Please convince me

I'm sure you guys get loads of newbie questions, so apologies in advance.
We're about to spend abut 15k on a 7 berth 98 Hymer on a Fiat engine with approx 90,000km.
From looking around, it seems like ok value. But you might think otherwise and I'd love to hear opinions please.

I've fully convinced myself and my other half that a camper is the way to go, instead of a caravan, as we would be quicker to pack our bags and hit the road for weekend trips. Also, I think I would drive a camper over pulling a caravan, if I was on my own.

But as the reality of the purchase draws nearer, I'm starting to brick it in terms of ongoing financial costs. We can factor in the tax, insurance, servicing and annual testing. But after that... the costs are completely unknown... breakdown, broken window...things I can't even think of, can go wrong. I'm sure you can enlighten me.

We have 3 kids and would love to use the camper mainly in ireland for weekend / school break trips and maybe the occasional trip abroad. Are we mad going for such an old camper (can't afford a newer one) or should we be looking at caravans? The reason we're looking at a 7 berth instead of a 5 berth is that we found the 5 just tiny. In saying that, the 7 doesn't have a whole lot of storage space either. Maybe a newer 5 berth is a better option?

Feeling unsure about what to go for so would love some advice from experienced people like yourselves. Especially those who are used to travelling with kids.

Thank you all

Welcome to MHC Maread, make sure the van has a valid CVRT cert before buying, Hymer is a very good make of van good build quality, unfortunately bits and pieces do break in vans but it shouldn't be too expensive per year unless something big goes, buying an older van is a good idea to start incase you don't like motorhoming it can be easily sold on, enjoy the new lifestyle the kids will love the places you can get to, MHC also now has a camping club if you fancy going to places with experienced motorhomers

Hi Mozzie,

I was in a similar position to yourself 2 years ago when I bought my first motorhome. I have 2 kids and bought a 1998 Ducato based LHD motorhome for just under £12k via Brokers for Motorhomes. I budgeted for some work to be done that I could see and could not see as well as getting additions that I wanted added to it. I probably spent about £1500 on mechanical work and getting extra batteries etc added.

With the older motorhome I don’t worry so much about the mess the kids make in it with sand and food etc compared to a newer one.

Although a big cost up front I set this off against foreign holidays and accomodation rental and eating out all the time as the motorhome compares favourably when you count up tax, insurance and depreciation and offset by wild camping sometimes. I find it great for taking the kids to festivals or weekends shows with motorhome parking.

Damp would be the big thing to look out for as others have said so take a damp meter with you. Mechanicals are easier fixed.

I just use mine in Ireland but will make it on a Ferry at some stage in future but I am in no rush.

A bit old at '98?

Mine is a '95 and condition is everything and a good service record.

Motorhoming is better than hotel breaks because you bring your own bed bugs. But seriously, even if you don't overnight you can brew up when you want and no need to sneak into pubs to use the toilet.
Keep a spare set of cutlery, cups etc for the MH so you are ready to roll.

If brave, or interested, look at Copart.co.uk and go to Vehicle Finder and click on Recreational Vehicles.
Also check Thompson Leisure in Co. Down who have RoI reg, VRT paid vehicles, or import. They can advise.
No, I don't work for them.

Hi Mozzie.
We switched from caravan to mh 4 years ago.
All valid points raised with we adapted to.
Storage.
Caravan have hugh storage in comparison.
Our mh has bunk beds for the kids, so their stuff is packed into a suitcase each and this is stored at thier feet.
The kids are still short in height.
After that, just be ruthless in packing.
If you wagon has roof bars, maybe a roof box is an option.

Mh gas and electric systems work very similar to caravan. The main exception would be fresh water and waste water tanks.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motor…ref=plSrch
This link is for newer mh but older editions are available which would suit the age of your mh.
Mechanical of the van. Like buying a car, bring someone mechanical minded and look for service invoices and old test reports. Special attention to the engine timing belt. Unless you have proof of a recent change, allow for it to be done. Timing belt snap on mh due to lack of driving.
Malcolm

Do it, Do it, Do it.....

Convinced?

Thanks Malcolm. Would an experienced eye know if a timing belt was due to be done? Before it snaps I mean. I'll ask for service record but what I've found so far is that with secondhand motorhomes, they often have more owners than cars have done so it's difficult to get all service records.

Stephen, great tip on the bag at the end of the bed! Mine are 3, 6 and 9 so are all still short, like myself

Kevin - I'm convinced

You need to know what was included in the 3100kg. I assume it was empty, with no water, maybe no gas bottles, empty fuel tank etc. All of this has to be included in the payload as well as people, clothes, food, camping gear etc.

The critical weight as far as the driving licence is concerned is the GVW, that is the plated maximum weight of the MH. This is usually on a plate fixed under the bonnet just beside the radiator. If this is above 3500 then you can’t drive it on your normal ‘car’ licence regardless of what it actually weighs on the weighbridge.

Vans over the 3500kg are more rare, possibly because the manufacturers keep the plated weight down so you only need a B licence to drive them. They appeal to more people.

As has been said here before, a significant minority of m/homers are over the weight limit for their van on most trips.

To get a C class on the licence will most likely cost in the region of €800-1000 with test fees and lessons.

Another option is to investigate if the van can be upplated in weight. This of course is only relevant if you have, or are planning to get the C1 licence. There are specialist firms who can replate the van for you, but, it does involve possibly putting on tyres with a higher load allowance or supplementing the suspension (usually by air bags on the rear). Of course this depends on wether the chassis is capable of higher loading in the first place.

The cost of a replate is in the region of €300 plus whatever extra work might need done. On an old van you might already need to replace the tyres if they are over, say, 7 year old or the sidewalls are showing signs of cracking (irrespective of tread depth)

Donaghey’s of Letterkenny are the Hymer dealer in Ireland and might be able to tell you if your van is capable of uprate, or ask on the Hymer owners group or the classic hymer group.

One point I would make, which influenced my choice to buy a Hymer, was, that if you look around the country there are more Hymers still running about with a few years under their belt than almost any other make (especially British built). My opinion only but people swear by the build quality of older Hymers, although spares can be an issue. But that is probably the case with all vans since there are no big production runs like cars.

Davy

Thanks guys. I think the convincing is done

I'm just confused as to what I should buy. I guess it'll have to be a 5 berth as they will weigh less and then check if they can still take the 3500 when full, to allow us to carry more gear. But then compromise on space. Ouch.

Sounds fun Tommy! Yeh I don't need every nice thing in the world in the camper. It's more a comfort thing and having stayed in a couple of 4 berth caravans, I thought the bigger van would be better. I guess I was thinking of the space as Ireland would be our main playground and the weather doesn't always allow for being outdoors as much as we might like! Will definitely review the vans I've been looking at. Cheers

Thanks Davy.
I am very conscious of the seatbelts as we have three using carseats. The one I have been looking at has 6 proper seatbelts.
But you're right, it's a very important point. I'm actually horrified that side facing seats are allowed seatbelts. Surely there's no way that could be safe.

The last time I had it weighed we were just under but not by much. Being honest, its not something i have given a lot of though to and something I rarely check. Probably need to get it weighed again soon

Thanks Sprinter. I'm only viewing those with forward and rearward facing seats with full seatbelts.

I thought all passengers must be restrained with a seatbelt by law. Is that not so? Could a passenger be transported while lying unrestrained?

The rear seatbelts in my 1998 Ducato do not seem to lock like modern car so it is impossible to get the rear inner forward facing child seat to strap in tightly to hold it in place. There are two settings in a modern seatbelt - one for adults and a “locking mode for childseats.

Can a new modern seatbelt easily be swapped using the current fittings? They are all easiky accessible and visible and factory fitted. I don’t want to hijack the thread but if Mozzie is looking at a similar aged van to mind he may have the same issue. I get around it by putting my 5 old in the front passenger seat which is a strong fit and the 2 year old goes on the window side in the rear forward facing and my wife sits on the seat nearest the middle of the motorhome. I would rather the kids were in the back and the wife up front as I drive a LHD and would trust her before a 5 year old to tell me the coast is clear at a roundabout if needed!