In this video I have shown some company logo’s at 00:51. These are Bespoke NI dealers of their NCC Approved Campervans and NOT companies that have gone into administration.
Personally, I don't buy in to all the usual "oh its the cost of living, Its materials, blah blah" It's one thing. The GREED of dealers ,new and used jumping on a craze that they saw they can rinse and make a lot of money from. People wanted to be "off grid" so the dealers new and used, made everyone pay way over the top prices, and then they all jumped on the "lets make as much money from these poor people, for a long as the bubble lasts." Now the bubble has burst the dealers are all crying, no sympathy, I'm afraid.
Completely agree, no sympathy as well. How it's so much cheaper for one do the conversion with great materials, many times, even better materials than these companies? Too many greed in the world... Buy a panel van, do your own conversion, pay someone to do a very good and reliable job on electric, bang, way way cheaper. And you get the perfect layout better adapted to your needs, practicality and aesthetics/taste. Many professional interior aesthetics are cold and industrial, speaking for my personal taste.
Exactly my mate bought a large (ish) mobile home in 2018 (new) for around £59000.00 ish and I think he said the same model and style was nearly £79000.00 new in 2021 , a 20 grand jump in 3 years ??
@@rayalbion9637Not only is it 20 grand but also a 33% increase. I would understand a 5-10% increase to account for more expense but 33% is ridiculous.
Fully understand material and van prices have gone up but sorry it's been greed by the dealers\converters charging extortionate prices, especially the VW market vans, it's now caught up with them, I don't feel sorry for them one bit.
@@Edge_Effect It is true there are some who have big markups, but certainly not all. Are the ones who charge extortionate prices the problem or is it the people who buy them? As seen in this video, better is often available for less.
@StaycationLifestyle I don't really see how it can be the buyers fault? I am currently looking to buy one of the last 4motions of the 6.1s before they are all gone and they are putting on extras to elevate the costs and the prices have rocketed. I'm trying to get a new one but they are circa £100K. I can only negotiate to a certain level. How can this be my fault for paying when I see no other choice - other than to miss the opportunity? 😢
There are a lot of vans sold with budget components, cheap materials and sold at big money. The longer people go on buying it, they will keep selling it high. You know what you’re doing and exactly what you want. Others are not as well informed. The 4Motion vans are commanding big money
@@IRVisionPrints Where are you getting £50k from?. If you go online today, a 24 plate LWB Kombi (no bed, mot a camper) with all the bells and whistles is circa £100k
I totally agree. Some people are either stupid or have too much money , or both. We bought a lovely 4 bed bugalow in Srilanka for less than this a while back and I know which I would sooner have. also sod all the hassle on the roads in the UK.
The whole van / caravan thing blows my mind. Buy a 50k van / caravan on a 7% loan which is a depreciating liability then have to tax, insure, service, drive, set up, cook and do the dishes? F that! I'll stay in a hotel and it'll be cheaper!
It’s a lifestyle choice. They could get a tent and do it even cheaper. Why do people buy Porsches or Ferraris, they could buy a Peugeot and it’ll be cheaper. That said I understand where you are coming from, it’s a lot of money.
Try spending a night in 7 different cities in a week and see how cheap the hotel bill is then. It’s a lifestyle and convenient if you want to explore a few places in a short amount of time
I agree , the maths don’t add up ! the expense just to stay in a field with a power supply and shower block , along with the never ending wet weather make the “ Lifestyle “ camper vans , very unappealing for me 😏 but we are all different 👍 we can still travel in a very nice car and stop in quality accommodation for similar money.
If anyone is only using 18 days a year, I would suggest maybe it isn’t for them. However most will use it more. People buy sports cars and use them less. It’s a lifestyle choice
@@StaycationLifestyle My neighbour does the same , £80k sitting on the drive . Sports cars are very different .. Most do not depreciate at the horrendous rates a Motorhome does ( some increase in value) , nor incur so many other costs in order to enjoy them . Motorhomes have always been a financially irrational 'lifestyle choice' but there is a limit and a tipping point to all irrational behaviour !
@@PazLeBon Yes but not many companies last long once the owners become avaricious. Apple and a few others are the exception to the rule, but I guarantee they are heartless scum to use people as their slaves.
In uk most are pretty thirsty with fuel prices so many sit on drives most the time. They are stopping free parking in wild camping spots soon and the only choice before long will be payed sites with caravans etc. then there is the uncertainty of what this nightmare of a new government will do to diesel/ petrol vehicles in the very near future as its hell bent on slamming forward with the net zero bollocks. So it's not looking good for campervans !
Fuel duty will be going up, it's funny how many miles you can get out of A van to the Gallon, but you buy the fuel in litres, so how much is a Gallon of Fuel! Not many seems to remember the Gallon of petrol.
Long time previous campervan/motorhome. Sold mine last year. Cut a long story short. My dealer who would bend over backwards, was acting like he was in cartel, laughed at me when tried to order a new one, "come back next year he said". But wanted to buy mine as he had customers waiting. I walked out disgusted Then there were the campsites with stupid pricing. Average £50 per night, plus electric, plus awning, plus the dog. I understand prices went up e.g. electric, but the grass didn't go up. Once you add on fuel, insurance, servicing etc a cheap weekend away started to add up before food and spending money. I worked out to sit in a field for a weekend was close on £300 in pitch fees and running costs, that's without if you have a van on HP, luckily I didn't. But I am still astounded by the price of what you would call entry level vans, some are 70k to start.
That doesn’t sound like a nice story, especially with your seemingly good relationship before. Campsite costs have gone up, for much the same reasons as mentioned in the video. Whether these increases are just to cover costs or increased profit, it means trips away are more expensive. Yes the van prices are crazy. Where does it end?
Totally agree with you. A lot of companies have taken the piss and I have no sympathy for the position they are now in. The NEC show in Oct will be interesting. I go each year and have noticed the insanity unfolding in the market. Supercar prices for some models. To the dealers out there that forgot customer service and acted like cartels I say good luck. For those good ones out there. Hang in there sensible customers will come back once and if the dust settles.
@@StaycationLifestyle i run a campsite, our prices didnt go up, power is soalr batteries, we own the land and we dont fleece clients which lets face it, many do nowadays cos all want more money as opposed to reallly offer a service
Try sleeping in a lay-by or viewpoint anywhere in England, the old bill or park ranger will very quickly tell you to move on! That’s the reality of owning a camper van or motor home, people are disillusioned by the so-called ‘Freedom’ promised, but rarely found!
@@MR_THINQ yep, had a good time with it but that life wasnt for us anymore for various reasons not least the costings of van diesel ( not vin diesel) etc etc So easy to book dog friendly places air bnb etc and must admit liking accessibility with the car…
Its simple economics, the.base van and finished conversion costs will keep going up until they reach a price were they can't sell enough units. At that point the prices will level out or drop slightly, if the manufacturers and converters can't lower costs they will go out of business. I'd like a California Beach but i couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money. Pick up a genuine panel van from a tradesman after 5 or 6 years whos upgrading to a new one and throw some camping gear in the back. Best way to get started and if you change you mind it'll still be worth about what you paid for it a year later.
The car market is going in a similar direction. The price of cars now is also eye watering. Regarding the van and chucking camping gear in, it’s almost like you have seen my previous video on “Van life without Camper Van Conversion” 🤣
@@StaycationLifestyle cheers I'll have a look for that video. Yes its same with cars, I'm a fan of EV's but simply won't spend that kind of money either. Sold my self builld pretty much breaking even on it and bought a cheap 1 owner low miles Belingo car that is worth more money now than what it cost.
Sold my campervan last year and bought a £99 tent instead. I've been camping 5 times this year and I have saved a fortune compared to keeping, running and maintaining the campervan.
As a newbie looking into buying a VW campervan in about 12 months time, this was an incredibly interesting video. It has also prompted me to watch some of your other videos about good vs bad campervan conversions. Thank you.
I have a Vivaro C as my daily driver and not a work van. Made a bolt in extending bed and a bolt in utility unit. Half hour to install/remove as needed. Deadened, insulated and cleanly lined and get 55-60mpg on most journeys. I mostly travel around Scotland and the van suits me well for weekend up to week trips. It is small enough for the single track roads and inconspicuous. It has been great to have and I don't think I personally would gain much from a motorhome or kitted out transporter. People want/need different things I guess but it comes at a premium.
yes people with more money than sense paying stupid prices for the latest must have thing ..which might be a couple of grams lighter than something a fraction of the price
I was looking at buying a second hand vw camper couple years back, prices were ridiculous for rusty old vans that needed lots of work to be roadworthy, so I ended up getting a little second hand vw caddy panel van cheap. I have converted it myself, mostly recycled/free wood. It is fully self contained, running water, toilet, fridge, cooker, wall cupboard, flap up table and extending bed with lots of storage under. There’s only me so don’t need lots of room, the benefit of this little panel van is stealth camping. No side windows so no one can see in, but it has barn door windows, which I put mirror film on, so you can’t see in, but let’s in loads of daylight, I made magnetic blackout covers for nighttime. I can park up pretty much anywhere you’re allowed to park and spend the night, with no one suspecting there’s anyone in the van. Campsite prices are ridiculous these days let alone the cost of a campervan.
2 things have caused this. 1. Poor quality builds of Motorhomes/Caravans and even campervans. 2. Stupid prices because the industry and second hand sellers saw a price increase and jumped on the market and hiked the prices even higher. A second hand Motorhome is now selling for what a new Motorhome was fetching prior to 2022. Plus camp sites saw what they saw as an opportunity to make a killing in camp fee's. It is now cheaper to stay in a hotel than it is to stay on a camp site with your Motorhome/Caravan. The industry has no-one to blame but themselves. Greed is killing the market and the camping boom.
@SeanWest-xb5cc Well, that is a matter of opinion isn't it? To me, a reliable van of a certain size with a certain capability with a certain level of comfort (bed or no bed) and a certain set of additional features which makes my daily experience more enjoyable and less stressful, not to mention safety is worth every penny. Further realised by keeping it for a certain period of time and still having a reasonable residual value after 7 years and 180,000 miles. Where is the stupidity in that?
@@jollyfinequality9865 Well said. I bet SeanWest has never been away in a Campervan. We frequently use ours and it has paid for itself with all the great places we have been.
@@jimf4748 Oh yeah? you mean you went to Goole & Scunthorpe? Ha ha...Well I agree with Sean West...and his tins of Salmon are the best !!...so there hop along cassidy and his orchestra.
@@jamestrent-nw9zb Well I've never been to Scunthorpe or Goole but I've been to vitually every country in Europe. Off again on Monday for another long trip. How about you?
Just buy any good van panel and insulate then just use as a tin tent and after your trip take your gear out and you have your van back to use for other things, more economical than carrying the weight of a conversation around with you. And regarding the camp sites becoming more greedy, a friend of mine overnights in plain sight on the roadside, as it looks like a normal van.
@@Billywhizz-bl7yj Theres so many different strong opinions about whats right and wrong, but yours is the one I like best after experience with a new motorhome, a vw camper, a pvc , if I did it all again ( I wont) I’ll go this route definitely, nice one
The biggest complaint I have heard is the cost of pitches with some sites costing £40 to £50 per night plus electric we are getting near BB prices add on your fuel and food etc.
Cracking video. I'm a caravanner and my biggest issue at the moment is the cost of campsites. The caravan and motorhome club sites have doubled since before covid. A pitch which cost £20 a night before is now around £40. Inflation causes 'demand destruction.' People stop buying. Once you've lost them it is difficult to get them back. I'm watching new caravans. The one I want has unsold 2024 models which is unusual at this point in the season, with decent discounts, exactly as you said about dealers wanting to shift stock. People are trying to sell 2020 models for close to the discounted price you can get a new one. I'm holding back, because I'm simply unwilling to pay what is being asked for a campsite, on top of the insurance and other running costs.
A lot of campsites have increased prices significantly, some increases have been necessary for them to stay in business (gas/electric/insurance etc all rising hugely) There are still well priced sites around. Many manufacturers have over produced, these dealers are obliged to take stock (deal dependant) and they can’t shift them. The number of sales in some places haven’t changed, but they have surplus stock because the manufacturer produced more
@@stevegill5540 It’s frightening. I did the video about the great spec van for £50k as though it was a bargain, in comparison to the overpriced stuff it is. BUT £50k is big money and now they are even more. The prices are huge
@@stevegill5540 Property prices and inherited houses leave a lot of middle aged people suddenly wealthy. Splurging out on a dream you can afford is not stupid, it's that old saying "If not now, when"?
Like camping in a tent, it used to be cheap as chips. People are finding it expensive in vans so are moving away. Single person in a tent can often get a bed breakfast and evening meal cheaper than the overnight pitch
It’s bonkers. A £48k Golf just doesn’t seem right, but that’s what the market is doing. Would like one as my daily driver actually, or the Tiguan R or Arteon R 😀
What makes you say dying industry? The last few years it’s been soaring. More and more people have been camping and using leisure vans. Pay per mile, certainly would impact things. That would be a huge change in all manner of ways
I can't imagine it will crash especially with the housing crisis forcing more people to live in campervans plus some EU countries have recently been protesting on the streets telling tourists to go home. This could mean more people will want to stay in UK for their holidays. There was also the recent global cyber IT outages that the media reported creating cancellations of thousands of flights and millions delayed this year putting people off travelling aboard. World Economic forum working with UK government want to reduce flights by 2029 by creating a carbon footprint trackers so you won't be able to fly unless your credit points say you can.
Same thinking as myself regarding people buying to live in them, or until government cracking down on this too. The one thing that will depreciate is property - no market crash, but a slow & steady decline for years to come but people blind & don't want to see their asset devalue! The writing is already on the wall & the free money days, are truly over.
And now that's knocked on to the van market, I needed a new work van, but all these self convertors have driven up the cost of vans. Ended up having to buy an older van than I wanted because I couldn't justify the cost
@@RickSanchez-ye9bi Remember all the New delivery drivers, courier and logistics companies that have setup. The increase in that sector created a much greater demand for vans
People want an image not a utility. I paid 2k for a Renault Master LWB. 1.5k to put bed, heater, solar in it. Have done 150k and only paid around 1k in non-consumable maintenance. Image has always cost money.
You certainly don’t need an expensive van. It’s the same with all aspects of life. Some choose a big house, a high performance car, expensive meals, when actually they don’t need to.m, it’s just what they choose. People buy into VW’s for the “scene” the aftermarket parts, forums, groups, meets etc What ever anyone chooses, you can still visit the same places in your Renault as someone could in their £100k camper.
@@Baud2Bits good on you! I’ve had the full monty, a proper motorhome, a vw, a van conversion in that order. Sold the van and use air bnb now, its great. That said, if I went back to vanning I would get a van and chuck a bed in it, job done
@@StaycationLifestyle it reminds me of the the holiday home crisis where wealthy city people buy up homes in small seaside villages, driving the prices up and pricing the local earners out of it. The VW Camper is widely seen as a status symbol for those with a bit of “spare cash”. Obviously the whole online van life trend has massively affect the base van prices. Supply and demand I suppose. Car prices in general are gone through the roof so luxury items are usually worse.
Don't forget that many thousands of people in 2018 HAVE NOT had a single pay increase... Prices are up 30% to 50%. Interest rates are UP. Salaries stagnant...!! No wonder it has collapsed... Will it get better... No way... Labour is hell-bent on collecting MORE Taxes....
@@StaycationLifestyle They actually held stock back from release as they knew prices were rising. But. Even in last 2 months they've added another 2k to list.
Yep and not experience anything in their lives. You have to actually physically be there to experience anything, watching it on a screen isn’t experiencing it.
There are thousands of very good vans going to waste because of the over inflated prices. What are you going to do with thousands of motorhomes that you can't sell, because people haven't got that kind of money?
Fish and chips at our local shop has doubled in 2 years we no longer can afford our what was our weekly treat…my son is a bricklayer in the south east he is getting £1 per brick laid..he averages 800-1200 bricks a day do the maths…it’s simply unsustainable there is going to be the crash of all crashes.
@@alarmactionukalarmactionuk893 that’s exactly what I’m saying that’s the rate being paid by building companies .. so what are the customers being charged.
@@steverushaw8761 He doesn't lay 1,000 a day on his own though does he. You seem to forget his labourers wage if he doesn't have 2, one for knocking up and one for loading out. He also cant work when it rains and has overheads like a van, insurance, accountant ect. I make about £750 a day but I walk away with only £200 a day over the course of a year when all is said and done....
Things are dropping slowly. I offered on a 23k caravan over 10 months ago. turned down. Lastd week I was offered the same caravan by the same dealership at 20.5.. I said 19.5 try said 20... I asked for the hitch upgrade and full gas bottles no problem was the answer. 20k 3 months saved 3k. Very happy. The van will of course depreciate but the new one has gone up by 1700. So I see it as a 4700 price drop
I bought a 3,000 mile, two year old Autosleeper Dorset ES in 2012 for £25k, I sold it a year later for £26.5k, they are selling for more than this now, 12 years later, makes no sense. Previous to this I was looking at caravans but got annoyed that manufactures were hiking prices by 5% every year. I’m sure they’re still doing it, at the NEC show every year they say “beat the price increase, buy at the show”
Covered some good perspectives here. As someone who’s bought and drove a lot of van miles, worldwide, as well as worked in the industry, I’d say that basically most U.K. vans are overpriced for what they are nowadays + as you say, a lot of the market has got flooded = prices should stabilise ahead, as they’ll be a little of unused / unsold vans by winter 2024. Pimped up Vws at 60-70k is ludicrous. Appreciate some higher end buyers will always pay more for the best quality, but at the lower price points (ordinary folk) there’s better value ways of doing this sort of lifestyle.
Everything is about greed in the end. Cost of materials, energy prices (artificially inflated) ? They put them up because they can, and then it flows all the way down to the consumer. They will loose out in the end when people stop buying them because they cannot afford them.
Well the market is oversaturated and overpriced the local l councils don’t encourage stop overs yellow lines across the whole country, greedy campsites fees, fuel cost very high, tax,insurance and storage. It’s gone beyond a normal persons affordable pocket. It’s cheaper to go abroad inclusive deals, guaranteed sunshine nice beaches. Why bover staying in the U.K. driving around it’s stressful 😢
The bubbles burst A local dealer near Dundee is asking £69,169 for a brand new 2024 Auto-Trail C71. However, after searching on AutoTrader, I found the same model, also 2024, listed for £59,995 automatic gearbox - and you can even get a manual version brand new for £57,495. The market is definitely dropping now. The question is, would you be prepared to drive all the way back to the original dealer to have your van fixed, or would you arrange to go to an Auto-Trail recommended repairer? That might be an option for warranty work if a repairer is closer . What surprises me is that even if a local dealer didn’t sell you the motorhome or caravan, they might still service it for you - but they won’t handle warranty work. And here’s another warning: if you buy a caravan or motorhome brand new from a dealer, then decide to sell it while it’s still under warranty, the new owner might assume they can get warranty work done at the selling dealer. However, the dealer is under no obligation to provide warranty repairs for second owners, even if they sold the vehicle new unless you purchased it from the dealers. So, buyers beware. Sorry i had to add this.
And it’s not just camper vans. Caravans have gone through the roof too. My caravan model is being advertised second hand for more than I paid for it new, thirteen years ago!
Manufacturers product refresh rates are ridiculous these days, typically any new launch is followed by unsold new stock discounts maybe 9 months later?
It not an easy situation. Many buyers like the newest and best. If manufacturer A brings out a model every 2 or 3 years, the buyer could choose manufacturer B because they have just brought out a new tech, meaning manufacturer A will lose sales. Crazy I know. In reality, how much changes from 1 year to the next? Sometimes it does 🤷🏻♂️
I think a big under current with the market as a whole is the availability of GAS, which is why i think the market will go Electric for power and electric/diesel heater for heat, rendering a massive amount of vehicles/caravans not fit for purpose.
Some leisure dealers have now installed their own pumps for gas, but this topic is always hotly debated. Pumps at fuel stations are decreasing that’s for sure. More and more vans are now “gas less.” Companies fitting induction hobs instead of gas. I’m sure at the big NEC show later this year, there will be even more “gas less” conversions
We purchased a 2018 VW Transporter T6 California Beach three years ago with 15k miles for £52k from the Exeter VW Commercial dealer. Sold last week with 30400k miles, full service history for £37500..... Lost me £14500. Yes the market has gone, interest rates up, utility costs up, luxuries like campervans way down the wish-list. Now's a great time to buy, at others expense.
Seems like you bought at the peak. Lots of people who have bought newer will suffer much bigger losses, IF they can sell them. The market is a mess at the moment
@@StaycationLifestyle yes well aware of buying at the peak, totally philosophical to the loss as we've saved loads on a Hymer Fiat Ducato Free 600 Campus. Health reasons meant a larger van.
I know someone who just moved from a T4 to a motorhome and they absolutely love it. They don’t need it for a daily driver so suits them much better. Greater comfort.
Good article, but mainly what i already knew. I have a 2018 lunar Clubman caravan. Bought it in 2020 before COVID for 18k . Allegedly worth that now. Went to a dealer this week to get some toilet fluid (currently on a CL for 16 a night), looked at some new caravans for a laugh. Some at 34k. You are having a laugh. No better spec than mine. Silly silly money now. CLs round here are all half empty. Not sure what's going on, but quietest I've seen sites in years.
Reading lots of comments on here saying £50K-£60K for a camper is stupid. Yes I agree if you’re only going to use it once a month for a wet weekend, but most have been replacing the family car and using them as their daily driver, so actually their no more expensive than a large family SUV, but offer more flexibility 🤷🏼♂️
Surely there is one other issue hanging over the campervan market - the increased gamble on buying diesel vehicles - with cities excluding them, and increased taxation on fuel looking like inevitable - and with little alternative, in terms of long range electric vehicles, I think people are going to become very sceptical about buying. Yes, rich baby boomers, on final salary pensions, and paid off mortgages, over inflate the market, but younger people simply can't afford what it getting on for a quarter of a new house for something they're going to use for a few weeks a year. With this uncertainty, and manufactures charging prices that the market cannot sustain, I think a crash is inevitable.
There is a move to introduce alternatives by some converters. A hybrid is available for this some manufacturers are working on full electric. We will see more hybrid and electric models over the next 12 months, as more base vehicle manufacturers add these to their range. We are already seeing gasless vans, with cooking being electric. The prices however are going up. This is driven by the base van manufacturer. A brand new motor caravan registered camper was about 40k 5 years ago, now that’s the price of an empty panel van
What about Caravan and Mobile home prices? Rockley Sands in Dorset for example along with many other luxury sites are offer huge savings. The amount of empty concretes plots prove the industy in in a huge downturn.
Ive seen so many videos like this. Now I actually work at the sharp end every day and my dealership are actually crazy busy. We are well established, do the job right, price vans well and are almost at the same sales numbers as last year whixh was crazy busy. Way more px arpund tho. No one was prifiteering, we had to pay more for the vans and give more for pxs. What we are seeing now is we are getting the vans we sold 3 years ago back in px Markets having a reset, its heakthy , good for the customer and its all good, no crash . The caravan market has been really hit hardest. Do your job well, look after the customers and youll be fine, not everyone does that though.
After one of the early comments on the video, i had a look around and didn’t find any which spoke about campervans like I have. Good to hear your doing well. I know others are too. Like I said if priced right and the job is done right, it will sell. It’s the cheaply built vans advertised as “top of the range” etc, when they are actually really poor, that really frustrate me.
It can be resonable as long as your not a poser or too presious about showing off. I bought a 3k Traffic that was a started project and fitted it out with altered kitchen units and tops. Usb led lights around the ceiling and a fold out bed with foam from a fold up bed that i had covered. Just over 4k all together. In some car parks you can stay free over night 18.00-08.00. Builth Wells in Powys is the best. Free overnight, right on the river, amazing town and showers in the car park for £1. Brecon promenade is good to. We did pay £35 in the lakes for a spot with electric once and felt ripped off. Also £20 in the cairngorms for literally just a spot on a slope and access to dirty water. Never again.
The problem with any camping mobile homes or caravans these days is its made out off cheap crap parts and expesily in America them companies dont stand by their warrantys and leave their customers in dispear , so much going on its sad , i personally wouldn't buy a new one today rather fix my old one , buts its a good thing tho the shonky companies will go out off business one day hopefully not at your expense
I have had my T5 for about 8 years now, I bought it from a business for £3995 with 98 thou on the clock. I haven’t converted it to a camper just added the seats in the back and sound deadening plus insulation and carpet lining and banded steel wheels, I use it as my daily driver and to cart about my trials bike. I couldn’t believe it when a guy in a car park walked over to me to ask how much I would sell it to him for! This was in a car park by the beach whilst on holiday. The offer was three times what I paid for it. I politely declined to sell as I love my van
Really good summary of what has been happening over the last few years.We had to wait 23mths for a new A class which fortunately we got at the agreed price saving nearly £20k.Fortunate to be motorhomers as caravan owners are also being hit by higher site fees where we have many other lower cost options to go offgrid like a rally this weekend for £11/night.
i has a T5.1 for many years sold it with deep regret. i now drive a £ 70.000 t6 through work and can honestly say the t5 was a beast compared to the T6. Kids have fown the nest so i think i will be going for a later T5
I know quite a few people who don’t want to move from a T5. Everyone has different opinions. I like my early T6, so still the 140 engine, which I think feels better than the 150 in the T6.1. We can all still enjoy the same “outdoors” 👍🏼
@tomobrien8417 I had a T5 Caravelle from 2004 to 2014 I have a 17 plate T6 LWB Kombi with 180,000 on it and never had a thing go wrong. I also have a 23 plate T6.1 LWB Kombi. Apart from the fact it's automatic (and I really want a 4motion so I'll be selling it) I can't say I've had any complaints with any of them. What's the issue with the T6s?
@jollyfinequality9865 I had to take back to VW twice because of management light.They reset it and on second time blamed it on rodents eating electrics, which I do not believe as I only have 3500 miles on it and it's in garage at night.Even if I'm wrong it puts a dought in your head and your never comfortable after that.Still best vans out there across the board.
My advice would be to go to several local dealers who have a wide selction of both and different brands and have a good look. When you think, you know what would suit you as a family, then hire one to test it out. If this is going to be purely a leisure vehicle and you dont need it for a daily driver, then you will usually get more for your money with a motorhome. Perfect ages for starting the lifestyle, good luck, im sure they will love getting out and exploring
Pure market economics of a bubble and everyone is shocked. Discretionary spending is always vulnerable when other pressures come along and people are fickle. Most people want a cheap summer holiday in the sun and Devon in the rain isn’t attractive especially when all the suppliers are making merry by overcharging. I get it, but don’t be surprised that it doesn’t last. This was all entirely predictable just as day follows night.
One problem is that people who bought into the van life only did so because flying was not a option now it's all back to normal people are back to normal flying around the world and holidaying again. I did what I thought was the smart thing and rented a motorhome for a week and quickly realised that this was not for me not because I did not totally enjoy it but because the cost of owning , maintaining & using one id mental 😂 seriously for forget the rent of the van we seriously spent about the same in the UK as we do going to Greece for the week.
I’ve been looking for a camper 2-3 years now and still haven’t commit to one as my wife has said the market will crash soon. Always trust your missus lol
I have had 2 pop top campervans and now have a small Hymer motorhome. I would never go back to a pop top and with the VW’s being as much if not more than a motorhome, I can see why the pop top campervans are on a downturn.
I don’t disagree, many have done the same as you. But the pop tops have a purpose. It’s not only pop tops the market is slowing, it’s everything, campervans, motor homes, caravans
Over priced vans may contribute to lack of sales , I’ve seen some around 80k Stupid money for what they are especially when the base vehicle is half that!
@@kendibben3179 Some are ridiculous money, totally unjustified BUT there are some genuine ones with components of high standard that can command that premium. The problem is, people are paying too much for rubbish
You're good with Renault or Peugeot small or medium size models. I'm good with my Renault Kangoo! More space basically only allow more cargo, water or supplies to be away more time, but most people are always somewhat near places to stock and most don't boondock for more than 1, 2 weeks without supplying. Standing up room is important for some, but you lose many places to park and drive... Moreover, you can always have additional cargo box on roof rack and on tow hook. Smaller vans also double as everyday vehicle no problem.
I'd like to buy a campervan or motorhome but they have been overpriced since the pandemic. I'm not buying until they reach a sensible level again and expect most of the demand side is in a similar position.
Feel like campervans are suffering the same problem as Air BnB. Theyre supposed to be a cheap alternative to hotels or BnB's. But if your spending 30/40/50k for a van the sums just dont make sense. You can get ALOT of BnB stays for 30k. Then you have the amount of places that are shutting their doors to vans too. The cons are significantly outweighing the pros
I understand what you mean, the only part I would disagree with (respectfully and only my personal opinion) is “cons are significantly outweighing the pros”. I agree there are becoming an increasing number of cons, BUT it’s a lifestyle choice. For the price of buying a van staying at sites, fuel etc, people could go on some great overseas holidays, however people want the freedom of leaving after work for a night away, a week or more they can AND use the van as a daily driver. They are becoming unaffordable though, but it’s the same with the car market and lots of other aspects of life at present.
@@StaycationLifestyle the car market is the very good example your right. I find campsites arnt great these days either. They all have this minimum amounts of nights you have to do, they all want booking years in advance and the freedom to just rock up is not there. Also places like the NC500 are getting swamped. Then there’s the other side which every community suffers from 1 in 100 people are awful. They leave the free sites a tip and then the locals get upset then you’ll get the signage up with no overnight stays. For me the freedom to get up and go just isn’t there because of all the restrictions. Abroad though? Yeah campervans make more sense
@@StaycationLifestyle from hypocrits with money buyers and manufactureers who price as high as possible rather rhan as low as possible for the shareholders
@@PazLeBon Agreed all stock listed companies have to provide returns for share holders if they don't they are sacked. There is no incentive to keep cost of product and profits low, none of their competitors are reducing prices why should they. This just results in a market where increasing profits each year is the aim not having a larger market share than your competitors.
I think you might mean “disgusting” 😀 I actually touch on that in tonight’s video. Some do say the quality went down hill after Covid. Campervans are a minefield at the moment. Rubbish builds, cheap component vans being sold for way more than they are worth
Yes because they charge too much specially for campervans silly money,even second hand ones . We looked at a brand new motor home just when covid started ,they were £39000. That same van now is around £60000 . Bloody ridiculous !
@@jasondyer811 Base vans have gone up massively and all the components too. Dealers turnovers are going up, but their profits aren’t necessarily following
Just come back from 3 1/2 months road trip in the UK. Campsites costing anything from £25 to £50 per night hits the pocket badly. Go to France or Germany and stay at aires for Euro 10 to 15 per night.
@@StaycationLifestyle Very bold indeed, but true. I guess mine is way better because it's exactly fits my requirements for a lot less money. I've got a Truma combi, Victron electrics. Unfortunately I could do with a bigger garage. When I look at 'professional' ones I'm thinking, well I'll have to upgrade the electrics, get a bigger solar panel, add more sockets, replace the sh1t vent for a Maxxfan etc. etc. Plus not to mention when you look in the back of some cupboards they are very poorly finished, looks like someone was using an axe to cut the boards.
5 years before covid our VW Cali cost us £45K....As covid finished I called to book a site and was quoted the same as the Premier Inn opposite. Sold the van for £45K straight away and could have sold it 20times.... Who wants to walk through the rain to a service block when they can go to a warm bathroom for the same money.
One reason is road tax. I have just paid £325 for my motorhome and I only do 2000 miles per year. The other reason is £27- £35 for a grass pitch ridiculous.
Prices have risen due to several factors, sites costs have risen significantly and those costs are now being passed on. Additionally sites have added new facilities to compete. There are cheaper sites available though, it’s a case of good research 👍🏼
In this video I have shown some company logo’s at 00:51. These are Bespoke NI dealers of their NCC Approved Campervans and NOT companies that have gone into administration.
Personally, I don't buy in to all the usual "oh its the cost of living, Its materials, blah blah" It's one thing. The GREED of dealers ,new and used jumping on a craze that they saw they can rinse and make a lot of money from. People wanted to be "off grid" so the dealers new and used, made everyone pay way over the top prices, and then they all jumped on the "lets make as much money from these poor people, for a long as the bubble lasts." Now the bubble has burst the dealers are all crying, no sympathy, I'm afraid.
Completely agree, no sympathy as well. How it's so much cheaper for one do the conversion with great materials, many times, even better materials than these companies? Too many greed in the world... Buy a panel van, do your own conversion, pay someone to do a very good and reliable job on electric, bang, way way cheaper. And you get the perfect layout better adapted to your needs, practicality and aesthetics/taste. Many professional interior aesthetics are cold and industrial, speaking for my personal taste.
Spot on sir greedy dealers
Time it came home
CON MEN
Exactly my mate bought a large (ish) mobile home in 2018 (new) for around £59000.00 ish and I think he said the same model and style was nearly £79000.00 new in 2021 , a 20 grand jump in 3 years ??
@@rayalbion9637Not only is it 20 grand but also a 33% increase. I would understand a 5-10% increase to account for more expense but 33% is ridiculous.
@@Raz_Tactical pure greed
Fully understand material and van prices have gone up but sorry it's been greed by the dealers\converters charging extortionate prices, especially the VW market vans, it's now caught up with them, I don't feel sorry for them one bit.
@@Edge_Effect It is true there are some who have big markups, but certainly not all.
Are the ones who charge extortionate prices the problem or is it the people who buy them?
As seen in this video, better is often available for less.
@StaycationLifestyle I don't really see how it can be the buyers fault? I am currently looking to buy one of the last 4motions of the 6.1s before they are all gone and they are putting on extras to elevate the costs and the prices have rocketed. I'm trying to get a new one but they are circa £100K. I can only negotiate to a certain level. How can this be my fault for paying when I see no other choice - other than to miss the opportunity? 😢
There are a lot of vans sold with budget components, cheap materials and sold at big money. The longer people go on buying it, they will keep selling it high.
You know what you’re doing and exactly what you want. Others are not as well informed.
The 4Motion vans are commanding big money
I'll stick with my 1991 Auto trail Mercedes 208d simple and probably the most reliable camper van ever made.
@@jollyfinequality9865 unless its electric you shoul be buying old vans
They’re not selling because they’re ridiculously priced. 50k+ for a Vw t6 is vomit inducing
@@IRVisionPrints Where are you getting £50k from?. If you go online today, a 24 plate LWB Kombi (no bed, mot a camper) with all the bells and whistles is circa £100k
The T6's are selling. Not many left, some good converters want more stock. Plus these are selling for 60, 70k plus, it is big money
They are too high priced , for 50k you can buy a flat near the coast , or go on holiday 20 times a year
@@curtisducati I get the argument regarding lots of holidays, however I addressed that here ua-cam.com/video/Xas2_-dwIm4/v-deo.html
I totally agree. Some people are either stupid or have too much money , or both. We bought a lovely 4 bed bugalow in Srilanka for less than this a while back and I know which I would sooner have. also sod all the hassle on the roads in the UK.
The whole van / caravan thing blows my mind. Buy a 50k van / caravan on a 7% loan which is a depreciating liability then have to tax, insure, service, drive, set up, cook and do the dishes? F that!
I'll stay in a hotel and it'll be cheaper!
It’s a lifestyle choice. They could get a tent and do it even cheaper. Why do people buy Porsches or Ferraris, they could buy a Peugeot and it’ll be cheaper.
That said I understand where you are coming from, it’s a lot of money.
Try spending a night in 7 different cities in a week and see how cheap the hotel bill is then. It’s a lifestyle and convenient if you want to explore a few places in a short amount of time
@@Big_AL_Nowitzki most ive stayee din are hell not heaven :) camper vans i mean
I agree , the maths don’t add up ! the expense just to stay in a field with a power supply and shower block , along with the never ending wet weather make the “ Lifestyle “ camper vans , very unappealing for me 😏 but we are all different 👍 we can still travel in a very nice car and stop in quality accommodation for similar money.
@@paulbrook2459 On the continent they make far more sense.
£70k for a motorhome takes a lot of justifying when they spend 95% of their time on the drive doing nothing
If anyone is only using 18 days a year, I would suggest maybe it isn’t for them. However most will use it more.
People buy sports cars and use them less.
It’s a lifestyle choice
@@StaycationLifestyle My neighbour does the same , £80k sitting on the drive . Sports cars are very different .. Most do not depreciate at the horrendous rates a Motorhome does ( some increase in value) , nor incur so many other costs in order to enjoy them . Motorhomes have always been a financially irrational 'lifestyle choice' but there is a limit and a tipping point to all irrational behaviour !
vans last for years, buy a good 10 yr old van and save £££££
Plus 95 % of their time on a camping site going no where.
Like any business, GREED will always shrink sales.
didnt with Apple
@@PazLeBon Yes but not many companies last long once the owners become avaricious. Apple and a few others are the exception to the rule, but I guarantee they are heartless scum to use people as their slaves.
They are way too expensive. More and more people are doing cheap conversions on their own vans.
They are expensive. Too much for many. Which can be said for cars now. All becoming out of reach for many.
Good luck with that
In uk most are pretty thirsty with fuel prices so many sit on drives most the time. They are stopping free parking in wild camping spots soon and the only choice before long will be payed sites with caravans etc. then there is the uncertainty of what this nightmare of a new government will do to diesel/ petrol vehicles in the very near future as its hell bent on slamming forward with the net zero bollocks. So it's not looking good for campervans !
Fuel duty will be going up, it's funny how many miles you can get out of A van to the Gallon, but you buy the fuel in litres, so how much is a Gallon of Fuel! Not many seems to remember the Gallon of petrol.
Long time previous campervan/motorhome. Sold mine last year. Cut a long story short. My dealer who would bend over backwards, was acting like he was in cartel, laughed at me when tried to order a new one, "come back next year he said". But wanted to buy mine as he had customers waiting. I walked out disgusted
Then there were the campsites with stupid pricing. Average £50 per night, plus electric, plus awning, plus the dog. I understand prices went up e.g. electric, but the grass didn't go up. Once you add on fuel, insurance, servicing etc a cheap weekend away started to add up before food and spending money. I worked out to sit in a field for a weekend was close on £300 in pitch fees and running costs, that's without if you have a van on HP, luckily I didn't.
But I am still astounded by the price of what you would call entry level vans, some are 70k to start.
That doesn’t sound like a nice story, especially with your seemingly good relationship before.
Campsite costs have gone up, for much the same reasons as mentioned in the video.
Whether these increases are just to cover costs or increased profit, it means trips away are more expensive.
Yes the van prices are crazy. Where does it end?
Totally agree with you. A lot of companies have taken the piss and I have no sympathy for the position they are now in. The NEC show in Oct will be interesting. I go each year and have noticed the insanity unfolding in the market. Supercar prices for some models. To the dealers out there that forgot customer service and acted like cartels I say good luck. For those good ones out there. Hang in there sensible customers will come back once and if the dust settles.
I converted my old workvan I cut a hole in the floor so no need to empty the toilet
@@StaycationLifestyle i run a campsite, our prices didnt go up, power is soalr batteries, we own the land and we dont fleece clients which lets face it, many do nowadays cos all want more money as opposed to reallly offer a service
Yeah done the same last year too expensive was costing a fortune for a weekend
Try sleeping in a lay-by or viewpoint anywhere in England, the old bill or park ranger will very quickly tell you to move on!
That’s the reality of owning a camper van or motor home, people are disillusioned by the so-called ‘Freedom’ promised, but rarely found!
Sold my van in the summer, thought I’d miss it, I dont, we now use air bnb and rent little cottages.
Lovely
..and you hopefully smell better
Yep, we do this.
With Airbnb you don’t need a camper van, you can stay anywhere at short notice in comfort.
@@MR_THINQ yep, had a good time with it but that life wasnt for us anymore for various reasons not least the costings of van diesel ( not vin diesel) etc etc
So easy to book dog friendly places air bnb etc and must admit liking accessibility with the car…
You must be rich to use airbnb
Its simple economics, the.base van and finished conversion costs will keep going up until they reach a price were they can't sell enough units.
At that point the prices will level out or drop slightly, if the manufacturers and converters can't lower costs they will go out of business.
I'd like a California Beach but i couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money.
Pick up a genuine panel van from a tradesman after 5 or 6 years whos upgrading to a new one and throw some camping gear in the back.
Best way to get started and if you change you mind it'll still be worth about what you paid for it a year later.
The car market is going in a similar direction. The price of cars now is also eye watering.
Regarding the van and chucking camping gear in, it’s almost like you have seen my previous video on “Van life without Camper Van Conversion” 🤣
@@StaycationLifestyle cheers I'll have a look for that video.
Yes its same with cars, I'm a fan of EV's but simply won't spend that kind of money either.
Sold my self builld pretty much breaking even on it and bought a cheap 1 owner low miles Belingo car that is worth more money now than what it cost.
Its what i do, I don't drill or screw anything, all i need can be secured with a bungee or Velcro. im not paying 30+ grand they can p,o
Sold my campervan last year and bought a £99 tent instead. I've been camping 5 times this year and I have saved a fortune compared to keeping, running and maintaining the campervan.
As a newbie looking into buying a VW campervan in about 12 months time, this was an incredibly interesting video. It has also prompted me to watch some of your other videos about good vs bad campervan conversions. Thank you.
Ive never understood why people pay the prices they do for motorhomes etc.... a crap van with a caravan built it but for the price of a house? Mental.
Yep
I have a Vivaro C as my daily driver and not a work van. Made a bolt in extending bed and a bolt in utility unit. Half hour to install/remove as needed. Deadened, insulated and cleanly lined and get 55-60mpg on most journeys. I mostly travel around Scotland and the van suits me well for weekend up to week trips. It is small enough for the single track roads and inconspicuous. It has been great to have and I don't think I personally would gain much from a motorhome or kitted out transporter. People want/need different things I guess but it comes at a premium.
It's also the site fees
They are OUTRAGEOUS
It's crazy. Before lock down our regular campsite was £28 for me Mrs and 2 children. Now it's £50!!! Why?
Absolute pisstake
Yes I was shocked when I looked at the prices after a decade or two of B&B. Fifty odd quid for two nights in just a tent with no hookup. Outrageous
This is a mirror of the bicycle industry!
And boating….
Every industry has been effected by covid
yes people with more money than sense paying stupid prices for the latest must have thing ..which might be a couple of grams lighter than something a fraction of the price
And everything! This country is crazy expensive.
I was looking at buying a second hand vw camper couple years back, prices were ridiculous for rusty old vans that needed lots of work to be roadworthy, so I ended up getting a little second hand vw caddy panel van cheap.
I have converted it myself, mostly recycled/free wood. It is fully self contained, running water, toilet, fridge, cooker, wall cupboard, flap up table and extending bed with lots of storage under.
There’s only me so don’t need lots of room, the benefit of this little panel van is stealth camping. No side windows so no one can see in, but it has barn door windows, which I put mirror film on, so you can’t see in, but let’s in loads of daylight, I made magnetic blackout covers for nighttime.
I can park up pretty much anywhere you’re allowed to park and spend the night, with no one suspecting there’s anyone in the van.
Campsite prices are ridiculous these days let alone the cost of a campervan.
2 things have caused this. 1. Poor quality builds of Motorhomes/Caravans and even campervans. 2. Stupid prices because the industry and second hand sellers saw a price increase and jumped on the market and hiked the prices even higher. A second hand Motorhome is now selling for what a new Motorhome was fetching prior to 2022. Plus camp sites saw what they saw as an opportunity to make a killing in camp fee's. It is now cheaper to stay in a hotel than it is to stay on a camp site with your Motorhome/Caravan. The industry has no-one to blame but themselves. Greed is killing the market and the camping boom.
Just because people are stupid enough to pay silly money for a van with a bed doesn't mean they are worth it
@SeanWest-xb5cc Well, that is a matter of opinion isn't it? To me, a reliable van of a certain size with a certain capability with a certain level of comfort (bed or no bed) and a certain set of additional features which makes my daily experience more enjoyable and less stressful, not to mention safety is worth every penny. Further realised by keeping it for a certain period of time and still having a reasonable residual value after 7 years and 180,000 miles. Where is the stupidity in that?
@@jollyfinequality9865 Well said. I bet SeanWest has never been away in a Campervan. We frequently use ours and it has paid for itself with all the great places we have been.
@@jimf4748 Oh yeah? you mean you went to Goole & Scunthorpe? Ha ha...Well I agree with Sean West...and his tins of Salmon are the best !!...so there hop along cassidy and his orchestra.
@@jamestrent-nw9zb Well I've never been to Scunthorpe or Goole but I've been to vitually every country in Europe. Off again on Monday for another long trip. How about you?
@@jimf4748 Have a nice trip mon ami : ) I am off to Grimsby for a week, I love it...and just a stroll away from sunny Cleethorpes. CIAO.😎
Just buy any good van panel and insulate then just use as a tin tent and after your trip take your gear out and you have your van back to use for other things, more economical than carrying the weight of a conversation around with you. And regarding the camp sites becoming more greedy, a friend of mine overnights in plain sight on the roadside, as it looks like a normal van.
@@Billywhizz-bl7yj Theres so many different strong opinions about whats right and wrong, but yours is the one I like best after experience with a new motorhome, a vw camper, a pvc , if I did it all again ( I wont) I’ll go this route definitely, nice one
Make sure it has adequate ventilation of some sort or you will have damp / mould / mildew problems inside your van in winter
@@ph5056 cheap diesel heater getting rid of damp in 10 min
The biggest complaint I have heard is the cost of pitches with some sites costing £40 to £50 per night plus electric we are getting near BB prices add on your fuel and food etc.
They have increased, as a result again of increased costs.
There are cheaper places to stay, but it’s a lifestyle choice 👍🏼
except bb prices also rise at same rates
@@StaycationLifestyle increased costs are a bit of a fallacy i think, at least if order from china :)
I'm doing the nc 500 in October, hope they haven't risen that much as I've never paid more than 20
And the rest one site we have used has now gone up to 72 quida night for a basic pitch.... Sack that
Cracking video. I'm a caravanner and my biggest issue at the moment is the cost of campsites. The caravan and motorhome club sites have doubled since before covid. A pitch which cost £20 a night before is now around £40. Inflation causes 'demand destruction.' People stop buying. Once you've lost them it is difficult to get them back. I'm watching new caravans. The one I want has unsold 2024 models which is unusual at this point in the season, with decent discounts, exactly as you said about dealers wanting to shift stock. People are trying to sell 2020 models for close to the discounted price you can get a new one. I'm holding back, because I'm simply unwilling to pay what is being asked for a campsite, on top of the insurance and other running costs.
A lot of campsites have increased prices significantly, some increases have been necessary for them to stay in business (gas/electric/insurance etc all rising hugely)
There are still well priced sites around.
Many manufacturers have over produced, these dealers are obliged to take stock (deal dependant) and they can’t shift them.
The number of sales in some places haven’t changed, but they have surplus stock because the manufacturer produced more
Yes it’s out of proportion. I’m a tour operator and can pay as low as £35 pppn for dinner B&B in north London hotel! With free parking.
Don't forget the stupidity of customers, paying those prices.
@@stevegill5540 It’s frightening. I did the video about the great spec van for £50k as though it was a bargain, in comparison to the overpriced stuff it is. BUT £50k is big money and now they are even more.
The prices are huge
@@stevegill5540 Property prices and inherited houses leave a lot of middle aged people suddenly wealthy. Splurging out on a dream you can afford is not stupid, it's that old saying "If not now, when"?
@stevegill5540 When you want a specific van and thats the cost, what else can you do? If they are asking stupid money, you can only negotiate so much.
Get a good second hand bargain there out there never go near a dealer
@@markczarny7088 Why? What's wrong with getting a brand new van?? You can buy private but it's not new so who knows what they have done to it?
Recently passed the Benimar factory in Spain, hundreds and hundreds of brand new motorhomes parked outside , that has to reflect a slowing market
Like camping in a tent, it used to be cheap as chips. People are finding it expensive in vans so are moving away. Single person in a tent can often get a bed breakfast and evening meal cheaper than the overnight pitch
What I am surprised about this is that dealers and manufacturers are surprised!
Any surge leads to a lull….
Because of stupid prices, don't buy people
You mentioned golf R which I purchased new in 2016 for £28k now a 2024 R will cost £48k , nearly everything has gone silly !
It’s bonkers. A £48k Golf just doesn’t seem right, but that’s what the market is doing.
Would like one as my daily driver actually, or the Tiguan R or Arteon R 😀
Yep, and I don't think they have raised the 40k+ luxury car tax threshold since I last looked. The UK gov like to tax the shit out of us.
id rather pay for a s/h 2016 model..
Pay per mile will obliterate an already dying industry.
What makes you say dying industry? The last few years it’s been soaring. More and more people have been camping and using leisure vans.
Pay per mile, certainly would impact things. That would be a huge change in all manner of ways
@@StaycationLifestyle
I mean the top end campervan market. DIY van conversions are on the rise.
Sorry yes. They are indeed. And it appears people are wanting the bigger vans more and more
That'll be Labour's Poll Tax
Fuel duty is pay per mile.
But as an aside I cannot possibly see how forcing millions of motorists having a transponder fitted will be tolerated.
People have no money, dealers got greedy, gutted for them
.... Not!
I can't imagine it will crash especially with the housing crisis forcing more people to live in campervans plus some EU countries have recently been protesting on the streets telling tourists to go home. This could mean more people will want to stay in UK for their holidays. There was also the recent global cyber IT outages that the media reported creating cancellations of thousands of flights and millions delayed this year putting people off travelling aboard. World Economic forum working with UK government want to reduce flights by 2029 by creating a carbon footprint trackers so you won't be able to fly unless your credit points say you can.
A very tuned in comment, the WEF are certainly out to get us 'You will own nothing and be happy!.
Same thinking as myself regarding people buying to live in them, or until government cracking down on this too.
The one thing that will depreciate is property - no market crash, but a slow & steady decline for years to come but people blind & don't want to see their asset devalue! The writing is already on the wall & the free money days, are truly over.
The prices for new and used are ridiculous...hence why so many folk are buying cheap vans n doing conversion.
Yes a lot of people are 👍🏼
And now that's knocked on to the van market, I needed a new work van, but all these self convertors have driven up the cost of vans. Ended up having to buy an older van than I wanted because I couldn't justify the cost
@@RickSanchez-ye9bi Remember all the New delivery drivers, courier and logistics companies that have setup. The increase in that sector created a much greater demand for vans
Excellent report, spot on prognosis of the van market, well done that man.
Thank you, appreciate the feedback 👍🏼
People want an image not a utility. I paid 2k for a Renault Master LWB. 1.5k to put bed, heater, solar in it. Have done 150k and only paid around 1k in non-consumable maintenance. Image has always cost money.
You certainly don’t need an expensive van.
It’s the same with all aspects of life. Some choose a big house, a high performance car, expensive meals, when actually they don’t need to.m, it’s just what they choose.
People buy into VW’s for the “scene” the aftermarket parts, forums, groups, meets etc
What ever anyone chooses, you can still visit the same places in your Renault as someone could in their £100k camper.
@@Baud2Bits good on you! I’ve had the full monty, a proper motorhome, a vw, a van conversion in that order. Sold the van and use air bnb now, its great. That said, if I went back to vanning I would get a van and chuck a bed in it, job done
It's a crazy industry. I converted a van 20 years ago and I am tempted to do another but the cost of vans alone is ridiculous.
It’s the base van prices that are causing a lot of the problems with price increases. They have gone up a tremendous amount
@@StaycationLifestyle it reminds me of the the holiday home crisis where wealthy city people buy up homes in small seaside villages, driving the prices up and pricing the local earners out of it. The VW Camper is widely seen as a status symbol for those with a bit of “spare cash”. Obviously the whole online van life trend has massively affect the base van prices. Supply and demand I suppose. Car prices in general are gone through the roof so luxury items are usually worse.
The biggest influences on economic crashes are the media talking about economic crashes. 😮
The uk was great until everyone realised that the weather is garbage almost every weekend.
🤣 Unpredictable would be a good description. Sunny in the morning and then a bit of rain and wind and then finish the day with a little more sun 😀
Don't forget that many thousands of people in 2018 HAVE NOT had a single pay increase...
Prices are up 30% to 50%. Interest rates are UP. Salaries stagnant...!! No wonder it has collapsed...
Will it get better... No way... Labour is hell-bent on collecting MORE Taxes....
Why do they have to collect more taxes? Because its inherited a sh1tshow from the former government and it has to be paid for
I know of a caravan brand who entered the motorhome market.
The market price at relesse was £108k.
The current list price is £132k.
Its ludicrous.
That’s a lot of money. How much time passed between release and current price?
@@StaycationLifestyle They actually held stock back from release as they knew prices were rising.
But. Even in last 2 months they've added another 2k to list.
@@parasinthephilippines Ouch. I wonder if they will sell at that price or the “discounted” price will actually be the original price
@@StaycationLifestyle current discounted price is 119k which is last years list price
@@StaycationLifestyle Coachman travel master 545
The next generation is so addicted to screen they will go on virtual holiday
Day 7 of road trip with children and can confirm you are correct.
the next gen? that gen already here
Yep and not experience anything in their lives.
You have to actually physically be there to experience anything, watching it on a screen isn’t experiencing it.
@@MR_THINQ i actully found vr an expereince tho
There are thousands of very good vans going to waste because of the over inflated prices. What are you going to do with thousands of motorhomes that you can't sell, because people haven't got that kind of money?
If it was me I'd sell them at a loss just to recoup a bit back at least, they had a good ride and need to accept the market has changed
Beware of leaks, regardless of age or manufacturer.
60.000 or 70.000 for a camper...🤔🤯 No thanks.
Where I'm from you can buy a house for that
Agree. it is insane.
Fish and chips at our local shop has doubled in 2 years we no longer can afford our what was our weekly treat…my son is a bricklayer in the south east he is getting £1 per brick laid..he averages 800-1200 bricks a day do the maths…it’s simply unsustainable there is going to be the crash of all crashes.
It's pretty sad when working class food doubles in price. Or triples if a pub bastardises it.
Are you saying your son earns ^800 quid a day as a bricklayer?
@@alarmactionukalarmactionuk893 that’s exactly what I’m saying that’s the rate being paid by building companies .. so what are the customers being charged.
@@steverushaw8761 He doesn't lay 1,000 a day on his own though does he. You seem to forget his labourers wage if he doesn't have 2, one for knocking up and one for loading out. He also cant work when it rains and has overheads like a van, insurance, accountant ect.
I make about £750 a day but I walk away with only £200 a day over the course of a year when all is said and done....
Things are dropping slowly. I offered on a 23k caravan over 10 months ago. turned down. Lastd week I was offered the same caravan by the same dealership at 20.5.. I said 19.5 try said 20... I asked for the hitch upgrade and full gas bottles no problem was the answer. 20k 3 months saved 3k. Very happy. The van will of course depreciate but the new one has gone up by 1700. So I see it as a 4700 price drop
a caravan isnt a motorhome tho
I bought a 3,000 mile, two year old Autosleeper Dorset ES in 2012 for £25k, I sold it a year later for £26.5k, they are selling for more than this now, 12 years later, makes no sense. Previous to this I was looking at caravans but got annoyed that manufactures were hiking prices by 5% every year. I’m sure they’re still doing it, at the NEC show every year they say “beat the price increase, buy at the show”
Covered some good perspectives here. As someone who’s bought and drove a lot of van miles, worldwide, as well as worked in the industry, I’d say that basically most U.K. vans are overpriced for what they are nowadays + as you say, a lot of the market has got flooded = prices should stabilise ahead, as they’ll be a little of unused / unsold vans by winter 2024. Pimped up Vws at 60-70k is ludicrous. Appreciate some higher end buyers will always pay more for the best quality, but at the lower price points (ordinary folk) there’s better value ways of doing this sort of lifestyle.
Everything is about greed in the end. Cost of materials, energy prices (artificially inflated) ? They put them up because they can, and then it flows all the way down to the consumer. They will loose out in the end when people stop buying them because they cannot afford them.
Well the market is oversaturated and overpriced the local l councils don’t encourage stop overs yellow lines across the whole country, greedy campsites fees, fuel cost very high, tax,insurance and storage. It’s gone beyond a normal persons affordable pocket. It’s cheaper to go abroad inclusive deals, guaranteed sunshine nice beaches. Why bover staying in the U.K. driving around it’s stressful 😢
The bubbles burst A local dealer near Dundee is asking £69,169 for a brand new 2024 Auto-Trail C71. However, after searching on AutoTrader, I found the same model, also 2024, listed for £59,995 automatic gearbox - and you can even get a manual version brand new for £57,495. The market is definitely dropping now.
The question is, would you be prepared to drive all the way back to the original dealer to have your van fixed, or would you arrange to go to an Auto-Trail recommended repairer? That might be an option for warranty work if a repairer is closer .
What surprises me is that even if a local dealer didn’t sell you the motorhome or caravan, they might still service it for you - but they won’t handle warranty work. And here’s another warning: if you buy a caravan or motorhome brand new from a dealer, then decide to sell it while it’s still under warranty, the new owner might assume they can get warranty work done at the selling dealer. However, the dealer is under no obligation to provide warranty repairs for second owners, even if they sold the vehicle new unless you purchased it from the dealers.
So, buyers beware. Sorry i had to add this.
And it’s not just camper vans. Caravans have gone through the roof too. My caravan model is being advertised second hand for more than I paid for it new, thirteen years ago!
It sure is, everything has gone up 🫣
Well that was the problem - dealers taking the p155 with prices
Manufacturers product refresh rates are ridiculous these days, typically any new launch is followed by unsold new stock discounts maybe 9 months later?
It not an easy situation. Many buyers like the newest and best. If manufacturer A brings out a model every 2 or 3 years, the buyer could choose manufacturer B because they have just brought out a new tech, meaning manufacturer A will lose sales. Crazy I know.
In reality, how much changes from 1 year to the next? Sometimes it does 🤷🏻♂️
Ignore the haters, that was a great video full of logic and sense 👍🏻
Thank you. Glad you liked it 😀
Nothing new retail outlets of all kinds have been going bust for years and years . Having a business is not easy
Greedy dealers pushing poor quality vehicles
I followed this video up with one where the dealers said it wasn’t true they are greedy
breadvans with windows...... why do people get sucked into paying 60k for a breadvan....unreal...maybe the bubble is finally about to pop
£60000.00 is a cheaper one now days I see ones all the time with £79000.00 + signs in the window 😂😅 madness.
@@rayalbion9637there's 6-7 metre 4x4 campervans at motorhome shows now for over 200k 😆
I think a big under current with the market as a whole is the availability of GAS, which is why i think the market will go Electric for power and electric/diesel heater for heat, rendering a massive amount of vehicles/caravans not fit for purpose.
Some leisure dealers have now installed their own pumps for gas, but this topic is always hotly debated.
Pumps at fuel stations are decreasing that’s for sure.
More and more vans are now “gas less.” Companies fitting induction hobs instead of gas.
I’m sure at the big NEC show later this year, there will be even more “gas less” conversions
@@StaycationLifestyle with the batteries we now have we dont need gas
We purchased a 2018 VW Transporter T6 California Beach three years ago with 15k miles for £52k from the Exeter VW Commercial dealer.
Sold last week with 30400k miles, full service history for £37500..... Lost me £14500.
Yes the market has gone, interest rates up, utility costs up, luxuries like campervans way down the wish-list.
Now's a great time to buy, at others expense.
Seems like you bought at the peak. Lots of people who have bought newer will suffer much bigger losses, IF they can sell them.
The market is a mess at the moment
@@StaycationLifestyle yes well aware of buying at the peak, totally philosophical to the loss as we've saved loads on a Hymer Fiat Ducato Free 600 Campus. Health reasons meant a larger van.
I know someone who just moved from a T4 to a motorhome and they absolutely love it. They don’t need it for a daily driver so suits them much better. Greater comfort.
We are in a massive recession and in massive denial perfect combo.
Good article, but mainly what i already knew. I have a 2018 lunar Clubman caravan. Bought it in 2020 before COVID for 18k . Allegedly worth that now. Went to a dealer this week to get some toilet fluid (currently on a CL for 16 a night), looked at some new caravans for a laugh. Some at 34k. You are having a laugh. No better spec than mine. Silly silly money now. CLs round here are all half empty. Not sure what's going on, but quietest I've seen sites in years.
Over the last 3 days ive watched videos about classic cars, caravans, second hand cars and second hand bike markets all crashing.
Can you do a video on the long wheel base ID buzz please as I’m interested in the vehicle and would like to know if it would make a good camper.
I would love to, but I would need VW to know who I was and they don’t unfortunately 🤷🏻♂️ I’m trying
Unless you’re desperate to own a motor home,it’s just not viable,the costs are ridiculous,easier and cheaper to stay in a premier inn,or similar.
@@meljen8592 watch my next video. This is so often misunderstood. It is cheaper your right, if that’s not the point
But not as much fun! also if you don't like where you are-just move on.
@@jeanpearce8160 Absolutely right 👍🏼
basic modern van prices are ridiculous too especially when they are cr-ap and unreliable...engine problems and tech you dont need..no thanks
Reading lots of comments on here saying £50K-£60K for a camper is stupid. Yes I agree if you’re only going to use it once a month for a wet weekend, but most have been replacing the family car and using them as their daily driver, so actually their no more expensive than a large family SUV, but offer more flexibility 🤷🏼♂️
Very good point as a daily.
Surely there is one other issue hanging over the campervan market - the increased gamble on buying diesel vehicles - with cities excluding them, and increased taxation on fuel looking like inevitable - and with little alternative, in terms of long range electric vehicles, I think people are going to become very sceptical about buying.
Yes, rich baby boomers, on final salary pensions, and paid off mortgages, over inflate the market, but younger people simply can't afford what it getting on for a quarter of a new house for something they're going to use for a few weeks a year. With this uncertainty, and manufactures charging prices that the market cannot sustain, I think a crash is inevitable.
There is a move to introduce alternatives by some converters. A hybrid is available for this some manufacturers are working on full electric.
We will see more hybrid and electric models over the next 12 months, as more base vehicle manufacturers add these to their range.
We are already seeing gasless vans, with cooking being electric.
The prices however are going up. This is driven by the base van manufacturer. A brand new motor caravan registered camper was about 40k 5 years ago, now that’s the price of an empty panel van
What about Caravan and Mobile home prices? Rockley Sands in Dorset for example along with many other luxury sites are offer huge savings. The amount of empty concretes plots prove the industy in in a huge downturn.
Ive seen so many videos like this.
Now I actually work at the sharp end every day and my dealership are actually crazy busy.
We are well established, do the job right, price vans well and are almost at the same sales numbers as last year whixh was crazy busy.
Way more px arpund tho.
No one was prifiteering, we had to pay more for the vans and give more for pxs.
What we are seeing now is we are getting the vans we sold 3 years ago back in px
Markets having a reset, its heakthy , good for the customer and its all good, no crash .
The caravan market has been really hit hardest.
Do your job well, look after the customers and youll be fine, not everyone does that though.
After one of the early comments on the video, i had a look around and didn’t find any which spoke about campervans like I have.
Good to hear your doing well. I know others are too. Like I said if priced right and the job is done right, it will sell.
It’s the cheaply built vans advertised as “top of the range” etc, when they are actually really poor, that really frustrate me.
I can't believe people kept buying the overpriced crap for as long as they have.
It can be resonable as long as your not a poser or too presious about showing off. I bought a 3k Traffic that was a started project and fitted it out with altered kitchen units and tops. Usb led lights around the ceiling and a fold out bed with foam from a fold up bed that i had covered. Just over 4k all together. In some car parks you can stay free over night 18.00-08.00. Builth Wells in Powys is the best. Free overnight, right on the river, amazing town and showers in the car park for £1. Brecon promenade is good to. We did pay £35 in the lakes for a spot with electric once and felt ripped off. Also £20 in the cairngorms for literally just a spot on a slope and access to dirty water. Never again.
The problem with any camping mobile homes or caravans these days is its made out off cheap crap parts and expesily in America them companies dont stand by their warrantys and leave their customers in dispear , so much going on its sad , i personally wouldn't buy a new one today rather fix my old one , buts its a good thing tho the shonky companies will go out off business one day hopefully not at your expense
Get a pro to fit what you what to a solid 2nd hand van, hi spec, or do it yerself. The kitchen is just vanity. Cook under a tarp or fit a pull out.
I have had my T5 for about 8 years now, I bought it from a business for £3995 with 98 thou on the clock. I haven’t converted it to a camper just added the seats in the back and sound deadening plus insulation and carpet lining and banded steel wheels, I use it as my daily driver and to cart about my trials bike. I couldn’t believe it when a guy in a car park walked over to me to ask how much I would sell it to him for! This was in a car park by the beach whilst on holiday. The offer was three times what I paid for it. I politely declined to sell as I love my van
Really good summary of what has been happening over the last few years.We had to wait 23mths for a new A class which fortunately we got at the agreed price saving nearly £20k.Fortunate to be motorhomers as caravan owners are also being hit by higher site fees where we have many other lower cost options to go offgrid like a rally this weekend for £11/night.
i has a T5.1 for many years sold it with deep regret. i now drive a £ 70.000 t6 through work and can honestly say the t5 was a beast compared to the T6. Kids have fown the nest so i think i will be going for a later T5
I know quite a few people who don’t want to move from a T5. Everyone has different opinions. I like my early T6, so still the 140 engine, which I think feels better than the 150 in the T6.1.
We can all still enjoy the same “outdoors” 👍🏼
@tomobrien8417 I had a T5 Caravelle from 2004 to 2014
I have a 17 plate T6 LWB Kombi with 180,000 on it and never had a thing go wrong. I also have a 23 plate T6.1 LWB Kombi. Apart from the fact it's automatic (and I really want a 4motion so I'll be selling it) I can't say I've had any complaints with any of them. What's the issue with the T6s?
T3 is the way to go. Had mine for 15 years, been a beaut. Off to Devon next week with the kids - will he their first trip in it ❤️
@jollyfinequality9865 I had to take back to VW twice because of management light.They reset it and on second time blamed it on rodents eating electrics, which I do not believe as I only have 3500 miles on it and it's in garage at night.Even if I'm wrong it puts a dought in your head and your never comfortable after that.Still best vans out there across the board.
I work next to Baileys and they seem to be firing out caravans and motorhomes out like shelling peas.
Because many were ordered by dealer's so they have to. It's very slow atm trust me. Dealer's are struggling to move new van's on and make profit
@@Roadwarrior92 Good point.
What’s the best motorhome/ campervan for two adults and 2 children (4 and 9) ?
My advice would be to go to several local dealers who have a wide selction of both and different brands and have a good look. When you think, you know what would suit you as a family, then hire one to test it out.
If this is going to be purely a leisure vehicle and you dont need it for a daily driver, then you will usually get more for your money with a motorhome.
Perfect ages for starting the lifestyle, good luck, im sure they will love getting out and exploring
@@StaycationLifestyle it is going to be used for night fishing at local carp syndicate as well
Pure market economics of a bubble and everyone is shocked. Discretionary spending is always vulnerable when other pressures come along and people are fickle. Most people want a cheap summer holiday in the sun and Devon in the rain isn’t attractive especially when all the suppliers are making merry by overcharging. I get it, but don’t be surprised that it doesn’t last. This was all entirely predictable just as day follows night.
One problem is that people who bought into the van life only did so because flying was not a option now it's all back to normal people are back to normal flying around the world and holidaying again.
I did what I thought was the smart thing and rented a motorhome for a week and quickly realised that this was not for me not because I did not totally enjoy it but because the cost of owning , maintaining & using one id mental 😂 seriously for forget the rent of the van we seriously spent about the same in the UK as we do going to Greece for the week.
I’ve been looking for a camper 2-3 years now and still haven’t commit to one as my wife has said the market will crash soon. Always trust your missus lol
🤣That’s a life lesson for all of us 😀
I have had 2 pop top campervans and now have a small Hymer motorhome. I would never go back to a pop top and with the VW’s being as much if not more than a motorhome, I can see why the pop top campervans are on a downturn.
I don’t disagree, many have done the same as you. But the pop tops have a purpose. It’s not only pop tops the market is slowing, it’s everything, campervans, motor homes, caravans
Over priced vans may contribute to lack of sales , I’ve seen some around 80k
Stupid money for what they are especially when the base vehicle is half that!
@@kendibben3179 Some are ridiculous money, totally unjustified BUT there are some genuine ones with components of high standard that can command that premium. The problem is, people are paying too much for rubbish
What's the obsession with VWs? They're nothing special.
You're good with Renault or Peugeot small or medium size models. I'm good with my Renault Kangoo! More space basically only allow more cargo, water or supplies to be away more time, but most people are always somewhat near places to stock and most don't boondock for more than 1, 2 weeks without supplying. Standing up room is important for some, but you lose many places to park and drive...
Moreover, you can always have additional cargo box on roof rack and on tow hook. Smaller vans also double as everyday vehicle no problem.
Flower Power Hippy types. Green Brigade.
We love our 23 year old Bongo 😊
I'd like to buy a campervan or motorhome but they have been overpriced since the pandemic. I'm not buying until they reach a sensible level again and expect most of the demand side is in a similar position.
Feel like campervans are suffering the same problem as Air BnB. Theyre supposed to be a cheap alternative to hotels or BnB's. But if your spending 30/40/50k for a van the sums just dont make sense. You can get ALOT of BnB stays for 30k. Then you have the amount of places that are shutting their doors to vans too. The cons are significantly outweighing the pros
I understand what you mean, the only part I would disagree with (respectfully and only my personal opinion) is “cons are significantly outweighing the pros”. I agree there are becoming an increasing number of cons, BUT it’s a lifestyle choice. For the price of buying a van staying at sites, fuel etc, people could go on some great overseas holidays, however people want the freedom of leaving after work for a night away, a week or more they can AND use the van as a daily driver.
They are becoming unaffordable though, but it’s the same with the car market and lots of other aspects of life at present.
@@StaycationLifestyle the car market is the very good example your right. I find campsites arnt great these days either. They all have this minimum amounts of nights you have to do, they all want booking years in advance and the freedom to just rock up is not there. Also places like the NC500 are getting swamped. Then there’s the other side which every community suffers from 1 in 100 people are awful. They leave the free sites a tip and then the locals get upset then you’ll get the signage up with no overnight stays. For me the freedom to get up and go just isn’t there because of all the restrictions. Abroad though? Yeah campervans make more sense
Airbnb are as much as hotels now - pretty much
@@dorothyb. or more in some cases
Pure greed ..
From who and why? Genuine question as to your thoughts
@@StaycationLifestyle from hypocrits with money buyers and manufactureers who price as high as possible rather rhan as low as possible for the shareholders
@@PazLeBon Agreed all stock listed companies have to provide returns for share holders if they don't they are sacked.
There is no incentive to keep cost of product and profits low, none of their competitors are reducing prices why should they.
This just results in a market where increasing profits each year is the aim not having a larger market share than your competitors.
@@PFL44 governments are supposed to protect us from this. its also happened with housing etc too i suppose too
@@PazLeBonI'm inclined to say it's governments who are to blame for interfering in the 'free' market.
Especially with the housing market.
Why is the Swift Trekker on the old Ford transit (Amazon Van) chassis, surely this will tumble in price. the Swift Monza is the New Shape Model?
I think it is for 2025. I will find out at the NEC. That’s one I want to see. I tested the Monza last week. The new Monza is on the new Tourneo
The build quality of new camper vans is disguising. Just like new caravans.
I think you might mean “disgusting” 😀
I actually touch on that in tonight’s video.
Some do say the quality went down hill after Covid.
Campervans are a minefield at the moment. Rubbish builds, cheap component vans being sold for way more than they are worth
Yes because they charge too much specially for campervans silly money,even second hand ones . We looked at a brand new motor home just when covid started ,they were £39000. That same van now is around £60000 . Bloody ridiculous !
@@jasondyer811 Base vans have gone up massively and all the components too. Dealers turnovers are going up, but their profits aren’t necessarily following
The campervan bubble has burst - I repair them & it's dead as a doornail. We're normally out the door. Not now. People aren't spending money/.
Just come back from 3 1/2 months road trip in the UK. Campsites costing anything from £25 to £50 per night hits the pocket badly.
Go to France or Germany and stay at aires for Euro 10 to 15 per night.
I've a 'homemade' campervan and it's way better spec than anything I've seen from 'professional' conversions and better finished
@@MrRiteEO That’s a bold statement “way better”. There are some pretty impressive built vans. 😀
What have you got and what have you done?
@@StaycationLifestyle Very bold indeed, but true. I guess mine is way better because it's exactly fits my requirements for a lot less money. I've got a Truma combi, Victron electrics. Unfortunately I could do with a bigger garage. When I look at 'professional' ones I'm thinking, well I'll have to upgrade the electrics, get a bigger solar panel, add more sockets, replace the sh1t vent for a Maxxfan etc. etc. Plus not to mention when you look in the back of some cupboards they are very poorly finished, looks like someone was using an axe to cut the boards.
5 years before covid our VW Cali cost us £45K....As covid finished I called to book a site and was quoted the same as the Premier Inn opposite. Sold the van for £45K straight away and could have sold it 20times.... Who wants to walk through the rain to a service block when they can go to a warm bathroom for the same money.
Not surprised the price of them they have been coining it for years
Wondered what Gary Barlow was up to these days
🤣
One reason is road tax. I have just paid £325 for my motorhome and I only do 2000 miles per year. The other reason is £27- £35 for a grass pitch ridiculous.
Paying £35 every night for a pitch for my VW is ridiculous. Could be more.
Prices have risen due to several factors, sites costs have risen significantly and those costs are now being passed on.
Additionally sites have added new facilities to compete.
There are cheaper sites available though, it’s a case of good research 👍🏼