The hunt for a Camper Van or Motorhome
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- Опубліковано 10 бер 2024
- After being a tent camper for more than 60 years, and with retirement looming, I want to go touring the UK, Ireland and Europe, so either a camper van or motorhome is the way forward.
I've already had a quote to have a bespoke camper van built but I also wanted to have a look at what I could get for my money in a motorhome. So I headed down to Highbridge Caravan Centre, in Highbridge Somerset.
Here is what I found.
Let me know in the comments which you would prefer, camper van or motorhome, and why?
www.highbridgecaravans.co.uk/
We have a campervan with own loo & shower. We love our van 🚐 build quality & how you’re going to use it & therefore heat it, should definitely be up high on your list. Hope you find what you’re looking for. Em 💜
I'm a lucky man with my Swift Bessacarr Hi-Style 599. 14,000 miles, fixed double bed & all the gadgets 😁 Best of luck for your dream machine 👍🏻
Take a holiday to Spain. Visit many permanent camp van sites and you will find a lot of English campers for sale at half the costs. Some realy good vans for sale .
Looking at nice van’s, Chausson & AutoSleeper are my favourites. We had a Chausson 728eb Welvome for past 9yrs, we are downsizing now to a pannel van, but there are plenty narrow compact coachbuilt too.
I also like the Chausson mini suite, if I was upsizing in the future would consider that.
Try the Autosleeper Kingman, it has a fixed bed, full toilet & separate shower
Buying an older MH or van, be careful about emissions and Euro rating. You may find there are many places you can't go around UK and Europe. Best of luck finding what you like....
We thought that, but decided not to go Euro6. They have far more associated problems, plus buying add blue. We avoid cities anyway, but paying the odd fine is still cheaper than buying such a new van.
Westfalia VW Kepler One. Or Ford Nugget. Why they have built in Ceramic Cassette Toilets. They can be parked in normal car parking spaces, as well as drive down the French motorways at 80 mph. They should be able to access nearly every type of road that any car can. The pop up roofs pop up in reverse accessing the upper bunk with ease. You can shower inside the Kepler one if you wish. Another van you should have a look at would be the Wingham Oasis 540.
Wildax! We've had campervans and big coach builds plus an a class and the Wldax we have is perfect.
I hope you found the right van to meet your needs.
Thank you for this video! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’ve done a lot of rough and tent camping in western Canada.
I am presently enjoying spring in Canada. I have always dreamed of touring Europe so perhaps I will do so by watching your videos.
All the best!!
Thank you. Canada is my favourite place as I spent my early years growing up there. I’ve been back to Ontario a few times and been to Vancouver island. I’d like to do another trip to explore Newfoundland, Labrador & Quebec. Maybe one day.
But keep following as next year is when the European adventures get under way.
Some of the layouts can look great until you start using them. Friends of mine had a drop down bed in their motorhome, they sold it after a year or so as they had to crawl into bed from the bottom which isn''t very easy. French beds also mean one person has to crawl across to the wall side, and if they want to get up in the night, they have to climb over the other person - both look good, but aren't that practical, especially as you get older. Might be worth looking at some Burstners or similar that have the two singles in the rear over a large garage, they make up into a huge bed and have steps up, not a ladder or crawl along.
The good thing about single beds is you don't have to disturb your partner when getting out of bed in the night for the loo.
Also instead of getting out of your bed at home at the side try shuffling to the end for a week, then your know why double is a pain unless it's an island bed.
I like the Chausson models and haven’t seen this (kitchen) layout before … the bonus of having a bed that comes down is that your bed is already set up for night time / afternoon naps and then rises out of the way.
Be careful who you go with to convert your van. there's been some vids on UA-cam about bad wiring etc which were deemed to be deathtraps.
I converted my own panel van during covid. The thing we like best is that you can open the back doors for 180° views. Maybe something to consider with getting one done for you?
Best of luck with your search.
A bespoke panel conversion is still a possibility for me.
I’m going to look at more motorhomes & camper vans this Saturday, so watch this space.
Recommend Somerset Motorhomes just south of Taunton.
Have a look at the Auto Trail Imala 615 you may be pleasantly surprised,a double bed or two singles.
Have. A. Look. At. Lots. Of. Vans. They. Are. All. Different. A. Big. Good. Luck dave. And. Chriss. In. Spain.
I have a bunch of vans to look at tomorrow morning. But so far there are two front runners. What this space to see which way I go.
If your going to have grand kids travelling, then the most important thing is to have the main door on the
curb side of the van.... That would be my main consideration....
I looked at that x550 and the 650 ,,, they look great but and I find this on lots of french Van s ,,, I live in Brittany , the seats , bench seats are all really upright , you cannot relax on them , you have to sit bolt upright ! They do not put any angle on the back cushions , this makes them useless for most of the time unless you are eating or travelling ! Relaxing time is a big factor so please take this into consideration , the uk vans are far more comfortable ..
I looked at a 620 yesterday, and you will see this in my next video. And you’re right about the bench seat, but I guess it has to be that way when carrying passengers belted in. However, it appears that the back of the bench seat on the 620 can be reclined. But I don’t think this van is for me.
Btw, I’m going camping in Brittany in June.
@@theoutdoorlife4870 hope the bloody weather changes by then ? It’s been the most dismal winter here in Finistere ( apparently ! We were in Spain for 3 months in the camper lol ). Next year we will stay til April .. it’s not just the bench seats on most newer french vans it’s the side sofa too ,,, just unusable and a waste of space , we looked at all sorts here up to 75k and we are very camper savvy and know our needs but honestly not one , we had a bessacarr in the uk it was just great ,, miss it ,, any way I’ve found an older 22 k euro ,Hymer ,, mint , 45 k miles , one owner , a cc 544 over cab bed ( massive ) great living space light airy everything we need and comfy , only 6 m too , pick it up tomorrow yay ! Good luck again with your search ,,
Tents are doggie bags for bears lol. If they can not eat all of you the tent keeps you fresh so they can enjoy you later. Get a van and be safe!! For 40 grand these days you can get a 20-year-old used one. Camper vans in Canada start at 100 grand and go up to 400 grand.
Vans that are converted by small builders don't hold their value unfortunately, if you want a van that retains it's value then you are far better off buying one of the bigger makes.
Interesting walk round. We are looking to downsize from our Autotrail Apache to a panel van conversion. However we full time so need to consider carefully! Thanks for the information. Dave n Jo
Why do you want to down size?
@@theoutdoorlife4870just wondering if 7.4 metres is too long especially if we are wild camping. Still unsure at the moment
@@davidhall8745 Those thoughts are still in my head also. 7.2m is long and a converted LWB van would be easier for smaller roads & park ups etc.
@@theoutdoorlife4870 that is our thoughts too. Plus motorhomes are vulnerable to big damage from a minor bump. We know from experience!
Fiat Ducato clutch slave cylinder is inside the Gbox my friends just paid £1200 for engine removal to fit a new one on less miles on the one your looking at
Hi. Nice vid.
I've been subscribed to you since your Blyn Y Glyn Uchaf vid.
I went after you.
I've been on quite a lot since then.
Sounds good getting a camper or motorhome.
Looks like you getting camper.
I went in my cousin one in Oct to Ben nevis.
It's really good. It was converted by a garage, a former Rac van.
It's on one of my vids in Oct.
Not the best vid but might be worth a look.
All the best with your adventures.
Sounds really good.👋
Thanks for following me. There will be more adventures to come, but I’ve had some family things to take care of.
No worries.
It will be great travelling in a van.
Looking forward to seeing it.👍
Can’t get a chausson serviced for ages when something breaks. 3 months!
Unfortunately there is always a compromise in the van world 😢
Tell me about it. I just have to weigh up the pros and cons of each and make the best choice I can.
Enjoyed your video, don't you think motorhome/camper prices are utterly crazy these days!!!?
Bonkers prices. I could buy a low mileage but older Moho at about 2098/2010 for around £30k, but then there could be other issues relating to that age of vehicle. So I’m looking for something younger than 2015.
I’m back out this Saturday to look at a few more. I hope you’ll watch that video also?
@@theoutdoorlife4870 Will be just subscribed, I've a larger campervan on order as I found motorhomes too wide for many roads.......
Well that’s what I’m also thinking about, but as long as I can get into park ups, Aires & campsites I should be ok. I’m planning on carrying bikes so I can get out & about locally once I’m parked up. But I do know how narrow some of the lanes are, particularly in Cornwall. And my satnav has guided me down some lanes that have ended up having grass growing down the middle of the lane. I wouldn’t want to have to reverse a mojo down one of those. 😱
Went through same process as you 8 years ago, in end decided on small campervan. Thought after 50 years in a tent would like a comfy bed, a toilet and a cupboard/drawer for clothes plus storage. The attraction of bigger unit was strong but decided that being able to park in towns and go down tiny lanes just swung it. We decided we would probably stay on campsites so shower/water wouldn't be an issue. Decided to scratch wild camp or lay-by stays, there are far too many toe rags out there looking for easy pickings, even in some of the rural areas. It is a dangerous world and not getting better. My advice is decide how you would see your ideal trip away and choose accordingly. It's each to his own, just keep your stress level down, that's what retirement is about
@@Bobtheguilder spot on! We love our tiny, go anywhere, van.
Conversion doesnt pay. If at all than by DIY. Can you do that? What exactly is a Motorhome? Hmm?
If I converted a panel van myself, I would have to rent a workshop as I have no off road space with access to electricity. And then I estimate it would take me 10-12 months ish, whereas I can get a professional conversion done in 5-6 weeks. Yes it is expensive but for me the pros outweighs the cons.
Number 1 piece of advice I was given by a dealer was never ever ever buy a British made van, they are built so badly they are always damp, buy German.
Autosleeper are ok but they seem old fashioned and dated inside.
Ive noticed alot of th3se vans are using peugout boxers. Avoid at all costs, 9ur company had a fleet of them 67 plate onwards to 20 plates. Awful vans with lots of issues 2hen reaching 60000 miles. M3ssage for more details.
The majority of vans are Boxers, Ducato’s or Transits. So many people warn about all of these models. But as these make up the majority of vans, what are the alternatives? 🤷🏻♂️
@@theoutdoorlife4870 just my advice, transit tried and tested👍. Maybe buy a older Mercedes which are good for 400000😊
A lot of car parks now a day's have height barriers so really those vans not really any good if you're going wild camping best off with a pop top
I definitely don’t want a pop top! I know the advantages & disadvantages of larger vans, but regardless, a pop top LWB van is outside of my budget.
I have had 2 pop tops. My current one is 5m long. Just cold water and ok in summer but not so much in winter. I’m now going to get a motorhome with shower and toilet.
Stay away from Grantham’s caravan & motorhomes.
I’m not planning on traveling that far to look for a van.
Don't do a self build as they've much less resale value and unlikely to meet NCC standards and safety
I would stay away from anything french or Italian powered.
Don’t buy anything Ford you’ll regret it they cannot do any mileage
And yet there are some UA-cam content creators who believe the current Ford transit base unit is the best unit available for today’s motorhomes.
However, the vehicles I’m most interested in are either Fiat or Peugeot based.
It seems that most new base vehicles have their problems. The Ford wet belt issuse & Stelantis group engine management fault lights. Euro6 has added problems, reliability wise.
Don’t buy British you’ll regret it ,
agreed especially Swift
they used to be good in the 90s BUT really poor workmanship these days
German built is the way to go will be a premium on price BUT worth the peace of mind