Motorhomes & Campervans off grid Vs Traditional?

[Yorick]

Get it properly checked for damp. And make sure there is a warranty for damp.
I'm on a motorhome forum and damp is a big problem. Often hidden.

I think it's called a Habitation Check.

[Pirahna]

Re: The Adria. I asked about service history and got the following reply. I don't know if that's a deal breaker or not tbh?

"Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be too much written service history – it has just an oil and filter service and there are 4 new tyres on the camper – but you then you only have one further documented service prior to that. I have asked the owners to see if they can dig out anything else as I am sure it would have had something else done".

Would you buy a car with no service history, of course you wouldn't. Walk away and find another one.

[Taipan]

Re: The Adria. I asked about service history and got the following reply. I don't know if that's a deal breaker or not tbh?

"Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be too much written service history – it has just an oil and filter service and there are 4 new tyres on the camper – but you then you only have one further documented service prior to that. I have asked the owners to see if they can dig out anything else as I am sure it would have had something else done".

Would you buy a car with no service history, of course you wouldn't. Walk away and find another one.

Actually, I would and have done multiple times. As a former motor trader I've seen lots of service history books being made up and sold. Rubber stamps made up with dealer's names on etc. Don't get me wrong, accompanying, documented service history is always a real plus, but it doesn't mean the vehicle hasn't been abused. At the end of the day, a vehicle should be taken on its own merits more than its supposed history. I think I'll still take a look at it.

[DefTrap]

Would you buy a car with no service history, of course you wouldn't. Walk away and find another one.

I think I'd prefer it if I was buying SH and was shelling out megabucks.
But for the type of vehicle I'm usually buying, it's always a bit hit and miss. Funnily enough the last two cars I bought had wedges of service history, but it still didn't stop them going wrong. I like to see evidence of the major stuff, cambelt changes for example - but for me FSH evidence just makes me blanche at how much people are prepared to pay for servicing. I have a deep distrust of shop mechanics - our TT went for a tyre change and the mechanic condemned it as a deathtrap - until he was obliged to actually show us what the problems were.

[Taipan]

Well the wife is booking a ferry and a campsite in Spain tonight! No pressure on me to find a camper then!

[Yorick]

Well the wife is booking a ferry and a campsite in Spain tonight! No pressure on me to find a camper then!

We're heading to Spain soon. Will try to avoid you

[Taipan]

Well the wife is booking a ferry and a campsite in Spain tonight! No pressure on me to find a camper then!

We're heading to Spain soon. Will try to avoid you

I'm an Essex Chav mate. Even if you can't see me, you'll still hear me! Innit Geez!

[Taipan]

May be a daft question but what's the score with setting these things up with 2 sofa seats/single beds. Is the space available such that they'd be so close that they're effectively a double? Thinking...if you were travelling solo just chuck a single quilt in, 2 people who aren't bed buddies, 'snoring separation' etc etc etc. Seems much more flexible.

There are so many different layouts, but you can get them where you have 2 singles but it can also be converted to a double.

[Rockburner]

May be a daft question but what's the score with setting these things up with 2 sofa seats/single beds. Is the space available such that they'd be so close that they're effectively a double? Thinking...if you were travelling solo just chuck a single quilt in, 2 people who aren't bed buddies, 'snoring separation' etc etc etc. Seems much more flexible.

There are so many different layouts, but you can get them where you have 2 singles but it can also be converted to a double.

I find it very hard to sleep on beds like that - I seem to find all the gaps and it makes the bed uncomfortable, with the associated lack of sleep. In the van I had the main bed (up in the roof) was 3 large slabs of foam with the gaps going across the bed (not along it). Took me ages to get used to it. I think it did help though that we fitted some much better quality foam.

[Pirahna]

Well the wife is booking a ferry and a campsite in Spain tonight! No pressure on me to find a camper then!

Tips for Spain:

Download the phone app "park4night", if you need an overnight park up there's lots. If you do use the aires in Spain make sure you're parked for the weekend by mid afternoon on Friday, they fill up with Spainish people.

If you've never drivin in Spain before don't be too disheartened by the state of the place. Much of the countryside is devoid of people, they've all moved into towns, and it can be a very depressing place to travel through.

[Taipan]

More paperwork for a further 3 services has now been found. I'm viewing it Friday.

[KungFooBob]

Well the wife is booking a ferry and a campsite in Spain tonight! No pressure on me to find a camper then!

Tips for Spain:

Download the phone app "park4night", if you need an overnight park up there's lots. If you do use the aires in Spain make sure you're parked for the weekend by mid afternoon on Friday, they fill up with Spainish people.

If you've never drivin in Spain before don't be too disheartened by the state of the place. Much of the countryside is devoid of people, they've all moved into towns, and it can be a very depressing place to travel through.

SearchForSites is good too. You have to subscribe for the app to be fully featured, but the website works well and there's a very popular FB group to back it all up.

[Demannu]

Currently in Spain, park4night doing its job!

[Yorick]

Currently in Spain, park4night doing its job!

Tell us more?
Price? Facilities? Etc

[Taipan]

Campsite and ferry booked. I've got until August to find a camper, so shouldn't be a problem.

How much of a PITA is getting into, through and back out of France likely to be?

[DefTrap]

Covid?
Same as UK, fine as long as you're vaccd up.

[Felix]

Campsite and ferry booked. I've got until August to find a camper, so shouldn't be a problem.

How much of a PITA is getting into, through and back out of France likely to be?

Portsmouth to Santander is about £730 return for camper and two adults. How much is your ferry, Fuel through France, Toll roads if using, Food and a nights stop over is taking two days.

[Demannu]

Currently in Spain, park4night doing its job!

Tell us more?
Price? Facilities? Etc

P4n is a free app that lets you know what's available in an area that you select.
Currently parked up in a free stop over a 5 min walk from town centre.
We have free water and dumping here, but obsv no electricity, but as we have solar it's not an issue.
Places all over Europe, been using it for years.

[Rockburner]

Currently in Spain, park4night doing its job!

Tell us more?
Price? Facilities? Etc

P4n is a free app that lets you know what's available in an area that you select.
Currently parked up in a free stop over a 5 min walk from town centre.
We have free water and dumping here, but obsv no electricity, but as we have solar it's not an issue.
Places all over Europe, been using it for years.

It's the best of the ones i tried, very reliable and most locations have up to date reviews.

Obvs not a lot in the UK, but more than i expected tbh.

[Taipan]

Campsite and ferry booked. I've got until August to find a camper, so shouldn't be a problem.

How much of a PITA is getting into, through and back out of France likely to be?

Portsmouth to Santander is about £730 return for camper and two adults. How much is your ferry, Fuel through France, Toll roads if using, Food and a nights stop over is taking two days.

Ferry was £208 return. We're going to Tarragona in northern Spain and we've given ourselves 3 clear days to get there. That should give us enough time to enjoy the drive with time to stop here and there etc. I was more thinking of how much of a pain has Brexit make crossing the borders? Are the Frenchies making us have it!