One Man's View of the Market

Surely the loss of ICE powered engines applies the same to motorhomes as it does to tow cars. I suppose that electric powered M/Hs are easier to refuel but for anyone wanting to do some "wild camping"  that will a big drawback and of course there will be the addition cost in the purchase price of an electric vehicle.

Nellie

From what I can see the base vehicles used for motorhomes seem to be way back in development of alternative non ICE engines. There are electric versions of some of the base vehicles but not much in the way of electric engines in the larger motorhomes as yet. The change from ICE cars to Hybrid, Plug in Hybrids and pure EV's  is much more advanced. There is another issue in that electric vans are so much heavier which impacts on the licence requirement. Europe is currently considering increasing the B1 licence to 4250kgs compared to the current 3500kgs just to accommodate "white van man" for want of a better description. I am sure the UK will follow suit. At a guess I would have thought the van market is at least 5 years behind the car market in terms of progress. I think you are right that the refueling situation with EV of all sorts will add a new dimension to electric motorhoming, but we do get used to change. Many of the fears people had about electric cars have proved unfounded as people who own them adapt to the different situation. My son charges his EV at home on a very low tariff overnight, much cheaper than petrol. He regularly goes to South London and back to MK without charging en route. You are certainly right about the additional cost which seems to be an extra £20/25000 over the ICE version. So what we think is the current over priced starting point for motorhomes of £70/80000 will become £100,000!!! I don't know about you but I don't think I will be worrying about such things

David 

Europe is currently considering increasing the B1 licence to 4250kgs compared to the current 3500kgs just to accommodate "white van man" for want of a better description. I am sure the UK will follow suit.

The UK introduced the increase some time ago just for alternative fueled vehicles. There has been a campagne in the EU for somethime by motorhome organisation to increase the B1 licence not just for alternative fueled vehicles but ICE ones as well. It was also under consideration here but not seen anything further about it since consultations on the subject finished.

peedee

we had to make to sad decision to sell our coachman vip 460/2  2016. we bought it to last us but unfortunately the wife fractured her back in two places due to falls, we purchased it in late april 2022,  and had a few holidays then she had her problem, so did'nt use it untill sept 2023, and then i cut short the holiday as i went ill,  so after standing since then we decided to advertise it for sale first went on facebook market place one woman rang asking about the van, question have you used the shower, have you used the oven, has a dog been inside it because i answered yes to these then she didnt want to look.  next i advertised it on ebay,  one man rang me but he was using a motorised scooter to get about and thought his wife would be able to manage towing even though she never towed and had no where to store the van,  it had plenty of views nearly 400 when i last looked i kept dropping the price to the lowest i could accept,  which was £12000, dealers selling them for £16000 upwards, still nobody intrested i then rang some adverts  most would offer £11,000 but didnt really want it, as people buying 4 berths now, i advertised it with water containers etc even brand new porch awning,  then i advertised it on autotrader and the next day a dealer rang and said if still for sale then he'll go to £12,000 so hes now got it, speaking to him it seems as though not many has money spare now they just look, dont think we will get another, well just rent cottages .  

Kalamitty55

Sorry to hear that various health problems have resulted in you selling your van.

A couple of hours ago I watched another "dealer" video, just on caravans. It seems that new caravan prices are being discounted which is having a knock on effect of secondhand caravans values. It would also seem that the market is a bit slow at the moment with some uncertainty that it will pick up significantly. 

Interesting what you said about Autotrader, clearly dealers keep an eye on that website?

David

Tough luck Kalamitty. Hope things go well for you.

Bit worrying as we also have a VIP 460, a year younger than your one. However if we do go for a M/H then will hopefully p/x it.

Unfortunately, when you are selling something, you will very often have timewasters phoning up who have very little intention at all of buying what you are selling, especially it seems when it is a house, car, boat, caravan or a motorhome!  I once put an add to sell a car in autotrader and had dealers phoning me offering to buy it for a low price, so  perhaps that is where many dealers obtain some of their stock.

Just come across another video here compiled by someone who is not in the trade but is looking to buy a new van. He has looked at several dealers across the country and observing the state of their stocks and pricing which some might find interesting. Also some news on White Arches who have now been taken over by the Spinney Group but seemed to be within a whisker of going under.

David

Interesting video David. Thanks.

David,

An interesting thread. As I think you know I am just acquiring an LHD 2007 Hobby 2007. This is a "toe in the water" for me and I might sell next year if it does not work out.

Comments about cheap flights and  foreign travel all noted (I  have regularly flown to Morocco). My background is solo motorcycling around Europe and I miss it but I have got out of the riding habit of riding in part because of some temporary health problems. So the Hobby is there to allow me to perambulate around Europe mixing dual carriageway for progress and D roads (and LHD because I was spoilt riding motorcycles!) I have two 2024 trips abroad planned to date plus an few UK outings (With a 4 camera system fitted I should not be massively disadvantaged on UK roads especially if I plan dual-carriageways for most longer haul trips. (From home to Newhaven I am on dual-carriageways for all but 20 miles!))

My thoughts on the market:

1. Caravans will have to get smaller and lighter if they are to be towed by EVs.

2. EV MoHo development is way, way behind cars. There will be a market for ICE MoHos for donkey's years. And those who are petrol heads may well go down the route of a small MoHo or camper to keep using ICE transport rather than purchasing an EV.

3. Eventually a combination of massively upgraded electrical hookups and EV MoHos will make an EV home feasible but mainly around the 6-7  metre mark. 

4. Europeans enjoy the great outdoors more than we Brits. No way will they give up MoHos. That will be the where there is first growth in upgraded electrical hook-ups feeding through eventually to the UK.

So I see the MoHo market as likely static for the foreseeable future with just inflation based rises in single digits. That will do me! I am OK taking a small hit on a sale next year if that is the way the cookie crumbles!

If I stick with MoHoming I am unlikely to buy new. A well specked vehicle that is a few years old  would be the height of my ambition. An auto gearbox would be nice but far too many new vans look flimsy and built down to their eye-watering price!! Maybe I should consider a re-engine of the Hobby with an auto box or even just a 6 speed but keep this very well-built van!

Chris