Looking at Buying A Motorhome. Advice Welcome!

Both our vans have been under 6m, no problems, the present coach built is slightly bulkier to park than the van conversion. The van conversion was better in good weather, flinging open all the doors but not so good in colder weather due to the extra doors! 

Steve, I can remember the Coronation but only just!

All you can do is keep looking. You'll know when you find the right one. It's my guess that there will be hundreds of nearly new vans on sale once people can start taking package holidays again.

I know what you mean about the kitchen being exposed to the elements. That will be fine in warmer climates but not ideal in the Outer Hebrides. Our van has the kitchen on the offside and utilises part of the doorway for the washroom. We find it an effective use of space.

Steve, have you looked at Benimar?

They are very contemporary in design, well 'specced' as standard, including solar panels, Spanish built with habitation door on UK side....

Our Mileo 243 is 6.99m long but they have 2 & 4 berths at 5.95m

Thanks for the suggestion. I think we are just about decided on a Dethleffs, albeit what one Reviewer described as 'targeted at the less well heeled' ...

Given that the cost will be roughly 7 x times the cost of my first property, we will be taking a wee while to check everything before committing ourselves!

Steve

It does deserve a long hard look when buying a first motorhome, afterall, hopefully you will own it for a long time unless you are prepared to change in a few years time. For that reason it is very important to get the interior design that will suit you as you grow older. Our first motorhome had a fixed bed but after six years we decided that a two single bed layout at low level was more comfortable. We worried that it would be a chore making up the beds each night but we now seem to have that off to a fine art and think nothing of it, same in reverse. Would we have reason to change again, probably not but I could be tempted to a model with an automatic box if it was reasonably priced!!!

David

For us coming to caravanning fairly late (2005) we always had a fixed bed layout, first in our Abbey and subsequently in our Bailey. When we switched to a MH we decided we wanted the same. Inevitably, if you want a garage (as we did) it does mean the bed(s) are high. In wide double bed mode, our layout would be very difficult to use for ourselves as it would involve a ladder. However  in single bed mode, the staircase between makes for very easy access. Plus a payload saving, as the double bed paraphernalia stays at home. The only downside is, it is not possible to sit up in bed, as there is a locker over the head end.

Elaine and I are quite cautious [allegedly] insofar as we will agonise over the minutiae and then ask ourselves 'Are we doing the right thing?' several times; and then we'll cut loose with a vengeance and disappear for months on end! Got an insurance quote this morning, so it is getting serious! Do you have any thoughts on service costs, please, David?

I would like to cut the finance period to the shortest manageable time but avoiding the 'we can afford the m/home, but have nothing left to pay for holidays' trap!

Steve

We were much later than you coming to caravaning [2018] with Gobby the Gobur Folding Caravan [I will have to get it sold when COVID restrictions permit]

We have only the massive transverse double bed option so it will be very much a 'One out, all out' exercise at 3am Roll Call and the space limitations mean it's a stepladder descent. I think it will be possible to make a matching wooden twin step box to emulate the 'staircase' between the 2 single beds and the modification can then be stored in the garage or under bed locker during the day or for transport. A little messy, but easier than trying to get into the last parking space that is 1 metre too short!

Payload is about 780kg so we should be able to cope with disciplined and modest changes of this ilk [famous last words ...]

Steve

Don't forget there are 2 lots of servicing costs. An annual habitation service (aka rip off) will set you back £200-£250 ish.

The base vehicle servicing will depend on what that vehicle is. Fiat/Peugeot have 2 yearly service intervals with the first couple of services costing around £250 each. That's approx £500 for 4 years so not bad at all.

Not wishing to poke my nose in but have you considered a used van? There are some good low mileage hardly used examples out there due to people making expensive mistakes when they buy their first vans. They can be absolute bargains.

Edit:  Whoops, I see the question was directed to DK.

It's interesting reading about other people's choices, we looked at similar but prefer head room above us so decided that fixed beds didn't matter and we're ok without.