The Caravan Owners Club

[st31be]

Hi Pagey
Glad to see all went well with your purchase
I am thinking of doing the same thing
But may I ask why you chose JCH as opposed to Bundesvan or joeressens
Thanks
Steve

[Pagey]

Simple

The caravan was bought from Joeressens but as I was new to a) buying from abroad and b) a Hobby - I decided JCH. I was dealing with another agent in North of Germany but while the price was very good I wasn't getting the answers or service The advice I was given by JCH along with all the arrangements made including check lists what to remeber etc made the whole thing far simpler. For what it matters I didn't buy an awning in Germany as they only did steel poles (too heavy) or a caravan mover (a must) as I was able to get this cheaper in the UK

PS Bundesvan never heard of that. Doesn't he play for Liverpool?

If I can be of any more use please come back to me

Good Luck

Pagey

[st31be]

Pagey
Link to Bundesvan http:
www.bundesvan.co.uk/
No one seems to have used them so I too will probably use joeressens
Unfortunately Ntlworld emails are down at the moment!
If you're around this site, John and Sylvia, I'll get back to you when things are up and running again
Steve

[mickymorris]

I have just come back from Germany in the early hours of this morning with my brand spanking 540UK which I am over the moon with. I decided to go through JCH for several reasons. First of all I am new to caravaning, then I got a better price through JCH than I did from going directly through to joeressens, they were also very helpful and never got tired of me e-mailing and phoning them with questions. Thank you.

Micky

[hobbynigel]

Have to say my experience has been the same so far John at JCH has been a huge help to me as first time buyer. Now eagerly awaiting delivery of our 540UK.

PS the budget was a bit tight so I didn't go for the van mover. Do you guys think I'll be able to push it up a fairly standard incline from road to drive (about 6in over 6 feet = 1 in 12 I guess)?

[beejay]

Hi Hobbynigel
Sorry, the answer is no. My drive is 1 in 12 and there is no way that my wife and I can push it uphill. In an emergency it can be "rocked" from side to side using chocks alternately on each side. Now... mover fitted, problem resolved!!

[beejay]

Hi Hobbynigel
Sorry, the answer is no. My drive is 1 in 12 and there is no way that my wife and I can push it uphill. In an emergency it can be "rocked" from side to side using chocks alternately on each side. Now... mover fitted, problem resolved!!

[MarkH]

I have just received my new hobby excelsior 540ufe from JCHcaravans
At first i was a little worried about buying on the web & only having, web & telephone contact with John
But I have been extremely pleased with all the information & the complete buying & delivery process given by John of JCHcaravans.
If you want the hassel taken out of buying in germany talk to this company

[jeepstar]

Or contact the supplier and do it your self there are excellent savings to be made you just have to ask!!!.

Jch are very good at what they do but remember you are paying for the service.

There is nothing complicated in buying your own van look around this site all the answers are there to be had for the taking alternateley just post a question you will get lots of replies im sure.

[Doc]

Forgive me if I interject a few observations here, as the person most responsible for mentioning Joeressens et al. and buying caravans abroad.
(I've put many, including John Hills, onto Joeressens)

When I did it over 4 years ago the £ had a very good rate (~60p) to the €, and far fewer continental 'vans were actually imported into the UK market, by dealers. Also no UK 'van had a 5yr warranty. (My Hobby from Germany, with all the added options was well over 30% cheaper than buying a more basic Hobby here.)

Having recently seen some of the UK 'retail' prices on Hobby 'vans (no added options I'll grant) the savings (if any) in buying abroad are nowhere near what they were. In fact, although I've had excellent service abroad, it would be very debatable if I'd bother to buy from the continent now. That includes many makes, apart from perhaps Hymer.

Although Hobby make few concessions to the UK market (the Special UK 650s etc. excluded) many of the other makers do, and the price differences between here and on the continent are not, now, very large.

Before Christmas I compared UK and continental prices on quite a few continental makes and making sure the the specs were as similar as possible, I was surprised at the relatively small differences in price now.

So you need to do your 'homework' very carefully. It's likely to be dependant on the model (and make) you want and what options you wish to add in.

Take care out there.