A great video and insight. You mention the 3500kgs weight limit for drivers ie passed their test after 1997 BUT please can you mention on one of you next vlogs that this ruling also applies to a person when the reach 70yrs of age in the UK, again a medical and a retest is required if over 3.500kgs!!
Just replacing the solar inverter makes a difference. I had a no-name solar controller, swapped it out for a Vectron and this now keeps my leisure batteries charged. I used to get back to the MH after a couple of weeks and the batteries were at 8volt, now they are at 12volt. I have not replaced the batteries yet.
Hi Kat loving wandering bird…. We made the mistake with our first MH, we bought a six berth, then none of our over 16 year old kids wanted to come with us😤 Today we collect our 2 berth and we are looking forward to more space and a separate shower 🚿 ❤
Although we have a caravan, always researching and comparing one v the other. Good honest information to add to our knowledge. Drop down fixed bed would definitely be high on the list and having good living space. Always interesting to hear real thoughts and experiences, not sales talk! Great stuff
Some great advice for anyone thinking of buying a MH, we bought our first MH UK manufacture but no fixed bed, it had a rear bathroom it was OK for 2 but when taking grankids away it was a nightmare making up front & back beds, we now have a continental van with 2 fixed single beds, rear washroom, & drop down bed in lounge for occasional use when taking grankids away
Lots of sage advice :) Our door is on the continental side and we’ve been to lots of the places requiring us to park corner to the peg and I have to say they’ve always been pretty easy going about nose in or out and said whichever way around you like as long as you’re corner on the peg. You’ll have to tell me which particular place was so funny with you!
Great video, fun to watch and I liked who you went on tangents all the time. Great insight and it's helped us think about what we want in a motorhome here in Australia, keep up the good work.
Brilliant, just found you on social media and will be following you on here. Like many others, currently researching for our type of motorhome. Keep posting.
I have been going to watch this for days, alas. As I am approaching the end of my C1. I have several choices + / - 3500. Yes a medical would be needed for retaining my C1 and just over £101k for a Kon tiki, lots of us live in hope. Your hubby's licence allows him a gross train weight of 8,250 kgs, not enough for a toy hauler. Brilliant insight into this licence / maze and layouts. I already have a list, but your vlog will make people think and research Keep the vlogs and info coming
For containing our Dog in a Van we found a fireguard\child stairgate thingy that perfectly fits around the entrance step. (made by Baby-Dan IIRC). Doesn't take any space out of the van but you can have the hab door open with the dog safely confined.
Very helpful, great advice 👍 We’ve narrowed it down to a big garage for the bikes, and twin beds, because we’re childless insomniacs who love to put our feet up after a hike 😂
Just discovered your blog and found your opinion both practical and useful.I don't have a motorhome as yet,but thought hiring one first might be the way to go,just to see if it is something we'd enjoy~Ian
I think you missed a MAJOR consideration when discussing rear lounge vs no rear lounge. Like you, we prefer the rear lounge but if you go for this option, you lose the option of a garage or large rear storage. Any van with a rear lounge will always have a serious reduction in storage space with low lockers being the only option. Apart from that, great guide. There is a list of considerations that could be added but how long should the video be. The requirements for wild camping and site camping are very different. We are ardent wild campers which means we need space on the roof for solar, that nice microwave can't be used unless we buy a generator, but then where to put it with no garage, and of course the bigger the van, the more difficulty squeezing into that little corner that has the nice view of the lake. We sometimes struggle parking our 7.4 metre van into a nice hidey hole.
Syd Hutchinson Just bought our new Bailey 68/2 with rear lounge and great big boot below. Ok it’s not a garage, but loads of space there. We’ll see how it suits us over the next 6 months or so and decide next year if we want a change or stick with this one.
I have always bought into the VW lifestyle and because of that badge, you’re paying a fortune to look cool driving along 🙈 then you need a pop top to be able to stand to cook/wash and to clean. I now have a disability in my back so the old VWs are a definite no no!! I found an awesome van - I’m not sure if any of you have come across a “deffleths 2 berth compact motorhome” mine is on a fiat chassis but I know that Ford make/made them too. I absolutely love it!! Fixed bed, proper shower, toilets, wash basin, sink, 2 burner hob but no oven. No biggie - you can put it into most parking spaces as it’s a little over 5 metres. It also has a fixed bed with a big garage underneath accessible from the outside. I believe that they’re Dutch made, so they are built as a LHD vehicle but it’s RHD so my awning, side door is all on the drivers side which can be a little irritating when you want a bit of peace and quiet on a campsite but if someone backs in the same way as you, your awnings are going to face one another. Very small price to pay. It’s like new, I can’t put pics on here obviously but it’s 20 years old and has just gone over 40k miles at £14000 I’m very happy. The only nightly part for me is that the shower curtain sticks to you lol so I was thinking about a tambour door which would be cool as there’s a double wardrobe above the toilets cupboard in the shower area Im hoping to head down to Portugal in October/November as the weather still looks pleasant plus it’s gas heating is hot 🥵😂 Does anyone have any advice with regards to getting phone reception boosters, to use as a hotspot? I’ve only been away on a few local trips to get used to it all but have struggled to even make a call, let alone post images or drone videos! I don’t want to spend the earth on it all. I would also like to have a tv and a small oven and was thinking , if I got a big inverter and another strong leisure battery that I could possibly use 240v instead of the overpriced 12v stuff. Here is an identical van with a different colour interior - www.caravans.nl/dethleffs/dethleffs-bus-2-super-compact-vast-bed-797254.html Thank you for reading. I’m very excited to get on the road and go where the days take me!!
Saying about when you open the door into the road and worry about Mac, teach him he has to wait and only allowed out the door with a release command. One less thing to worry about.
Nice one good advise and do your research and home work like u said I think a lot of people don't get it right first time think u hav to hav one first to c what work for u and what don't work you cheers .kev
Oh man. I hope that I would've seen your video sooner. Well what's done is done. I have an RV RUclips channel also, so I'm super excited to see what the colleagues are up to. Subbed your channel.
Not all European countries are more expensive than the UK. I could not find a price comparison for my camper van, so I looked up the 2019 Kepler one for comparison. In The UK, with a few extras the Kepler came in at around 54000 Pounds. Here in Belgium a similarly kitted out Kepler one is usually around 53000 Euros (47000 to 48000 Pounds). I think that it depends what luxury taxes any particular country puts on the vans. Thanks for the tips. I especially agree with having a fixed bed.
As a US citizen planning to purchase a preowned camper in the EU, do you have a video that explains VAT and how that is handled with a preowned vehicle?
We haven’t even collected our motorhome yet, and have realised we have made a mistake … we only have two seatbelts… and we wanted to be able to lend our van to both of our two adult children, who both have a baby! No place for a car seat so they will have to take a car too … plus we have three tiny dogs and now we need to put a floor anchor point to attach their harnesses to … 😢
Hi there, we are thinking about buying a motorhome (had a caravan about 5 years ago) but I am worried about payloads and how it effects everything. We are thinking about buying a Bailey adamo and I think it has a payload of 310kg -- is this enough?
I disagree with the cost of vans in Europe. I was looking at a chausson and it was £60k in uk and 44k euros in France for the same van. If it is 6 months old then you don’t have to pay uk import tax if you want to register it. So check out Europe there are also firms out there which will sort all this for you
Don't like the sites that get all uppity about exactly how you park your van within the pitch, especially when you don't have a big van. I will generally never visit those sites twice.Plenty of sites have managed to reach a compromise on this without obvious disaster! If they want to attract a younger client base, they are going to have to ditch the pettiness. Vans for younger people are all about a reasonable sense of freedom, not rigid constraint. Stick to your pitch, yes, but a foot or so either way is surely not critical, compared to having your awnings facing each other, or not, depending on your neighbours!
Oh my, getting rather addicted to this channel. This is excellent advice. Well done
A great video and insight. You mention the 3500kgs weight limit for drivers ie passed their test after 1997 BUT please can you mention on one of you next vlogs that this ruling also applies to a person when the reach 70yrs of age in the UK, again a medical and a retest is required if over 3.500kgs!!
I'm going to be looking at a motor home in about 10 month's so this video has been very helpful.... thanks!!
Just replacing the solar inverter makes a difference. I had a no-name solar controller, swapped it out for a Vectron and this now keeps my leisure batteries charged. I used to get back to the MH after a couple of weeks and the batteries were at 8volt, now they are at 12volt. I have not replaced the batteries yet.
Hi Kat loving wandering bird…. We made the mistake with our first MH, we bought a six berth, then none of our over 16 year old kids wanted to come with us😤
Today we collect our 2 berth and we are looking forward to more space and a separate shower 🚿 ❤
Good luck with the new van!
Although we have a caravan, always researching and comparing one v the other. Good honest information to add to our knowledge. Drop down fixed bed would definitely be high on the list and having good living space. Always interesting to hear real thoughts and experiences, not sales talk! Great stuff
Thank you Bernie.
Some great advice for anyone thinking of buying a MH, we bought our first MH UK manufacture but no fixed bed, it had a rear bathroom it was OK for 2 but when taking grankids away it was a nightmare making up front & back beds, we now have a continental van with 2 fixed single beds, rear washroom, & drop down bed in lounge for occasional use when taking grankids away
Lots of sage advice :) Our door is on the continental side and we’ve been to lots of the places requiring us to park corner to the peg and I have to say they’ve always been pretty easy going about nose in or out and said whichever way around you like as long as you’re corner on the peg. You’ll have to tell me which particular place was so funny with you!
You may have gone on a few tangents but those tangents were full of very good information, loved the vlog thank you
Great video, fun to watch and I liked who you went on tangents all the time. Great insight and it's helped us think about what we want in a motorhome here in Australia, keep up the good work.
Thanks. Glad it was helpful. Good luck with your purchase
Brilliant, just found you on social media and will be following you on here. Like many others, currently researching for our type of motorhome. Keep posting.
I have been going to watch this for days, alas. As I am approaching the end of my C1. I have several choices + / - 3500. Yes a medical would be needed for retaining my C1 and just over £101k for a Kon tiki, lots of us live in hope. Your hubby's licence allows him a gross train weight of 8,250 kgs, not enough for a toy hauler. Brilliant insight into this licence / maze and layouts. I already have a list, but your vlog will make people think and research Keep the vlogs and info coming
For containing our Dog in a Van we found a fireguard\child stairgate thingy that perfectly fits around the entrance step. (made by Baby-Dan IIRC).
Doesn't take any space out of the van but you can have the hab door open with the dog safely confined.
It took me six years of research, testing, hiring and learning from other's experience before buying the right one for us.
Very helpful, great advice 👍 We’ve narrowed it down to a big garage for the bikes, and twin beds, because we’re childless insomniacs who love to put our feet up after a hike 😂
Just discovered your blog and found your opinion both practical and useful.I don't have a motorhome as yet,but thought hiring one first might be the way to go,just to see if it is something we'd enjoy~Ian
I think you missed a MAJOR consideration when discussing rear lounge vs no rear lounge. Like you, we prefer the rear lounge but if you go for this option, you lose the option of a garage or large rear storage. Any van with a rear lounge will always have a serious reduction in storage space with low lockers being the only option. Apart from that, great guide. There is a list of considerations that could be added but how long should the video be. The requirements for wild camping and site camping are very different. We are ardent wild campers which means we need space on the roof for solar, that nice microwave can't be used unless we buy a generator, but then where to put it with no garage, and of course the bigger the van, the more difficulty squeezing into that little corner that has the nice view of the lake. We sometimes struggle parking our 7.4 metre van into a nice hidey hole.
Syd Hutchinson Just bought our new Bailey 68/2 with rear lounge and great big boot below. Ok it’s not a garage, but loads of space there. We’ll see how it suits us over the next 6 months or so and decide next year if we want a change or stick with this one.
Really helpful - thanks !
Thanks this was really helpful on a very practical level !!
I have always bought into the VW lifestyle and because of that badge, you’re paying a fortune to look cool driving along 🙈 then you need a pop top to be able to stand to cook/wash and to clean. I now have a disability in my back so the old VWs are a definite no no!!
I found an awesome van - I’m not sure if any of you have come across a “deffleths 2 berth compact motorhome” mine is on a fiat chassis but I know that Ford make/made them too. I absolutely love it!! Fixed bed, proper shower, toilets, wash basin, sink, 2 burner hob but no oven. No biggie - you can put it into most parking spaces as it’s a little over 5 metres. It also has a fixed bed with a big garage underneath accessible from the outside. I believe that they’re Dutch made, so they are built as a LHD vehicle but it’s RHD so my awning, side door is all on the drivers side which can be a little irritating when you want a bit of peace and quiet on a campsite but if someone backs in the same way as you, your awnings are going to face one another. Very small price to pay. It’s like new, I can’t put pics on here obviously but it’s 20 years old and has just gone over 40k miles at £14000 I’m very happy. The only nightly part for me is that the shower curtain sticks to you lol so I was thinking about a tambour door which would be cool as there’s a double wardrobe above the toilets cupboard in the shower area
Im hoping to head down to Portugal in October/November as the weather still looks pleasant plus it’s gas heating is hot 🥵😂
Does anyone have any advice with regards to getting phone reception boosters, to use as a hotspot? I’ve only been away on a few local trips to get used to it all but have struggled to even make a call, let alone post images or drone videos! I don’t want to spend the earth on it all. I would also like to have a tv and a small oven and was thinking , if I got a big inverter and another strong leisure battery that I could possibly use 240v instead of the overpriced 12v stuff.
Here is an identical van with a different colour interior - www.caravans.nl/dethleffs/dethleffs-bus-2-super-compact-vast-bed-797254.html
Thank you for reading. I’m very excited to get on the road and go where the days take me!!
Saying about when you open the door into the road and worry about Mac, teach him he has to wait and only allowed out the door with a release command. One less thing to worry about.
He does that now- but didn't when he was a puppy. Kids are less easy to train!! :)
Nice one good advise and do your research and home work like u said I think a lot of people don't get it right first time think u hav to hav one first to c what work for u and what don't work you cheers .kev
Oh man. I hope that I would've seen your video sooner. Well what's done is done. I have an RV RUclips channel also, so I'm super excited to see what the colleagues are up to. Subbed your channel.
Useful tips. Thanks for the video
Can you share the link for your van tour, I'd like to see the drop-down bed! Thanks! This is great we are researching for our first one!
Not all European countries are more expensive than the UK. I could not find a price comparison for my camper van, so I looked up the 2019 Kepler one for comparison. In The UK, with a few extras the Kepler came in at around 54000 Pounds. Here in Belgium a similarly kitted out Kepler one is usually around 53000 Euros (47000 to 48000 Pounds). I think that it depends what luxury taxes any particular country puts on the vans. Thanks for the tips. I especially agree with having a fixed bed.
Very helpful, love your channel
What about buying in Holland or Germany? I always thought that we were very expensive in the UK for buying a campervan etc
As a US citizen planning to purchase a preowned camper in the EU, do you have a video that explains VAT and how that is handled with a preowned vehicle?
We haven’t even collected our motorhome yet, and have realised we have made a mistake … we only have two seatbelts… and we wanted to be able to lend our van to both of our two adult children, who both have a baby! No place for a car seat so they will have to take a car too … plus we have three tiny dogs and now we need to put a floor anchor point to attach their harnesses to … 😢
Hi there, we are thinking about buying a motorhome (had a caravan about 5 years ago) but I am worried about payloads and how it effects everything. We are thinking about buying a Bailey adamo and I think it has a payload of 310kg -- is this enough?
I disagree with the cost of vans in Europe. I was looking at a chausson and it was £60k in uk and 44k euros in France for the same van. If it is 6 months old then you don’t have to pay uk import tax if you want to register it. So check out Europe there are also firms out there which will sort all this for you
Interesting. Totally different to our experience.
Don't like the sites that get all uppity about exactly how you park your van within the pitch, especially when you don't have a big van. I will generally never visit those sites twice.Plenty of sites have managed to reach a compromise on this without obvious disaster! If they want to attract a younger client base, they are going to have to ditch the pettiness. Vans for younger people are all about a reasonable sense of freedom, not rigid constraint. Stick to your pitch, yes, but a foot or so either way is surely not critical, compared to having your awnings facing each other, or not, depending on your neighbours!
Very nice good words.
Best wishes
Brilliant video even though we are caravaners!!!!
That's ok- we welcome all sorts. :)
Brilliant. Nice one.
I’m looking at YOU, Isle of Skye... :oD
Sub chassis
Great advice thankyou 👍
Thanks, very informative!