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Thank you… enjoying being back in France and Spain shall be back on the content once home in September :)

There are companies you can hire from - yes they are newer but helps you assess the functionality. There are also converters of coach built for specific disability needs too.

@@thetrackertravels thanks

I would suspect this would be a no but take a look at Vanology on You Tube.

I’ll look at the Trekker X next

They do look good in the flesh.. the graphics are a marmite situation… I liked better in flesh, but not sure how flexible Swift would be on that - would be good as an option for 2025 as would make a good alternative to the Bailey Endeavour de-vinyl.

Interesting point that. I can understand that for a full time van maybe not robust enough… but they are not primarily designed for that and guess that’s why so many have bespoke panel vans scratch built inside for this reason. The build on our new Escape is pretty decent but full time is not the one we would choose.

Thanks!

I think we are now seeing the reset and cooling period, not sure its a crash, but do expect to possibly see a couple more dealers go and would not be surprised if there is loss of or consolidation in manufacturers.

Thanks and most welcome. They also had an Autoquest CV20 panel van down to £59k brand new. Quite a saving and new vans for what has been used money of late. This dealer is about an hour or so from for us, so not too bad for this and I was really interested to see how they would compare to previous experiences of other main dealers and I have to see they have been great. Yes - good to get these bits done before we head off next week to France and Spain. Can’t wait. 🚐😊 A&J

@@thetrackertravels Excellent 👌 You are sharing great, up to date information and experience. We wish you a very safe and enjoyable summer trip. Look forward to your vlogs 👍🏻🚐💙 Trev n Sue

Thanks for the video and info. Were they your supplying dealer?

@@CampervanTravelsInDora You are most welcome.

Thank you - good points and appreciated. Our experience of buying our new one was a low-ball part-ex offer at one of the largest dealers against a new one and even a suggestion that we sell privately. We did not deal with them this time as got a better deal and part-ex elsewhere - but the offers on part-ex varied around circa £8-9k.. another dealer was wanting to trade out the part-ex and again low, so they offered a ‘cash top up’ to get a deal across the line - its very competitive and variable out there. Yes the water ingress is a very good point too - hence me saying about taking care with warranties.

I can’t answer for their thinking other than a place to charge thats dedicated. Firstly, I am pleased that a manufacturer has moved on from the old ‘car stereo’ install - was about time for a changing buyer profile and tech savvy buyers, but conversely, my concern here is that this is designed around this Sonos unit. Tech changes and the caravan will likely outlive the tech - so what happens when you upgrade the speaker or in 5 years time the speaker is missing when the caravan is traded on? It’s a positive move but perhaps did more thought about this as they roll out across other ranges and motorhomes.

@@thetrackertravels my thoughts exactly. It didn't need its own space because it's portable after all. Seems like they've done a weird deal with Sonos. If the cradle somehow allowed the device to hook in with speakers dotted around the van and allowed a TV's sound to go through the system then maybe it makes sense. None of that is true.

Most welcome. Thank you… we really like this one! Was good to spend time in all three layouts and felt Bailey have added another great model here to complement the Adamo. Shall be dead keen to see what they pull out of bag for a new Autograph too.

Thank you… we loved our first Bailey motorhome. They have come up with a cracking range here. Hope you both well - A&J

@@colinnewmarch1106 it is fascinating isn’t it.. our part ex went up with a £8k premium… it’s since come down twice and how has a £5k premium… we got a reasonable offer too but seems it’s still variable.

Thank you. Agree… we watch with interest as motorhoming is a big part of way of life, we are out regular weekends, tours and weeks away and hope to have many more years doing this as we are in our 40’s. So trying to understand what is happening is important - I am no expert, but find this stuff interesting. I have been talking about the need for reset and rebalance for months and could see this needing to come and there is something afoot in pricing, like there has been with caravans. Also, sites are variable in uptake at the moment, we see them rammed and we see them quite empty - price does play a factor here. Just hoping this stuff is helpful for folk.

To be fair prices rocketed across 2020/21 for obvious reasons. Increased costs of cabs and demand from manufacturers with production delays due to the chip issue all had an effect and this was passed on with motorhomes across 2021/22 and they not come down. It’s not that they have been ramped up no w to reduce, they are being brought back down to a level but its taking time especially for the used ones - it is happening though. It’s worth noting that the market is rebalancing and adjusting again.

@@ztifnai Our experience in part exchanging in May/June was this: We were offered a price for ours that varied by almost £9k from one dealer to another. They were also differing dependent on stock and what trying to sell. One big dealer offered us less and no discount on new. Where we ended up gave the best part exchange and a discount on the new one - to came down to the price to change and seeking out the best deal. The major dealer also offered the lowest and was swamped with used vehicles - they ‘suggested’ we sell our vehicle privately to ‘get more’ - in effect did not want it - they didn’t need more stock so were low balling. Where we ended up, was keen for quality stock and had a good stock of new so it worked. My feeling is that the part exchange offers are lowering to reflect the new discounts. That’s the way. Again back to the price to change. If you have had a vehicle from before the pandemic then you will probably not notice the perceived drop in the same way as someone who bought at height of market and have an actually noticeable drop if that makes sense.

Thanks thats really intersting. You would think dealers will be factoring a price reset in. Might be interesting to canvas others experience of this. What are people being offered and how does this compare to forcort. Great channel by the way 👏

@@ztifnai Yes - I am chatting to a few people about this. And, thank you. :)

Interesting perspective in relation to your bike. Yes the boom has gone - it was always an artificial one but I do feel the industry in some quarters has not got thier mindset back to pre-pandemic and the normal cycles of sales and supply/demand. What are you on the hunt for out of interest?

you'll find the caravan values slipping faster than motorhome ones tbf, if yiu can hot a big discount then nows a good time to buy nut drop down bed stuff is still selling well so you may not see hooge discounts on them

Only my humble advice and recent experience ourselves. I would say that now (and over the summer) is a reasonable time to buy as the discounts are abound on new models but these are more the fixed bed/twin bed arrangements. I say this as there is some 2023 vehicles around and a lot of 2024 so dealers will be wanting to shift these before taking on their 2025 stock commitments. We intended to wait to the autumn/spring but the part ex offer on our last motorhome was good and there was £5k off the new - so it stacked up for us to do it now but we visited a lot of dealers as the deals vary so much. See what deal you can find (its always about the bottom line/price to change) and caravan values are sliding already. However Brownhills have in stock now a Escape 640 with £10,500 off brand new. - £69.995 from £80,595 so some drop down beds can be found… just hunt around.

Who can afford £200,000 plus for a holiday vechile???

Happy to do this… shall put that on my list over the summer then. Yes there are quite a few of these and I would be interested to see what this section of the market is like. Will do some work on this one. Thanks for the feedback too!

Like anything, cars, homes, travel - the market serves all needs and buyers. Admittedly this is a smaller portion of the pie, but there are buyers for these and people will have worked hard for these and have their reasons, for example I know of some people who spend most of the year on the road and have downsized at home so this now meets their current way of life.

Further to my previous post, just look at the number of Burstner Elegance units for sale nationwide and the Adria Supersonics 8.9m tag axles - bit of a price discount war underway - now dropped from £180k to £163k brand new - so some of the used models advertised around £165k will have to drop significantly.

@@oldblackburnian I started recording today for a vlog on this! The discounts are there and I shall bring them to life.

I don't get all this talk of doom, I run a large dealership and we are absolutely flying along on used stock , we price them well and they sell quickly . Our numbers are almost the same as last year which was a great year , in fact this month we are 7 sales up on the total of last July. Markets defo finding a level but in many areas its still buoyant

@@Nagsheadwarrior I think the grey pound is less affected than the family market. I see quite a few family motorhomes have been sat for a while. Also a lot of pensioners losing 300 quid a year soon not going to make a huge dent on them. Which dealership?

I would agree and that is the thrust of my vlog this time… prices are finding a new level but from time on forecourts and speaking to folk its still ticking over. The talk of doom is really dealers that can’t weather the rebalance… for whatever reason. But as @rollingwiththerobsons I see a lot of stock sitting there… this is the stuff that either has fallen out of popularity or is still too rich.

Not had a chance to see that one yet. Shall take a peek!

Yeah we sell new and used, luckily what we aren't is large dealers of Elddis, Autotrail or Bailey which seems to be the stiff that's really sticking particularly coachbuilts . As the Robsons said its the family friendly coachbuiltd that are sticking and again we swerved those seeing what was looming there . The core market of pension pot casher inners and where we are in Devon house downsizers or relocators still have money to spend on the right van and a lot of stuff is near or totally sold out in the popular models from certain brands

Yes it is the staff I feel for in these situations. You did well to dodge that then and get your vehicle back to do what you needed to do. Yes there have been inflated prices all round… they do need to come back down to reflect the current supply v demand. Sorry to see them go though.

They have gone up… can’t deny that.

Thanks for feedback. It’s not that things are ‘good’ its that a trend and pattern is coming and its downward which could benefit some people. They are more expensive - but to be fair everything is - its just this market has not yet found its new normal.

Think its more related to the Eco Blue engines. Lots on the internet and forums about them. I do know a lot of Transit Customs affected.

Yes seems to be some issues with these. More motorhomes from the UK on Transit cabs now too.

Prices have risen way too much on many vehicles.

My understanding is the ‘credit line’ they have - in effect allocated at no cost new stock and delivered - they have the season to sell it without interest being applied before that kicks in - so manufacturers hold the line…dealer has to sell or accrue interest…. If they have little cash in bank can;t buy the stock outright to prevent interest… why so many are struggling…. Rock and hard place.

@@thetrackertravels , ok, I get that aspect but it was said that the manufacturers won’t let the dealers drop the retail price, I guess even if they could afford to?

@@colinthompson2335 correct, they won’t because of this ‘credit’ agreement in effect… they are in control. The goods have passed to the dealer and the manufacturers want their money.. back to the point that they lost sense of the market maybe?

We got a good deal in part ex for our motorhome, but was all about the all round deal and bottom line. Think caravans are taking a bigger hit - so yes I would do a private sale.

A man knows what he's doing, good for you sir, the sooner everybody knows about the great swindle the better 😉 I've been a business owner most of my working life i still have a car repair garage, I know what these motor homes are really worth. Good luck when you change your vehicle in the future

Maybe you could get something close to that privately but never from a trader or dealer.

@@johnnorton9487 thanks. Yes have learned from this one!

Really good points here. This is why I have been thinking for some time that the manufacturers have not stopped to think what a normal ‘season’ would have been - last seen in 2019… pandemic, Brexit and chip shortages on cabs for motorhomes, coupled to what you describe have created a false reality - its five years since the last ‘normal’ and I believe we are now seeing the reality of a come down.

It definitely seems to be struggling right now… manufacturers need to properly think about 2025 or it could certainly hit crisis.

it was absolutely a boom time during the pandemic as demand outstripped supply of new and used.

It’s interesting isn’t that there remains a perceived or actual difference here, wonder if the UK manufacturers ever bench mark or evaluate themselves against these?

Maybe gone, and time will tell on actual reasons for closing when final accounts land, but leaves a big hole for the customers in the area.

It’s a good chunk isn’t it… so they not passing on the savings that you can see on the forecourts full of 2024 models?

Touch wood we have had no leaking issues on any of our caravans or motorhomes.

Best way to prevent leaks is build it yourself and cut no holes in roof. Keep it simple .

This is correct - you are faced with redirection from the manufacturer. We experienced this when we bought a used Bailey from a non Bailey dealer for our first one and needed some work done - the local Bailey dealer to us as good as said go away! There are independent and mobile repairers that are approved by some of the manufacturers that can do some warranty stuff so that could be an option when you have lost a dealer. But, again, another aspect of the industry that makes buyers vulnerable. Thank you for your comments - A&J

No need to apologise for a long comment - always welcome perspectives. Andy grew up in a caravanning family (over the last nearly 50 years) and remembers well much of what you have described about the way things were. This is something that we have discussed with friends ourselves. We don;t mind the occasional serviced pitch (for a one nighter or quick weekend when on the travels for example) but do see that some of the users demands are changing as the world does. I am with you, don’t need hotel grade showers but up to date, clean and functional does the job - to be fair we use our own unit most of the time. As for prices, the industry has hidden behind Brexit and Pandemic to ramp up prices. I get the cost of living challenges but this is being artificially compounded in my view. Manufacturers need to taper down production - I know this means impact on people and jobs, but if they do not trim now, costs will continue to.be there, supply way over demand and eventually they won;t be there. Interesting times indeed.

@@thetrackertravels I agree, feeling sorry for staff of the dealership and the other incidentals. We have been camping since the mid to late 50s as children then all through life seeing many levels of standards but as long as clean and functional we didn't care as we were unlikely to be on campsite much anyway. Thanks again.

My CV20 bought for 45k three years ago, has a dealer offering 43.5 on a trade in,so over 3 years it has only cost me 1500. Nuts

@@colinnewmarch1106 thanks for confirming the pre covid price, I could live with those sort of prices and depreciation but unfortunately a friend bought a big motorhome at the inflated prices and now has been offered such a low price he wouldn't say exactly how low but admitted he has never lost so much money in his life which is very unfortunate for him and many others sadly. Did you decide to take offer Colin or are you still undecided on px

I'm in a different industry but the prices of goods went to the moon over covid due to increased demand and difficulty obtaining parts due to lock downs and shipping costs spiralling. Now things have returned to normal a lot of costs have come down but remain way higher than pre-covid. Staff costs, electricity and all other overheads have increased and that takes me on to site fees, I can't see how some sites manage to make a profit given the cost of electricity. Heating water and shower blocks and providing electricity on site pitches. Lastly, I agree people have changed. I've worked a customer facing role for 35 Years and experienced it first hand, the reason for it is that people are spending more time indoors post covid. Something like 11 hours more per week! not interacting with each other but most likely staring at mobile phones.

It is backed up… and your point about dealers not engaging is part of the issue and why some will not weather this…. We had the exact opposite in a dealer that engaged and worked on a deal for a sale. You might be well advised to wait to the new year and see what comes out the wash…. I have been tracking a fair few of the dealers and there is a lot of stagnant stock… some reducing others not, some reducing enough, others not. Going to be a bumpy second half of 2024.

Same here, been watching the market for a few months. I’m definitely waiting till the winter early next year to see how prices are doing. 60k will hopefully get me a brand new van with a garage.

@@anthonybrew1544 You could well do… Brownhills have the Voyager 594 with garage at £65k new now for example.

@@thetrackertravels yes a van on my radar, as long as I can fit 2 road bikes in the garage.

The industry needs a check of itself indeed. A hot house market through Brexit and pandemic has not cooled down enough… some, and I say some dealers have not planned well out of this, manufacturers certainly not, interested to see what the rest of the year brings.

You make a good point here and in my last vlog I touched on the this challenge - there is going to be too much stock left over this year.. resulting in either more price cuts (yes more than 10% is needed in the rebalance) or some dealers not being able to absorb this and we see more losses there. We only swapped out this year because we got a good discount and the best part ex compared to many other dealers. I figured the dealer wanted the sale… 30% is a good shout… lets see what happens especially with used thats plentiful. Thanks for your views and comment. A

@@thetrackertravels a buyer will always share my view! A seller, not so much. Who knows what the future holds, after Covid, I’ll never bet again. I’ll be watching for your updates though. Interesting times👍

@@markhardy7600 Thanks, I’ll keep them coming

Are You MAD .. The Bank !!!! Don't you realise there all broke and about to collapse, don't you see how the economy globally is on its last legs for the New Reset,,, and Covid is a Bad Cold an excuse for the start of what's to come and why every asset is so unstable!

We were fortunate that I had an opportunity to switch up from a caravan but we treat ours more like a home from home… we use all year round and often weekend and weeks/euro trips to maximise use and benefit. They have rocketed in recent years… they do need to settle down again though.

We sold the house and are now full time in a motorhome, had enough of the rat race. Will rent a place when ready.

@@mpjkea2000 How are you finding it?

@@thetrackertravels Absolutely love it. We had the house of our dreams but maintaining it and the garden and working , it became a tread mill plus always seemed to have noisy neighbours. We bought a little doer upper in France, loved that but became bored so sold it. I have an Irish passport so can move around Europe. We gave full-time insurance ( not cheap ) . Hopefully carry on whilst health stays good .Ps we met a couple some years ago who had lived full-time for 18 years and had no intention of stopping, they were in their late 70s.

We have a new van on order, apparently swift hasn’t raised there prices for 2025 builds , but fiat who provides the chassis has ,

Well some dealers have reduced some, examples like Brownhills where they taken around £4K off sticker. There is talk of cabs going up in price again but can’t see how the market will stomach that…. Preston Caravans have one at £89k on offer (2024) and some around £95k have seen…. So do you wait or take your chance now? Part ex likely to fall in line too.

Have seen those on offer,but we’ve upgraded to the 180bhp and automatic transmission.Those that are on offer are the 140bhp.As will be towing a car with it.

@@Bossstangs197 Ah OK. yes the extra power will help there. We have towed with the 140 with a Fiat 500 and was OK but can see how it would help.