reccomendations for next MH

solarman

Guest
i am thinking of upgrading to a proper MH soon but don't know which are the popular makes and models for a first buy.
Currently using a mk5 Transit based self converted camper which has servved us well,so would be looking for something slightly larger and roomy inside,well equipped and a popular layout,there will just be the missus and occasoinally the terrier.What reccomendations
do forum members advise and if possible price ranges,just to give me an idea whats out there to base my searches on,mny thanks,
Solarman.
PS ALSO which models that are easy to maintain and availability of parts and low running costs along with reliabilty are other factors
which are high on my priority thanks.
 
thanks *****,was thinking bout Hymers but never seen inside one yet!Is there any website where you can 'virtually look around' the different motorhomes for comparison or maybe just interior pics and info?
 
solarman said:
thanks *****,was thinking bout Hymers but never seen inside one yet!Is there any website where you can 'virtually look around' the different motorhomes for comparison or maybe just interior pics and info?
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When i was looking to buy mine, i went to Brownhills, not to buy but to look round the thousands of different types of MH's i dont know where abouts you live but i'm sure there is a dealer near you you could go do some tyre kicking, :lol-053:
 
thanks for suggestions,i'm based in manchester.Will do some ebaying and tyre kicking,plenty of time before i buy anything,
Solarman.:p
 
We have a Lunar Pinnacle based on a Transit base. Fixed bed long enough for my 6ft OH, onboard fresh and waste water, shower, loo, fridge, cooker with oven and big enough for the 2 of us with a 25kg border collie!! Now made by Homecar in Holland.
 
I would go with ***** on this one.
I would go for Hymer,Frankia,or euromobil personally.
This is because i am looking to buy one of these beasts for fulltiming in next year.
You cant beat a good german marque and well insulated.
You can easily find plenty of Hymers on e-bay i suppose it depends on how much you want to spend and what layout you want,the earlier mercs were best and hymers up to about 1998 also as the quality dipped a bit after then,we have a hymer b544 and love her to bits and will miss this van when we trade it in for another van,have thought about keeping the van and having 2:eek:
 
Oasis said:
We have a Lunar Pinnacle based on a Transit base. Fixed bed long enough for my 6ft OH, onboard fresh and waste water, shower, loo, fridge, cooker with oven and big enough for the 2 of us with a 25kg border collie!! Now made by Homecar in Holland.
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I am in love with these dogs and would love to fulltime with one but i wonder how a couple and one of these mad dogs would survive fulltiming together:lol-049:
 
Mine might be up for sale shortly Coolie. Ideal for the fulltimer. :dance:

One careful owner.........then I bought it. :lol-049:

I will give you a good deal on it. :wave:
 
maingate said:
Mine might be up for sale shortly Coolie. Ideal for the fulltimer. :dance:

One careful owner.........then I bought it. :lol-049:

I will give you a good deal on it. :wave:
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I can only imagine how those dogs have made it their own.

The magical smell of canine everywhere along with their hairs:lol-061:
 
Oasis said:
big enough for the 2 of us with a 25kg border collie!!
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Two of my collies weigh about that - combined! :lol-053:

I saw his picture on your profile, he is a handsome boy :D and lucky to be motorhoming :dance:
 
Impossible to say what van would suit you. Try looking at the Manchester show which is coming up soon. It's moved from GMEX Manchester Central to Event City Caravan Shows | Home I went last year at GMEX but it is going to be much bigger this year. My self build is based on the Hobby Van, and the Knauss Van layouts with swivel seat lounge, fixed bed and garage. This is the best way to maximise usable space in a reasonable size van. The British Layouts like the Auto Sleepers with bench seats down the middle, a rear Kitchen, and non integrated cab are wasteful of space. Sorry to say but all the German vans seem to have better design.
 
Hi you dont say what price range,as that will determine your range of vehicle,its no good looking at ' shows' unless you have 30,000 upwards to spend on one ?
Dont know for sure,but the newer the make the more complicated they are,and really impossible to work on without computers and the like,if like cars.Perhaps a pre 96 would be more suitable,maybe a coachbuilt 4 berth ? with shower/toilet etc
If your budget is under 10,000 which is still a fistfull of dollars,you should get a 95 yr model,maybe a pug or citreon,i have a TALBOT Autoquest 2 ltr,6 berth and its been brilliant and can be picked up quite cheap,if you look around,(£4000 to £10,000)same as the pug and citreon.
Owned it 8 years now from buying second hand of e*ay,its only played up once,and that was due to a dirty plastic fuel filter clogging,easy to work on,otherwise never let me down,and i've travelled all over Europe and at months at a time,as i lived in it
Take your time researching,then grab that bargain!
 
barnybg said:
Hi you dont say what price range,as that will determine your range of vehicle,its no good looking at ' shows' unless you have 30,000 upwards to spend on one ?
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The reason you go to shows is to get a wide appreciation of the different layouts in the flesh so you can decide in more comfort what would suit you. Then you can can then focus on a particular type in the second hand market.

So whether you are buying new, second hand, or doing a self build, shows can be very useful for ideas.
 
thanks for comments and suggestions,going try and look at some Hymers first and see if they are suitable for me.Don't want a computer engine just yet as i want an easy to maintain type of engine,
Solarman.
 
Hello
Think about how you will use it. We do a lot of European touring (25K in 2 years)
Newer vans are much more fuel efficient. You will be lucky to get 15MPG out of a big old A class and diesel is not getting any cheaper.

Blue Skies
 
solarman said:
thanks for comments and suggestions,going try and look at some Hymers first and see if they are suitable for me.Don't want a computer engine just yet as i want an easy to maintain type of engine,
Solarman.
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I have a 2.8 JTD and a MAM of 5 tonne and I am averaging 23 MPG. Very little of that are long motorway runs.

If you want to shoehorn everything into a small space, you will save on fuel. If you want a bit of space and comfort, that means extra weight. Thats motorhoming. :drive:
 
I have a non turbo Ducato based Hymer A class and we get between 30- 35 to the gallon out of it , depends how you drive really . :dance:
 
I have only had the one van which is a 1996 Swift Kontiki 640. Done thirty odd thousand miles in it since we got it in 2008. Luckily it worked out for us. I will list the Good points and then the bad points

Good Points.

Loads of space inside, comfy rear U Shaped lounge and front Dinette.
just under 3500KG but still good payload
Is able to take our rack and scooter
Most things on it that break can be repaired with a hammer, black tape and / or WD4. No fancy dials or electronics
Beds take seconds to make up and the rear one is massive and very comfy
Full oven
Good shower
Grade 3 insulated and winterised (ish) been down to -18c wilding with no problems. Gas fire is old carver and I think is nuclear powered. Cant leave it on all night even on low as i gets too hot. (that could be a bad point)

Bad Points

It must have had damp when we got it and had a leak in the Kitchen area and dinette which took us three years to discover (spongey walls). Part of the floor and sides were soft and we recently got all this replaced at a cost of £1400. I think most vans can suffer from this but I do hear that brit vans are the worst. Having said that I have also heard that the German Eura Mobils are known for it as well.

22 MPG is about our average. Then again I think everything I ever drove my entire life seems to do about that so it could just be me.

The side paneling GRP has a habit of yellowing. Not a problem just doesnt look shiney anymore which Mrs D doesnt like. I dont care.

We have had a few niggles with the engine which is a 2.5TD Peugeot Boxer but nothing you wouldnt get on any van really

Front wheel drive will get stuck on just one snow flake.


They are I think the longest running motorhome model in history (I stand to be corrected) which should say something (there are a lot of mugs around?) You will pick up an early 90's one for £10 - £12K I would have thought or a mid to late 90's for £15-£20K.

I might sell mine but we keep saying that and never do. I just dont think a big new shiney one would be any better to be honest.
 
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