Have you ever thought about a used motorhome?

There are several terms that have done the rounds in the past: Second-hand, nearly new, pre-owned, pre-loved… You’re sure to have encountered some of them. These days, with the used goods market being so large, there is plenty of choice and opportunity to buy something as close to mint as possible. Second hand doesn’t equate to low quality or damaged junk in a jumble sale, the fear some people might have. So hopefully any negative connotations of those words and phrases has long been dismissed, and you won’t have been put off the idea of opting for a used motorhome.

If you look at the purchase of a motorhomes as a whole concept rather than just the cash transaction part of it, new isn’t always going to be the best option for you. The appeal of owning a ‘box fresh’ or ‘factory set’ vehicle is completely understandable – and for some people it’s the only acceptable option. No damage, no wear and tear, in theory. But the simple truth is that a nearly new motorhome can provide you with outstanding value for money. Buying something second-hand is a great way to stretch cash while still getting a product in a fully functioning state and exceptional condition – and in the case of a large purchase such as a motorhome that happy equation is maximised!

A motorhome can be a big investment to make, a ‘once in a lifetime’ thing, and even budgets of around 40K are only going to buy you something that’s ‘entry level’ if you’re opting for a brand new vehicle. Imagine, then, spending that same amount of your hard-earned cash on a pre-owned motorhome. You’ll get one which has higher specifications, one that has been ‘run in’ and one which has any early issues already sorted out. It’s a bit of a no-brainer, in a way: A much better vehicle for the same money.

In this blog we’ll put your mind at rest if we have any doubts, and explain why the current global motorhome production situation means that opting for a used model can be a wise move which will have you happy and out on the road in no time…

It will! Buying a used motorhome from a dealership such as ours will guarantee you a quality vehicle which has been looked after and which is sure to provide you with many happy times out on the road.

You might think a used motorhome will have tens of thousands of miles on the clock and therefore the engine and other mechanical bits and pieces will be well past their best – but when you dig down into the reality of motorhome life, the mileage issue shouldn’t be too serious at all. No-one is out on the road every day of every week of every month, and motorhomes tend to be used for holidays or short breaks. So, realistically, the number of miles on the clock is probably going to be way below what you expect.

Similarly, if you’re worried about what the interior condition of the used motorhome you’re looking at is going to be, consider the fact that – just like it will be for you – the purchase of the vehicle was a big investment for somebody. So they are totally likely to have taken a huge amount of pride in it and given it a lot of care and attention, adhering to regular cleaning, tidying and light maintenance duties throughout their ownership. No-one would spend so much money on something and disrespect their own investment.

Won’t a second-hand motorhome suddenly become worth very little, once I’ve bought it? Well, no… In common with all other vehicles, as soon as you leave the forecourt the value of a new motorhome has begun to depreciate – and the rate at which it does so is higher than if you opt for a used motorhome. A used motorhome is still going to depreciate but it will be much more slowly. This means that when you come to sell it yourself (which could be in years to come, or in a few months if you have been new to motor-homing and decide staycations are not for you after all), you should still get a reasonable chunk of your initial outlay back.

Another bonus to buying a used motorhome is that the VAT (Value Added Tax) has already been levied on it, paid by the original owner, so you won’t have to deal with that being included in your initial spend. Similarly, the motorhome will be ready to take away quickly, and you won’t have to deal with the world’s current supply and demand problems.

The world has recently been through a pandemic, which affected the possibility of free movement – and, as a consequence, since people have been able to get out and about again there has been an upsurge in the demand for motorhomes. Another phrase you’ll have heard in recent times is ‘staycation’ – the idea of taking your holidays within the British Isles rather than hopping onto a flight to go abroad. Our country has a phenomenal amount of beautiful places to go and experience and doing so in the comfort of a motorhome has become increasingly popular.

However, due to that demand, and due to the consequences of the pandemic for industry, there are lengthy delays on new models due to production lead time problems for motorhome manufacturers. Parts are stuck in supply chains and anyone investing in a brand new motorhome today might not receive delivery until next summer. That is a long wait – and choosing to go for a second hand model offers a brilliant option.

In the end choosing to buy a quality used motorhome will mean your finances stretch further, and very quickly you’ll forget that the vehicle you’re enjoying breaks in was ever owned by anyone else. Check out all of the used motorhomes for sale at Chelston…