU Probably a daft question..but which are the "drive" axles on that then? :-S (..I would assume the front..but I didn't think Merc' did fwd?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 pepe63 - 2011-11-28 8:34 AM Derek Uzzell - 2011-11-27 7:22 PM It is possible nowadays to purchase a Mercedes-based motorhome with twin rear-axles, but not with a £50k budget. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ePtxYJ5SU Probably a daft question..but which are the "drive" axles on that then? :-S (..I would assume the front..but I didn't think Merc' did fwd?). Mercedes Sprinter-based motorhomes have traditionally been rear-wheel drive using a standard Mercedes chassis with live rear axle. A year or two back an Al-Ko chassis was produced for the Sprinter that was significantly lower than standard and with independent rear-suspension. Some photos on: http://becc.easyforum.fr/t10850-photos-de-chassis-mercedes-nus More recently a lengthened variation of that Al-Ko chassis was made available (initially only to the Pilote Group) that added a 2nd UNPOWERED axle (ie. a genuine 'tag axle') behind the original powered rear axle. Both rear axles have full air suspension. There's a drawing here: http://www.campingnorge.no/sprinter-bobilchassis-med-3-aksler.html There seems to be some confusion about motorhome rear-axle definition. A rear axle with two wheels on each end is normally known as a 'twinned-wheel axle'. More than one rear-axle produces a 'tandem axle' configuration. A 'tag axle' is an unpowered rear axle on a RWD vehicle. However, the term 'tag axle' is widely (and inaccurately) used throughout the motorhome trade to describe Fiat-based FWD motorhomes with an Al-Ko chassis and tandem unpowered rear axles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 bigtree - 2011-11-27 10:37 PM Hi, Thanks for the links, I have trawled most sites and narrowed it down to certain models and have been in touch with a few sellers.The Merc. tandem seems to have a good payload and is favoured by experienced tourers against fiat/iveco's. What I want to get an idea of is what would you pay for a top end 8 metre 6 ton GVW motorhome that is not one of the latest models? Your question is, in truth, pretty much unanswerable, which is probably why folk have answered on all the other points that surround it! What you are looking for is not that common. Smaller, more popular, vans are far easier to price. You can really only search the internet looking for vans that may meet your spec, which it seems you have already done, try to chart the results - in a spreadsheet or simply on graph paper - and see if you can find a reliable price guide in that way. However, "not one of the latest models" covers a multitude of sins. Year of registration has an obvious impact on resale price. But, beyond that, is choice of engine and transmission: so, two similar vans, if they were for sale in the same place at the same time, would have different "tickets" if one were a smaller engine with manual box and the other a coveted larger engine with an automatic box. Condition, inside and out, will obviously also have further impact on asking price. Internal furnishings etc, all bear on what someone thinks they should ask, which will invariably be more than they really think they can get. And, beyond all of that, is how badly they really need to sell it! I think the best approach will be to select dealers selling the sorts of vans you want, and select from these the ones with good reputations. Then, visit and browse. You will be unlikely to get exactly what you are looking for, so a degree of compromise will probably be necessary. Some things, such as internal soft furnishings, can be altered at not too great cost, so one that looks dowdy inside need not be disregarded. Try to check also that the reason for sale is not something radical, such as an engine inadequate for the MAM. People make expensive mistakes at all price levels! Buy nothing before you have driven it a realistic distance. You have not said where you are based. Others may be able to suggest good starting points if you do so. However, don't write off the likes of Concorde, Rapido, Pilote, Carthago, or Le Voyageur, all of whom build/have built on the Mercedes base. Good luck with your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 My Tag Axle Hymer 2003 reg is for sale on PRELOVED much cheaper than the price you are quoting, B694 G and we are open to offers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnerontheroad Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Hi, Have a look at this link this will give you an idea of most models you don't have to buy from germany but there is more choice over there. http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?scopeId=MH&lang=en Good luck Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Might also be worth considering vehicles from specialist builders like RS Motorhomes. Examples on: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RS-motorhome-eurocruiser-mx-carting-road-race-garage-GH-awning-/290636794887?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item43ab4d8c07#ht_1136wt_968 http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes/rs If size and carrying capacity are important criteria (and there's no interest in American RVs) then an Iveco-powered motorhome might be suitable and, possibly, a fair bit cheaper than an equivalent that was Mercedes-based. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Not an A-class, but might be worth considering if you get 'stuck' on finding what you really want: http://www.practicalmotorhome.com/review/motorhome/2006-lmc-liberty-start-ti-708g-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travellersx3 Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 we have a N & B Flair which may interest you, it's on the N & B forum but if you require further info then please pm me thanks lorraine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtree Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 Have edited my profile with my location which is not very central for viewing the majority of dealers or private sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnerontheroad Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 travellersx3 - 2011-11-28 7:50 PM we have a N & B Flair which may interest you, it's on the N & B forum but if you require further info then please pm me thanks lorraine A link to N+B site http://z8.invisionfree.com/N_and_B_Drivers_Club/index.php?showtopic=440 Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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