What Motorhome is best?

Dun Cruising

Guest
Good morning everyone,

We are new members and this is my first post and what I would like to know is what motorhome do you think is the best for our purposes, we would like 2 single fixed beds and a seperate bathroom and bedroom. We are hoping soon to get the right motorhome for us and the first so we would love any advice you might have to prevent us making a very costly mistake.

Also any advice at all the a novice motorhome owner might find helpful.

Thank you so much.

Paul and Angela
 
Think you need to give a bit more guidance in your question. Two big questions you need to decide on are rough price range and rough size of vehicle. Only then could anyone help you.

On your question people could advise £3000 on a very old Bongo small van to a £200,000 new Concorde.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.

You need to make a list of what is important for you. Then you can go out and find a motorhome which is hopefully as close as possible matching your list. There is no "best" motorhome. You will always have to make small sacrifices. If you are lucky you will find something which ticks 80% of your requirement.

My thoughts:
2 single beds in rear = LENGTH. Usually these types of motorhomes are a little longer. Are you confident driving a 7meter long van?
2 single beds in rear also have no garage, so if you like us have a scooter to get round you need to strap it on the rear of the motorhome. (whatch out for max rear axle load)

Engine size is important as well. Bigger is better but not always (depends on age of vehicle)

If you don't mind me asking, why to single beds?
 
Hiring a motorhome would probably help as that way you would be able to determine what you need and don't need from a motorhome, the more home comforts you can do without would help on the size of vehicle, and how long are you going to be away at any one time
 
Teutone is not quite correct in saying single beds are not available a garage the Burstner Travel Van 620 has this layout.

Travel Van
 
outtolunch said:
Teutone is not quite correct in saying single beds are not available a garage the Burstner Travel Van 620 has this layout.

Travel Van
Click to expand...

I stand corrected!

Another option would be an island bed. Easy to get in out each side. Some have a nice bathroom behind.
Or I have seen single beds with the bathroom behind traverse at the rear of the Motorhome.
 
I would agree with Helen262 hiring would give you a far better idea of what you do or don't want. In reality it never seems to be what you think is important actually is.
 
It all comes down to what you want to compromise on (as with all vans), you can get want you want at 6m long, but IMO the smallest practical size van is a globecar 636SB like ours, from there on you can get bigger vans with more internal size to suit whatever you desire.
 
colinmd said:
It all comes down to what you want to compromise on (as with all vans), you can get want you want at 6m long, but IMO the smallest practical size van is a globecar 636SB like ours, from there on you can get bigger vans with more internal size to suit whatever you desire.
Click to expand...
We have recently acquired a Buerstner motorhome, we visited as many motorhome dealers as we could in our area to help us decide what was the right amount of room, the most convenient layout, and the level of equipment on the base vehicle and in the habitation area. It took us a long time but we got what we wanted eventually.
 
Thanks for your advice

phillybarbour said:
Think you need to give a bit more guidance in your question. Two big questions you need to decide on are rough price range and rough size of vehicle. Only then could anyone help you.

On your question people could advise £3000 on a very old Bongo small van to a £200,000 new Concorde.
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you for your advice, you make a really good point and going forward I shall make an effort to be clearer in my requests.

Yes the budget is an important point and one that takes a high priority, for example we were looking to purchase a Swift Bolero 714 SB, it seems perfect for our needs, however, hubbie in his wisdom (geniune) has decided that a second hand motorhome would be our best bet enabling us to see exactly what we need in a motorhome, so this opens up the second hand market with the favourable tax benefit associated with not buying new are available to us, then when we know more perhaps we can look at a new motorhome, who knows we may well fall in love with the second hand motorhome and keep it forever.

Current favourites are second hand Swift Bolero 714 sb (rare as rocking horse manuer), Savannah (not quite the layout we need) or an Autotrail Cheyenne 740 S (2008) which appear to have all we need.

Any way I appreciate so much you taking the time to respond to my posting and thank you for your thoughtfulness and courtesy.

Angela
 
Thanks for your rsponse

Teutone said:
Hi and welcome to the forum.

You need to make a list of what is important for you. Then you can go out and find a motorhome which is hopefully as close as possible matching your list. There is no "best" motorhome. You will always have to make small sacrifices. If you are lucky you will find something which ticks 80% of your requirement.

My thoughts:
2 single beds in rear = LENGTH. Usually these types of motorhomes are a little longer. Are you confident driving a 7meter long van?
2 single beds in rear also have no garage, so if you like us have a scooter to get round you need to strap it on the rear of the motorhome. (whatch out for max rear axle load)

Engine size is important as well. Bigger is better but not always (depends on age of vehicle)

If you don't mind me asking, why to single beds?
Click to expand...


Hi and thank you for your response

As to the required single beds, I am disabled and a restless sleeper, if hubbie and I shared a bed he would get very little sleep, also the thought of him climbing over me during the night in the dark is very worrying.

Hubbie will be doing most of the driving, indeed to start with as my C1 driving entitlement was ommitted when my licence was renewed due to my disability and I am currently going through the process of getting that back.

We are hiring a motorhome in September and hope that this will reassure us both that we will enjoy driving the vehicle although is it smaller under 3.5 weight.

Also in September there is a Motorhome Show at the Lincolnshire show ground and we intend going and perhaps identify those motorhomes that best fit our needs.

New or second hand? Hubbie in his wisdom (genuine) has decided on a second hand motorhome for lots of really good reasons, not least that we really do not know enough to enable us to select the best motorhome for ourselves and buying second hand means it is not a disaster if we get the wrong one, after all a new motorhome comes with a significant amount of VAT which will be written off for second hand value.

So far we have identified these second hand motorhomes that suit our needs, the Swift Bolero 714 sb, the Autotrail Savannah and the Autotrail Cheyenne 740s. Of these the Swift Bolero 714 sb appears to be a very rare secondhand motorhome.

Any way thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my posting, your reply was very useful. If you think of anything else that my help us, then please let us know.

Once again thank you

Angela
 
Thank you for your response

helen262 said:
Hiring a motorhome would probably help as that way you would be able to determine what you need and don't need from a motorhome, the more home comforts you can do without would help on the size of vehicle, and how long are you going to be away at any one time
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you for your response.

Yes you are so right and to this end we have hired a motor home in September just for a few days to see how the life style suits us and what it is like to drive something larger than a car, I have driven horse boxes in the past, however, that was a long time ago so it will be good to see if I am still comfortable driving something bigger. Hubbie has already driven a Swift motorhome and found it much easier than he expected so all good there (I hope).

We have decided on a second hand motorhome because all advice points us in that direction, we are novices and as such will make mistakes in chosing which motorhome best suits our needs and so it will not be such a disaster if we have to sell and get another motorhome.

Right now we are considering a Swift Bolero 714 sb (very rare second hand), an Autotrail Savannah or an Autotrail Cheyanne 740 S (2008).

If you have any more advice or ideas please get in touch, we appreciate your time and courtesy in responding so much.

Angela
 
Thank you for your response

outtolunch said:
Teutone is not quite correct in saying single beds are not available a garage the Burstner Travel Van 620 has this layout.

Travel Van
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you for your response,

I have just taken a quick look at the Burstener Travel Van 620 and it looks good, however, unfortunately it is not suitable for me as I am disabled and the steps up to the beds would cause a bit of a challenge, however, I do so appreciate you taking the time to make such a good suggestion and I am wondering if you could explain why the garage facility is considered to be such a benefit. I understand that it may be useful for storeage and perhaps to place a small scooter in, and I am wondering what most people use it for?

Once again thank you so much for your response, we appreciate you taking the time to help.
 
Thank you for your response

Teutone said:
I stand corrected!

Another option would be an island bed. Easy to get in out each side. Some have a nice bathroom behind.
Or I have seen single beds with the bathroom behind traverse at the rear of the Motorhome.
Click to expand...

Again thank you so much, I think your response confirms that there are just too many choices available and it is all too much to get around so your help and advice is very useful, so a great big thank you. I hope we get it right!!!!!
 
Thank you for your response

ScamperVan said:
Our Hymer has 2 single beds and garage and is 6.57m long.

Some ideas - Buy Used motorhomes - HYMER
Click to expand...

Just taken a quick look at the link you sent and it seems to be in German which, unfortunately, I do not understand, however, I have taken a look at Brownhills website as they have one for sale and although it looks beautiful and just what we would want the drawback is the steps up to the bed as I am disabled and would find them to be a challenge, especially if I needed to get up in the night.

Any way I cannot thank you enough for taking the time and such care to help, we really appreciate this and if you have any other ideas or advice we would be so greatful to recieve it.

Angela
 
T

Fazerloz said:
I would agree with Helen262 hiring would give you a far better idea of what you do or don't want. In reality it never seems to be what you think is important actually is.
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you so much for your response and I am pleased to report we are hiring a motorhome in September which hopefully will give us the opportunity to get a clearer idea of what we need and if, indeed, the life style suits us.

I really cannot thank you enough for your response and advice, if you think of anything else that would help please let us know, we really appreciate your time and courtesy in responding, thank you so much.

Angela
 
Thank you for your response

colinmd said:
It all comes down to what you want to compromise on (as with all vans), you can get want you want at 6m long, but IMO the smallest practical size van is a globecar 636SB like ours, from there on you can get bigger vans with more internal size to suit whatever you desire.
Click to expand...

Gosh what a fabulous motorhome, looks absolutely wonderful and so practical and stylish, unfortunately (and please don't let him know I said this) hubbie would never get into the washroom!!!!!! Dam and Blast (excuse me).

Thank you so much for your help and advice, I really appreciate the time you have taken to respond and I absolutely love your motorhome it would suit me down to the ground, never mind.

Once again thank you so much and if you think of anything else please let me know.

Angela
 
Thank you for your response

saxonborg said:
We have recently acquired a Buerstner motorhome, we visited as many motorhome dealers as we could in our area to help us decide what was the right amount of room, the most convenient layout, and the level of equipment on the base vehicle and in the habitation area. It took us a long time but we got what we wanted eventually.
Click to expand...

Hi and thank you so much for your response, it gives me hope, I think the most pressing matter is the (mistaken) belief that the motorhome for us is finite and if we find one that matches our needs we should purchase it before it is snapped up by someone else, this creates a pressure that gets in the way of making the right choice. You mention that you took your time to get the right motorhome for you, how did you manage this, how did you deal with the need to get one right away and where did you get your patience from????

I have taken a look at the buerstner website and the motorhomes look fabulous, you must be so pleased that you have your motorhome and getting out and about in it, another point, how often do you get out and about????

Gosh thank you so much for responding to my post, we really appreciate the time you have taken to give us some much needed support and if you can think of anything else that would help us we would be so greatful.

Angela
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top