What do you recommend

[Dutch2012]

Hello there

Long time reader first time contributor. After selling our 69 lowlight westy bay on having twins we have decided to step back into the market. Looking for a van that is winterised as we will be going skiing in it and using all year round. ideal would be bunk beds at the rear for the twins now aged three. Large garage would be ideal. I've seen the hymer C524. Do these come winterised as standard? What other options are out there if not rear bunk beds our compromise would be 2 singles at the rear so that we can put the kids to sleep on an evening and we can stay up in the living area. Our budget is £16000-£32000. Left or right hand drive. I take it prices drop in winter and is there any benefit from np buying from Germany still with the exchange rate so good at the minute?

Thanks

Marc

[Billggski]

You will get a number of personal preferences, just keep an open mind. Most will recommend German models.

I assume you will want an overcab double so that the kids can sleep and then you can socialise in the centre before retiring. I've just put my Dethleffs A5881 on the market, as my wife wants a fixed double. I found this set up very good for winter use.

 

[Dutch2012]

Billggski - 2015-08-04 9:36 PM

 

You will get a number of personal preferences, just keep an open mind. Most will recommend German models.

I assume you will want an overcab double so that the kids can sleep and then you can socialise in the centre before retiring. I've just put my Dethleffs A5881 on the market, as my wife wants a fixed double. I found this set up very good for winter use.

Thank you for your reply Bill. Yes it would be an overhead bed for us to sleep in.

 

[yoko8pups]

I think Hymer C524GTs are fully winterised. there is a transverse storage area which can easily take skis as well as a big garage. It has a double floor all the way underneath for water and waste water.There is a layout with an Lshaped dining area and captains chairs which swivel giving you a much bigger living area. It is a great layout for us

[yoko8pups]

I think Hymer C524GTs are fully winterised. there is a transverse storage area which can easily take skis as well as a big garage. It has a double floor all the way underneath for water and waste water.There is a layout with an Lshaped dining area and captains chairs which swivel giving you a much bigger living area. It is a great layout for us

Hymer interior.docx

[yoko8pups]

Sorry, struggling to upload the file, you can open, save and open with MOffice Word

[RogerC]

Try google search for Eura Mobil.  Can't comment if all in the range will be suitable but the ones we looked at would sleep 6 comfortably and were winterised in the real meaning of the term.

[Dutch2012]

Thanks for your comments so far! It's really broadening my search criteria now!,,,,

[Brian Kirby]

I think you will have to look at continental made vans to get winterisation sufficient for skiing. For this I would be looking at heated double floors with all tanks and service runs in the floor void, and probably a wet heating system in preference to blown air. I therefore think you will have to look at the higher-end vans, mainly A class (to eliminate the high heat losses through the retained standard cabs of coachbuilts), and to be very selective over specifications. This will inevitably knock a larger hole in your budget, or land you with older vans.

 

Carthago, Hymer, Niesman, Burstner, and Dethleffs I know produce vans that can be more fully winterised (but not necessarily all models), usually by adding a "winter" pack or similar that includes enhanced heating, often an Alde wet system. Finding the right used van at the right price, with the right options selected by the original owner, will not be easy, meaning you will probably have to be quite flexible in what you look at vis-a-vis brand and layout.

 

The largest motorhome market in Europe is Germany, so a good place to begin to look because it will offer the greatest choice. Have you discovered Mobile.de? http://tinyurl.com/6ap65zo It has a quite intelligent search facility that should help you track down what you want.

 

At present Sterling is high relative to the Euro, meaning that you should gain from generally lower prices if buying in Germany, so your budget would go further there than here.

[Brock]

UK specifications are different to Continental specifications so you need to check them depending on where you buy.

 

For what it is worth, the 2005 UK brochure said the Hymer C-Class GT was the only version to have a double floor and a heated waste tank. The heated waste tank was optional on the Classic and C-Class. No mention is made for the fresh water tanks so I wonder whether they were in an internal locker with internal plumbing.

 

The Classic version should be avoided. It was the out of date model produced by Hymer based on the previous model. Decent value for money when new though. The C-Class was the new model and a good van whereas the GT model gives some extras such as the double floor which you'll need. Looks like you'll need the GT to go skiing unless the specification changed after 2005 or was different on the Continent.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Joe90]

RE: What do you recommend

 

A Rapido. ;-)

[Dutch2012]

Hello Brian.

Thanks for your reply and advice. I discovered mobile.de the other day while researching and it does seem to carry a lot of vans. Definitely keeping my eye on that website. I had an inclining that for what I wanted I would have to compromise and if I need to buy an older A class with a fixed end bed or two singles I will do.

[Dutch2012]

Brock - 2015-08-05 1:55 PM

 

UK specifications are different to Continental specifications so you need to check them depending on where you buy.

 

For what it is worth, the 2005 UK brochure said the Hymer C-Class GT was the only version to have a double floor and a heated waste tank. The heated waste tank was optional on the Classic and C-Class. No mention is made for the fresh water tanks so I wonder whether they were in an internal locker with internal plumbing.

 

The Classic version should be avoided. It was the out of date model produced by Hymer based on the previous model. Decent value for money when new though. The C-Class was the new model and a good van whereas the GT model gives some extras such as the double floor which you'll need. Looks like you'll need the GT to go skiing unless the specification changed after 2005 or was different on the Continent.

 

 

 

Thanks John. It seems to me that the majority of UK models are for sunshine trips and very few are set up for winter, I will have a look at the GT but it's looking more like an A class now????

Marc

[flicka]

Eura-Mobil also do double floor "winterised" vans in either Coachbuilt overcabs or "A" Class

[Dutch2012]

Soooo

Been a year since I last posted and in that time the (wife's) desire for an extension won over my desire for the M/H but alas we are now in the market. We took all the advice on board and will probably be looking at a Eura Mobil 675 with bunk beds as it gives us the living space we want with the winterisation for skiing. Anyone read Sunday times last week? The quote for a weeks skiing in Feb half term was between £3500 and £6000. I've priced it up in a M\h for the same week including ski passes diesel and pitch fees, £1400.

[flyboyprowler]

Whatever you decide on, do make sure that you have enough payload available to take all your family. your ski stuff, and clothing, and of course catering. Payload is my bug bear, and most vans don't have enough!! So sorry to be a killjoy, but in my mind this is really important. I assume that you may be on a restriction of 3500 kgs, and that will further restrict your choice. That said, best of luck with the search!

Ainsley

[Charles]

flyboyprowler - 2016-09-24 9:01 PM

 

Whatever you decide on, do make sure that you have enough payload available to take all your family. your ski stuff, and clothing, and of course catering. Payload is my bug bear, and most vans don't have enough!! So sorry to be a killjoy, but in my mind this is really important. I assume that you may be on a restriction of 3500 kgs, and that will further restrict your choice. That said, best of luck with the search!

Ainsley

 

So true, we have a 600kg ish payload and really glad we chose our van now.

[John52]

flyboyprowler - 2016-09-24 9:01 PM

 

Whatever you decide on, do make sure that you have enough payload available to take all your family. your ski stuff, and clothing, and of course catering. Payload is my bug bear, and most vans don't have enough!! So sorry to be a killjoy, but in my mind this is really important. I assume that you may be on a restriction of 3500 kgs, and that will further restrict your choice. That said, best of luck with the search!

Ainsley

 

Have you ever been weighed in a roadside check?

I still don't know anyone who has with a motorhome. Mine looks like a commercial van from the outside. I have been pulled in for Goods Vehicle checks at roadside weighbridge, but when I opened the side door and they looked inside they said 'Oh its a motorhome, we don't weigh those'. They sent me away without weighing, even though I was right next to their weighbridge.

[Derek Uzzell]

UK procedures won’t automatically apply abroad

 

http://tinyurl.com/jdnde2n

 

 

[flyboyprowler]

John52 - 2016-09-25 9:08 AM

 

flyboyprowler - 2016-09-24 9:01 PM

 

Whatever you decide on, do make sure that you have enough payload available to take all your family. your ski stuff, and clothing, and of course catering. Payload is my bug bear, and most vans don't have enough!! So sorry to be a killjoy, but in my mind this is really important. I assume that you may be on a restriction of 3500 kgs, and that will further restrict your choice. That said, best of luck with the search!

Ainsley

 

Have you ever been weighed in a roadside check?

I still don't know anyone who has with a motorhome. Mine looks like a commercial van from the outside. I have been pulled in for Goods Vehicle checks at roadside weighbridge, but when I opened the side door and they looked inside they said 'Oh its a motorhome, we don't weigh those'. They sent me away without weighing, even though I was right next to their weighbridge.

 

Personally no, but others, in both Spain and Germany yes. As I understand it, in the unfortunate event of an accident, involving a motorhome, the vehicle would be weighed, and if over weight the insurance would be invalid, and in the event of a spot check, won't be allowed to move until stuff is taken off till it's under weight, and a large fine given. That said, there is, I believe a 5% tolerance when the vehicle is weighed.

[John52]

flyboyprowler - 2016-09-25 10:17 AM

Personally no, but others, in both Spain and Germany yes. As I understand it, in the unfortunate event of an accident, involving a motorhome, the vehicle would be weighed, and if over weight the insurance would be invalid, and in the event of a spot check, won't be allowed to move until stuff is taken off till it's under weight, and a large fine given. That said, there is, I believe a 5% tolerance when the vehicle is weighed.

 

Never heard anyone who has been weighed themselves with a motorhome , only those who have heard or read of others being weighed, which is the only indication I have of the chances of it happening.

As for insurance, they can put what conditions they like on Comprehensive, but they can't get out of third party liability, even if you lie on the proposal form, because thats regulated by law.