Of course, not all of these vehicles are sold unseen – many sellers allow viewing and test drives and buyers often look for vehicles local to them for this reason. However, a sizeable number of cars, vans, motorhomes, trucks and motorcycles are sold unseen everyday – just like all the other stuff on eBay.

I freely admit that I have never done this. Up until a year or so ago, the idea filled me with fear. Now, I’m not so sure. Last time I bought a van (as the base vehicle for my current motorhome conversion), 3/4 of the vans on my shortlist were on eBay – and none were local. I was quite prepared to commit to buy a van from a dealer on eBay on the basis that I knew the provenance of the vans I was looking at – mostly directly ex-fleet from well-known companies.

(In the spirit of complete openness, I will admit that the van I bought in the end was the one that was local, from a local dealer. This was mostly to cut down on transport costs and because it had exactly the specification I wanted).

If you’re thinking about buying a van or motorhome (or any vehicle) unseen on eBay, then what I would do would be to make a list of all the things I normally check and ask when I view and test drive a vehicle. For example:

• Check bodywork, tyres and look underneath for signs of oil/water leaks, knackered exhausts, etc.
• Check documents – V5C, MOT and service history – verify date of last service
• Check oil and water levels – has this vehicle been cared for?
• Test drive – use all gears (including reverse), try steering at low speed from lock to lock, give brakes a firm test and look out for poor effectiveness or juddering
• Is the inside knackered/battered?
• Do all the controls work – windscreen wipers, lights, radio, air-con – try EVERYTHING!

Now, I hear you say, that’s all very well – but you need to be with the vehicle to check all of this, don’t you?

Well, not quite. Most of the items on the list above could be reasonably asked of the seller, I think.

For example:

• Does it have a current MOT and when does it expire?
• When was the vehicle last serviced? Does it have documentation proving a previous service history?
• Is there any damage to the bodywork and are the tyres all undamaged and legal?
• Are the seat covers torn/stained?
• Do all the dashboard controls work – are any damaged or faulty?

You get the idea… If you then arrive to collect the vehicle you have bought and find that the seller has mis-described it, you may then have grounds for withdrawal or renegotiation on the price.

In some cases, the seller will have provided enough photos to answer some of these questions – but don’t feel shy about asking them again, in writing, if you’re not sure. You are potentially committing to spending thousands of pounds, sight unseen, after all. Remember to send all communications through eBay’s messaging service. That way, there’s a record of what was said that may be used in the event of a dispute.

Of course, some people would say it’s crazy to buy a second-hand vehicle you haven’t inspected. This is possibly true, but more often than not, the deal goes ok. It’s an option that’s worth considering, especially if you have very specific requirements or live in an area where there isn’t much choice locally.

It’s fair to say that owning American RVs in Europe is a fairly specialist hobby. There are plenty of good reasons for this, starting with the gargantuan dimensions of these machines, especially their width.

Running a close second is their their thirst for fuel and high purchase costs. Although the biggest RVs are often ‘diesel pushers’ – essentially large coaches converted to motorhomes – many are based on large American-style pickup trucks and as such have large, thirsty petrol engines – this Allegro Bay A-Class RV has a 7.5l petrol engine, for example.

On the other hand, these vehicles truly are a home-from-home, with huge water and waste tanks, proper-sized furniture and lots of storage and living space. If you spend most of your time on motorways and major roads, their size shouldn’t be a problem. Anyone who spends a lot of time away at exhibitions or motorsports events, for example, probably won’t have a problem. Just don’t imagine that you can tour the backroads of Europe – there is a reason why most RV owners tow a small car or have motorbikes on board – that’s the only way they can really explore the areas they visit.

Lest you think I am prejudiced against RVs, I am not – but when compared to large European motorhomes they do seem to be inefficient with both space and fuel and often quite dated in style, to my eyes.

Without further ado, here are a few juicy, left-hand drive US imports that are currently for sale on that bubbling cauldron of website goodness we know as eBay:

• This Chevrolet Coachman RV is relatively modest in size (8m) and has an attractive layout, unlike some larger RVs it’s under 7,500kg too, meaning anyone who passed their car test before 01/01/1997 can drive it on a car licence
• This old Chevy is being sold as a “winter project”. It’s a coachbuilt model with a large luton – a familiar shape in Europe. It’s also nearly 30 years old and definitely needs some TLC, but it is a runner (just), according to the seller. Here’s a similar example but in better (usable) condition.
• Moving up in size and value, this 2009 Four Winds A-class RV is 35ft long and has a lot of extras, including 4 flat screen TVs… It sleeps 7 and has an 8.2l petrol engine!
• No discussion of American RVs would be complete without a Winnebago – so here is a 1996 30ft Winnebago Itasco Passage for your delectation.

We’ll finish off with two smaller models, albeit both wider than their European equivalents. The first is a Winnebago Warrior – a coachbuilt motorhome with a big luton built onto a relatively small pickup chassis. This one is (I think, can’t see from the pictures) on a Toyota base vehicle with a 3l petrol engine with LPG conversion – fuel costs should be quite manageable, especially if you don’t rush too much.

The second smaller vehicle is even smaller and, in the US world, hardly even qualifies as a motorhome. It’s a Chevrolet Astro van in ‘day van’ configuration. It has travel seats for 7 and can sleep 2 on seats that convert to a bed. It also has some kind of “camper kit” for washing/cooking that apparently “fold away” when not in use, according to the listing.

Here endeth today’s look at American motorhomes in the UK. They are quite different to European motorhomes – some people swear by them and some people swear at them. The only way to find out whether they are right for you is to view, and possibly use, them.

The vehicles themselves vary but tend to have one thing in common – they’re small! Coming from the Japanese market, they also tend to be highly specified, low mileage and free of corrosion – the Japanese don’t use salt on their roads in winter.

If you’re looking for a campervan/motorhome that you can use as a car too, then a Japanese import might be the solution. Various alterations are required when they are imported into the UK and they may need to be re-registered when they are converted to campers – but any reputable converter/dealer should have taken care of this when the vehicle was originally imported.

The other consideration with an import is servicing and spare parts. UK main dealers are not always able/willing to help much with imports (which tend to be models that were never sold in the UK) but there are parts suppliers for these vehicles and support for more popular imports like the Mazda Bongo is now quite good. You’ll also find that the engines are often engines that were also used in European-spec vehicles, making parts and servicing easier to arrange.

Let’s have a look at a few of these diminuitive campers that are currently for sale on eBay.

First up, the classic Mazda Bongo conversion. Mazda Bongos are one of the more popular Japanese imports – both as campervans and as people carriers. Most are automatic with either a 2.5l petrol or 2.5l diesel engine. They are pretty small – smaller than a VW T4, for example – but make a good compact camper, especially when fitted with a pop-up roof.

Similar and slightly larger vehicles include the Nissan Serena and Toyota Granvia.

Van-based alternatives offering more internal space are available, too. The Toyota Hiace sold in Asia and Africa was different to the UK model – it is a ‘cab over’ design where the driver sits at the very front of the vehicle, above the engine. This provides more internal length for the same external length and makes a good base for a campervan conversion. See here, for an example and here for an example of its smaller cousin, the Toyota Space Cruiser – plus a really old Hiace in need of TLC.

The Nissan Urvan was Nissan’s equivalent to the Hiace – much the same story applies.

Finally, this isn’t Japanese and probably isn’t very practical – but it is unusual. A six-wheeler, Ford Cortina based Starcraft motorhome conversion. It’s definitely a restoration project but would certainly be a head turner when finished. Fancy a challenge?

The logic behind this is simple – if almost all of your motorhome holidays are spent in continental Europe, driving on the right, then why not have a motorhome with the steering wheel on the right side for the conditions? Although driving a right-hand drive motorhome in Europe isn’t especially problematic, it’s certainly easier with the steering wheel on the left.

All of this made me wonder how easy it would be to buy a second hand, left-hand drive motorhome that’s already UK registered and in the UK. With that in mind, I bring you this week’s selection of used motorhomes, for sale on the site we all know and love as ‘eBay’. To give you an indicator of how small the market for LHD motorhomes is in the UK, at the time of writing, eBay has 26 LHD motorhomes for sale – against 969 motorhomes in total!

First up is this X-reg VW Westfalia conversion, imported in 2002. If you’re after one of these then Westfalia conversions are amongst the best – but bear in mind these old vans are more of a hobby than a convenience. At this age, they rust and require regular TLC, although devotees swear by them…

If you are looking for something larger and more modern, then for under £20,000 this Rimor Katano on a Ford Transit base can be yours. It’s well-specified for family/long-term touring and has a refillable Gaslow cylinder, which means you can top up with LPG at garages all over Europe without struggling with different bottle types (most European countries use different gas bottle fittings to the UK and to each other…). Also, as a 3,500kg Transit it is probably rear-wheel drive, giving better traction on slippery surfaces and a better drive.

This next van is definitely rear-wheel drive and highly desirable (to me, anyway). A German conversion of a high-top, long wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter. As the seller points out, you get the benefit of driving a van with a standard body plus a high quality conversion, although somewhat bizarrely he is including a battered old Ford Mondeo in the sale… The bed is transverse (across the van), too, which might make it too short for tall people (certainly if you’re 6ft or more and want to lie straight).

Finally, no discussion of LHD motorhomes would be complete with including an A-class Hymer. Hymers have a solid reputation with long-term tourers as good quality, well designed and properly winterised (unlike most British motorhomes) and are popular throughout Europe. This Hymer 534 is only 5.6m long but has all the features you expect in an A-class – drop-down double bed, lounge seating and proper kitchen and bathroom. It’s a 1993 model but probably has plenty of life in it – I’ve seen far older.

I did think about including American imports in this article – after all, they are all LHD. However, I ran out of space so I’ll save it for another week when I’ll look at US imports only – be prepared to widen your screen and purchase shares in an oil company…

First up is this Volkswagen LT35 conversion, which clearly took its insides from a donor caravan (see my upcoming article on this topic). I like the interior layout (separate living and sleeping areas is near the top of my wishlist for my next van) and the base vehicle is a sound choice. The rooftop camper is a neat idea for kids, too. Given the size of the van, the fresh water capacity is a little on the mean side, and I would rather see gas bottles secured in a sealed cupboard. Still, these two minor criticisms would be easy to address and it’s a flexible and comfortable looking conversion.

For a reminder of what us younger folk are missing out on, take a look at this 1983 Bedford CF280. They don’t make them like this anymore – although interior layouts haven’t changed much in the last quarter of a century. Lovers of miniature vehicles might be interested in this Suzuki camper – although this is quite an old van, new models are available. If you fancy one, look for either a Suzuki Rascal or a Daihatsu Hijet. High quality Romahome conversions exist, too, if you don’t want a DIY project.

For a touch of real Italian luxury, have a look at this Giottiline Genetics K-900 motorhome. I’ve never heard of the make before but the luxury is unquestionable. It was £66,500 new, according to the seller, putting it on a par with top quality German marques. At the smaller end of the market, this Mercedes Vito conversion has all the features you need but is not really any bigger than a large car. Ideal as a car substitute and might even fit under a 2m height barrier (check with the seller!).

Finally, a couple of DIY conversions to finish off with. This bright yellow Ford Transit bus conversion isn’t my cup of tea but does look homely. On the other hand, this Merc Sprinter ‘stealth camper’ has potential and plenty of space. On the other hand, the seller has a strange idea of what constitutes an adequate level of vehicle servicing and in a van that size, I would want a toilet, if not a toilet cubicle. Still, any buyer could easily upgrade the storage and incorporate a Porta Potti.