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After getting on the property ladder, buying a motorhome in the UK is probably the biggest purchasing decision in the lifetime of any consumer. But with high-end models costing up to 250,000 pounds, the risks involved in committing to an unsuitable motorhome are high. Renting one instead, either as a prelude to buying one or as an outright alternative, is an option that astute motorhome aficionados are increasingly likely to consider.

The European Rental Association recently published a ‘rent versus buy’ calculator offering general points on the benefits of renting. If we take a closer look, we see that their points are particularly relevant to large-value items such as motorhomes. Reasons to rent offered by the ERA include:

“Because the fleet is not used all the time.”

Unless you are planning to hit the road in your motorhome for months at a time, it stands to reason that for the better part of the year your vehicle will not be in use. There is a logistical and a cost impact, as motorhome owners have to plan (and pay for) ongoing storage/ parking. Hiring a motorhome as an when you need it solves the problem.

“The right product at the right time.”

Once you own a motorhome, you’re stuck with it. If you rent, you have complete freedom when it comes to selecting the model that best fits your needs. Perhaps you want to follow the latest trends in luxury motorhomes and always ensure you have the very latest available technology? Or from a practical perspective, your 6-berther may be ideal for the family, but what about that weekend getaway with your partner when a 2-berth would suffice? Hiring gives you the flexibility to always get the right vehicle for the job in hand.

“Ease of maintenance.”

Purchasing a motorhome is a long-term commitment that will involve regular maintenance, MOT tests and all the costs involved with keeping a vehicle safe and roadworthy. Because hire shops typically check and service their vehicles after every use, the rental customer travels safe in the knowledge that their motorhome is in tip top condition, without any of the hassle of arranging and paying for regular services.

“Be safe, just rent it, avoid the risk.”

By its very nature, the outright purchase of a motorhome is a big investment and every investment comes with a degree of risk. Leaving aside the fact that any vehicle depreciates by up to 25% of its value the minute you drive it off the forecourt, there are also potentially unforeseen mechanical problems that could require additional extra investment to put right. Renting a motorhome limits your exposure and gives you peace of mind, because in the event of any problem, it’s the dealer – not the driver – that bears the responsibility.

Source by Michael D. Hall

Conversion Vans vs. Mini Motorhome (Class B RV)

How many people know the difference between a Conversion Van, Camper Van, or Mini-Motorhome? Knowing the differences can help an individual make “Good Purchase Decisions”. The right Van can be your daily transportation or RV. The differences become important for simple reasons like:How much will it cost me to insure my vehicle?

• How do I determine a fair “Blue Book” price to buy or sell?
• Does my neighborhood association allow me to park my Van at Home?
• Safety: Is my Vehicle Crash Tested by a Government Agency?
• Who will service my Van when I need repairs or maintenance?

Conversion Vans are not Motorhomes, but they can offer many of the features of a Motorhome. So let us clear up the differences!

Keep in mind there is room to stretch from one class of vehicle to another; and there is no defacto industry definition; just guidelines. Search the listings at RVTRADER.com and you’ll find many Class C’s mixed into the Class B listings not to mention the Class B’s in the Bus Conversions. You’ll even find ordinary Conversion Vans in the mix. It seems people really don’t know what they have! Confusing isn’t it? We love vans and own several different types and is how we at Conversion-Vans.NET define the Vehicle Classes.

• Cargo Van – A Cargo van is a vehicle provided direct from the Manufacture with no rear seats, carpeting, or windows. These vans can be “Up fitted or Converted” to meet the needs of a variety of purposes.
• Camper Van – This is the simple conversion of a stock cargo van to add features helpful for “camping”. So a Camper Van is any van that has been converted for the purpose of camping – simple enough! Yes and No. There is no such thing as a commercial “Camper Van” – unless you get outside of the USA where the nomenclature changes. Camper Vans are typically “Homemade” modifications. A Class B Motorhome can be Called a Camper Van if you please, but you can not call a Camper Van a Class B Motorhome unless it has some very specific features! (See next)
• Class B Motorhome (Class B RV) – Any full fledged Motorhome built on a Cargo Van Chassis by a licensed up fitter. The van may have the top removed or the sides widened, but it is still essentially a van in size and shape. Additionally in order to qualify as a Class B Motorhome the van must have built-in sleeping, eating, and bathroom facilities (Including properly mounting fresh and grey water holding tanks). If the frame of the van has been cut down clear to the floor level (they come direct from Ford, Chevy, and Dodge this way – just a frame and a cab) and built up completely from the floor it’s a Class “C” not a Class “B”.
• Conversion Van (aka Luxury Van, Custom Van) – Any van that has been customized for comfort can be considered a conversion van. These are really luxury vehicles used to transport 6-10 people in comfort. Conversion vans can have some of the features of a “Camper Van” or even a “Class B Motorhome”, but are typically more upscale and designed for daytime use and luxury transportation. These vans may have a raised roof, fancy paintjob, Custom Wheels, Leather Seats, 4 Captains chairs, dual stereo, TV/VCR Combos etc.
• Mini C’s & B+’s – These are really Class “C” Motorhomes masquerading as Class B Motorhomes. They feature sleek aerodynamic body styles – often made of a single fiberglass shell. The Chinook line of Motorhomes by TrailWagons, Inc. is probably the best example. These are also sometimes referred to as B+ Vans. They are in fact built from the same chassis as a Class C, but are made more to look like a Call B. Confusing? Ultimately it doesn’t matter, as long as you find what you want.

So there you have it! The Van is an incredibly versatile mode of transportation that can be “converted” to suit the needs of a variety of individuals and purposes. Vans offer large storage capacity for hauling cargo to completely self contained luxury travel. So don’t just rush out and get a giant RV until you have considered a Conversion Van or Class B RV.

Source by Michael Avagant

A Class C motorhome is very easy to recognize as they most often have a section that folds out over the roof of the cab. They are very popular with weekend campers and vacationers for reasons that we will discuss later. They usually are shorter and somewhat smaller than most Class A motorhomes since they are built on more conventional truck frames. Here are is the short list of advantages and disadvantages of Class C RVs:

Advantages:

1. Price can be a great advantage as they generally cost far less than Class A motorhomes and a lot less than bus conversions.

2. They are built to accommodate several people. Since they are a favorite of weekend travelers and vacationers, there is usually plenty of sleeping accommodations and that is one of the functions of that section that juts out over the cab roof, to provide another bed for sleeping.

3. Because of being smaller they can fit into almost any campground or park very easily, so you have more choices of where you can stay at night. They also take going off-road much better than most other larger RV types.

Disadvantages:

1. They are built on a truck/van frame and so there is only so much weight that they can handle without getting overloaded. This will limit how much you can take with you on the trip. If you pack light this isn’t a problem, but with every person that you add on the trip, the load increases, so bear this in mind.

2. If they aren’t packed properly, or if you buy one of the very long models, they can be more difficult to handle on the highway. Again, this is a weight issue that relates back to the frame size, so keep your weight ratio down and this may not present much of a problem.

3. A good section of the unit’s length will be pretty useless as it involves the cab itself. So when considering actual living space, be sure to only count the area from the end of the cab backward.

These are great RVs to rent and try out for a week or so to see how you like the RV lifestyle before actually committing to it long term. Generally, if you like staying in a Class C and can handle the little problems associated with it, you will most likely be very comfortable in a Class A or bus conversion motorhome. Class C RVs can be rented almost anywhere, so why not give them a try and see if taking your home on the road with you is your cup of tea.

Source by Jim Johnson

There are many choices out there today in used motorhomes and that can make it hard to know where to start for finding the best recreational vehicle for you and your family. Since the Clarion motorhome industry turned into what is considered to be an orphan company in 1992 there are only used Clarion motorhomes for purchasing but with the motorhome being built of high quality, a used version of the brand is well worth the investment. Another plus is that being a used motorhome, you will have a good savings price wise.

The Clarion industry was known for many different sizes and styles. The smallest was the caravan van camper and the largest was the Class A luxury motorhome. The Caravan Van was a van and camper combination containing the bare necessities for a few days away from home. With a full body fiberglass exterior and well insulated back end. There is a small sink area, storage space and comfortable bed for two. The Class A motorhomes was the most luxurious of the line and has all of the comforts, quality and added amenities during the time of being built. There are several motorhome classes and sizes in between to choose from of these discontinued motorhomes.

Even though the Clarion Corporation ended their productions of all their motorhomes and campers in 1992, the brand of used motorhomes are still strong in recreational vehicle sales today. With only using the highest quality of building materials and the best of engine efficiency, these motorhomes and campers will satiate your needs of what a used recreational vehicle should be.

Even though the Clarion Corporation built the work horses of recreational vehicles, overtime some work may need to be done. Finding parts for any motorhome out is still not hard to do. Parts and services can be found on the many Internet sites out there or by calling your local recreational vehicle sales lots and parts yards.

There are many places to still buy these recreational vehicles. Used campers and motorhomes are a great way to purchase for first time buyers because of being able to explore your family’s wants and needs when out there on the road, without spending a small fortune on a brand new model. Clarion motorhomes are also great investments for those want to make the inside of their recreational vehicle personal. Redesigning inside of your motorhome is easy to do yourself or have someone else personally modify for you!

Source by Keggy Ambrose