Its simple, people are finally realising that spending £60k+ to spend a handful of nights a year in a field is just plain silly and the silly bubble has finally burst with common sense now prevailing.
@StaycationLifestyle Asking the converters/manufacturers how the market doing at the moment, is like asking an estate agent in a property price slump if the market is still buoyant....
I think there are currently huge issues with the fundamentals of the campervan and motorhome sector. Apart from the luxury end, these vehicles are mostly bought in the context of people wanting to travel easily, conveniently and affordably, and are compared to the cost of holidays, second homes and hotels. For a lot of people they were a means to an end. They've now turned into a rich person's play thing, where the manufacturers see the most profit, but there just aren't the numbers of ordinary people out there willing to spend second home money on what is essentially a commercial vehicle. It's now cheaper to purchase a large luxury car that will be far more refined to drive and stay at safe comfortable hotels along your route. When the vehicles were cheaper, people were happier to risk staying "off grid" knowing they wouldn't attract much attention, but who in their right mind would risk parking some of the newer £100k+ vehicles in a remote location and expect not to attract the attention of thieves? This means you've also got to factor in the increased nightly stays at camping parks. Then there's the fuel costs, interest rates, etc. It's going to go the way of the Land Rover Defender. From utilitarian, affordable and accessible to expensive and elitist. Just my opinion.
@@landl190372 You do make some very valid points. Unfortunately the significant increases in price have been brought about largely from the base vehicle manufacturers. There are campervan manufacturers trying to bring the price point down, but there is a limit to how “cheap” they can make them. There have always been the luxury options and they can be much more than £100k. Prices are very high, BUT so are family cars. They have also increased hugely. And with interest rates, as you say, these are big money
@@StaycationLifestyle It is nuts at the moment, and you're right, there's a limit to even to what the well-meaning converters can do with price when even the base vehicles are so expensive, and the converters naturally have their own costs too. The price correction if it comes will be temporary, when the stockpiles of unsold stock is shifted at discount. After that, who knows? Experienced owners who are priced out of the market might lease vehicles for holidays and trips or risk older vehicles I supposed, but I'm not sure the market will sustain as many manufacturers with just high end vehicles being sold. We'll see!
With these guys at the show, I think overstocking won’t be an issue. They are generally well priced, well built vans. They aren’t the ones that are all show and very little camper. Caravans and motorhomes on the other hand could take a little to settle down, due to the way the stock ordering is done
Well written sir. I concur with all of the above. I bought mine from camperking last year with added bits and bobs it was near on 60k…but, mine was bought to live in full time! So 60k (divorce money) was a bargain considering I’d have had to start a new mortgage at age 54…borrow 150k for a average house…and be in debt till I was in my 70s…as a man who has lost money through 2 recessions, and doesn’t really trust the modern process of how banks and governments operate, I’m now free to travel save and enjoy life on my terms…but, if you’d asked me if I would ever spend that dollar on any motor a year and half ago when “I all was well” and I was living like a normal fella, I’d have laughed in your face! But you have to admit, nearly everyone watching this channel or other vanlife content, we’d all rather spend on these vehicles than a boring suv or sports car! 😉👍
@@landl190372 Absolutely, if someone is wanting to go camping in a van who knows nothing about it, telling them that its going to cost a minimum of £60k to get into a new van to go camping, thay will just laugh. Its just camping in a van in a field for gods sake,
New prices are way out of a lot of peoples price range. End of story! I have completely renovated my 20 year old motorhome at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Unfortunately sites have been hit with massive increases in costs. Those with swimming pools have suffered with the and even Nuffield health had to shut their outdoor pool because of costs. I also know of others who may be shutting theirs in the future. Over the years these sites have improved their facilities to ensure people want to go there. However, good cheaper sites are still available
I'm considering a motorhome in 3 years to go travelling full time, and the high prices are very off putting. But since I've been researching, I've seen and read lots of stories about the UK builders having very poor quality standards, with flimsy construction and often huge hassle getting warranty fixes done. I'm sure its not all 100% true, but the impression you start to get is of a uk industry full of cowboy builders and rip off dealers. Its very dispiriting for a future buyer, and especially when you add on the increasing cost of sites, and the increasing difficulty finding places to camp for free - in a country that seems to be almost overrun with van lifers as well as holidaymakers.
From a conversation I had a few weeks ago,a certain motorhome dealer near Newark was doing very well ,20 vans sold in a weekend , another dealer further North doing campervan conversions ,doing fine. The prices of new vans has rocketed ,so therefore had second-hand vans, but at end of the season good bargains with discounts available
If you use your van as a daily driver or like a smaller more agile van but on occasion would like more space. Do what I did. Get a tow bar fitted to your current van and tow a 4 berth fixed bed caravan and have the best of both worlds. Choosing a different 'rig' set up for things like a a fixed location pitch, towing the caravan or leave the caravan behind for things like touring around the NC 500. Or a mixture of both. All for a fraction of the cost of a large van, that once at a place of interest or shop etc. that you would have trouble parking.
People don’t look closely at what they are buying or don’t know what they should be looking for and buy rip off vans. They also don’t research enough places to stay. Good, cost effective of both are out there
As a full time vanlifer, I'm quite pleased. Not so much about there being less 'vans' out there - but a lot of these newbies (not all) do like to preach as to how we should behave
We looked at motorhomes at 2 shows and were shocked. I was a tradesman for 40 years and l don't believe in the quality of workmanship nor the materials, IMO it's an illusion of quality. We'll be buying an older van as we have a long trip planned and l don't want the interior failing to stand up to daily use.
If you think the camper and caravan market is crashing now, wait until it all goes electric. Cars not powerful enough to tow a caravan and as for campervans, very heavy with all those batteries. Imagine trying to do the North coast 500 and no charging points. I would imagine that when 2035 gets here all the existing petrol & diesel campervans will command a really good price.
I didn’t go this year as didn’t expect to see anything new but I’m glad they were making sales for everyone involved. Good quality motorhomes over £100k vans £70k and above not for me. Sometime next year I’ll spend £24-£28k on a 15 year old low mileage well maintained 6 berth Burstner or Hymer.
That's exactly what l am doing, these new ones look amazing inside but have a close look and feel and it's all an illusion of quality that gives me zero faith in their longevity.
@ I see only a small overall depression if any compared to a big depreciation loss on new whether that’s a drop in value the cost of finance or loss of interest from not leaving your money on deposit. Or all of them.
Fantastic video I wouldn't believe anything a dealer says-they’re just trying to sell their product. Sure, they’ll tell you it's "selling well." I have a dealer selling new Auto-Trail C71, 2024 6-berth model priced at £69,169-a supposed bargain. But a quick search on AutoTrader shows the same van, new Auto-Trail C71 2024, listed for £59,995 for the automatic model and £57,495 for the manual. Who are they kidding with these claims of "selling well"? And do buyers realize that if they purchase a motorhome at this low price, they might face issues with warranty claims ? For example, if you live in Aberdeen but bought it in Sussex, you can't just take it to the nearest Auto-Trail dealer five minutes from home. That dealer may refuse to fix under warranty since they didn’t sell it to you. It's amazing how few buyers know this, and it really should be made clear at the point of sale. But, of course , they're not going to tell you that.
Thank you. I know some of the manufacturers and I know some figures as fact. I do appreciate some dealers could say things as sales tactics, but this video came about from 2 separate conversations, both whom I trust. I then spoke to a few others and they had similar responses. Be careful you are not comparing a 2024 model which is still brand new but discounted, against a new 2025 model. Often happens at this time of year, as people try and sell older stock to get off the credit line. Just a thought, might not be that.
@@StaycationLifestyle Thanks for the quick reply, mate. They were all like-for-like. Not sure if you’re aware of Eriba caravans, but there hasn’t been a discount on them for a few years. I was about to purchase one with my spare cash for £28,000, which included £6,000 worth of packs. That alone tells you the bubble has burst for this manufacturer-they’re not flying out the door anymore! I used to think German-built vehicles were better, but that’s just not the case. The 1/4-inch tappet screws were all loose, and the vehicle hadn’t even left the showroom. In the end, I got myself a Robens Tipi hot tent for half price £500 now thats a bargain . I think I’ll hold off for now. Maybe I’ll see you at the Glasgow Caravan Show in February-I’ll keep an eye out for you. Thanks again for your reply; much appreciated!
Having owned a VW T6 for 4 years we are upgrading to a Sven Hedin on a MAN TGE chassis. Sadly we have found the market is Flooded with poorly built T6s which has suppressed the 2nd hand market. Also I feel now is a good time to buy as base vehicle costs are rising
@@granddadmark7639 Our friends have tried to trade in their T6 at the same dealer they purchased it from 4 years ago, but felt very disappointed as they were offered a very very low price, the dealer saying sales are very quiet, even for the time of year.
Cheer up mate! This view of the motorhome and campervan market could be presented as good news for buyers. This is the leisure business isn’t it? Don’t go looking for a job in sales any time soon. 😂
In Europe its quite different, camping cars are not only in demand but parking is not an issue. Leaving the EU has had many disadvantages for the UK subject. I suspect the countries executive also want total control of any perceived freedom. Perhaps someone will have a view?
People are realising prices for some conversions are just plain robbery.. Were as busy as ever along with the other guys charging a fair price for a quality job.
@StaycationLifestyle when you know what the parts cost it does make it annoying! Then people fitting powder coated hinges on 70k vans instead of stainless steel.. its things like that that the first time campervan buyer doesn't spot.
. Its no longer the affordable leisure activity it was. Once you factor in depreciation, running costs, habitation checks, campsite costs, and lost return had you invested the money instead, the actual cost of motorhoming nowadays is far from cheap. It costs close to 5k before i even move a 50k motorhome off the driveway.
We currently have a VW T5 camper van and have been looking to buy a nearly new California BUT I’m somewhat hesitant as I don’t want to spend 60k on something that the government will tax me out of because it’s not electric, as 2030 nears and the electric take up has not met its targets they will get more desperate to get ICE vehicles off of the road and taxation is always their preferred option, I don’t want to be left with something that’s essentially worthless in 5 years time !
🏍️ "better than expected"... Doesn't really mean much... Was the allocation 5 and sold 6...or was it allocation 60, sold 61-context is needed... And what does "far more than expected" mean? Good video!
Thank you. Yes I do understand what you mean. I can’t say any figures that anyone has given/indicated to me, but the “record ever day” gives a fair indication of how good a day the Thursday was
@@jonnywayner Have you seen any problems with the new one? I haven’t seen or heard of a single problem yet. I appreciate it is early days, but if the rumoured “changes” to engine have been made, it may not be susceptible to the same alleged issues.
Most of the idiots spreading nonsense about wet belt Transits have never owned one. And are simply repeating parrot like the tales they've seen on the internet
Been watching your videos religiously for months. We are nervously preparing to buy our first van, aiming to buy next spring. Narrowed down to a couple of fairly close by converters. Is there any advise you woukd offer ? Have you made a comprehensive video that would suit people just about to enter the world of campervans ?
Whatever you do don't buy a new one, don't overpay for a californium,beach,ocean etc Buy the best spec "van" you can & use a reputable conversion company , Simple & basic is definitely the way to go , Most of the overpriced fancy offerings are not worth it,
@@mr.underhill7072 Test some out if you can. Some companies offer hire before you buy. There are so many variations, features etc, that may be of use to some and not someone else. So hiring first can give you an idea of what would suit you 👍🏼 I do have a few videos that will help you coming over the next few months. One next week will help a little, but another in the pipeline will be very helpful.
@@pauldavies7251how do you find a reputable company ? We had narrowed down our search to 2or 3 companies in central Scotland. Have just found a T6 forum where both companies are pretty heavily slated.
@@pauldavies7251 we thought we had narrowed it down to 2 fairly local companies. found reviews on a T6 forum saying otherwise, meanwhile autotrader etc say they are good. its a minefield trying to find a company
just bought an autosleeper frisky on ford transit with 11 months mot for £500 lol ! still be going when some of this new junk will be sitting in a garage with faults they cant sort out!
@@johndawson8806 🤣 Sounds a bargain and guess what, you can still go the same places as someone who bought a brand new one. To be clear, I would prefer a newer one, but the point is it really doesn’t matter what you drive 👍🏼
We placed an order for June delivery - Westfalia Kelsey on a new Ford Transit. We think the Transit is better than the VW based campervan. Well, as from 2025, the Transit and the VW are the same vehicle. VW and Ford have done a deal. In fact the VW Amorok is now based on the Ford Ranger
Very nice. I’m sure you will have some great adventures in it. I’m interested to see the New Transporter in the flesh. Your’e right and the VW Caddy and Ford Transit Connect are part of the “Alliance”
But who has experienced a problem with the new transit? I am yet to hear any problems. There is a lot of fear mongering. It does have a wet belt, but rumoured to have been revised from the previous engine with alleged problems.
@StaycationLifestyle I talked to one of the converters at the show about this and he said one of his work vans had this problem, his workshop pulled the sump and the pickup strainer was clogged with bits of belt and this is on a van with less than 60k miles. There's a lot of evidence on the web including fleet operators who have been badly impacted. To buy a second hand Transit is a real gamble as you don't know the accurate history of the vehicle. The correct oil has to be used and belt replacement intervals have to be done ahead of Ford's recommendations.
@ That’s not the NEW Transit engine, since the rumoured, but not confirmed revisions. Time will tell whether the talked about problems of the last generation are present on this one
The show brought more headaches for me than answers. I went with a view to look at caravan and tow car and fiat duccato with pop top ended up looking at campervans. Another 12months of looking untill i can buy so plenty of time yet.
@@richmatty5561 😂 There are certainly a lot of options. I have no idea what I would buy if I had money, there are so many good vans at the show. It’s good you have a long lead time to buy, so you can make sure you buy exactly the right option
They are certainly selling but perhaps not as quickly as dealers would like! They will need to be on top of their game to entice more customers in to buying.That means offering more generous incentives-otherwise, it's goodbye business 😢
One is price hike, other is inflation plus costs of living, but most of all is pulling out of EU and covid crisis is over, people couldn't go on holidays ect and campervan sales and demand went through the roof, now we have pretty much gone back to a sense of normality the surplus stocks out there has dipped the 2nd hand campervan market so now brings down sales and prices and no one wants to purchase new as many other options and better deals out there 2nd hand...hence massively dropped sales on the for courts...they cashed in.....now cashed out.....
@StaycationLifestyle sales far better than expected but not what was expected hence loss of jobs and cuts ect with the new campervan sales market... didn't say sales stopped but must be a definite slump from what i have witnessed and seen the 2nd hand prices drop now as market is overloaded with 2nd hand varied models and in return has dropped the high demand and prices lower
2nd hand prices are all over the place due to the influx of dreadful conversions that people paid way too much for. There are lots of different segments with the campervan conversion market, some are doing better than others.
@@StaycationLifestyle I’d rather say interest is expensive , I wish got it two years ago before interest rate spike . However hopefully refinance it once the interest drops couple %
I will stick with my old trusty talbot express 😉 Way overpriced new and second hand vans,cant Park anywhere except overpriced sites Cost of keeping van on the road and storage if applicable RUclipsrs trying to convince us its all a bed of roses! 😉
No need to change if it’s right for you. Prices are crazy, but when the cheapest Transit Panel van is now £41k, the starting point is not what it used to be. The market is a mess, as I have said many times before, it’s a minefield with some amazing well priced vans, amongst some awful overpriced rubbish
@@shanewilliams9573 Greed from who? If you compare these vans and their specs to others, you will see where these prices come from. Look at the cost of the base vans.
@StaycationLifestyle Just look at your comment . @keepitreal1547. I agree with you. They will still be making a good profit. So they should be as they're a business and work hard but there is a fine line on what people are willing to pay and they are starting to see through it.
I have a elddis cv 40, built for touring, if l need the toilet for what ever it's there, the smaller campervan don't have that option so why buy one, look nice but not practical, they have killed there own market, we all need toilets now and again.
Pretty much all these vans with RIB beds have toilets. No, cubicle inside apart from the rear layout ones. Not everyone wants a motorhome or bigger campervan, they want a multi purpose vehicle and that’s why they sell extremely well
What is sad was the quality of the vans at the NEC, the craftsmanship on 90% were embarrassing we were very disappointed. Took videos of just how bad it was, and the worst were all mentioned in the first 1 minute of your video. The reason I belive is the converters are getting lazy and making there margin bigger with fast builds and cheap manufacturing.
Yes live opposite a Bear Grylls wannabe with a camper van as big as the space shuttle. In and out of the cunting thing every 5 minutes like a rat off a sinking ship, slamming its doors for no reason and bolting more and more shit on it faster than the market can produce. For me the end of the super campervan era cant come soon enough.
Viewed a particular camper 2 weeks ago & only yesterday got a call from the dealer offering it me for £27,500 from £34,500 A huge drop in price & wondering why.
@@keepitreal1547 Could be many reasons. There are a lot of vans for sale in that price bracket, with a huge variance in camper spec and base vehicle spec. It could have been an unrealistic price to start with.
@StaycationLifestyle Yes sure. I did think how quiet they were on our visit, especially for a Saturday. Maybe a combination of things. We're holding off just now & waiting to see how the market goes over the next few months.
I'm waiting for the ass to fall out of the campervan industry so I can get a decent one for a bit less, or even a van I can convert myself, the price of them are nuts over here. They are too pricey for the average person who would be traditionally using campers, 60k would be a lot of holidays in well equipped hotels, dinners, flights and all included
Well I run a dealership and have just done my monthly vlog for last month and we genuinely had our best month on record and by a distance, admittedly buoyed by a belting nec show but we are well on target for our second best month ever. What we have almost walked away from tho is the little campervan market which for sure is totally flooded, and a lot of people have moved towards full sized van conversions
@@Nagsheadwarrior That's great to hear for you, though you must be at the other side of the country from my home in the UK. On our frequent visits to our local dealers recently, each was extremely quiet & given no changes in stock/ rotation, seemingly nothing shifting. We were actively looking to buy, but because of this & even being offered a van at £7k off, we've now decided to hang fire a few months.
Van converters got lucky with Covid and got greedy with the conversion costs then you got a massive influx of crap and half arsed converters which put a lot of negativity to conversions.
Nothing unique to motorhomes, same in so many other sectors, supercars, cars in general, motorbikes, pushbikes, kitchens, furniture etc etc etc Not sure most manufacturers helped themselves at the NEC, I went with my wife and daughters, other than Bepoke NI with the new Transit, nobody even spoke to us on any stand I’ve been in sales all my life, had anyone of shown interest in my products, I would of asked if they needed any assistance and engaged with them
@@sarahann530 I’ve never been told I’ve had an impoverished vibe or manner before, I would of thought quite the opposite 😂 anyway thanks, you’ve made me feel great today ✌️
@@StaycationLifestyle Thats a Transit with a wet Belt, Look at VWs & Mer sprinters, the profit margin has been huge since the covid surge, But the bubble has now burst
@ so if you are talking the VW. Brand New £65k 🤷🏻♂️ Genuinely good vans are selling. People are becoming wiser to the strongly marketed poor vans and are buying good vans at good prices.
I find something odd about your presentation style. I'm not having a go, but it stops be gaining what i should from them. Are you reading from a pre-prepared text? It just doesn't feel natural like I've got used to on RUclips.
Its simple, people are finally realising that spending £60k+ to spend a handful of nights a year in a field is just plain silly and the silly bubble has finally burst with common sense now prevailing.
@@IronMountainx It’s not though 🤷🏻♂️ Did you watch the video?
@StaycationLifestyle Asking the converters/manufacturers how the market doing at the moment, is like asking an estate agent in a property price slump if the market is still buoyant....
@ I do understand what you say, but I know a few of these
I think there are currently huge issues with the fundamentals of the campervan and motorhome sector. Apart from the luxury end, these vehicles are mostly bought in the context of people wanting to travel easily, conveniently and affordably, and are compared to the cost of holidays, second homes and hotels. For a lot of people they were a means to an end. They've now turned into a rich person's play thing, where the manufacturers see the most profit, but there just aren't the numbers of ordinary people out there willing to spend second home money on what is essentially a commercial vehicle. It's now cheaper to purchase a large luxury car that will be far more refined to drive and stay at safe comfortable hotels along your route. When the vehicles were cheaper, people were happier to risk staying "off grid" knowing they wouldn't attract much attention, but who in their right mind would risk parking some of the newer £100k+ vehicles in a remote location and expect not to attract the attention of thieves? This means you've also got to factor in the increased nightly stays at camping parks. Then there's the fuel costs, interest rates, etc. It's going to go the way of the Land Rover Defender. From utilitarian, affordable and accessible to expensive and elitist. Just my opinion.
@@landl190372 You do make some very valid points.
Unfortunately the significant increases in price have been brought about largely from the base vehicle manufacturers.
There are campervan manufacturers trying to bring the price point down, but there is a limit to how “cheap” they can make them.
There have always been the luxury options and they can be much more than £100k.
Prices are very high, BUT so are family cars. They have also increased hugely.
And with interest rates, as you say, these are big money
@@StaycationLifestyle It is nuts at the moment, and you're right, there's a limit to even to what the well-meaning converters can do with price when even the base vehicles are so expensive, and the converters naturally have their own costs too. The price correction if it comes will be temporary, when the stockpiles of unsold stock is shifted at discount. After that, who knows? Experienced owners who are priced out of the market might lease vehicles for holidays and trips or risk older vehicles I supposed, but I'm not sure the market will sustain as many manufacturers with just high end vehicles being sold. We'll see!
With these guys at the show, I think overstocking won’t be an issue. They are generally well priced, well built vans. They aren’t the ones that are all show and very little camper.
Caravans and motorhomes on the other hand could take a little to settle down, due to the way the stock ordering is done
Well written sir. I concur with all of the above. I bought mine from camperking last year with added bits and bobs it was near on 60k…but, mine was bought to live in full time! So 60k (divorce money) was a bargain considering I’d have had to start a new mortgage at age 54…borrow 150k for a average house…and be in debt till I was in my 70s…as a man who has lost money through 2 recessions, and doesn’t really trust the modern process of how banks and governments operate, I’m now free to travel save and enjoy life on my terms…but, if you’d asked me if I would ever spend that dollar on any motor a year and half ago when “I all was well” and I was living like a normal fella, I’d have laughed in your face! But you have to admit, nearly everyone watching this channel or other vanlife content, we’d all rather spend on these vehicles than a boring suv or sports car! 😉👍
@@landl190372 Absolutely, if someone is wanting to go camping in a van who knows nothing about it, telling them that its going to cost a minimum of £60k to get into a new van to go camping, thay will just laugh.
Its just camping in a van in a field for gods sake,
New prices are way out of a lot of peoples price range. End of story!
I have completely renovated my 20 year old motorhome at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
@@richardcafe7757 They sure are, but so are a lot of cars. Prices are up, but unfortunately wages aren’t anywhere near increasing as much.
Campervans are a luxury purchase . They never were in a lot of people price range .
Your honest approach and thorough breakdown really made it easy to understand the dynamics of the event. Thanks for sharing this! 👏📊
Have you seen the recent increase in pitches on camping site's they are ripping us of.
Unfortunately sites have been hit with massive increases in costs. Those with swimming pools have suffered with the and even Nuffield health had to shut their outdoor pool because of costs.
I also know of others who may be shutting theirs in the future.
Over the years these sites have improved their facilities to ensure people want to go there.
However, good cheaper sites are still available
I'm considering a motorhome in 3 years to go travelling full time, and the high prices are very off putting. But since I've been researching, I've seen and read lots of stories about the UK builders having very poor quality standards, with flimsy construction and often huge hassle getting warranty fixes done.
I'm sure its not all 100% true, but the impression you start to get is of a uk industry full of cowboy builders and rip off dealers.
Its very dispiriting for a future buyer, and especially when you add on the increasing cost of sites, and the increasing difficulty finding places to camp for free - in a country that seems to be almost overrun with van lifers as well as holidaymakers.
From a conversation I had a few weeks ago,a certain motorhome dealer near Newark was doing very well ,20 vans sold in a weekend , another dealer further North doing campervan conversions ,doing fine. The prices of new vans has rocketed ,so therefore had second-hand vans, but at end of the season good bargains with discounts available
If you use your van as a daily driver or like a smaller more agile van but on occasion would like more space. Do what I did. Get a tow bar fitted to your current van and tow a 4 berth fixed bed caravan and have the best of both worlds. Choosing a different 'rig' set up for things like a a fixed location pitch, towing the caravan or leave the caravan behind for things like touring around the NC 500. Or a mixture of both. All for a fraction of the cost of a large van, that once at a place of interest or shop etc. that you would have trouble parking.
Caravans are great for the extra space, especially when combined with a daily small van. 👍🏼
But then it wouldn't be a camper van, just a van, I think
Sorry I was meaning a van still with camper facilities. It’s actually very common 😀
@@HarlowKiteFlying no, I have a lwb transporter size camper van and tow a caravan with that. It is a brilliant combo.
@@FredFox-m9vsame here and we love the combo👍👍
Bespoke converter new vans and site charges are extortionate.
Hence the glut of self conversion often windowless vans doing stealth and wild camping.
People don’t look closely at what they are buying or don’t know what they should be looking for and buy rip off vans.
They also don’t research enough places to stay.
Good, cost effective of both are out there
As a full time vanlifer, I'm quite pleased. Not so much about there being less 'vans' out there - but a lot of these newbies (not all) do like to preach as to how we should behave
We looked at motorhomes at 2 shows and were shocked. I was a tradesman for 40 years and l don't believe in the quality of workmanship nor the materials, IMO it's an illusion of quality. We'll be buying an older van as we have a long trip planned and l don't want the interior failing to stand up to daily use.
If you think the camper and caravan market is crashing now, wait until it all goes electric. Cars not powerful enough to tow a caravan and as for campervans, very heavy with all those batteries. Imagine trying to do the North coast 500 and no charging points. I would imagine that when 2035 gets here all the existing petrol & diesel campervans will command a really good price.
I didn’t go this year as didn’t expect to see anything new but I’m glad they were making sales for everyone involved.
Good quality motorhomes over £100k vans £70k and above not for me.
Sometime next year I’ll spend £24-£28k on a 15 year old low mileage well maintained 6 berth Burstner or Hymer.
That's exactly what l am doing, these new ones look amazing inside but have a close look and feel and it's all an illusion of quality that gives me zero faith in their longevity.
@
I see only a small overall depression if any compared to a big depreciation loss on new whether that’s a drop in value the cost of finance or loss of interest from not leaving your money on deposit.
Or all of them.
Fantastic video I wouldn't believe anything a dealer says-they’re just trying to sell their product. Sure, they’ll tell you it's "selling well." I have a dealer selling new Auto-Trail C71, 2024 6-berth model priced at £69,169-a supposed bargain. But a quick search on AutoTrader shows the same van, new Auto-Trail C71 2024, listed for £59,995 for the automatic model and £57,495 for the manual. Who are they kidding with these claims of "selling well"?
And do buyers realize that if they purchase a motorhome at this low price, they might face issues with warranty claims ? For example, if you live in Aberdeen but bought it in Sussex, you can't just take it to the nearest Auto-Trail dealer five minutes from home. That dealer may refuse to fix under warranty since they didn’t sell it to you. It's amazing how few buyers know this, and it really should be made clear at the point of sale. But, of course , they're not going to tell you that.
Thank you. I know some of the manufacturers and I know some figures as fact.
I do appreciate some dealers could say things as sales tactics, but this video came about from 2 separate conversations, both whom I trust. I then spoke to a few others and they had similar responses.
Be careful you are not comparing a 2024 model which is still brand new but discounted, against a new 2025 model. Often happens at this time of year, as people try and sell older stock to get off the credit line. Just a thought, might not be that.
@@StaycationLifestyle Thanks for the quick reply, mate. They were all like-for-like. Not sure if you’re aware of Eriba caravans, but there hasn’t been a discount on them for a few years. I was about to purchase one with my spare cash for £28,000, which included £6,000 worth of packs. That alone tells you the bubble has burst for this manufacturer-they’re not flying out the door anymore! I used to think German-built vehicles were better, but that’s just not the case. The 1/4-inch tappet screws were all loose, and the vehicle hadn’t even left the showroom.
In the end, I got myself a Robens Tipi hot tent for half price £500 now thats a bargain . I think I’ll hold off for now. Maybe I’ll see you at the Glasgow Caravan Show in February-I’ll keep an eye out for you. Thanks again for your reply; much appreciated!
Where is all this going for the campervan market with vehicles needing to be all electric by 2030? What happens to existing diesel/petrol models?
They want more for a van than I paid for my house with some that would cost more than my present value
Having owned a VW T6 for 4 years we are upgrading to a Sven Hedin on a MAN TGE chassis.
Sadly we have found the market is Flooded with poorly built T6s which has suppressed the 2nd hand market.
Also I feel now is a good time to buy as base vehicle costs are rising
@@granddadmark7639 you are right there are far too many poorly built vans out there.
Nice bigger vehicle, more comfort 😀
@@granddadmark7639
Our friends have tried to trade in their T6 at the same dealer they purchased it from 4 years ago, but felt very disappointed as they were offered a very very low price, the dealer saying sales are very quiet, even for the time of year.
Cheer up mate! This view of the motorhome and campervan market could be presented as good news for buyers. This is the leisure business isn’t it? Don’t go looking for a job in sales any time soon. 😂
@@judytessa It’s fantastic news for everyone, well apart from the fact prices are high due to base vans going up.
In Europe its quite different, camping cars are not only in demand but parking is not an issue.
Leaving the EU has had many disadvantages for the UK subject.
I suspect the countries executive also want total control of any perceived freedom.
Perhaps someone will have a view?
People are realising prices for some conversions are just plain robbery.. Were as busy as ever along with the other guys charging a fair price for a quality job.
Some of them certainly are robbery and the biggest issues I have is the miselling/misadvertising, but that’s next weeks video 😂
@StaycationLifestyle when you know what the parts cost it does make it annoying! Then people fitting powder coated hinges on 70k vans instead of stainless steel.. its things like that that the first time campervan buyer doesn't spot.
. Its no longer the affordable leisure activity it was. Once you factor in depreciation, running costs, habitation checks, campsite costs, and lost return had you invested the money instead, the actual cost of motorhoming nowadays is far from cheap. It costs close to 5k before i even move a 50k motorhome off the driveway.
We currently have a VW T5 camper van and have been looking to buy a nearly new California BUT I’m somewhat hesitant as I don’t want to spend 60k on something that the government will tax me out of because it’s not electric, as 2030 nears and the electric take up has not met its targets they will get more desperate to get ICE vehicles off of the road and taxation is always their preferred option, I don’t want to be left with something that’s essentially worthless in 5 years time !
T5 is a keeper , enjoy it !
Its not crashing, its going back to normal
People cash out pensions , over the next few months , sales will boom ,
The manufacturers would be happy with that 😀
🏍️ "better than expected"... Doesn't really mean much... Was the allocation 5 and sold 6...or was it allocation 60, sold 61-context is needed... And what does "far more than expected" mean? Good video!
Thank you. Yes I do understand what you mean. I can’t say any figures that anyone has given/indicated to me, but the “record ever day” gives a fair indication of how good a day the Thursday was
yeah was careful with his wording.
Oh dear those poor people that bought a transit wet belt ticking time bomb
@@jonnywayner Have you seen any problems with the new one? I haven’t seen or heard of a single problem yet.
I appreciate it is early days, but if the rumoured “changes” to engine have been made, it may not be susceptible to the same alleged issues.
Only if you don’t look after it properly! Don’t scrimp on the servicing and it’ll be as reliable as anything else 😎
Oh dear those poor people who haven't got a clue what they're talking about.
@@neilmick6778but Peter on Facebook told him. It must be true
Most of the idiots spreading nonsense about wet belt Transits have never owned one. And are simply repeating parrot like the tales they've seen on the internet
Been watching your videos religiously for months. We are nervously preparing to buy our first van, aiming to buy next spring. Narrowed down to a couple of fairly close by converters. Is there any advise you woukd offer ? Have you made a comprehensive video that would suit people just about to enter the world of campervans ?
Whatever you do don't buy a new one, don't overpay for a californium,beach,ocean etc
Buy the best spec "van" you can & use a reputable conversion company ,
Simple & basic is definitely the way to go ,
Most of the overpriced fancy offerings are not worth it,
@@mr.underhill7072 Test some out if you can. Some companies offer hire before you buy.
There are so many variations, features etc, that may be of use to some and not someone else. So hiring first can give you an idea of what would suit you 👍🏼
I do have a few videos that will help you coming over the next few months. One next week will help a little, but another in the pipeline will be very helpful.
@@pauldavies7251how do you find a reputable company ? We had narrowed down our search to 2or 3 companies in central Scotland. Have just found a T6 forum where both companies are pretty heavily slated.
@@pauldavies7251 we thought we had narrowed it down to 2 fairly local companies. found reviews on a T6 forum saying otherwise, meanwhile autotrader etc say they are good. its a minefield trying to find a company
just bought an autosleeper frisky on ford transit with 11 months mot for £500 lol ! still be going when some of this new junk will be sitting in a garage with faults they cant sort out!
@@johndawson8806 🤣 Sounds a bargain and guess what, you can still go the same places as someone who bought a brand new one.
To be clear, I would prefer a newer one, but the point is it really doesn’t matter what you drive 👍🏼
@@StaycationLifestyle very true its all about what you have in the bank or even what floats your boat even as i like classics
We placed an order for June delivery - Westfalia Kelsey on a new Ford Transit. We think the Transit is better than the VW based campervan. Well, as from 2025, the Transit and the VW are the same vehicle. VW and Ford have done a deal. In fact the VW Amorok is now based on the Ford Ranger
Very nice. I’m sure you will have some great adventures in it.
I’m interested to see the New Transporter in the flesh.
Your’e right and the VW Caddy and Ford Transit Connect are part of the “Alliance”
As I was looking at campers and MH's there was a lot of comments on the wet belt issue of the Transits and would not touch one with a wet belt engine.
But who has experienced a problem with the new transit? I am yet to hear any problems. There is a lot of fear mongering. It does have a wet belt, but rumoured to have been revised from the previous engine with alleged problems.
@StaycationLifestyle I talked to one of the converters at the show about this and he said one of his work vans had this problem, his workshop pulled the sump and the pickup strainer was clogged with bits of belt and this is on a van with less than 60k miles. There's a lot of evidence on the web including fleet operators who have been badly impacted. To buy a second hand Transit is a real gamble as you don't know the accurate history of the vehicle. The correct oil has to be used and belt replacement intervals have to be done ahead of Ford's recommendations.
@ That’s not the NEW Transit engine, since the rumoured, but not confirmed revisions.
Time will tell whether the talked about problems of the last generation are present on this one
Buy a good 2nd hand van
Get a cheap installation
Away you go👍
I would change “cheap” to good also. That’s one of the reasons the 2nd hand market is all over the place
A big drop in demand was always going to happen its not just effecting new sales but also secondhand sales
@@p24hrsmith 🤷🏻♂️ You didn’t watch the video 😀 Second hand sales are a mess for other reasons
@StaycationLifestyle a drop in demand is a drop in demand whatever the reason behind it
The show brought more headaches for me than answers. I went with a view to look at caravan and tow car and fiat duccato with pop top ended up looking at campervans. Another 12months of looking untill i can buy so plenty of time yet.
@@richmatty5561 😂 There are certainly a lot of options.
I have no idea what I would buy if I had money, there are so many good vans at the show.
It’s good you have a long lead time to buy, so you can make sure you buy exactly the right option
Historically, motorhome and campervans sales have always fluctuated, influenced by a variety of factors.
That is true. It’s just people are making a big deal out of the current situation
Well….if you always do what you always did….you always get what you always got.
@@chriss4949 They need to keep it up then 👍🏼 It’s great news
They are certainly selling but perhaps not as quickly as dealers would like! They will need to be on top of their game to entice more customers in to buying.That means offering more generous incentives-otherwise, it's goodbye business 😢
One is price hike, other is inflation plus costs of living, but most of all is pulling out of EU and covid crisis is over, people couldn't go on holidays ect and campervan sales and demand went through the roof, now we have pretty much gone back to a sense of normality the surplus stocks out there has dipped the 2nd hand campervan market so now brings down sales and prices and no one wants to purchase new as many other options and better deals out there 2nd hand...hence massively dropped sales on the for courts...they cashed in.....now cashed out.....
First part is true. However, don’t think you watched the video, as sales were far better than expected
@StaycationLifestyle sales far better than expected but not what was expected hence loss of jobs and cuts ect with the new campervan sales market... didn't say sales stopped but must be a definite slump from what i have witnessed and seen the 2nd hand prices drop now as market is overloaded with 2nd hand varied models and in return has dropped the high demand and prices lower
2nd hand prices are all over the place due to the influx of dreadful conversions that people paid way too much for. There are lots of different segments with the campervan conversion market, some are doing better than others.
So what ? It always up and downs . Demand will shrink post Covid , gets back to normal . Got mine last May , very happy . So far great experience .
@@maxk2503 It’s in response to many people saying it’s crashed and no one is buying, because vans are too expensive.
Glad you are enjoying it 👍🏼
@@StaycationLifestyle I’d rather say interest is expensive , I wish got it two years ago before interest rate spike . However hopefully refinance it once the interest drops couple %
I will stick with my old trusty talbot express 😉
Way overpriced new and second hand vans,cant Park anywhere except overpriced sites
Cost of keeping van on the road and storage if applicable
RUclipsrs trying to convince us its all a bed of roses!
😉
No need to change if it’s right for you.
Prices are crazy, but when the cheapest Transit Panel van is now £41k, the starting point is not what it used to be.
The market is a mess, as I have said many times before, it’s a minefield with some amazing well priced vans, amongst some awful overpriced rubbish
You are trying to compare normality to greed.
@@shanewilliams9573 Greed from who? If you compare these vans and their specs to others, you will see where these prices come from. Look at the cost of the base vans.
@StaycationLifestyle Just look at your comment .
@keepitreal1547. I agree with you. They will still be making a good profit. So they should be as they're a business and work hard but there is a fine line on what people are willing to pay and they are starting to see through it.
I have a elddis cv 40, built for touring, if l need the toilet for what ever it's there, the smaller campervan don't have that option so why buy one, look nice but not practical, they have killed there own market, we all need toilets now and again.
Pretty much all these vans with RIB beds have toilets. No, cubicle inside apart from the rear layout ones.
Not everyone wants a motorhome or bigger campervan, they want a multi purpose vehicle and that’s why they sell extremely well
What is sad was the quality of the vans at the NEC, the craftsmanship on 90% were embarrassing we were very disappointed. Took videos of just how bad it was, and the worst were all mentioned in the first 1 minute of your video.
The reason I belive is the converters are getting lazy and making there margin bigger with fast builds and cheap manufacturing.
What issues did you see?
There were a few prototypes there and they were open about what was happening with them.
Small caravans are booming....can be taken in zero emissions....and towed with small ulez friendly vehicles
Yes live opposite a Bear Grylls wannabe with a camper van as big as the space shuttle. In and out of the cunting thing every 5 minutes like a rat off a sinking ship, slamming its doors for no reason and bolting more and more shit on it faster than the market can produce. For me the end of the super campervan era cant come soon enough.
£60000 +thats the reason
@@lifesahike1679 vans more than double that sold at the show 🤷🏻♂️
money --- all to expensive
Viewed a particular camper 2 weeks ago & only yesterday got a call from the dealer offering it me for £27,500 from £34,500
A huge drop in price & wondering why.
@@keepitreal1547 Could be many reasons. There are a lot of vans for sale in that price bracket, with a huge variance in camper spec and base vehicle spec.
It could have been an unrealistic price to start with.
@StaycationLifestyle
Yes sure.
I did think how quiet they were on our visit, especially for a Saturday. Maybe a combination of things.
We're holding off just now & waiting to see how the market goes over the next few months.
This time of year is always a little quieter for the industry, in regards to people looking.
Silly money to park on your driveway Ryanair 40 quid and you get sunshine
@@CosgroveNotts Not if it’s a daily driver and not everyone wants sunshine. It’s a lifestyle choice not a way of getting cheap holidays
I'm waiting for the ass to fall out of the campervan industry so I can get a decent one for a bit less, or even a van I can convert myself, the price of them are nuts over here. They are too pricey for the average person who would be traditionally using campers, 60k would be a lot of holidays in well equipped hotels, dinners, flights and all included
Well I run a dealership and have just done my monthly vlog for last month and we genuinely had our best month on record and by a distance, admittedly buoyed by a belting nec show but we are well on target for our second best month ever.
What we have almost walked away from tho is the little campervan market which for sure is totally flooded, and a lot of people have moved towards full sized van conversions
@@Nagsheadwarrior
That's great to hear for you, though you must be at the other side of the country from my home in the UK.
On our frequent visits to our local dealers recently, each was extremely quiet & given no changes in stock/ rotation, seemingly nothing shifting. We were actively looking to buy, but because of this & even being offered a van at £7k off, we've now decided to hang fire a few months.
Van converters got lucky with Covid and got greedy with the conversion costs then you got a massive influx of crap and half arsed converters which put a lot of negativity to conversions.
So no mention of Fiat still selling well ?
Are they?
Greed no one to blame but themselves
You didn’t actually watch the video did you 😂
Is your brother called Jamie ? (Carragher) ⚽
No 🤷🏻♂️🤣
Nothing unique to motorhomes, same in so many other sectors, supercars, cars in general, motorbikes, pushbikes, kitchens, furniture etc etc etc
Not sure most manufacturers helped themselves at the NEC, I went with my wife and daughters, other than Bepoke NI with the new Transit, nobody even spoke to us on any stand
I’ve been in sales all my life, had anyone of shown interest in my products, I would of asked if they needed any assistance and engaged with them
@@royd72 🤷🏻♂️ They had good shows too?
You probably gave off an impoverished vibe .
@@sarahann530 I’ve never been told I’ve had an impoverished vibe or manner before, I would of thought quite the opposite 😂 anyway thanks, you’ve made me feel great today ✌️
Why would you buy a new camper when you can spend £10k or less and do it all yourself
Was your girlfriend used when you got her ?
A £40 K van with a £50K fit out. People were taking the Pee pee
@@SocietyX. the cheapest Ford Transit is £41k and they were £59k converted 🤷🏻♂️
@@StaycationLifestyle Thats a Transit with a wet Belt, Look at VWs & Mer sprinters, the profit margin has been huge since the covid surge, But the bubble has now burst
@ so if you are talking the VW.
Brand New £65k 🤷🏻♂️ Genuinely good vans are selling. People are becoming wiser to the strongly marketed poor vans and are buying good vans at good prices.
@@StaycationLifestyle The prices are still far to strong, As the market is proving
@ these new vans are selling. The used market is a mess though
I find something odd about your presentation style. I'm not having a go, but it stops be gaining what i should from them. Are you reading from a pre-prepared text? It just doesn't feel natural like I've got used to on RUclips.