Live at the NEC Motorhome & Caravan Show 2018
Is anyone visiting the Motorhome & and Caravan Show this week? If so we would love to hear from you!
Why are you visiting, what are your show highlights and did you manage to leave without buying a new caravan or motorhome?!
For us poor folks not able to go this year, let us know all about it. 
Comments
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Yes,watched Matt and Arthur Bostrum alias Crabtree in allo allo.Was not in the market for new van but motorhomes areas very well attended.Looked at the new Laser range from Coachman as well.Towsure area rammed,making it one way would have helped.Did manage to get what I need though.
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We went today, as I mentioned elsewhere. Principally to compare a couple of Bailey Motorhomes. Still think the original Advance model is the best choice compared to the new Alliance, both exactly the same size and layout. Did look in on the Club stand but very busy and nothing there I needed so concentrated on looking at the motorhome stands we were interested in.
David
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Fantastic! - congratulations on your new caravan David. Glad you also enjoyed the Club stand.
Sorry I wasn't there this year to say hello.
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I went today, bought a few minor items, some as presents. Popped into both Club stands, learnt a bit more about costs of Glamping on the C&MC stand and how to cook better on a Cadac on the C&CC stand. Had a very useful chat with one exhibitor about the down sizing options from my current 6.5 ton van. Got us really thinking more seriously about it.
It's a couple of years since I last went to the October show, it seemed larger than ever and very motorhome orientated.
peedee
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We went today, to look at the Motorhomes. Specifically one of the lighter weight Hymer models. I think we have pretty well decided we will get one in the new year, it seems to have everything we are after. The model, in question is the Exsis-t 588 on the Fiat Ducato base. Twin single beds and garage capable of taking 2 full sized bikes.
Not overly large at 6.94 but well equipped and a reasonable amount of space. There was an almost identical model 50 cm shorter, however that seemed a bit cramped and the driving position leg room poor. Payload on the basic vehicle is 730 kg on a max 3.5 tonnes. So even after the optional extras we should be left with a sufficiently high figure.
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So I understand. However, it is as much the layout has everything on our list and we can buy it locally, as going for a specific make. Bailey, the make of our current caravan, don't have anything that comes close.
Getting out of the show circa 3pm was very quick. However, getting in at just after 10am took an age. The traffic management didn't seem very well organised at all, they needed a few more feet on the ground.
Also a fact I found interesting. Passing the Alde stand I picked a bottle of antifreeze, from amongst many on the display shelf, and took it to the desk. Oh we can't sell those said the rep, they are just for show. If we want to sell anything from the stand it costs us an extra £5000 and we just would not sell enough. So the stand is purely for promotional purposes. He did give me a small sample bottle of the fluid though.😀
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We spent 2days at the show and 3nights on the club temp site.we thought it was an excellent show.spent some time on the club stand listening to a couple of discussions with Matt.watched Morello launch their new Palace Motorhome .On the spending side we were good this year and bought an Isabella windbreak ,a combined salt and pepper mill and a dustpan and brush. Really enjoyed it .
Brian & Jo
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Went to look at how different manufacturers fix ladders to beds as Hymer want £450 or so for one of its ladders [very well made]. Now we know what we can get for c£80.
Also looked at PVCs as our next van but found them either low quality on design and build or over specced. Bilbo's Lezan was a good option for a 'day van' as it had the necessary toilet and headroom. We did like the new Mercedes Sprinter cab so maybe we'll move away from Fiat.
Too much to see in the five hours we were there. We spent nowt!
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We went to browse motorhomes and were quite keen on the Adria and also the smaller Hymer Exsis 474(both integrated and coachbuilt). Unfortunately we didn’t do our homework beforehand so didn’t look closely enough at the right models. Our nearest Hymer dealer is 80 miles away and there is no guarantee that they would have the model we are interested in. NEC is definitely the place to see everything. February maybe?
One comment I would make that seems to apply to many manufacturers and that is the “extras”. With Fiat and Peugeot, cab air conditioning is an “extra. Can you imagine buying a decent car without air con? I have the list of Hymer extras and it is eye watering. I guarantee it will add £10-15k to the base vehicle price just for the essentials. The other point is that you can always negotiate away the standard “luxury” or “comfort” packs at around £3k e.g. air con, awning, alloy trims, but much more difficult if you are trading in another vehicle.
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Good advice on weight, particularly with a model like the Hymer where spare wheel, oven (if you want one) and some other items are all extras which are included as standard in the MIRO on other makes. Makes a nonsense of the 700 kg payload. By the way, the oven weighs 33kg and spare wheel 25kg. Even something daft like the wooden shower slats weigh 3kg extra (and cost £130). Great outfits though!
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I agree BB the options are a bit of a minefield. Hymer do at least publish the weight penalty of the options, which isn't always as large as expected, as they replace something that was included. I have totted up all the extras we want, plus a few we might like and it comes to 262 kg. That does inc a solar panel but only one battery. It does seem a little ridiculous that the base weight does not include for a spare and only incs for 15 inch steel wheels, which they don't even sell it with. We could if we wanted uprate it to 3.85t for £240, although I would prefer to stick with 3.5t. I think it sound advice to get the weight checked before purchase.
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I see that it is first week in September next year. Certainly worth considering. Perhaps a new discussion thread on how to get there, where to stay etc.?
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i knew what my other 'extras' weighed prior to fitting and all my 'kit' including bikes etc which was all in my garage at home...
when all done, dusted and weighed in touring trim, I was within 20kg of my predicted total weight, in my favour...
good luck.
Thanks BB.
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, ,to join the American Dream? as they now own the Hymer group
