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Subject Topic: Questions to ask exhibitors at NEC show? Post Reply Post New Topic
08/10/2016 at 2:29pm
 Location: Northants
 Outfit: Rapido Club32 caravan
View Gonnate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Gonnate Reply   Quote Gonnate Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2008

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   120
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 28
Site Reviews 2024: 4  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 6  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 16
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 9
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 6
Site Nights 2019: 8
Site Nights 2018: 2

We'll welcome your experience, please, over good questions we should be asking at the NEC show next weekend, of people keen to sell us camping vans/MH's.

We're very grateful to all those who posted in my thread "Camping van or caravan after tent years?" (opened on Sept 29th). We're now vastly better informed, though still open minded, still researching and hiring before buying.

It'll make the whole NEC trip so much more worthwhile if we know the right questions to ask, despite our complete lack of experience other than decades of years of tent holidays!

One possible route may be a van big enough for a loo, so maybe panel van conversions, but certainly not big Motorhomes. (££££!)

So any advice will be gratefully received.
Many thanks & best wishes.


08/10/2016 at 8:49pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Opensauce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Opensauce Reply   Quote Opensauce Quote  
Joined: 25/1/2010

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   4530

Site Reviews Total: 13
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

If you are considering a new panel van conversion with a toilet then the price is (££££!) unless you consider £40k odd cheap.


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08/10/2016 at 9:20pm
 Location: Northants
 Outfit: Rapido Club32 caravan
View Gonnate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Gonnate Reply   Quote Gonnate Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2008

Silver Member
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Forum Posts:   120
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 28
Site Reviews 2024: 4  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 6  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 16
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 9
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 6
Site Nights 2019: 8
Site Nights 2018: 2

Thanks - more research needed here, obviously! We're certainly not buying anything new, and £40K ain't cheap in our book! I'm more looking to know what to usefully ask about things so we then have knowledge of what to find in second hand versions. Or do such vans just keep their value until they are not worth driving?


08/10/2016 at 11:22pm
 Location: WEST DORSET
 Outfit: Nissan NV200
View mikael's Profile View Profile   Reply to mikael Reply   Quote mikael Quote  
Joined: 27/9/2014

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Forum Posts:   144

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Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
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I have a brand new NV200 Nissan conversion with an added Khyam awning tent complete with porta-potti. Total cost 28K with built in satnav , air con, cruise control, heating, cooking, storage, leather seats, tinted glass, thermal blinds, rock and roll bed, park anywhere, and cheap as chips to run (57 mpg and 110 road tax, 220 insurance). Worth a consideration.

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go for it


09/10/2016 at 12:08am
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Murvi Morello
View chrisandsandra's Profile View Profile   Reply to chrisandsandra Reply   Quote chrisandsandra Quote  
Joined: 05/10/2002

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Forum Posts:   965

Site Reviews Total: 68
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 19 
Site Reviews 2020: 6  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 2
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 24
Site Nights 2021: 53
Site Nights 2020: 15
Site Nights 2019: 8
Site Nights 2018: 2

The NEC show is really a showcase for new models. I doubt you will find much second hand or under £30000 there. What you will find is the opportunity to see lots makes and layouts and you'll be able to look round them, inside and out, and envisage how you might use them and how they suit you.

However, a lot of the new models are just upgrades of old models so do as we did, find something you like - forget about all the new bells and whistles and concentrate on build and layout- make a note of what you want/like/don't like/ can do without then go away and use that knowledge to seek out second hand vans in your price range that meet those requirements at dealers, private sales and even other shows where they have second hand sales.

We did this for both our panel van conversions and then spent a long while (months and months) looking until we found the right one but as we'd done our homework it paid off. I'll gloss over the motorhome we bought on a whim, totally against all the above advice, that we hated and sold on within 6 months.


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09/10/2016 at 5:55pm
 Location:  Dumfries
 Outfit: 2022 CoachmanVIP 2022 Pilote P696GJ
View neil and lena's Profile View Profile   Reply to neil and lena Reply   Quote neil and lena Quote  
Joined: 18/2/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2370

Site Reviews Total: 51
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 4
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by Gonnate on 08/10/2016
We'll welcome your experience, please, over good questions we should be asking at the NEC show next weekend, of people keen to sell us camping vans/MH's.

We're very grateful to all those who posted in my thread "Camping van or caravan after tent years?" (opened on Sept 29th). We're now vastly better informed, though still open minded, still researching and hiring before buying.

It'll make the whole NEC trip so much more worthwhile if we know the right questions to ask, despite our complete lack of experience other than decades of years of tent holidays!

One possible route may be a van big enough for a loo, so maybe panel van conversions, but certainly not big Motorhomes. (££££!)

So any advice will be gratefully received.
Many thanks & best wishes.



Autotrail Tribute do a van conversion for around 37k but there may be some good deals if your a cash buyer


Post last edited on 09/10/2016 17:59:41


09/10/2016 at 9:18pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   5144
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 234
Site Reviews 2024: 18 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 37
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30

As someone has rightly said - look at build (shake that shower!) & layout (imagine yourselves at breakfast or dinner or on a wet day or with friends dropping by). We said to the salesmen when we first went to NEC, "we're looking at what we might buy in 10 years". Because the reckoning is, you half the value in 10 years.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


11/10/2016 at 12:38pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View AUSTINS's Profile View Profile   Reply to AUSTINS Reply   Quote AUSTINS Quote  
Joined: 22/5/2011

Platinum Member
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Forum Posts:   1267
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 31
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 5
Site Nights 2018: 1

LIE! to them....say you are going to buy....you have looked around at many models with a list of must haves. AND this one....the one you are looking at, has most of what you are after.....NOW PLEASE SELL IT TO ME. I bet they will be surprised, and will then go into a sales pitch. You will learn a great deal about the 'stuff' you can not see. How it works ( or should ). But please most of all.....gadgets, the technical stuff. Just buy what you need within the 'van not things you will never use. Ask them to show you how the seating actually 'turns' into the beds, and how easy is it to fill your water tank. The 12v 'pumped water' tank arrangement is NOT much use unless you stay on fully serviced pitches for any length of time. Quite a number of 'vans have things like that.....all manufacturers should get women involved in the design etc on vans. Try looking at the Autotrail 'waste' bin, it is a complete 'waste of space' in a very expensive door they fit, it is over designed and almost unusable. Complicated things are forever being 'designed' into vans. Whatever happened to the less complicated things, the things that you do actually need....like insulated waste tanks, insulated water pipes, fridge salad drawers without lids are out there....who wants one of those? Check also...that the 'remove able' freezer compartment is actually remove able....most are not. Microwaves, that you need a ladder to be able locate the turntable of most!
We have had 3 manufactures M.H's...all new, and all have had things we did not like, or did not use. This is just how it goes....so check & check everything. Most of all, enjoy your day and take your wish list with you. Wednesday, if you subscribe to MMM, or have access to the October issue you will find a coupon for entry for two people at a very reasonable rate of £6.00 each. Not worth going out to buy one though. Have a good day, remember if you buy a 'NEW' van.....there is going to be a hike in the road fund licence in 2017. It is not being talked about in the industry....but will cost one hell of a lot EXTRA for the next 4 or 5 years. With this in mind, it may pay you to buy a 2016 model at a very discounted price, as the 2017 models are out there now. Like I said....have a good day. BUT take your food and drink with you.

Post last edited on 11/10/2016 12:44:10

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Fish like a matchman <*))))><


11/10/2016 at 1:15pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View AUSTINS's Profile View Profile   Reply to AUSTINS Reply   Quote AUSTINS Quote  
Joined: 22/5/2011

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1267
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 31
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 5
Site Nights 2018: 1

Hello again....I gave a reply, it IS here and readable, however it is NOT showing in the log. LET this one under the radar and I will be truly miffed lol.

-------------
Fish like a matchman <*))))><


11/10/2016 at 4:24pm
 Location: Northants
 Outfit: Rapido Club32 caravan
View Gonnate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Gonnate Reply   Quote Gonnate Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2008

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   120
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 28
Site Reviews 2024: 4  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 6  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 16
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 9
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 6
Site Nights 2019: 8
Site Nights 2018: 2

I do like the people on this website! Thank you, one and all, for these useful pointers. As I'm sure I've said, no way are we buying anything new, but noting and comparing what features there are to like or hate will be much better informed now we have all this advice!
And Austins, your post notification came to me OK, so it was perfectly visible :-)

So thanks to all, all over again.



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