Beginner

ClubMemberD3AD619AE8 replied on 17/09/2023 19:12

Posted on 17/09/2023 19:12

Hi all. We are about to purchase our 1st motorhome. We want a 4 berth with a fixed bed up to 3500kg. We are looking towards getting either a Swift escape 664 or a Cl Carioca 694 about 10 years old. Any advise, opinions or tips would be welcome. Thanks

Tinwheeler replied on 17/09/2023 19:29

Posted on 17/09/2023 19:29

Check carefully the available payload as many 3500kg vans have insufficient payload to cope with 4 people and all their gear. Also, some 4 berths only have 2 belted travelling seats.

Btw, you can choose your own username in My Profile at the head of the page.

Dyddy replied on 18/09/2023 16:56

Posted on 18/09/2023 16:56

Plumping for a fixed double narrows your options of model choice but can see why it's appealing. Not all folks like the set up if one of you wants the loo during the night, can mean clambering & possibly waking the other. Having a full time bed made up can save a bit of a faff though. My suggestion would be write down a list of wants & prioritise them, there's always going to be compromises, but the last thing you want is to buy something that's great in theory but not what works in practice, even if renting a similar model helps you decide. The 664 is a great family van, a favourite of mine to, popular with hire companies so check for excessive wear & tear.

Many say a rule of thumb is go as small as you can live with, as parking up larger units may not be easy off sites.

A recent habitation check is a guide of the 'conversion' condition itself and regular history of these is an indicator of fastidious ownership. Base vehicle checks similar to any other vehicle: service history, HPi check, mechanical check, etc etc.

Many owners employ "agents" to sell units for them, a word of caution : Treat this exactly as you would a private sale in all respects, buying via an agent gives you no more protection in reality & often price is on par or more expensive than reputable dealers.

At this age a unit won't be Euro 6 so remember to factor in cost if you ever intend ULEZ zones.

December / January ish is a good time to cash purchase, both availability & price. But if you see something you love just go for it anytime.

Hope this is of some help from my own limited personal experiences, Happy Camping!

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