Shared Ownershite

[Mr Livered]

There are occasional mentions on this 'ere site of running shite on a shared ownership basis. May I ask for any experiences, thoughts, advice, etc about whether or not this is likely to be a good idea?

 

I would like to acquire a camper. I've been considering it for a while, but the whole thing is a great deal more complicated than owning a car. A camper in halfway decent condition seems to be pretty dear for a start, so I've been contemplating a van or minibus and doing the work (in particular I gave much thought to Wuvvum's LDV) but quite frankly it seems like a hassle. And that's despite the fact that I only w) need something simple. I just want a double bed and a cupboard/table, which could be very basic. Any more than that would be a bonus.

 

I would like to be able to strap my kids into seats though, so that they can ride in the van even though they probably won't sleep in it.

 

That's a fair amount of hassle for a vehicle I really only want for one fortnight's holiday a year plus a few weekends - and thus it might just be a good candidate for a shared ownership arrangement.

 

But what do you think? I would greatly appreciate any input. Ta

[minolman]

Simply put depends on the shared owner, 'friend', whomever, what you take their outlook to be, what their outlook actually is, etc. 

 

I'll type this humorous extract from the pen of the excellent motoring writer J B Boothroyd.

 

"You may decide to turn to a friend. To buy a car through, or from a friend is to be highly recommended, but only for the man who has become sickened with the social side of life and is looking for a short cut to a hermit like existence. I have seen twenty years friendships shot to bits in a moment, caught in the searing cross fire of an argument over whether the spare wheel has had a worn out cover substituted since the deal was struck. A man has wept as he pressed the starter, yelling 'I never want to see you again', to his boyhood playmate who got him the car as a special favour for old times sake. This sort of thing only happens with motor cars. Sell your best friend a standard lamp that will only go by lying on its side and he is only too ready to blame his electrical system or the cleaning lady; should he let you have a set of bookshelves cheaply and you find the tenons are not up to your bound volumes of Kipling or Wisden, you tell yourself at once it is no fault of his; it is simply your books that are ridiculously heavy. True friendship can take a hundred knocks like this. Where the motor car is involved, the lightest nudge means a feud to the death."

 

I'm exceedingly glad that the friends I have, and have had in the car hobby have given me great satisfaction, help and support in good times and bad. But I've heard other stories too....

[vulgalour]

Autoshite Timeshare Camper (ATC).

 

The fantastic* vehicle on offer is sure to be a Fiat/Talbot Autosleeper in beige and brown with AS monogram on the bonnet.

 

If you want to use it, you have to fix it first.  It probably will also need tax and MoT before you can use it too.

 

Do you really want to go on holiday?  Perhaps you can wait until next year, someone else is sure to want to make use of the ATC and fix all those tiresome problems before you.

 

Best of all, ATC doesn't have to exist outside of this plan.  Hypothetically it will never be fixed and nobody will ever need it.  Because it's permanently broken nobody falls out or spoils friendships.

 

I do believe I'm some sort of genius.

[purplebargeken]

Getting a van sorted into something basic but habitable shouldn't cost the earth or take up more than a couple of weekends. A 'rock and roll' bed and some MDF and a piano hinge should sort the table thing out. A bonus if the van is already boarded, in which case, some cheap plain cord carpet, upholstery adhesive and/or staple gun will be your best mates.

 

Bolt down seats from a scrapper minibus might be the best way for the kids to sit in comfort and safety. There are loads on ebay around the £40 mark.

 

These can be removed and stored and the van can then be used as a van in the interim.

 

If I ever get my mitts on the CF2 I will be doing this.

[Angrydicky]

Myself and a mate are looking at getting an old camper in the New Year. I can do the necessary maintenance and he can store it on his driveway. The only problem would be insurance as we're both fairly young (22). I suppose the thing to do would be for one of us to take out a policy on it and add the other person as a named driver. Has anyone got any experience of motorhome insurance? Last time I looked the prices were astronomical, especially for anything van-derived. Could we get something like a Bedford Bambi on classic insurance? It wouldn't be a main car for either of us.

[cms206]

I lost a restored Leyland National, £3500 and a K-reg Peugeot 205 to shared ownership.

 

Be wary who you share with.

[The Moog]

Not sure about age thing but back when I had ex DW Bernard insurance was like 180 a year including breakdown.

[spike60]

If the vehicle is registered as a camper specialist insurance is not particularly expensive, I ran a coachbuilt Transit for 11 years and a home converted Merc before that. I think a water tank and side windows were the qualifications as a camper as opposed to a van. I would expect a van insured by a 22 year old to be a bad risk, but the Transit had a no under 25's clause perhaps because it was 20 feet long and 9 and a half high.

[barefoot]

I really can recommend 'Safeguard' insurance in Leeds for cheapness and common sense,

Oddly it's really old fashioned, and there's only about half a dozen of them in one office.

And whatever ncd you have on your car, bizarrely they'll mirror on your new camper.

 

As for camper sharing, if any of you fuckers want to service/maintain/weld/replace/respray panels with alarming regularity on my t2,

I'll happily drive it to the campsite of your choice (no insurance issues) within 5 miles of my home at DE74, the absolute centre of the country and I'll even chuck in a couple of 'full monty' breakfast food fest's for your delectation.

[drum]

Don't share a camper with someone who

-gets the same holidays as you

-has issues with personal hygiene

-doesn't follow the 'leave it as you found it ' philosophy

-doesn't do car maintenance.

 

We have a shared family caravan (me, brother, sister, parents) but I am the main shareholder and therefore get first dibs. So far this arrangement has worked well but it's not used much.

[Sudsprint]

Shared ownership works but normally one party does more and this can test a friendship.

 

Not sure I would share ownership on a camper .....'there may be trouble ahead.... da-da dar-dee darda ...'

[sutty2006]

Shared ownership works but normally one party does more and this can test a friendship.

 

This Fact is true.

 

I share ownership of 3 vehicles. Two with my brother, and one with my Dad. (nothing beats keeping it in the family)

 

I have a 300tdi Disco which is an offroader. between me and my brother we pay for everything half and half. HOWEVER, I do all the work. I pay the initial outlay to any work not done by myself which he either pays me for later, or just pays for something else. I'll be the one rebulding the pile of shit on the drive while he sits in his chair, in the warmth, with a cup of tea stating "im too busy". It really pisses me off.

 

Me and the brother also share ownership of the 1989 Mercury we have. Yet again, its always me thats fixing it....fettling with it....booking it into shows.... taking it places to get fixed or generally just looking after it. If it was left in the hands of my brother, nothing would get done at all. But I still love him to bits (in a non gay/inbred/shit kicking kind of way)

 

Me and my dad co-own the landrover ambulance we have. I'll give him his dues, when things need replacing he'll cough up some money, and I know that if I ask him for help he'll be there without needing to think. Thats what dads are for, right?

 

In my experiance, dont Co-own anything thats got TITS or WHEELS, because it can cause more harm than you want. If you're going to use a camper for 2 weeks of the year, HIRE ONE. It'll be worth it for the reduced risk of flared tempers between friends. Hope this helps.

[mercrocker]

Now, I know  I  do not play well with others  and have the team spirit of a rabid wolf.  BUT....even so, would you  not be better considering spending all your money on half  the value of the vehicle  you desire?  It  would always be yours and would  not lose you a  friend as  well as all your money.   I have  seen so many of these arrangements end in bitter acrimony.    The only way I have ever seen it work was between two guys who used to buy up, do up and sell.   They dont talk  anymore  though, either!    As to  the actual vehicle, even a fully* converted* T25 like ours provides a  decent estate car/van/spare vehicle compromise that adds value to a domestic set-up and even a spare room in extreme need.   They are also, in my opinion, a bit too personal a vehicle to be sharing with somebody else.