ASK THE EXPERTS
Burning questions about motorcaravanning? Our expert team can help! Simply email one of the addresses below, or contact practical.motorhome @futurenet.com, and we’ll do our best to answer it in an upcoming issue
WHERE CAN I FIND A COMPANY THAT LEASES CAMPERVANS?
Q I am considering getting a campervan. I think I want a day van for thrice-weekly 12-mile commutes across Edinburgh, plus the odd weekend away with my wife and our dog.
Our finances dictate that this would have to be a used vehicle, but I’m unsure whether to buy or lease – and which might be the best leasing sites. I have a deposit of about £5000 and about £300 to pay each month.
Ged Walls
A Gentleman Jack replies…
It’s going to be tough to identify a company that will lease a day van or camper on your budget. I tried and failed! All I found were companies that lease larger motorhomes and American RVs to organisations such as motor race teams and film companies on a shoot. These wouldn’t be in your budget and are not suitable for your needs.
There are some start-up businesses online claiming to lease out campers. However, certain agreements that I’ve examined in the past weren’t really a lease arrangement, but a long-term hire one – with few protections for the lessee and lots of opportunities for unexpected charges. You’d need to take care.
My advice would be to buy a quality pre-owned campervan. Currently, pre-owned day vans are not much cheaper to buy than fully equipped campers. The latter, apart from being better equipped, are easier to sell, cheaper to insure, and in the price bracket I’m going to recommend, (generally) depreciation-free.
I suggest you avoid elderly VWs, as they are optimistically priced and expensive to repair. Instead, look for a Mazda Bongo (1)/Ford Freda (badge-engineered version of Bongo), Honda Elysion, Toyota Hiace or Mitsubishi Delica-based camper.
Start your research by typing ‘Mazda Bongo campervan for sale’ into your internet search engine and click on the results. AutoTrader usually has a good selection. Search for the other makes mentioned above, or type ‘Japanese campervans for sale’ into the search engine. (Be aware that some private advertisers confuse ‘people carriers’ with ‘campervans’!) Other useful websites are listed below.
These (right-hand-drive) vehicles were imported pre-owned from Japan, where any vehicle over 10 years old is heavily taxed and almost impossible to insure. Several specialist companies in the UK convert them into campers.
Around 99% are petrol-powered
(so fewer worries about Low Emission Zones). These engines are strong units, easily capable of 200,000 miles.
New spares haven’t been a problem in the past, but I’m unsure how recent supply chain issues have affected this. Salvage spares are also available.
Insure through a specialist camper/ Japanese import insurer/broker. This will be much cheaper than going to a general vehicle insurer.
There are quite a few fully equipped Bongo campers for sale on AutoTrader. A typical example would be a year2000 petrol automatic, 102,000 miles, full service history, for £10,500.
I would aim to be buying in the £10,000-£12,000 price bracket.
‘Fixer-uppers’ are available from a few thousand pounds, but they are usually heavily corroded and more
expensive/challenging to repair than one with (say) a blown engine. Useful websites include: themazdabongocompany.co.uk bongomad.co.uk freespiritcampervans.co.uk bongocampervansales.co.uk caldercampers.co.uk/mazda-bongo practicalmotorhome.com/advice/ mazda-bongo-camper-buyers-guide.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF THE BASE VEHICLE IS NOT FIAT?
Q We have noticed that some coachbuilt manufacturers seem to be moving away from a Fiat base vehicle to Peugeot and even Citroën. But will that really make much of a difference, given that they all come off the same assembly line?
Douglas Carter
A Peter Baber replies…
Yes and no. It is true that Peugeot Boxers and Citroën Relays are all part of the Sevel factory. Citroëns are often cheaper, too. But one thing you will miss out on if you go for a motorhome with either of those base vehicles is an automatic gearbox.
Automatic vehicles are just not that common in France, and Peugeot and
Citroën do not usually provide them. So if you want automatic transmission and you can’t find a Fiat (a pity, because its nine-speed auto gearbox is great), you will likely be left with three options: go for a VW (still a relative rarity among low-profiles in the UK), stump up for a Mercedes, or opt for a Ford Transit (2).
WHERE CAN I FIND REPLACEMENT BLINDS FOR MY GRANDUCA 171?
Q I have a 2004 Roller Team Granduca 171 motorhome and am having trouble with the window blinds. The material is splitting and they do not retract as they should.
I think they need replacing, but I’ve been unable to source replacements. They are Seitz combination cassette roller blinds. Any suggestions would be very welcome!
Reg Fradley
A Diamond Dave replies…
Split roller and concertina blinds are not uncommon, especially in older motorhomes. One of the worst things you can do with either type is to leave them closed for long periods, such as when the vehicle is in storage, as the return mechanisms on rollers will fail in time, while the concertina type will stop folding away properly.
I searched online for ‘Dometic Seitz combi roller blinds’ and came up with a good selection of suppliers; you may even find what you need on eBay.
Alternatively, you could try O’Leary Motorhomes, Leisureshopdirect, or Leisure Spares, but bear in mind the sizes you need might not be available.
WHERE CAN FIRST-TIMERS GO TO BUY A NEW MOTORHOME?
Q Where’s the best place to buy a new motorhome? I would be grateful if you could advise – we’re a bit green when it comes to this subject! Chrissie Blake
A Nick Harding replies…
First, here are some key phrases to look out for: ‘Type Approval’, ‘Manufactured to BS EN 1646 standards’ (there will be a badge), ‘Reputable dealer’ and ‘NCC’.
The latter are the initials of UK trade body the National Caravan Council, which represents the interests of the industry, including end-users, right up to Government level.
A significant number of imports will have similar recognition in their country of origin.
But buying from a reputable dealer, ideally local to you, is essential (3).
Many will be members of the NCC (www.thencc.org.uk) Approved Dealer Scheme, so will have a due diligence system, which checks that everything they are selling is safe. Most will also run NCC-approved workshops.
For more about buying a motorhome at an industry show, see our special 14-page guide in this issue, starting on p99. You’ll also find a guide to buying and selling in our next issue, which goes on sale on 13 October.