Club 80-90 Forums

Im in a position where I might be able to purchase a second van for the purpose of hiring out. As we are in Plymouth, it would make a good base for touring Devon and Cornwall. The plan would be to hire for either by the week or for a long weekend.
The question is would it be viable? As it could be a try before you buy (another van - not this one).
Any thoughts anyone

there are a fair few companies out there doing a similar thing, do your research. imho the existing companies charge a fortune, i don't think you should have to pay much more, if any to hire a camper than you'd pay to stay at a hotel!

how much would the insurance cost.would fully comp.any driver.cover this sort of thing.or do you need special insurance if hiring out...

My work has a hymer we lend out for a donation and we just spent 2500 insuring the thing , be careful do your homwork first, ie breakdown cover insurance etc who repairs the van and what do you do if engine blows on day 1 of hire and you have no replacement !!!! bye bye holiday for punters and not happy ones at that at that me thinks , sounds cool idea but frought with danger and expense !!!

Thanks for the tips guys, will be looking into the insurance closely. Cost of hire would have to be reasonable as Disco Dave says plus theres campsite (if used ) fees on top, I would like to make it reasonable but still make some money to put back into the van / buy another.
Have been looking at other hire companies to see what they do.

Went and looked at the potential van yesterday and walked away! The search continues.

Personally, I wouldn't hire out a T25 (I assume that's what you mean). They are old with too many things to go wrong when driven by unsympathetic drivers. A Transit would be a better proposition and most parts are easier and cheaper to maintain.

I think you need to get your business idea clear from the start as the purpose is to make money for you, full stop.

It seems to me that there are two ways of doing this:-

1. Hire out new, modern motorhomes to people that want comfort and aren't bothered about the VW scene.

2. Hire out older classic vehicles that let people live the dream in a classic old VW bus. People that like the image basically.

IMHO a T25 meets neither of these.

Most peoples idea of a classic VW is a bay or splitty and not a T25.

You have to remember that other people (the public/your clients) that don't frequent this site and similar probably don't appreciate the T25 as we do.

You may have a client base with people who are considering buying but it sounds a bit limited.

You've probably thought it out better than me already and I am probably entirely wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

Good luck.

Some real good points there tgs, agree about the older VW vans for the image, but aren't ours now becoming desirable / the image rather than a plastic thing?

The idea for hiring out the van would be to make some money, but not a rich quick scheme and for others to 'taste' what they are missing. If all else fails then the van can be sold on after a bit of tidying up too, still got some research to do, marketting to do.

One of the attractions of the older types is that almost any car driver can cope with them. The T25 is much heavier and could be a problem to some. And although I think the T25 is superior and beats the older types in most departments it still lacks the simplicity and, dare I say, "charm" of the splits and bays.
Once again, I wouldn't rent out a museum piece to all and sundry.

If there where some T25's avaialbe to hire, people tried them, got to love them like we do, there would then be more demand for them.
Umm, then maybe not a good idea as the prices may then through the roof like split's and bays. I remember my first camper, a 72 Devon bay, buying it for £800, having new brakes fitted and a re-spray and selling it for £1700 about 20 years ago, perhaps I should have got into it then!!

The camper would have to be a 'good' example for renting out and pitched right for cost's etc, however we do have teenagers and a youngster between us so the camper could always be an investment for them.

What would happen if someone rented it for a fortnight and it broke down on the first day? would you be willing to let them use/misuse your other van. There are a lot of pitfalls, but I'm sure they are sortable.

The breakdown issue is relevant and lets face it, these old vans DO breakdown quite often.

I know that atleast one of the companies that hires out Bays, uses brand new Mexican (Brazilian?) imports.

It is a concern that the engine could go bang, but a regularly serviced / maintined van could go on for a long time. However, my D reg has already had a new engine at 65k miles but I do know this one know will last longer this one is always a back up too, but itsn't that what small print is for (okay only joking).

Please keep the thoughts coming, as it help me make my mind up.

i used to run it as a business for 2.5 years

welsh coast campers

had 2 bays and 1 split

really busy and I still get calls even though it finished 4 years ago

the vans ate too much dosh though

my advice is go for it and yes for a t25

restrict mileage esp if youre in a good area

be very picky on who you let it out to

pm me for insurance details if u r interested

forget about people wanting a bay or split,

boll*ks to that ... people you want wanna camp!!

those that want the bays or split just wanna thrash it to RTTS!

i had older people wanting a t25 not a bay or split ..

good luck

Cheers Monkey nuts, you have PM.
First round of customers will be peolpe who we know, and see where it takes us.
Being in the South West (Plymouth) the hire could be limited to Devon and Cornwall, or even tailored trips could be set (if I get time!).
Still adding up the negatives and positives though, yet still keen to do it. Autotrader day tomorrow, I'll be online early