UK Built Motorhomes

It's been discussed quite often on here Catherine, we've had two good UK vans which we bought because they suited us not because of anything else. It's really up to you on the layout you want, whether you want door openings uk side, kitchen equipment, type of van engine etc etc. You also need to look at weights, lengths and what you get as you move up or down the size scale. Our present van is based on a Mercedes sprinter, it's an automatic and apart from one or two niggles with the lay out (I really don't like the swing wall shower) we've been happy with it. 

Happy van hunting if you decide to go ahead.

Catherine, if you download a UK manufacturer's brochure and the Hymer brochures, you will see where the difference is. The content emphasis is different and reflects the design and build preferences of the manufacturers and the market in which they primarily operate. If you want to dream, download the Niesmann & Bischoff brochure and see what you get for your pot of gold.

What is build quality for you is not necessarily the same for others. Quite a lot of good design or poor design is hidden. Looking at the brochures and crawling over the van will help you decide what is quality at your price point.

The UK no longer makes A-classes so because space is a premium for me, I will never buy a UK built van until they do. Oh, and none of my three German vans had/have damp issues in 17 years which is the first requirement for me on build quality.

The other factor for me is the relationship between the manufacturer, dealer, and me as a customer. Sometimes dealing with a european manufacturer is difficult for the dealer/customer, some european manufacturers only stay in the UK market when it is buoyant, and manuals are not always in English.

Catherine, have you considered going along to a motorhome show and having a good look at all the models on display. For us it also gave us chance to talk to other owners, rather than just sales staff.

catherine, before we get into another long thread about the general and specific differences between MH from the continent and thise from the uk, i was interested in your comment..."I do have a preference for UK Motorhome layouts, primarily because it seems I can get one that is closer to a caravan with long lounge seats"...

have a really good think about WHY you are 'drawn back' to MHs...yes, they can look impressive at a show, or on a forecourt, but it is the different style of usage that will (should) be the biggest influencer...and with this, it will be the fact that you wont have a car (yes they can be towed but thats a different matter...)...

so, have a really good think about your recent touring and try to imagine   what this would have been like without a car...

your immediate reaction would likely be 'disaster' but MHers tent to do things differently than caravanners without a car...

again, describing much of this different style would take a little time but, perhaps later in the thread some MHers can illustrate that some things are even easier with a MH when touring...

so, good luck, think hard....its a different kind of mindset...not just a diferent vehicle.

Good post BBoy glad you "understand"

just to add, you currently have a TA caravan which probably ships at close to 8m....large lounge, fixed bed(s), rear washroom....

MHs add another 1.5m to accommodate engine/dashboard etc, so to get something similar in internal size youre looking at 9-9.5m which (for many) is pretty impactical...driving, parking, pitching....

so, the next big size influencer will be fixed bed, or not?

this will add (or take away) 1.5-2m....

some manufacturers have managed to squeeze in twin singles or even island beds into a 6.5m van but these will not allow for a spacious, sprawling lounge..

OTOH, if you're happy to make up the beds and share them. with the seating area, then both front and rear lounges could be big enough for your needs...include decent washroom facilities and this could be acheived in vans from 6-6.6m...

then you need to consider storage....your towcar provides ypu with a great place to 'chuck everything'....depending on layout, not quite so easy with a MH, especially if you are limited to 3.5t...this will also influence overall size....

vans with 'make up beds' tend to be smaller than fixed bed vans, but require decent storage for bedding, yet dont have the underbed storage that fixed beds have...

often, underbed storage is taken up with batteries, chargers, PSUs, heater etc...ok if you have space to spare but remember, everything that currently goes in the towcar will,need to be stored, plus the bedding if youre used to leaving it on a fixed bed.....

then, as part of the 'getting about' thing, you might think about bikes (or ebikes) and again these will need to be carried somehow....

so, not even touched on your 'quality' question yet but im guessing theres plenty to think about in helping you with your 'hankering'.

good luck...

In February's club mag they reviewed a swift MH and gave the quality of the build as 80%

Following on from a couple of points BB made, we found it helped clarify a lot of things when, away on our last holiday with the caravan, we imagined the scenario of being on each site with a MH and no car. We quickly realised we wouldn’t want to be pitched at each site for so long and that we would do our tripping around, shopping, eating out etc en route between sites.

We, too, prefer the layout of UK models for the very reasons you mentioned, Catherine. It is possible to find end lounge models, or parallel bunks/seating in vans of 6 to 6.5m but you will compromise greatly on space, particularly in the washroom department. It’s all a question of what is most important to you and my advice generally is, if in serious doubt - don’t. 

Layout and Bells and Whistles are generally in adverse proportion to build quality. 

It is the Buyer's choice.;  You pays your money and live with the consequences. 

Both our Motorhomes were British built as have been all our caravans. . They suited us just fine. But I was under no illusion that the build quality was such that I would not keep each for a very long time, as those who buy German made Hymers tend to do. 

K 

Apologies that was meant to read 70%