Our favourites from the 2023 Motorhome and Caravan Show @ NEC!
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- Опубликовано: 28 май 2024
- We've spent all day walking all the halls of the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham so we can bring you our TOP campervan selection. We hope you enjoy!
Let us know in the comments below if you’ve been and what your top picks are too!
Keep a look out for our other new videos coming to the channel soon and a BIG thank you to all of our wonderful subscribers.
Take care, sit back and grab yourself some Campervan Time !
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#motorhome #mcshow2023 #campervan
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4 years ago £100K would buy you a top end A Class...now it just about scrapes you into a 6M panel Van...Madness really, especially when most do so little miles.
I will look forward to it. I find you have similar taste and needs to us. Our wish list in a van is B Class Van List
◦ 6Meters
◦ No poptop
◦ Fixed high bed frolly
◦ Diesel heating
◦ Large fridge
◦ Lots of clothes storage
◦ Bathroom storage
◦ Comfy seating area
◦ Large garage space
◦ Good Insulation
◦ Winterised tanks
◦ Build quality
◦ Off grid in mind
Now finding all this in a 6 meter van is an ask. If only money was not an option. I find a lot of US van lifers have been very clever with their modifications. I see some entering into the European market. It’s time they got more creative. Things have not changed that much in the last decade and the prices they are asking for require more effort in builds IMO. 😊 Keep up the good work you pair 👌
We were there yesterday, got to say, the prices across the board are just ridiculous now, its getting hard to justify in all honesty.
Completely agree. I think costs of everything have just rocketed, be that the base van, materials, labour, shipping of it when it's built etc etc. Let's hope the market adjusts / prices stall for a bit while incomes catch up 🤷
who is stupid enough to buy these things ?100k on a pokey little campervan ?? madness
Thank you for visiting our booth and for your kind words. 🙂
Our pleasure!
The Chausson X 550 was the star of the show for me.
The Chausson forum is full of people that have faults and bad workmanship on their x550/650. Such a shame build quality is letting it down. It’s a great idea.
Learned more with your video in 45 mins than 5 hours visiting myself last Monday, I'll save myself £15 next year and wait for your video!!!!
There's a perfect storm brewing with an impending cost of living crisis and RV's no longer able to surf on the Covid frenzy. I think they'll have to start discounting prices or they simply won't sell, I know for a fact that ultra luxury car brands are having to do this for the first time since the pandemic....
I think a lot of industries are trying to sort themselves out after the covid/supply chain problems meaning they could charge 'whatever' as stock was so limited, then now an oversupply of stock and lack of affordability - meaning big pressure on business. The cycle industry is in terrible trouble I've heard too...
Thanks Will. Good overview of the show, and a nice reminder of the layouts for MWB / LWB vans we saw on the Saturday in our own quest to find a suitable layout for our own TGE.
X550 is a great van. I’ve had mine since January and wouldn’t change it for anything else. The dimensions make it extremely drivable whilst having great space, comfort, and a lovely shower space.
How do you get on with the tiny garage storage? What do you use it for and take? It is my only doubt.
Thanks for a great walk round, very informative. Everyone is aware of the price hikes but some of these prices are quite ridiculous even taking into account the quality of build and finishes. !!! I’d rather put the 100k + and buy a property to rent out to a much needed family.
The Dometic electric cool box with the cup holders that goes between your captain seats is similar to the one we bought from Halford’s for £40. It is great for festivals where you can take your own beer and carry it using the shoulder strap. It is also useful for your takeaway meal as it has a warmer too!
Well keep my eyes open!
Thank you for a super VLOG.
Money no option it would have to be the Hymer Grand Canyon S for me! That CJL leisure van was pretty special as well.
Great tour of the show mate, get better soon Sarah
Can I say what a great review…..at the right pace, deftly delivered with decent info in the time allotted with good camera work…..unlike many with higher subs.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi handsome. Great channel and content. Sara get well soon. We wish you a speedy recovery. Sara (cutie❤), have some fun alone.
Thanks for the roundup Will. Some really lovely products out there, but fully agree - £100k is a huge psychological as well as financial barrier. I was really worried about parting with just shy of that for my Knaus BOXDRIVE 600XL earlier this year but seem like it may have been a good buy now. Get well soon Sarah!
Get well soon Sarah 🙏, interesting video as always 👍 hope you get your Sven toot sweet 🤞
Thank you!
1st time visitors this year as we are looking at what might be a change from our T6.1 for a little more space and luxury. Our goal was to see all the MAN/Crafter options and get an idea of layouts that might work for us and try and work out if that size van was worth the cost/extra road size etc? We went back and forth about fixed bed or rear lounge and which works best for 2 of us but found nothing that ticked all the boxes for the first couple of hours. Biggest issue for us was so many vans were so bland and looked like caravan interiors from the 80's - horrible beige interiors and cheap looking cupboards etc. Many rattled while the van was parked! The seat cushions on the Hoptons were uncomfortable as seats so I dread to think what trying to sleep on them would be like, not to mention the fabrics they use. I quite liked the Sven but total lack of options means we can't get our 'must haves' like no gas, and I wasn't blown away by the styling inside either really. We don't like the 1-piece plastic moulded interior pods either as they just seem sterile. Everything changed when we met CJL though and absolutely fell in love with those vans. I know you saw £147k on the show van but its £105k or £114k for the 2 specs of 6m van and those have more than enough for most people and included a load of stuff that was expensive options everywhere else. So much so we're off down there to spec a van next week! I read a comment elsewhere that they'd be back next when they hit 65 yrs old and as an early 50's couple I have to agree with that - very few mainstream manufacturers yet produce anything with much style, which is kind of understandable as they aren't appealing to younger audiences, but I think the place to be looking is small scale converters doing some really interesting and different conversions in low numbers and with far more bespoke options possible. Of course thats also a minefield for quality and support etc, but many do it very well. Wont be back next year but hopefully will be away in our dream MAN/Crafter instead :D
Take a look at Ultra-van conversion company .I think they will tick all the boxes for you .I’ve just ordered mine but won’t be ready until Dec 2024.
Really glad a visit to the show was worth it for you and you managed to find (hopefully) the company that will meet your needs. You're absolutely right in that the quality and approach to design taken by all companies is quite different. Some will be governed by how many they are likely to sell and what costs they can put into R&D etc, but also what tooling / partnerships they have to build parts and custom trim etc. Hope you have one on order now!
@@CampervanTime thanks! We do - 2 berth CJL full custom spec arriving in Jan 🤞 Hope you're Sven arrives ASAP and you get to enjoy it soon. I cant imagine spending a year without a van and we've only been doing it 18 months!
You are spot on, they all look like caravans form the 80s inside. They never put decent batteries in them or an inverter. I put a 320Ah Roamer battery and a Victron 3000w inverter. Never need a mains hook up again. Custom build all the way, make it your own.
The Knaus 600 is far, far nicer than A Grand California
No comparison ,
Great video of the show 👏 👌
Thank you
Think the new Bailey Endeavour B62 looks very interesting, could well be our next Van👍
Great video. We did see you on Thursday, would have loved to say hello, but you were filming the Club joker. The colour of the Sven is so much nicer in real life, wasn’t sure about it, until we saw it in the flesh. Great choice and fantastic Van.
The flannel grey is a funny colour to photo/video and you're right, does look better in person for sure. It's really grown on us now.
Great review video,we went today but sadly priced out of the camping dream , the cost is off the scale now
Oh no! I was thinking how frustrating and disappointing this must be for people who have a campervan dream. Obviously new prices are just escalating (like pretty much everything else too though) but if you could ever consider a used van, there are some really nice options out there. The other thing to do is consider how much the ownership will cost you, if you're able to manage to buy it somehow. By this I mean if you consider how long you might have your campervan, then how much it might be worth after that time, the actual cost to have one for a few years is not that great, given the residual values.
I was well impressed by the MAN based vehicles at the show, recently told by local VW van center 8 week wait before my heater can be looked at but understand the MAN have 24/7 service center's across most of Europe so a good choice
That's right - MAN being a truck division of VW Group keep things moving 24x7. When we spoke to our local MAN service centre they were very helpful and confirmed we could have our camper serviced on a Sunday if that worked for us etc.
We don’t want to keep making the bed and we don’t want to climb over each other to visit the toilet, so limited options for us.
Most interested in the E transit with the heat pump. If only Tesla made a van!
Would be interesting if they could trickle charge given the advantage of roof surface area.
Not sure that any solar installation on the roof will be enough to really touch the sides of a traction battery charge. We have 6.4kw of solar at home on the house and a zappi charger which uses any excess to charge our EV and it's slow and this time of year, non existent!
@@CampervanTime It’s not hard to charge our M3 for an hour using its 2kW charger from our L4 Crafter.
That’s with multiple losses.
A dedicated system would be much better.
It’s already happening!
Dynamisisum missing...pricey but not catchy...thank for sharing. Wanted to check out Murphy beds ..none.
Thanks Will. We’ve been looking at rear lounge options which obviously rules out GC etc, so the Hopton was a contender at a good price but still really over our budget, but the Bailey Endevour ( not the lecky one lol) is high on the list
Could be a good call. Seems to be good value for what you're getting compared to a lot of what is on the market.
Sterling effort to do all that filming by yourself! Great to see a variety of vans but nothing that would tempt me away from a Cali - especially as it comfortably seats and sleeps 4 which is what we need. The prices of these bigger vans are going insane! Hope sarah is back on her feet soon 😊
The Cali is a masterclass in design and packaging. A real Swiss army knife. Sarah's starting to hobble around now, but more physio this week, but the xray was clear so that's good.
@@CampervanTime
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So my wife n I went to see if it was a Motorhome or a Caravan we wanted in the near future. We thought we wanted a motorhome,but after Saturdays day out , we agreed that a caravan gave us far more room inside, the layout we wanted and a car to use, once pitched. Anyone tell us why we should definitely buy a motorhome or are we right in going down the caravan route .
I think it's everyone to their own preferences on that question and it's quite a personal choice. Some don't want to tow or set things up when they get to a campsite (outside), some do want the freedom of having a normal car to explore in and then more space on the campsite.
I was there yesterday. I was surprised that VW weren’t there, I was hoping to compare the California with some of the Transporter conversions and even the Grand California with the conversions.
I'm not sure why but VW don't seem to want to do the NEC shows. I have seen them there once, maybe twice before and that is it. In Europe they do tend to do the shows though so doing what you're suggesting is easier. If you go to the February show at the NEC, Campervantastic are usually there and they hire VW Californias and have one on their stand. Steve is also very (VERY) knowledgeable about them and is happy to chat.
The Kenwood stand had a Cali on it, most people were queuing just to look inside the van 😂
Interesting to hear why for MANs at the show. I thought this year had loads more than normal. But if made in same factory why won't VW supply? I wonder if MAN is going to be the campers choice soon and VW might move to something else / different platform. Allowing them to distinguish the brands
Good question, not really sure to the answer other than I know that VW have promised the Crafter to Hymer so I wonder if they are keeping the Crafter separate from the rest (by restricting supply) for their own Grand California and for Hymer? Who knows!
Where are they plucking these prices from 😳
Scary isn't it...
Chauson x650 the star. All PVCs are neither use nor ornament. Too big to drive too small in living area.
Nice video not one piece of coffee mentioned
🤣🤣🤣
Did you look at the Wildax ?
Yes I did, but unfortunately they were very busy with people in them when I saw them and couldn't film properly. Very nice vans though - good gas-free options.
I am really sorry to see your first two day trip to the show was wrecked. You should have hired a wheelchair, motorised if possible. They are well catered for at the NEC.
I did talk to Sarah about that but she wasn't keen and the physio advice was to literally have her foot elevated for 24hrs if possible, so it had to be done unfortunately. Maybe for the Feb show we'll have our new van and be able to CAMP !
@@CampervanTime being in a wheelchair in a public environment is something everyone should experience when they have a reason. It not only allows you to do something you might otherwise miss it also is a great life experience to learn a little of that which people bound to the chair must live with. I hope you are able to enjoy your van before Christmas. I can just see Sarah trimming it up to spend the Eve in the van. Just because you can.
X550 was the best.
The vans have got far to expensive. How saturated is the touring market now. What is the situation with campsites and availability. Costs seem to have gone up too.
Good question. We're doing a vlog soon about the two main camping clubs in the UK which we can take a look at this question a little more there.
@@CampervanTime fantastic I look forward to it 👍
On the Chaussons. I don't get this type of van. 2 seats up front. 1 double bed. But then seating in the back for entertaining about 6 people it would seem. Why so many? How do they get where you are going? Where do they sleep? Very few I reckon go away with friends and then go into their vans in the evening....seems like a waste of space to me
I don't think it would suit us either but there are plenty out there who do like this layout 👍
It's becoming a 'rich mans sport', new van prices are out of reach of most sadly.
Even Californias and Marco polos having been climbing - I've seen £90k asking prices for these vans too.
I know, small vans are going crazy too. A big gulf opening up between some decent converters (that blue Hillside T6.1 was under £60k) and the OEM / Westfalia converted small vans - ££££.
What is it with Ford being insistent you can cook breakfast sat on the khazi
Multitasking 🤣
I have to becareful what I say as i own a conversion company... but why are companies still using powder coated hinges? Especially on 70k vans! Pure greed and penny pinching. Such a shame as they WILL go rusty sooner rather than later. Stainless steel hinges all the time.. shouldn't even be an option.
Please do comment away - we all learn together then! Anything else people should look out for in particular?
@@CampervanTime I think it shows how people can easily over look important things if the glossy kitchen wows them! Scenic/panoramic canvas is another thing that's skimped on. We include it for free as you as you can't add it later. To me it shows when it's somebody's first campervan as they miss things like that, and things like the light switches being all in one place not just on the drivers side, plenty of seperate lights switched separately, lack of sockets on each side of the van etc. It shows the importance of visiting as many vans/converters as possible and the importance of a decent converter pointing these things out. It's easy to over look things when you're getting excited by colourful kitchens etc.. if that makes sense?
Which motorhome do you own?
We have a Westfalia Sven Hedin (on a MAN TGE) on order - due in the next month or two. We've been without a campervan for nearly a year now while we have been waiting, but we had 2x VW Californias before ordering this new one.
With an EV camper whenbyou have to heat, cook and keep your fridge going, how on earth are you going to have a charge to go anywhere?!
Man / VW crafter / Merc sprinter based vans are just too narrow and small.
Sorry but no PVC over £100k is worth it in my books. I can’t see where all that extra money goes.
EV 's will never work until they produce a battery that has a range of at least 500 + miles
Ridiculous prices for small vans which aren’t v functional. Sheep
Massively over priced
just heard in the video that you've just ordered a new camper ? please tell me you aren't buying it on finance ?? thats like standing in front of a fire and throwing £50 notes into it !!! oh dear !!
We do have a new camper on order, but we ordered it months and months ago! It's fair to say we've been saving like crazy to be able to afford the new van and we've had an almost a year now without one at all while we have been waiting (all so we can save up more).
so lets say it loses 30 percent of its value in the first year ( which they all do ) and you have a loan to pay for it at high interest rates. Then a 70 k van will not only cost you 100k in the end but it will be losing tens of thousands in depreciation int he first five years AND you still have to crap in the corner of the van !!! insanity @@CampervanTime
@@justinlinnane8043 Not everyone has near £100k growing on a money tree outside so it's finance or go without/wait until you're too old....
😂😂You're missing the point . You don't spend 100k on a silly little shiny new camper van period !! buy a good used one or better still engage brain and imagination and buy a five year old long wheel base work van and do the conversion yoursefl !!! and then you dont pay the other 75k ( or 100k on HP ) to the man !! dear god what is it with you guys ? buying shiny bits of crap you cant actually afford at laughably high prices. The camper van manufacturers see you coming a mile off and cant wait to fleece you all blind . tragic stuff
@@davidcambell4183
113k for a poxy little camper van? !!!!! the worlds gone mad . Anyone who spends the price of a farm in Portugal on a bloody camper van like that needs to seek medical help !! and if anyone buys one on finance they need certifying immediately !! everytime I see couples in these crappy little boxes on campsites or aires in Europe they look miserable !! For the first time in their lives they actually have to talk to each other and are held captive in a 6x2 m prison!! 🤣🤣🤣
Blimey! Maybe it's just Sarah and me, but we actually quite like each other and we can actually spend time together without killing each other!?!
thats what you think now? you might be lucky but most are not . its one of the saddest things i see on the road ( I've been fulltiming for nine years ) and i see it far too often . you really have to have a strong partnership to endure life in a 6x2m box that you paid a kings ransom for and hate more and more every day !!@@CampervanTime
I'd love to see a docu/drama of you going campervanning with a friend