The Caravan Owners Club

[Hobbynut]

Is it a viable proposition to buy abroad or is article below accurate?
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/feature ... broad.html

[Roy Armstrong]

All I can say is, Thank God Hobbys are not made to British standards!

Insuring them isn't a problem if you keep to a UK legal size of van.

The electrics aren't a problem, safety or otherwise. If one is concerned, the German outlets can be changed to UK 13A for around £6.00 each.

I find that the TUV regs tend to be more stringent as far as the gas installation is concerned.

How many caravanners holidaying on the continent with a British van have a problem with the door on the "wrong side"?

I bought mine from Joeressen last June and yes I have had a problem, the cutlery drawer handle came loose!

And you can still save many thousands of pounds/euro by personal importing.

As far as spares and repairs are concerned, a 35 minute Eurotunnel trip and a road journey of less distance than to many UK dealers is all that is needed.

But then, Hobbynut, you already knew all of this, didn't you?

[Doc]

Is it a viable proposition to buy abroad or is article below accurate?
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/feature ... broad.html

Hobbynut (Chris?),

That article is the biggest load of bull manure ever written on importing.

I've replied about it on here some time ago, but I can't find it at the moment.

Anyway, the guy in the article, Gareth Jones and his wife Miranda, were advised my me and my co-buyer, Andy, all about importing from Joeressens, where we did our deal.

I actually contacted Gareth after that article came out and asked him what he thought of it.

He reckoned his views had been mis-represented to increase the 'pitfalls' section of the article and they never made any mention of the heightened quality of the Hobby caravans compared to the vast majority of UK 'vans. It was the combination of higher quality AND cheaper prices in Germany that had convinced him to personally import. That was omitted from the article.

Not difficult to work out why! The author was a free-lance journalist and it looked as though he had been given a brief by PC to make importing look difficult! And we know it isn't!!

PS. Roy, I'm Hobbybod (me, Doc!!); Hobbynut is another Hobby . . . eerh NUT, I think Chris, but I may be getting muddled now. Now see what you've done!!

[Roy Armstrong]

Sorry Doc, got my bod mixed up with my nut!!!!!

Roy

[candlefish]

Roy:

You shouldn't mix up your bod and nuts.

Your bod is above the waist, and your nuts .......


I'll stop now.

D

[Hobbynut]

Thanks for that Roy.. I was actually thinking of changing my van for a 700 SMF and wondered how much I would save by going abroad as opposed to buying from JG Trading. ( daren't go near Ambergate for fear of Cardiac Arrest of the wallet ). The use of Eurotunnel is quite interesting and obviously you have got contacts in relation to Hobby's at " the other side ". For me that would be a bit of an ordeal as I live in Hull in East Yorkshire. Could go by P & O North Sea Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam but the crossing takes all night. Have you any addresses in France or Holland that may be of use to me.
Cheers Hobbynut ( Chris Bennett )

[Roy Armstrong]

Bob is correct, you cannot buy the 700 in the UK.

You can buy the 720 UMF and the 720 UML from Germany both priced at €18,800 ( circa £13,160 ) for the Prestige version.

See www.hobby-caravans.com for layouts and specs.

I brought mine back with Norfolk Lines via Dunkirk/Dover.

I changed the socket on my car to 13 pin (£11.00) as they are far better than the UK 7 pin.

I kept to the German mains sockets as most of my appliances were bought in France and have the moulded on continental plugs.

The only necessary ( for me) addition was a 115A/H battery and Sterling charger/psu ( circa £175.00 ).

[Hobbynut]

Thanks for that everybody, it was just an idea so I might go for a 720 UMF as a replacemant for my 710 but I do like the look of the Fendt Diamant VIP. I think more homework needs to be done..If anybody is interested there is a second hand Landhaus for sale on ebay

[mightymoe]

Thanks for that Roy.. I was actually thinking of changing my van for a 700 SMF and wondered how much I would save by going abroad as opposed to buying from JG Trading. ( daren't go near Ambergate for fear of Cardiac Arrest of the wallet ). The use of Eurotunnel is quite interesting and obviously you have got contacts in relation to Hobby's at " the other side ". For me that would be a bit of an ordeal as I live in Hull in East Yorkshire. Could go by P & O North Sea Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam but the crossing takes all night. Have you any addresses in France or Holland that may be of use to me.
Cheers Hobbynut ( Chris Bennett )

Hi Roy, i am just looking through the forum and noticed that one of your members is looking for a hobby 700 SMF, i have one that i am selling to down size to a smaller hobby.I will give you the details and you can let Chris Bennett know. I live in Ayrshire Scotland and I bought it from J.G.Tradings Dumfries.

Hobby Exclusive 700 Smf uk Special starline 2002. 5 berth caravan. End bedroom. Electric flushtoilet and shower. 3 burner gas hob and oven. Large refrigertor. Microwave oven (700 smf only) Blownair heating. Chocolate box windows. Alloy wheels. Omnistor suncanopy fitted. Status aerial. Lovely condition. Genuine reason for sale. Thanks Roy

[Roy Armstrong]

Mightymoe,
You have already informed Chris yourself, no go-between necessary!

[Hobbynut]

Thanks for the offer Mightymoe but if I do change I think it will have to be a new one.
Cheers
Hobbynut