Working on courage
Hi there. I've been a happy motorhomer for a few years, but due to a sudden change in family circumstances I now need to sell my motorhome and buy a small caravan instead. I'm determined to gather my courage and carry on as a solo caravanner, even though
it feels a bit daunting at the moment!
I've never had to sell a big vehicle before, and I don't know much about caravans, tow cars or towing. I'm hoping I can find some friendly advice here to guide me through.
I've had a bit of a hunt about, but I can't find any threads on selling tips. Should I just dive in and create a discussion, and if so, which section should I post in, please?
Comments
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There is the CC Classifieds section and Preloved is a website that is good for caravans. I'm not sure about MHs though but it is worth a look.
Have you considered downsizing to a MH more suited to your new status rather than embarking on a car/caravan combo. That might enable you to do a trade-in deal as well.
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Hello Wellsprungalice and welcome to Club Together.
Rather than get your discussion on motorhomes mixed up with introductions, I'm moving it into the Caravan and Motorhome Chat Section.
My personal opinion; I admire you for not wanting to give up your hobby and continue as a solo but, if you've never owned or towed a caravan, you might be best not to jump in too quickly. Towing isn't for everybody, particularly if it's at a stressful time
in your life. If you're familiar with the ways of motorhoming then, as Cyberyacht says, could downsizing be an alternative?If you must change then I'd have a good look around at caravans to determine what layout etc., will suit you.
Is it possible to recruit a friend or relative to give you some moral support with the sale of your motorhome?
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You've been given some good advice, WSA, and I too admire your resolve to carry on.
Have you found your way to the Solos section of the forum? You'll likely find people in similar situations to your own and they may well have a wealth of experience to share.
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Perhaps you might be hasty in wanting to part with your motorhome? It must hold many happy memories whatever your current circumstances. There is a big financial penalty in selling, and running costs on large and small will be broadly similar. If you have
not driven it much, or at all, I would recomend the courses run by the Club throughout the country that are designed to allow one to gain skills and confidence. If you do decide to move to a caravan these courses are an excellent starting point.The Club members themselves are very supportive of solos, but unfortunately nothing has ever come of the idea of members who are willing to give a bit of help on-site having a sticker in the window to show this.
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Thank you so much for the replies. Thay have immediately made me feel better.
It may be that I don't have the luxury of keeping my current outfit, even though I love it to bits and it hurts just to think about selling. I'm fairly confident about listing it; I'm terrified of all the scare stories about financial fraud. I can't seem to get my bank to give me a clear answer on how long funds would have to be in my account for before they could no longer be reversed out again. I don't know whether it's better these days to ask for a transfer or a cheque.
I had been thinking 'caravan' because I must buy a car, so car + caravan would give me more flexibility as well as saving on running costs of two vehicles. But, I admit that I hadn't thought much about towing other than 'I'll learn to do it', and your advice has given me food for thought.
Is it possible to receive tuition on towing without already having your own caravan? I guess that would be difficult because of insurance, but, if you don't ask, you won't know, so I'm asking. That way, I'd feel more confident about making that decision.0 -
WSA, you should be able to find a company that will give you towing tuition. Probably not with a caravan but some sort of trailer. Look for firms that do HGV training and give them a call. I assume you've got the necessary licence to allow you to tow a caravan.
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It is the towing vehicle's insurance that would include the trailer (most policies do).
If you have never towed at all it can be a great first step to borrow/buy a model car and trailer and spend some time pushing it around the floor. You can quickly get to see how the trailer does not follow exactly the towing vehicle on corners, and you
can learn how the tow vehicle has to manoever the opposite way to reverse into a space. A fiver from Asda versus quite a few expensive lessons.0 -
It is the towing vehicle's insurance that would include the trailer (most policies do).
ie if you lent me your caravan and I was involved in an accident that wrote it off, my car insurance wouldn't pay out to replace it.
But only 3rd party
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WSA, in our group of 'vanners' there are several solo members who have small motorhomes which are not much bigger than a small van size. I would imagine that running costs would be simmilar to a car. Towing a caravan as a solo can be fairly stressful, hitching up, towing on unfamiliar roads where you cann't turn round easily and then putting it away when returning home. As others have said, if possible don't rush your decision. Good luck.
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Hi Alice, I took my van to a non franchise dealer who agreed to sell my van for a fixed fee of £500. He would prepare, advertise, show the van and more importantly he would ensure that no scammers got the van. The van was sold within a month and we were
well pleased with the result. The deal we did gave us a nett £1500 more than part exchange. The people we dealt with also sell lots of 2nd hand MHs.0 -
My friend who was widowed not long ago sold her van through a reputable dealership. You might also spot something else that suits you at a dealership and can do a part ex. Or as Oneputt suggests just arrange a "brokerage" deal and move on from there. Good
luck, you don't have to have a big car to tow a small van. There are some really nice small vans around.0 -
If you have never towed at all it can be a great first step to borrow/buy a model car and trailer and spend some time pushing it around the floor.
That's a really ace idea.I will make a trip to ASDA tomorrow.
Thank you for the replies. My present van is a Dethleffs RT on an 07 plate, and I absolutely love her, but, I have to bite the bullet and sell her in order to buy a car and sort out some domestic practicalities. I'm just hoping I can scrape enough money together after that to afford a caravan. I think another MH will be beyond me for the time being, although that is where my heart is.
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My friend who was widowed not long ago sold her van through a reputable dealership. You might also spot something else that suits you at a dealership and can do a part ex. Or as Oneputt suggests just arrange a "brokerage" deal and move on from there. Good
luck, you don't have to have a big car to tow a small van. There are some really nice small vans around.I had not thought of that. We have two dealerships not far from here, so I will give them a ring. One of them had more caravans and MHs 'sold' on their lot (of over 200) than for sale last weekend, and all the 'sold' signs had collection dates within the
next week. Unless they are posting false 'sold' signs (and I can't think why they would) it looks as though the market is quite bouyant.0 -
It is certainly high season for Sales at the moment everyone preparing for the summer holidays. You may we'll find you get the caravan bug there are a lot of plus points to leaving a van in one place and exploring the area in a car, never mind the ease of shopping and city centers. Towing isn't hard especially if you take it easy. Good luck.
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The larger caravan shows often run short 'towing a caravan' courses where they provide both tow car and caravan - which might be a good way to find out how well you cope, without having to buy a caravan first. Then you could assess whether you'll need further lessons, or would be confident on the road.
There are also different rules, depending on when you obtained your driving licence. Here's an extract:
If you obtained your car driving licence before January 1, 1997, then you will retain your entitlement to drive a vehicle and trailer combination of up to 8,250 kg MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass), until that licence expires. When you reach your 70th birthday, however, new rules apply if you’d like to keep towing.
If you obtained your licence after January 1997, you’re able to drive a vehicle up to 3,500 kg, and tow a trailer up to 750 kg behind. Again, be sure to check what you can and can’t do before you drive, particularly if you’re looking to tow something heavier than 750kg.
Given that there are very very few caravans under 750 kg this may affect you and you may need to take an approved towing course before you are able to take a caravan on the road.
Good luck, though, in whatever you decide, and I hope you are able to find something which suits you.
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We are seasoned caravanners but even so in your position I think something like a Romahome might be a better bet.
Having said that a caravan is very posdible but without someone with you getting directions can be difficult but with a decent sat nav most sites should not be a problem if you want to get a caravan.
I assume you are looking at a small caravan so in practice towing should not be a problem. If reversing looks a problem then you can get a motormover so I cannot see a caravan is out but I would take advice from the Solos section.
I have towed our caravan at 7.2 meters overall on my own without problem but I have worked up to it.
Good luck whichever way you go.
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I don't remember any of us Solos being new to towing alone - apart from me who started towing solo in my 20s. Most have caravanned with their other halves first. I should think it's easy enough to find a driving school which will give a few lessons if
you can't get on a CC towing course. Any decent driver should be able to handle a caravan - in my opinion that is - I would Go For It. I nearly wasn't brave enough to restart until I remembered all the fun I used to have - and it was a bit like riding a
bicycle.0 -
We have sold a motorhome privately and everything was fine. The money, nearly thirty thousand pounds was put into my account electronically and I was able to see it in my account in less than thirty minutes. Once I saw the money in I let the motorhome go.
The buyer waited with me for this to happen.I also sold a ten thousand pound car the same way. It does help if you have online banking.
I advertised the motorhome on Preloved and CC Classifieds.I think the chappie saw it on the CC site.The car was sold via Preloved.
I would try it privately first for a month and if nothing transpires go with a dealer.
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