Buying a secondhand motorhome can be a little daunting. Most of us have some experience of buying a secondhand car but knowing what you're looking at in the used motorhomes market is a very different kettle of fish.
To start off, I'd highly recommend that you decide on the maximum amount you're prepared to spend on buying your motorhome. If you don't do this early-on in your search, you will find that the higher the asking price, the newer and better-equipped the motorhomes will be & it will be hard to lower your sights again to a vehicle that is within your motorhome buying budget!
When it comes to motorhomes for sale in the UK the next step ought to be to decide on the size you're looking for. If there are only two of you and you don't have much parking space at home you might be able to manage with a VW Combi-sized vehicle that sleeps two and doesn't take up any more space than a family car. If you have a larger family you might be better suited with a coachbuilt motorhome with room for 2 people over the cab and a further 2 or even 4 beds in the main living area.
The best layout for you will depend on the size of your party and your style of living - whether you plan to cook a lot or whether you want to be able to sit up watching TV in the evenings without disturbing your children.
The best layout I've found for our family of 4 was a German-made LMC motorhome I owned a few years ago. This had a huge double-bed over the cab which my wife & I used. It also had a pair of bunk beds at the back which my children used. This meant that we didn't need to convert the dining table into a bed every night - something that can become a real pain, especially if you have a younger child who goes to bed particularly early.
The two dominant base-vehicles most commonly found in the UK are the Fiat Ducato and the Ford Transit. The Ducato tends to be slightly more popular than the Ford and usually commands a higher price. Both are ultra-reliable, especially in the diesel versions that are most commonly found.
A turbo is usually well-worth having. My LMC motorhome was a 2500cc non-turbo diesel and it had far less power than 1.9 turbo diesel motorhomes I've owned since. This can make a huge difference on long uphill sections on motorways where the 2.5 would run out of steam & I'd end up shifting right down to 2nd gear, the 1.9TD just romps on in 5th gear without any hesitation!
If it's your first ever purchase of a motorhome I'd strongly suggest taking along a knowledgeable friend or arranging an AA or RAC inspection. One of your main enemies is damp - motorhome bodies are prone to damage from overhanging trees or letting water in at the corner or roof seams. If untreated this can lead to huge problems so be sure to check inside and out for any signs of damage and water ingress - mould on the walls is a tell-tale sign you need to be looking for, along with any 'musty' smells.
Be sure to check that all the gas and electrical appliances are working - I've found (to my cost) problems with 3-way fridges and gas boilers not working once I got home, despite the seller's assurances that these were all working fine. Don't take their word for it - ask to see actual hot water coming from the motorhome's taps and the gas-powered fridge lit and feeling cold on the inside! Read also about audi s line.
To be continued in Part II
