Message Forums

Hi Guys

I currently drive a Motability lease vehicle which is due to be returned in May, I would like to replace it with a suitable camper van probably a VW or Mazda sort of sized 2+ berth model either new or good quality second-hand, must be diesel and must have a pop top and eisberg type diesel driven heating other than that we are not to fussy about it other than it has to be small enough to drive as our car also, as the intention is to do away with the Motability car and have a camper that we use as our car and camper and a whole host of other things also,[hopefully].

Therefore we have a few questions for you as follows.

1/ Has anyone found a dealer willing to supply such vehicles on Motability or has anyone got such a vehicle using the Motability component of their DLA to pay for it, if so from where or how ???

2/ Does anyone know of any companies or individuals who can supply modular removable camping units for the more popular ranges of MPV e.g. Scenic, Picasso, Zafria etc etc as a fall back if no suitable converted camper can be sought as I am returning an 05 plate Grand Scenic which is a Motability lease vehicle and there are many such sized vehicles obtainable on the scheme.

We love getting away but due to not having worked for quite sometime due to my disablements I am not able to obtain mainstream credit to purchase a suitable vehicle therefore am exploring other routes into ownership, as with growing tax, fuel and insurance costs it would make sense to only have one vehicle.

Any and all information would be greatly received if you have made units for your MPV do you have plans, specs etc that you would like to share or have you got a vehicle using your Dla Motability component if so from where we are willing to travel the length and breath of the Uk for a suitable vehicle.

Many thanks look forward to any and all replies will be answered

If you change the title of your thread (as apposed to 'Help etc) to something appropriate it may well help you.

HTH.

Im pretty sure Motability dont fund Motorcaravans.

At least they didnt 5 years ago and I havent seen any changes,

have you contacted mobility finance to ask if they can do a loan ? they don't lease motorhomes....but disabled vans are seen about

if you are a wheelchair user you can get the van off a new van .

google your  questions .you never no what will come up

contact a dealer they should be able to help .

im still trying no luck yet maybe camping and carravanning expo at the SECC next month might help us face to face with the dealers and the vehicles to do a bit of homework.

I trhink for all round reliabilty. space and useability on top of value for money the Mazda Bongo type vehicles take a lot of beating and would be ideal for our purposes, however having emailed most f the dealers throughout the uk in these vehicles none so far are able to assist us as their respective finace companies will take us on pressumably.

I am amazed that they do not consider us able to pay the costs from a finace point of view, considering the fact i have this amount easily able to pay the costs till my 80th birthday, which has to be more security than joe blogs in his job, who after all sadly could lose the employment anyday, when i will not lose the entitlement as i am not getting any better and cant be cured [Ms], i would gladly swap anyone for a fit life and a credit rating but as thats not going to happen i just have to find a way around it, and make no mistake i will, i have fought to overcome my aliaments for 15+ and have to a degree managed quite well so far, but i really do think the dealers etc are missing out on a graet chunk of business here, as on the whole disabled people have a lot of time available to them thus a camper would be more use, obviously i can't gebneralise but of the many such people i pewrsoanally know most agree such vehicles would help them amazingly yet we are not able to get them, i can of course get a brand new Volvo, Subaru and many other expensive makes but not what we want.

We intend to tour the uk visiting many small villages on route often missed in such tours wildcamping the majority of the time where possible,[details of safe wildcamping spots throughout the uk would be appricaietd] and only calling in to campsites to regharge our batteries and shower when we need to, thuis suiting ourselfs when and where we end up, as it is only my partner [my fulltime carer] and myself now, a bongo sized an dtype of vehicle would suit us exactly it represents amazing value for money with many factory fitted extras alraedy fitted that would cost a fortune to have done by any mainstream manufacturers,[does anyone own and drive a bongo, let us know the good and bad points pls, all valuable info to a perspetive buyer]...

I will continue with my quest and i will get one some where somehow, i just dont know how yet, we fully intend doing this trip whilst i still can, we can not afford to run to vehicles so a bongo sized one would suit for all purposes does anyone drive a similar sized vehicle all suggestions greatfully received we have not settled on a bongo yet but it looks likely that it would be unless something else crops up to better it, we are going to visist the up and coming camping and carravanning expo at Glasgows SECC shortly wher the dealres and such will be scrutinied as will there products in our quest to find the ideal vehicle for us longterm "try before you by sounds good" with so many in one place seems the right thing to do, as its far easier to geta  feel for such standing inside it and fiddling with the knobs ect, fortunately i do not yet need a wheelchair so the options are betterat least for us.

I look forward to all replies any assistance is better than none

Slanj

Dougie and Von

I would suggest you ask this question on the Usenet newsgroups, uk.people.disabilty and uk.disability.transport

There is a lot of knowledge about Motability there but im still 99% sure you cant get Motability finance for motorcaravans.

Hi Dougie and Von,

have you tried this link. Oops noticed you are already on it.

I am starting to agree that there is knowone willing to finace such a purchase for us so shall i suppose have to try my bank although i dont hold out much hope of that working either

Thanks anyway any further help, urls etc to try would be appriciated

Slanj

Hello Dougie and Von.

Firstly www.bongofury.co.uk is the home of the Bongo.  Here you will find all the info you need about buying a Bongo.  There are some known problems with them, overheating and head gasket being one of them, but the peeps on there will be able to give you good advice.

We spoke to a dealer at Shepton show a couple of weeks ago and he has stopped importing them now and is bringing in Honda and Toyota ones instead.  The reason being that the ones coming through auction were no longer up to the standard he required.  So if you do go the Bongo route buy with much care.  When I remember which dealer it was I will post the name and you can give him a shout and have a chat.

Secondly I am an independent financial adviser.  I am well known over on outdoor life in general so I promise you I am not a rogue!  If you would like to drop me an email on snowy747 at btinternet.com. replacing the "at" with the squiggly symbol, I may be able to help.  Don't worry, it won't cost you a penny but we do have access to various lenders etc and I may be able to make enquiries on your behalf.

Ali

http://www.wellhouseleisure.com/conversions/main.html#honda

Here you go, it was Wellhouse.  This is a link to one of their other imports but have a look see at their website for a few more ideas.

Ali

Thanks all once again for your invaluable assistance to this query.

I dont like the Honda stepwagon versions they may well be a better more reliable version but god are they ugly, i particularily do not like the poor excuse for a pop top they have on them, if it were to be redesigned to include an full electric roof as the Bongo has i would look again anyone know of such a conversion or convertor.

As we have to take into account so many variables due to my condition the more electric parts is more easy for me to operate apart from which the full width [almost] walk about area a full pop top would give apart from the storage capacity when up as we would be using it for sleeping in ever would be of emmense help which the smaller Stepwagon just can't provide...

Once again thanks to all..

Slanj

Dougie and Von

P.s Snowy747 i have privately e-mailed you as regards above

Hiya, the email hasn't reached me I am afraid!  Please can you re send, remembering to change the "at" to the squiggly symbol.

Thanks.

Ali