New to board - looking for advice

Hello there, I am not yet a motorhome owner but intend to be shortly. we are a family if 6 and are hoping to purchase a motorhome shortly. We have been looking at donedeal and we know what we want in terms of layout. Any tips in making this purchase would be appreciated. Are we better to go with a registered dealer? Is a 1994 too old to buy? We are on a udget but intend to go to France for a month summer 2013. Any advice from you seasoned travellers would be very welcome. Thank you in advance.

Welcome to the forum.

As Ally has alreaday said, age is not always a bad thing providing the van is free from any damp and mechanicaly sound. I would suggest taking someone with a bit of knowledge with you if buying privately. Perhaps if you tell us where you are in Ireland one of our members may be near you and willing to help.

Once you get a van something you should know is that one of the perks for subscribed members to this forum is 10% discount on Celtic Link Ferries to France so it ould be a few euro well spent.

make sure the van has a current MOT or DOE test cert that will give you some mechanical peace of mind and good luck

Many thanks for your replies. I will take on board. I am based in the West of Ireland. Thanks again.

We're new to Motor-camping too. Even though we've spent several weekends in ours, we haven't actually driven it anywhere as a family yet... (long story) but from the experience we've gained to date, even our family (mum & dad plus 2) in our 24ft camper can get cosy... if I had 4 kids... hmm.

The lads above are spot on, the layout is crucial. Trying to figure out how your family will get on IN THE CAMPER, only you can tell...

For example, My daughter (11) has claimed the overcab double bed in our camper and she spends as much time as she can up there colouring, drawing and listening to music. My wife and I generally occupy the good size dining area at the back, one bench seat each on either side of the dining table. and my son (13) has his own table and 1 + 1/2 bench seat arrangement mid ships by the big window (you can see in my avatar). While we're living together in a confined "box", we still have a little space that each of us can call ours... this is good for our family. Of course when we sit down to eat or play cards as a family, we all sit together at the back of the camper at the dining table which is good for 4 to sit comfortably. Or better still, outside under the awning using deck chairs & camping table, the preferred option weather permitting of course.

So far this seems to work very well for us but being green at this, we still have TONS to learn... That might all go to sh*t later when we gain more experience...

But its all good fun and we love it!!

If you are ready to buy there are amazing deals to be got at this time of year. Last year when I was looking I seen the same type of van, same year, roughly the same condition for three different prices in three different dealers.

They were: £18995 £16995 and £10995 ! the £10995 one was in GB.

This was the week before Christmas and for up to two weeks afterwards.