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MOTOR HOME ADVICE, PLEASE

(11 Posts)
NotTooOld Sat 11-Apr-15 12:44:31

We are thinking of buying a second hand motor home this year. This is not something we have done before although we have owned narrow boats in the past. Two-berth would be large enough and we would ideally like a shower/loo compartment. Friends have told us that a caravan is better than a motor home as it can be left on site whilst you go off in the car. However, DH is against caravans as he says he has seen too many accidents caused by towing one and so doesn't fancy towing one himself.

Any advice on what to get, what to avoid - in fact, any advice would be good!

aggie Sat 11-Apr-15 13:13:28

My Children have had motor homes but one has now moved to towing caravans , and two of them have moved to tents confused
when they had Motor Homes they used bicycles to explore ........ how would DH feel about that , a friend has a big Motor Home and a motorbike to get around

NotTooOld Sat 11-Apr-15 13:23:24

Sorry about the capital letters. My DGD tells me that I am shouting.

NotTooOld Sat 11-Apr-15 13:26:04

Hi, aggie. DH wouldn't mind a bike but I would be less keen. Our plan would be to stay only a short time on each site and then to move on.

NotTooOld Sat 11-Apr-15 13:26:04

Hi, aggie. DH wouldn't mind a bike but I would be less keen. Our plan would be to stay only a short time on each site and then to move on.

merlotgran Sat 11-Apr-15 13:55:49

I'm dead enviousNTO but it's right about having to leave the site if you want to go out. Friends of ours changed to a caravan for that reason.

DH hates caravans because his parents had a nasty accident in the one they bought when they retired. It put him off completely.

I love the thought of being able to just jump in and go somewhere. We could take the dogs - no more expensive kennel fees but we really can't afford to run another vehicle now.....shame.

granjura Sat 11-Apr-15 14:09:58

NotTooOld, it is so tempting ins't it? But they are sooo expensive and depreciate so quickly too. My advice would be to rent one once or twice, perhaps different models. Renting is expensive, but in the long run- perhpa much cheaper than buying. We have 2 friends who bought (new, with pension lumpsum) used it a lot the first season then almost never again, and they had to pay for dry/safe storage on top too.

Wewill rent one this autumn from our local place in France. BTW- not sure if that exists in the UK, but they are an agency for motorhome owners, who use their van about 3 months a year and then rent through them the rest of the year and actually make a profit.

J52 Sat 11-Apr-15 14:22:11

I'd definitely try a rental first. We had a hankering to own one and test drove a second hand low mileage motor home.

To be fair it was an older model and was like driving a large van. Which after all that is what they are. It was very heavy and had no power steering!
Although it was beautifully equipped, shower room etc. it was not loaded with water or gas cylinder, which of course make them heavier.

If I was to buy one, I would go for the newest (and smallest) I could afford, with power steering. X

granjura Sat 11-Apr-15 15:24:55

Another idea would be to buy one and rent it privately to friends and family only if you don't like the idea of strangers using your holiday home. But make sure you have a water-tight contract and proper insurance in case of a mishap.

Lona Sat 11-Apr-15 15:38:44

It can be difficult to find parking places for a motorhome too if you want to visit somewhere during the day.

petra Sat 11-Apr-15 16:04:20

We have not long sold our Hymer 544. It all depends where and how you are going to use it. If you want to really travel, it has to be a Motohome.
We visited most countries in Europe, as far as Albania and Turkey.
We towed a Smart car behind because most of the time we would be wild camping. One thing to take into account is the cost of sites in the uk, not cheap.
One thing you might want to think about is: there are sites in Spain where you can leave the van for EU70 a month. All you have to do is get the cheap flights, and your off.