We make buying a budget motorhome as easy as it used to be
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the cheap motorhome does not exist, even in the basement of eBay or other auction sites. Ever-rising costs of power, logistics, components and wages have hit the motorhome industry, as with all industries. However, there are still bargains to be had, even if they may not be as affordable as they once were.
The term to bear in mind here is great-value. Ask yourself what you are getting for your money – those that hit the mark are fitting the right specification, allowing life’s little luxuries that people may desire to be fitted afterwards, as and when funds allow.
And what is one person’s essential item of spec, may be someone else’s non-essential luxury and vice versa, so we do understand that value can be subjective. That’s why the lowest-priced motorhome may not always be the best for your specific needs.
We bandy the term ‘entry-level motorhome’ around a lot, but that too is subjective. Premium brands have entry-level motorhomes, which may actually be more at the middle end of the motorhome price range, or even top end.
With chassis manufacturers having increased their prices significantly over the last few years (and specs to a lesser degree), plus the rise in other costs, it is unlikely that prices of new motorhomes will drop.
Used vehicle prices seem to be holding firm, too – held up by the ever higher cost of buying new.
If you’re on a budget, the cheapest way to buy a motorhome is certainly to buy used, but we recommend buying through a reputable motorhome dealer and always with as long a warranty as you can get.
If you’re tempted by a private sale or online auction, beware of scams – a vehicle that looks too cheap almost always does so for a reason. Also, at the very bottom end of the market (which can still be £20k or more), there may be issues that will need resolving (damp problems are the most common and can be very expensive, or even uneconomic, to fix).
If buying new, there are a couple of ways to minimise the cost and the key one is to buy with saved cash, if you can, as finance, especially at the moment, can be expensive.
Another option is to consider peer-to-peer rental, which involves hiring out your motorhome to others through a recognised business that takes the worry out of the process for you.
This may not be possible if you’re having to fund the purchase through finance or a loan, but it
