Help wanted on buying a small motorhome
I recently sold my former Motorhome which had done about 70000 miles over 9 years mainly because I had lost my wife and had also developed an illness which precluded me from driving long distances - my favourite destinations being in Eastern Europe. I now miss the life so much that I am looking for a very small motorhome which I can also use as a day to day car whic h can get under supermarket height barriers. The current vehicle of choice is one of the Citroen Berlingo Lo or Romahome,. They are a frightful price new, if one chooses the best conversion - see this for example http://www.romahome.com/model-range/romahome-r20lo/
My question is, has anyone got personal experience of this or a similar vehicle?. If I buy a pre-owned vehicle, what is the maximum mileage one would consider to avoid age problems?
Anyone like to comment on my plans with pros and/or cons?
Thanks....
Comments
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I’m not familiar with such small conversions, although I have owned a Berlingo and thought is was a good vehicle. Mileage is difficult in my mind. A high one is not necessarily a bad thing if there is a service history to show that everything has been attended
to. Any niggles should have been sorted out. You could get much better if you were prepared to go bigger. I’ve not found any serious problem with height barriers – just move on to the next supermarket. Don’t give up, though, it’s all good fun whatever the
size of your vehicle.0 -
I have recently bought a Romahome R30 based on a Citroen Relay (100 Bhp) and it's fantastic IMO. We use it as a large car for shopping and day's out as well as touring. It drives just like a car, is economical and is pretty fast too.
It's small enough for daily use (just over 5 mtrs), but big enough and well equipped for comfortable camping. May be worth a look.
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I saw a Citroen Relay based MH coming out of Port Solent this afternoon. I commented to OH on how compact and neat it looked.
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It's a few years since I've been in Port Solent ( having lived for many years in Horndean.) Of course, that area is home teritory for Romahome. However, when I wanted to buy one, I found relatively few for sale and since buying ours last June, we've never
seen another one. The smaller ones seem to be a bit more common. Have a look at the Romahome website for the model range.0 -
hello Gee Pee, I have had Mazda Bongo for a few years (this is my second one, a diesel) They are a joy to drive and at 2.1 mtrs go under most hieght barriers. Mine is a full conversion with lifting roof and has taken me all over the uk and northern europe.I
towed a small caravan last year with too. Its my daily vehicle and has high mileage but it is nearly 21! The deisel is better as my previous v6 petrol version was greedy, they are far cheaper than the usual vw campervans,I looked at romahomes too but settled
on this one. Like you, I do this on my own as I'm widowed. Had some great hols with the solos crowd from this forum,good luck with your search with whatever you choose.0 -
Yes thats the best way,the mileage will be low (Japan is not very big!) it will come as a 7/8 seater people carrier,easily converted. Aircon, electric blinds etc are standard, although it will be at least 10 years old as they stopped making them 2004/5.
mine is 1995, one of the first and still going.0 -
I decided on a Mazda Bongo, buying a fresh import and getting it converted to my specification. Mine has the factory fitted raising roof which does make it taller than most height barriers (2.2m), but if you can manage with a "tin top" that wouldn't be a problem. There is loads of advice on the bongofury forum
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GeePee, you're really going to have to get a couple of up-to -date Mags with lists of whats available & their Layouts I'm afraid !
The Smalles { NOT the lowest !!} that I've ever had was the mini coach-built Autohomes Bambi, based on the Bedford Rascal / Suzuki Carry 970 c.c. minivan. Stop Laughing -- it was a basic 2 berth, cooker, sink & foot pump powered
water tank, Gaz cylinder on the basic model ! I was regularly asked for a "Strawberry Ripple" or Ice Lolly but despite all the jokes if they still made it Brian would seriously look at buying one . So any of the e/r
Romahomes with accessories of your own choice could be viable choices !Otherwise the smallest { Lowest } would be of the fixed roof variety == not for anybody with a dodgy / stiff back.
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Watch out for spare part costs, my brother in law had a Mazda Bongo but when it needed repairs some of the parts were expensive. His van had quite high mileage, Bongos are often used as taxis in Japan but he got a lot of use out of it, mostly in warmer weather
in France.0 -
Have a look at
THIS GeePee0
