If seeing the cost of a new motorhome has previously made you drop your head in your hands in despair and think, “There is no way in the world I am ever going to be able to afford a ‘van – I can’t spend over £30,000 on such a thing,” then fear not. Here are 7 used motorhomes under £30k to consider instead.
As soon as you start contemplating the used motorhome market, you will find it is possible to pick up a perfectly good vehicle, and even a luxurious one, including A-classes, for a lot less than that amount. The only compromises you might have to accept are a higher mileage than you might have been anticipating – so some of these vehicles might not be so suitable as longer-term day-to-day vehicles. You also might have to put up with slightly dated décor. But that apart, you can look forward to a great deal of comfort.
Our pick of seven models are from those that we’ve reviewed over the years that you can still find on dealers’ forecourts. Some of these bargain buys also include spec that you might have thought was only introduced yesterday – no matter which you choose, we think you’re certain to get a good deal.
Romahome R25 (2010)
- LAYOUT End kitchen
- BERTHS 2
- TRAVEL SEATS 2
- BASE VEHICLE Citroën Berlingo
- L/W/H 5.18/2.13/2.59m
- PLUS POINTS Big lounge
- MINUS POINTS Small bed
OUR REVIEW SAID…
The Romahome brand was best known for its monocoque motorhomes, especially those built on the Citroën Berlingo.
The R20 was the most popular of these, and the R25 differed from it only in having a toilet, and, as an optional extra for the bargain price of £45- back in 2010, you could have a Whale shower and larger, 70-litre water-tank added.
Our reviewer felt the lounge was as spacious as that of many larger coachbuilts. Some might not like the toilet so close to the kitchen, but this was inevitable in a vehicle as small as this, while to compensate, the Berlingo provides a “car-like” drive. The double bed is on the short side, at only 1.76m, however.
Adria 3-Way (2006)
- LAYOUT ‘VW-style’ camper
- BERTHS 4
- TRAVEL SEATS 4
- BASE VEHICLE Renault Trafic
- L/W 4.72/1.90m
- PLUS POINTS Great roof bed
- MINUS POINTS Interior might be a bit cramped for four
OUR REVIEW SAID…
The 3-Way model was the last time Adria produced a raising-roof campervan for the UK market, until the Twin Sports, which came out late last year.
Our reviewer, who saw this one as a sneak preview (it had been planned for a 2007 show launch, although it had been available on the Continent for a couple of years), found it was possibly a bit small for four, but perfect as a two-berth.
Built on a Renault Trafic, but with a standard ‘VW-style’ layout of side kitchen and sliding rear seat, the writer said that it would go “anywhere a 4×4 will” and expected to see “quite a few 3-Ways on the road in years to come”. The fact that our quoted model is from four years later suggests that the 3-Way did indeed have a pretty good run.
Lunar Premier 622 (2006)
- LAYOUT Low-profile with French bed and corner washroom
- BERTHS 4
- TRAVEL SEATS 4
- BASE VEHICLE Renault Master
- L/W/H 6.84/2.35/3.0m
- PLUS POINTS Dinette bed is easy to assemble
- MINUS POINTS Not much kitchen workspace
OUR REVIEW SAID…
Produced when Lunar was still very much in the motorhome game, the Premier 622 sat on a Renault base vehicle.
Our reviewer found it to be very good value for money at the time (at a cost of £33,690), with a comfortable fixed bed and a dinette bed that was easy to make up.
Kitchen headspace was a little restricted, and the washroom was a bit of a squeeze to get into, although “pleasant enough once you’re in, and the provision of a rooflight and a window here makes it all feel very spacious and light. The fixtures here all feel smartly made”.
Auto-Trail Frontier Mohican SE (2006)
- LAYOUT End washroom
- BERTHS 2
- TRAVEL SEATS 2
- BASE VEHICLE Fiat Ducato
- L/W 6.53/2.22m
- PAYLOAD 560kg
- MTPLM 3850kg
- PLUS POINTS Plenty of space, great kitchen and washroom
- MINUS POINTS Table perhaps a bit too big?
OUR REVIEW SAID…
Our writer took this motorhome on a tour all around Aquitaine, France, and couldn’t find much wrong with it at all.
It is only a two-berth, but there is plenty of space to invite guests in for a meal around the large (perhaps too large) table.
Both the kitchen and the end washroom are spacious and have good spec levels, and there is plenty of storage space, too.
The parallel settees in the lounge can either be left as generously sized settees, or with the help of an infill cushion, you can make up a large double bed.
Extras added for 2006 included a CD player – remember them?
Laika Kreos 3002 (2006)
- LAYOUT Overcab with bunks
- BERTHS 7
- TRAVEL SEATS 5
- BASE VEHICLE Iveco Daily
- L/W 7.3/2.3m
- PAYLOAD 895 KG
- MTPLM 4200KG
- PLUS POINTS Comfy beds, two dinettes, loads of storage
- MINUS POINTS Belts don’t match berths
OUR REVIEW SAID…
This motorhome can technically sleep seven, because it has bunks in the back as well as dinette and overcab beds, although we thought it worked best as a ‘van for a family of five who might occasionally have extra guests.
The overcab bed and the bunks are comfortable and spacious (with the former even having a headboard), but the dinette beds are a bit of a faff to make up.
The kitchen is well appointed, and the washroom comes with a separate shower that has more than 6ft of headroom.
The two dinettes are comfortable and spacious, and a flap arrangement means that you can lift up the bottom bunk to provide more space, for storing bikes.
Rapido 963F (2006)
- LAYOUT A-class with rear transverse bed and garage
- BERTHS 4
- TRAVEL SEATS 4
- BASE VEHICLE Fiat Ducato
- L/W 6.79/2.31/2.93m
- PLUS POINTS Great storage, comfortable lounge
- MINUS POINTS No oven
OUR REVIEW SAID…
We found this transverse-bed A-class a safe bet back in 2006. That view was both praise and perhaps a slight criticism: this is not really a “wow” ‘van.
Still, this four-berth provides you with a comfortable, well-lit front lounge, two very generous beds (although the rear transverse bed is a bit of a hop to get into) and a washroom with great spec, including a separate shower.
Storage is excellent, both in the kitchen and the lounge. Best of all, there is a huge garage that can take a couple of bikes and much else besides, and you also get a fully waterproof external skirting locker.
Auto-Trail Tracker EKS (2007)
- LAYOUT End-kitchen overcab
- BERTHS 4
- TRAVEL SEATS 2
- BASE VEHICLE Fiat Ducato
- L/W 6.26/2.26m
- PAYLOAD 610kg
- MTPLM 3500kg
- PLUS POINTS Great kitchen, roomy lounge
- MINUS POINTS Muddled corner washroom
OUR REVIEW SAID…
This end-kitchen model with parallel settees that make up one double and, unusually, an overcab bed that makes up another, was praised for its clever little touches.
These include two coffee tables that spring up from the front sides of the settees and can easily be stashed away again.
The main table was deemed to be only suitable for four, but the lounge can seat at least six, so you can invite friends in.
There is a huge amount of workspace in the kitchen, which comes with a dual-fuel three-burner hob and an oven.
The washroom is a bit less well designed, with poor access to the cupboard under the handbasin and the shower (at least for taller people). But storage is more than adequate.
If you liked this… READ THESE:
The pros and cons of owning a classic campervan
Best motorhomes or campervans under £45,000
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