The Caravan Owners Club

[acano]

Hi there new on here.
Just looking for some info on buying a new hobby
4 berth required, wheres the best place to buy from? and anything to be aware of? thanks acano

[John_C]

[Doc]

Hi acano,

Your query has spurred me to put together a number of replies I've sent to different people in the past; forgive me if it's a bit protracted, but 'you did ask'.

Also similar queries are often repeated and this reply could be helpful for others.

Apart from this site, do a google-search (under Doc, or Doc.L and Hobby Caravans etc.) on uk.rec.caravanning for lots of past posts on buying Hobbys, and other German 'vans, both here, but more generally abroad.

For my rationale of buying abroad and choosing the dealer (Joeressens) I did, see http://www.hobby-owners-club.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131.

Unlike other continental makes, ALL Hobbys are at least 4-berth; from 400 up to 540 in size, for legal UK use with normal towcars. Bigger ones are available, but being 2.5m wide, need a commercial vehicle to tow them in the UK.

Apart from, perhaps, proximity to a dealer, there is no advantage to buying in the UK; you'll pay ~40% more, but get no Anglicised additions, unlike other makes. Warranty check/service can be done on imported Hobbys by Ambergate Service Centre, in DERBYS; no problem.

Continental 'vans tend to have a pretty basic spec. compared to UK 'vans. The buyer is expected to customise the 'van for his own needs by adding various options. This way you don't pay for items that you may not need.
So you do need to have a good idea of what you want on the 'van.

Here's a list of options commonly added by Brits.

‘van battery: Continental ‘vans don’t come with them, or charging, as standard. They expect ‘vans to be on mains hook-up and get any 12V via a transformer. I’ve heard of just one guy who bought the Autark pack, which is the option which gives you 12V battery and charging.
But it’s an 800€ option (with gel battery). Far too expensive for me and everyone else, so we’ve done it DIY. I’ve got a fancy 4-stage switch mode charger (Sterling Power £129) and a couple of relays etc. ~£10 to automatically change the accessory supply from ‘van battery to car battery. There’s a circuit diag. on my webshots site. Joeressens will add it in for ~ 600€, I think.

Water heater & shower: Standard heater is purely electric. A lot of us have gone for the option of gas water heating. You then get an in-board water tank instead of the wheeled tank which goes in a ‘water locker’. In the bathroom, a shower is an option, or like me, you can get just a ‘shower tap’ which is a lot cheaper.

The blower for the blown air heating is/was usually 240V, so everyone I know has gone for the 12V motor option, with air-mix. N.B on 2004 Hobbys I think the 12V motor may now be standard.

I’ve got a rear-wall 2-bike rack fitted by Joeressens to the back wall of my Hobby.

For a couple of hundred euros you can get the chassis/’van up-rated in terms of MPTLM, which will increase the user payload, provided that your towcar can handle it.

You can get stronger corner steadies as an option and I think we’ve all gone for that.

A spare wheel is an option as is a jack; they use the Alko one even though it's a BPW chassis.

Were I to get a new 'van now, I would get the dealer to fit a Cassette Awning (e.g. Omnistor 2000) to the 'van so as to maintain the warranty.

Finally, now is the time to e-mail, dealers for any end-of-season discounted 'vans they may have. I tried in Aug/Sept 2001 but there was only one 450UB available.....in Berlin!

If you can get to the Dusseldorf Caravan Show, 28th Aug to ~6th Sept., then you can also get some bargains there, so I've been told.

Happy Hobby Hunting and if you require any more info. just ask.