Moving from caravan to motorhome - advice please

Essgeebee replied on 11/10/2020 21:06

Essgeebee

Posted on 11/10/2020 21:06

My wife and I have had a caravan for 20 years. We will keep that but want a MH to enable us to take advantage of parking it outside our home instead of fifteen miles away in storage. We can then keep it ready, stocked and do quick getaways for days away or 2-4 day trips, maybe longer to maintain our sanity during the Covid crisis. We're busy looking for a decent used MH which we'll use for six months then make up our mind whether a new MH is for us and which type would suit best.

I'd appreciate any and all advice on selecting a used MH, how to avoid making some of the basic mistakes when using it and suggestions about where - and where not - to pitch away from sites/CLs (aka wildcamping). There's just the two of us (and two wee dogs), retired but fit, living in the south-west. We'd want something comfortable but not too big as we live down a narrow country lane.

Thanks in advance.

16 replies

Essgeebee replied on 18/10/2020 21:45

Member

Essgeebee

Caravanner

Posted on 18/10/2020 21:45

Thanks to everyone who replied and for your sage advice. Decision made, and it was not what we initially expected. Mrs Essgeebee has always had a tendency to remark on something essential she has spotted on the caravan or (now) motorhome that is just a bit beyond our planned spend. During dealer visits this week, this repeated so that we moved from the low-to-modestly priced used stock to the much more expensive, almost new units. However, we both agree we got the motorhome we want, we feel we got a very good deal and are delighted with it. We take possession of it in about three weeks time after which we will find out, in the fullness of time, whether that view holds.

cyberyacht replied on 19/10/2020 08:07

Member

cyberyacht

Motorhomer

Posted on 19/10/2020 08:07

Don't keep us all guessing. What did you get?

Doug n San replied on 08/11/2020 15:08

Member

Doug n San

Posted on 08/11/2020 15:08

The best advice I can offer a some one new to motor-homing is don’t by a Swift unless you are planing to sell it again (quickly)

The running gear will not be the problem, its the pitiful poor quality of the domestic build, doors, hinges, light fittings, exterior fittings, roof leaking and many more.

1 person likes this

LLM replied on 08/11/2020 15:17

LLM

Motorhomer

Posted on 08/11/2020 15:17

The best advice I can offer is if you do not intend to tour abroad or even want to do the majority in the UK then stick to a C/Van. If on the other hand you want to go over the channel then a MH is an excellent choice. Also don't buy British. By comparison the build quality of continentals is far superior.

rayjsj replied on 14/11/2020 14:09

Member

rayjsj

Motorhomer

Posted on 14/11/2020 14:09

Disagree with LLM regarding quality, you can get dud continental M/Hs just as easy, and UK touring, my advice go for a PVC with a 'usable' shower, that way you can avoid Site facilities, no matter how often they are cleaned you are still taking a chance IMHO. We did it this year visiting 7 sites on a Scotland tour, using our own shower only.

Quality, I would go for smallish British Manufacturer like Wildax, Vantage ,IH or Shire, they are well built and you get better personal service. Expensive new, but reasonable second hand.