To buy or to build?

Pudsey Bear said:
I had already seen that thread and liked a few of the posts, but one of the reasons I can't deal with electrics is I have a the worst memory and forget the calculations required, and I'm terrible with names too, faces I remember and other visual things but anything in writing vanishes rapidly, Youtube is my saviour quite a lot.

I'll have a proper look later but it looks to be almost the same layout as our Kontiki and the Bessie E745s we had the first Bessie was the best of the three as the front sofa were straight not and L like the others so just a straight pull out for beds.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

We always wanted to try a Mohican but always out of our price range, one day Liz found one down i Mansfield at the Motorhome depot.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

This was without doubt the worst van we ever had, they had hidden a soft floor by putting a thick mat over it, dead sneaky so back it went and to be fair they did fix that, but a while later I started having engine problems, I had it into my local garage a few times and it just never got any better so I advertised it with a Turbo problem and sold it to a chap in Southampton, turned out after he'd stripped it all down the manifold was cracked out of site and it had broken the flange to the turbo, it had other problems in the hab too so I was well rid of that thing but I think I still made about £500 ish on it.
Click to expand...
I don't make money out of any vans I have had once factor in the time and materials spent. This is why I have never gone into the "build & sell" game, or bought and sold cars ever. I have only ever bought for myself to use, and how much I could make (or lose) on the deal when reselling has never been a consideration.

The Kontikis looked quite nice. Never looked at Bessacars. One absolute must for me was the overcab bed, rather than just overcab cupboards. It is this that lets you have nice roomy beds in a shorter package. When I go away on my own, I can leave the lounge area just as it is, but have a nice wide bed ready to use, complete with curtains to close off and even got a TV up there (fitted by original owner. Never actually used in TBH as use my tablet instead in bed)

The Autotrail Mohican is a great layout. I had a deposit on one before I bought my current Motorhome. There were a few things that needed fixing as part of the deal but it was proving very hard to sort out parts due to the covid lockdown situation so in the end decided to cancel the sale. Really liked the layout and the style of the Autotrails but couldn't find any other Mohicans that I really liked the look or sound of from the adverts.
I saw a Mercedes based one similar to the one you had but didn't really like the kitchen bit with the cupboard that sticks out with the pole support (they did away with that on a later restyle). The Mercedes based vans are a little odd as well in that you cannot swivel the drivers seats so you loose that extra bit of flexibility (I think it might be that out the factory the handbrake is too high to allow the swivel, but that is easily recified if you want to, and on my VW LT (same base as that Sprinter Mk1) I fitted swivelling seats to both passenger AND drivers seat, in fact without making any changes to the central handbrake)

Was advised that the Cheyenne 635 Model is the same layout as the Mohican, except for a few inches of each three sections (Lounge, Kitchen & Bathroom) to make a smaller lighter (3.5t) van, and went to look at one in Arbroath (remarkably local considering I wanted a very specific model of Motorhome) and the rest, as they say, is history.
Would I have been happier with the Mohican? The extra space could be good, but probably not needed (although it would have allowed more rooftop solar panels!), but the extra metre in length could have been restrictive and the greater weight means an absolute need for a C1 license (I have uprated the Cheyenne GVW so need the C1, but I can always derate it again if need be).
 
It was just a means to an end David, it meant we could actually afford to run one, I wasn't in a well paid Job, Liz had to pack up work, and I of course enjoyed the heck out of it as I had retired in 2009 so I was learning new skills and using them in and after the self build, I'd still be doing it but kneeling and bending are excruciating.

I'm just on page 7 of the tweaking thread and really enjoying your enjoyment of getting it how you like it, I seemed to do that in all our vans as it added value and more learning for me too apart from the sparky stuff I was competent even on gas fitting.

I went to your channel and subscribed I'll tune in at some point and maybe learn some more.
 
trevskoda said:
Just look neat with a all in one. (y)
Click to expand...
I tend to use the backplates as well if I am fitting those - but will still always recommend the CBE ones for MUCH greater flexibility.

You try finding a setup that lets you have multiple switches without taking up a load of wall space.
CBE on the other hand ... 4 switches in one neat block right next to the sockets (USB, 12V OR 240V)
1673950590668.png
 
Pudsey Bear said:
It was just a means to an end David, it meant we could actually afford to run one, I wasn't in a well paid Job, Liz had to pack up work, and I of course enjoyed the heck out of it as I had retired in 2009 so I was learning new skills and using them in and after the self build, I'd still be doing it but kneeling and bending are excruciating.

I'm just on page 7 of the tweaking thread and really enjoying your enjoyment of getting it how you like it, I seemed to do that in all our vans as it added value and more learning for me too apart from the sparky stuff I was competent even on gas fitting.

I went to your channel and subscribed I'll tune in at some point and maybe learn some more.
Click to expand...
I have stopped doing any work on any vans (excepting my own) from this year in fact (apart from a couple of jobs already agreed to last year but delayed due to various reasons) due to the aches and pains that come from it. Kudos to the OP who is thinking of a self-build at age 72, but not for me thanks!

One of the main reasons I did that thread was actually to show that you DON'T have to go down a self-build route to get a motorhome just how you would like it, you CAN find an existing base and adapt.
 
wildebus said:
I have stopped doing any work on any vans (excepting my own) from this year in fact (apart from a couple of jobs already agreed to last year but delayed due to various reasons) due to the aches and pains that come from it. Kudos to the OP who is thinking of a self-build at age 72, but not for me thanks!

One of the main reasons I did that thread was actually to show that you DON'T have to go down a self-build route to get a motorhome just how you would like it, you CAN find an existing base and adapt.
Click to expand...
Very true David, not all have the skills to do a job that doesn't devalue the van, you obviously being a sparky have within you the habit of tidiness when working (some do not of course) this also brings with it I imagine a tidy mind as a prerequisite to doing a good well thought out job, and this is evidenced buy the many pictures you have posted on work you have done.

I had no idea of your agedness, I had you 40/50 ish but bending, lifting and twisting all day will make an old man out of you eventually.
 
wildebus said:
I have stopped doing any work on any vans (excepting my own) from this year in fact (apart from a couple of jobs already agreed to last year but delayed due to various reasons) due to the aches and pains that come from it. Kudos to the OP who is thinking of a self-build at age 72, but not for me thanks!

One of the main reasons I did that thread was actually to show that you DON'T have to go down a self-build route to get a motorhome just how you would like it, you CAN find an existing base and adapt.
Click to expand...
One of the reasons for asking the question is I don't bend like I used to do and is it best to take on a compromise?
 
Bending would be a plus, as a lot will be kneeling and lifting stuff, up and down, it is quite physical work, I think looking for a self build or pre built van might be your best option.

Let us know your layout and we might find something for you, your approx location would help and save long journeys.


Oddly I just came across this folder for when I sold my self build, I had annotated it for a friend who wanted to build one but decided his idea was much less complete :D :D

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
 
I have done two conversions both with the help of a professional converter.
It took most of the summer to complete and sourcing s/h bits to keep the price down meant I lost a bit on the finish. the last one was in my early 70’s.
My current van was bought at a trade show. New, well finished, and most importantly Ready to Go.
It will also hold its price.
If you can afford it buy new, as the saying goes you can not take it with you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top