Hoping to purchase a motorhome and need advice.
Hello everyone,
My hubby and I are hoping to purchase a motorhome and are busy researching makes and models. Ideally, we need a 2 berth or maybe a small 4 berth and would like to know which makes people have and what they like or dislike about them. We are only looking at Motorhomes smaller than 6.7m in length.
Does anyone have a Weinberg pepper Motorhome? If so, what do you think of it?
Also, can anyone give me a review on an Elddis motorhome?
We are hiring a Swift motorhome for 3 nights in October just to see what it’s like.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Moderator Comment - Moved to discussion area as more likely that questions will be answered.
Comments
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We have a Bailey Alliance 66-2 which is a two berth model with a rear washroom. It has a decent sized kitchen. We downsized from a previous Bailey motorhome, Approach 740. The 66-2 is a handy size as its not too big and it suits us. Can't comment on the makes you mention as I have no experience of them.
David
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I can’t help with those brands either. Ours is an AutoSleeper panel van conversion and 6m long.
My mantra is always to go for the smallest van you feel you can comfortably live in so that you can travel and park without too much trouble.
I think we need a bit more info to help further. Such as the type of layout you prefer and whether you want to limit yourself to 3500kg to avoid the need for obtaining the D1 licence at 70.
At the end of the day, we're all different and it comes down to personal preferences and what's important to you when you make that final choice.
Oh, and buying close to home makes things much simpler when you need to return to the dealer for warranty work.
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Sorry, I made a typo there and meant the C1 licence for over 3500kg at 70.
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Do a lot of research, don’t be drawn in by the dealers, and once you have made your choice, brand new or second hand, inspect every single inch, inside every cupboard, drawer, etc.........
Think about how you want to use it. Small but comfortable is best for touring and using off site. If you prefer to drive, pitch up and explore on foot, bike or public transport, then size is less of an issue.
Lots of options on layouts and beds. It’s what suits you best.
We have a small monocoque Autosleeper. Getting on a bit now, but utterly reliable, damp free and suits us down to the ground. If we had to replace? Other than Autosleeper nothing British, we would look at a Hymer possibly.
Very good point about buying as local as possible.
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My Autocruise Jazz { no longer available
} is a tiny 5 metre 41 centimetre and is just about the smallest I would contemplate should I be thinking of changing ( I'm Not !! )But I would think you could work out the lay out that YOU prefer and then hire one of the same layout ( not necessarily the makes you are considering !) purely to see if you both can tolerate four weeks at 75* or more as well as the month of solid rain that would naturally follow !
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I had an Elddis built Marquis Majestic 125 for three years having changed it for an A Class Carthago a couple of months ago. I found the Majestic 125 a good layout at 6 metres with a spacious low height garage that took two folding E bikes.
I did have a damp bit of floor replaced under warranty last year but I suspect that was due to the fridge condenser overflow. I subsequently resolved that by routing the drip pipe through the floor and bypassing the reservoir.
Fuel economy wasn't too bad, the 150BHP Euro 5 engine returning just over 32mpg over the course of ownership.
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CuppaT - Sorry can’t help with the makes mentioned but for info. most brands/makes have owner’s groups where you could maybe also read or ask questions specific to the model(s) you are interested in.
Whether you buy new or used if at all possible buy local as it helps not to have to drive long distances to sort out any problems. If used try and ensure all paperwork (habitation, damp test, vehicle etc) are in order. Good luck and enjoy the hire and do be prepared for all the rattles/noise by packing with t.towels etc.
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Having caravaned, motorised and otherwise, I'd agree that as small as feasible is best. Then the question of beds- we've gone back to singles which are converted using the bench seats. Both comfortable and space saving in our conversion.
As David says, if on a seasonal pitch or staying long periods (21 nights max of course on CAMC sites) then a caravan may possibly be best for many.
But we like our touring style. Going for a motorhome then bicycles, electric bikes, scooters and motorbikes can all be easily transported relatively easily. Even towing a small car is seen as a viable option for many. But as we all agree, it's horses for courses. There is no one right answer. Life is always a compromise in my experience.
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Wow, thank you so much for all this advice. What a helpful group of people you are. There are some great points here and we will continue our research.
Although we’ve thought about a caravan and the extra space, my hubby really doesn’t want to tow and we like walking so are hoping to do that or cycle rather than use a car.
As for layout, the swift we are hiring has a drop down bed as I don’t think I want one of these so I thought it would enable us to try it out. Some of the smaller Motorhomes mean making the bed up everyday but there are a few we’ve seen that have a fixed bed which we like. I also like the end lounge options but not sure if they are as comfortable to sleep on as a proper mattress. We didn’t realise how many different options there were until we started looking.
We are hoping to use it for weekends away and eventually to tour parts of France where we used to hire static caravans when the children were small. We would look into a proper awning when we do that, to give us more space.
thanks again everyone.
Cuppa T
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If you get something in the 6 metre range, you might be able to find something that gives you a bed option, ie long enough for sleeping in singles down the interior, but then if you opt for making it up, will give you a huge across the interior bed in less than 5 minutes.
We find that the secret to touring comfortably is to carry as little excess paraphernalia as possible. Hence we can now do a 5 minute pitch up from brakes on to first cup of coffee, and a ten minute depart, which takes all the faff and work out of proper touring around and using the MH to go out each day. Suits us.
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Our first motorhome had a fixed bed and it was very convenient. However it rather dictates the length on the motorhome unless you are prepared to have a transverse bed over a garage which is a popular layout in Continental vans. Because we wanted a smaller van we opted for one that had single berths which had to be made up each night. Not quite so convenient but in practise it only takes a minute or two and you do get it down to a fine routine after a few attempts!
David
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Ours is end lounge with 2 parallel bunks. They will make a huge double but we use them as 2 singles and save the palaver of bed making. We shove the back rest cushions into the cab to get them out of the way then simply unroll sleeping bags and add pillows. The beds are comfortable and wide enough. By day, we sit relaxing with our feet up.
Although some people love the fixed bed layout, I think they compromise on space elsewhere - the kitchen, in particular.
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The rear lounge layout does give a fair bit of living space but I do like a nice big garage for bikes and "stuff"
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I will add WEIGHT, as in payload is something that needs looking into thoroughly!
The newer motorhomes have little to spare sometimes. Check what's included before the remaining payload is quoted. That will be water, fuel, driver (again check the allowance), ?passenger - often not. Then extras like solar panel, awning. That way you'll know if there maybe an option for bikes, towing etc. Don't forget bedding, clothes, food, pots, pans and alcohol will all add to weight too 😉. Get the one you like weighed before committing, so you know what it actually is, rather than the manufacturer quoted, that way you can calculate accurately for your weights and travel needs. Ensure you know how much water and fuel is in the vehicle at the time of weighing.
I'm on the look out myself for a smaller one, lots to consider 😉 but I do know which layout suits us, from hiring when in NZ on family visits.
There are some good threads on here about not using EHU electric Hook up and weight uses. The search facility is rubbish sadly 😢. Try Google, no ehu posts by merve and weight by boleroboy. Neither post regularly these days.
Don't want to bring you down but better to know than be stopped and fined, having to unload before you can continue.
It's a great hobby and I'm sure you'll enjoy it 😀
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Our 'stuff' is pared to the minimum essentials and we have a bike rack, although we don't have bikes🙂. It's very true that we all have different ways and choices and find ingenious ways to do things.
I wonder if that old saying about stuff expanding to fill the available space is true?
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We previously had a coach built motorhome at 6.6m very nice and comfy but found it a bit awkward for doing days out with it in the UK.
We know have a 6.3 m panel Van conversion. The layout is the same with a rear lounge with twin seats that convert to 2 very good sized single beds or 1huge king sized bed. Beds easy to make up, pull base out about 6 inches, drop the back cushions into the space, roll out bed roll, take pillow out of cushion cover, job done.
The will always be a compromise with any van ours is the bathroom, it's a wet room so small but it works fine if having to shower in it. We tend to stay on sites more when staying for longer periods so this is not an issue. Touring it works well as we can park it almost anywhere.
Plenty of cupboard space, overhead lockers and underbed store. The kitchen is the one place I won't compromise on it has to be functional our is, has plenty of worktop space and cupboards.
We have a tow bar that the bike rack fits onto for 2 ebikes. Plenty of payload for what we need.
Cab seats turn round to form a small front sitting area with a small round table, big enough to eat a meal at. This means in good weather we can leave the beds made up if we do wish.
What ever you do, please take your time to choose it's an expensive mistake if it's wrong.
Most of all enjoy it, when you do get to France it's motorhome heaven.
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Yep, a bike rack can be used for a lot more than bikes😁 We have a Winter Thule storage box that fits on ours. Takes stuff that we might need, but don’t want inside. I brought some Christmas trimmings (otherwise known as fir tree branches) back from Bolton Abbey Site one year after a storm😉
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If you’re looking for a fix bedded motorhome under 6.7m then have a look at the Adria Twin panel van conversions. They are very versatile and will take a bike rack on the back. We’ve had two such vehicles in the last 10 years and would recommend the Adria brand. We’ve since moved to a larger Burstner Ixeo and we love it but its a little restrictive when it comes to parking in car parks and the payload is somewhat reduced compared to a Panel Van Conversion.
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