Like many who visited the October 2023 NEC show, I found the prices of new models eye-watering. There was the usual array of glittering ’vans and some brilliantly inventive packaging and novel layouts. But the overriding theme was the pricing.
In 2016 I bought a top-spec Renault Trafic van for £17,000 from a Renault main dealer, then spent some £20,000 having experts convert it. So it owes me around £37,000 in total.
Today, that wouldn’t even buy you the base vehicle, and a fully converted Renault Trafic to a similar specification would cost around £70,000 or more.
Basic campervans all seem to start at £50,000 to £60,000, while a top-spec VW Transporter is north of £100,000.
If you’re thinking of trading in your old motorhome – as many people do after three or four years – that’s quite a chunk of cash to find, or a lot of finance to arrange to bridge the gap. And with interest rates relatively high these days, neither option is cheap.
You can point the finger at Brexit, wars, silicon chip shortages, the economy and the energy crisis, but that doesn’t change the facts – it’s not cheap to upgrade your motorhome.
Like many owners, I’ve now decided to stick with what I have and run it for a few more years. But what do you need to know to keep your ’van reliable and healthy in the longer term?
SLEEPY ’VAN SYNDROME
Probably one of the biggest issues that affects motorhomes is lack of use. This might sound odd, but having a vehicle stationary for long periods over winter never does it much good.
The key problems are with rubber items, such as drivebelts and cambelts in the engine, together with tyres that are left standing in one position.
It’s a similar story with water ingress: having a vehicle parked in one spot can increase the chances of water pockets gathering on the roof and creeping into any seams. Standing water is excellent at exploiting cracks and crevices and inconveniently expands when frozen.
Driving the vehicle regularly avoids belts lying dormant in one position and helps
