Norfolk Anyone?

[Cruising Comet]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone here is from Norfolk? We are trying to locate someone who can offer services to motorhome owners like habitation checks & accessories? we are tired of contacting companys in the Norfolk area and getting no response, so if anyone knows of anyone that would be a great help?

Is it common to find these companys in general are not interested or have we just been unlucky? we've been flabbergasted by the lack of help out there!

The other problem we are finding which is extremely frustrating is the lack of suitable smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detecters, why don't specialist caravanning / camping shops sell these? We understand we require an optical type smoke alarm as well as dual purpose carbon dioxide / LPG detector, a look on ebay will find these sometimes but we have searched high and low for these in shops with no real sucess, why are shops not geared up for this stuff? (maybe it's just my area)

 

[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Speak to your local fire brigade re the smoke alarms.

Our local fire brigade gave us one for the motorhome when they put them in our house and they are free of charge.

 

[Chris]

We use Becks motorhomes who are near Great Yarmouth.

They have been great for us.

Mind you we have thrown a lot of money at them...

 

[Cruising Comet]

We use Becks motorhomes who are near Great Yarmouth.

They have been great for us.

Mind you we have thrown a lot of money at them...

Thanks but I wouldn't use Becks if they were the last place on the planet, we heard they were ok so contacted them but they were not interested, didnt even have the courtesy to get back to us, when I contacted them again saying they had failed to get back to us they were patronising, very rude and said "we cant please everyone" so they wont be getting our business I'm affraid

Thanks for the response anyway :thumb:

 

[Cruising Comet]

Speak to your local fire brigade re the smoke alarms.

Our local fire brigade gave us one for the motorhome when they put them in our house and they are free of charge.

Is it an Ionisation or Optical type detector? From what I've found out Ionisation detectors (most common) are a waste of time in motorhomes as they don't detect smouldering smoke and slow burning fires, like an optical sensor type alarm.

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[Chris]

Sorry to hear that.

They are not the most organised business in the world I must admit so the failure to return your call is not a complete surprise but I am surprised at the response you did get. Perhaps you caught them on a bad/busy day?

 

[Jaws]

I do all my own work but I did buy my present van from Stowmarket Caravans
When I ordered it I wanted a fair few changes and add ons ( including a different type of water heater, roof rails, ladder, tv antenna etc etc )

They also fitted a smoke / CO2 detector that works VERY well indeed ( we found out how well when it went off one day .. we could not suss it out until we noticed a fire in the field beside us !! )

They carried out all the work in good time and in to a satisfactory level ( one or two bits I would have done differently but one always does when it is ones own van ! )

All in all not a bad outfit to deal with

Where abouts in Norfolk are you ?

We are in Thetford and go out most weekends to the various sites around our coast.. perhaps a meet up and a wee dram ?

 

[Cruising Comet]

Sorry to hear that.

They are not the most organised business in the world I must admit so the failure to return your call is not a complete surprise but I am surprised at the response you did get. Perhaps you caught them on a bad/busy day?

Yep it could well have been a bad day, we all have them I guess, but there's no excuse for speaking to us the way they did, and really with an attitude like that I wouldn't want to do business with them anyway. Shame really as they were recommended to us intiallty.

 

[Cruising Comet]

Where abouts in Norfolk are you ?

We are in Thetford and go out most weekends to the various sites around our coast.. perhaps a meet up and a wee dram ?

Sunny "North Norfolk" here, on the coast near Cromer :thumb:

Stowmarket is a bit out of the way, although we took our camper to VW in Lowestoft last week for a new cambelt & water pump, we only went there because we contacted all the VW dealerships in Norfolk, as well as the Lowestoft dealership (5 in total) just to see if there was any difference in price, the only one that came back to us with a quote was the Lowestoft branch!

A helpful man (Not) at VW Cookes of Fakenham said he was going away on holiday the day we contacted him and to try the reception desk, hence we never bothered and just went to Lowestoft which turned out to be a major inconvenience as we thought we would just go into town and look around while it was being done, however they couldnt finish it that day because of parts needed, so we had to return home in a courtsey car then go back the following day to collect, (around a 200 mile journey in total) anyway it all worked out ok in the end and we are happy with the work they did, but I can't understand whats going in in Norfolk, just seems like they don't want your custom?

 

[SmellyFeet]

Try Drayton Caravans in Heigham Street in Norwich. Not sure if they can help you, but they have done work on my Motorhome and I have been very pleased with the work. Ask for Julian.

Cheers

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[sillybug]

hi

theres a place just outside norwich cant remember the name im afraid but managed to get there number off a friend of mine they say they have always had good service from them but i havnt got any personal experience but maybe worth a try number is 08445042460 or mobile 07777633252 .

or you could try simpsons in gt yarmouth tel 01493 601696

for accessarys could try the camping shop at blowfield

hope this helps

 

[Dalek]

We bought from Simpsons at G Yarmouth, and must say not had any problems with them. Only thing I dont like is the shop isnt very well stocked and its overpriced. Sorry to hear about Becks we were recommended to them as it is a friends cousin that owns it, but they didnt have in stock what layout we wanted. How about Greentrees at Dereham? or dont know whereabouts you are in Norfolk but we go to Norwich Camping a lot at Blofield. Johns Cross on the forum is another place to buy and I believe they are very good. I bought a carbon monoxide detector, mainly for the house, I then rang up the manufacturer to see if one would be suitable for the motorhome, telling them also that we use LPG and they said it would be fine.

Dale

 

[meanders]

We bought our first motorhome from Simpsons at Yarmouth , their servicing was fine but I agree the shop wasn't much cop. It depends what accessories you want but if you have a Range near you they sell quite a few camping accessories at a reasonable price.

 

[Jaws]

Re :

theres a place just outside norwich cant remember the name im afraid but managed to get there number off a friend of mine they say they have always had good service from them but i havnt got any personal experience but maybe worth a try number is 08445042460 or mobile 07777633252

This is the people who fitted the new Truma system in my first van and completely buggered up the job.. They also fitted a fog light and we found the wire just ended in a bit of tape tucked in to the chassis !!

The ONLY reason I remember it so well is the 42460 ending to the land line number.. It is ( was, actually ) the same as a relative's one who lived in London !

 

[Pablo]

Hi there,

we're 10 miles out of King's Lynn always go to Martins Caravans (01945 474 666) for our hab check but they are in Wisbech, Cambs. They have an excellent accessory shop and Graham's advice is always spot on but he can talk the hind leg off etc. at times

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[PilgrimPhil]

I was going to suggest Martins as well. We are in King's Lynn & it's only 12 miles away.

PilgrimPhil

 

[Bugsy]

Hi

We've used Broadland Leisure Vehicles in Acle. Here is their website
Link Removed

I hope this helps.:thumb:

Toni

 

[Cruising Comet]

Thanks guys, a few good contacts there hopefully, shame most of them are so far away from us, was recommended "Rainbow Conversions" in Wisbeach by the guy we purchased our camper from but again a good way from us unless we can work it in with a trip

Now.... with regards these carbon monoxide detectors, am I right in presuming an ordinary "Household" one is unsuitable for a camper? is it really necessary to have one that detects LPG? I would think if the gas system is leaking it would omit a strong odour or am I mistaken?

I really wanted a dual purpose optical smoke alarm / carbon dioxide unit to save having detectors scatttered all over the place. I was reading an artical in a magazine recently think it was Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly Magazine, and it basicly said that carbon dioxide detectors designed for home use are not suitable for motorhomes? they also said that ionisation detectors (most common type) were of no use in motorhomes as they only detect flames and by this point the fire is all ready underway, they also said you need an optical alarm that photo senses the area to detect smouldering smoke, as smoke in a confined space while you sleep is the actual killer and not the fire itself.

I'm surprised this information is not more widely available and suitable equipment is so hard to obtain especially from caravan / camping shops, i've seen an LPG detector but these need hard wired into the system (lot of hassle) and I'm yet to find a carbon monoxide detecter solely for motorhome use other than the hard wired types that cost an arm and a leg while being very scarce to get hold of anyway.


Anyway thanks for all your feedback!


Ed & Caz

 

[Cruising Comet]

Hi

We've used Broadland Leisure Vehicles in Acle. Here is their website
Link Removed

I hope this helps.:thumb:

Toni

Thanks Bugsy

Looks like that could be a helpful link :thumb:

 

[BobT]

In my experience the best place for repairs, servicing etc. is Link Removed . The best accessory shop is definitely www.norwichcamping.co.uk

Good luck!

Bobt

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[Jaws]

Bob, think you may be sadly disappointed if you go to Norwich Camping and Leisure.

Very poor selection of parts nowadays..

I spoke to someone a couple of months ago and since it has changed hands the focus has changed to canvas and away from tin

 

[BobT]

Hi Jaws,
I'm sorry to hear that, I haven't been there for a few months (probably 12 or more) and I didn't realise they had changed hands. Thanks for the info!

Bob T

 

[Cruising Comet]

Bob, think you may be sadly disappointed if you go to Norwich Camping and Leisure.

Very poor selection of parts nowadays..

I spoke to someone a couple of months ago and since it has changed hands the focus has changed to canvas and away from tin

Yes we have been there a couple of times since bying our camper, infact we went there only yesterday we got our selves an Image 420 aerial and a few other bits and pieces, its not a bad store but it doesn't seem to be very well organised, sections seem to be all over the place and you have to hunt for things, isles also clutterd with boxes yesterday when we was there making it difficult to get around, lots of things that you are after they don't seem to have for example we were after a beige 2pin 12v plug, pretty standard item I would have thought but none on the racks, could have a better range overal but still handy.

 

[malc]

Have you tried Simpsons of Gt Yarmouth, servicing and habitation. Used to have the VW franchise.
Sales as well as accessories. They have a web site.
Malc

 

[camcondor]

Sunny "North Norfolk" here, on the coast near Cromer :thumb:

but I can't understand whats going in in Norfolk, just seems like they don't want your custom?

Well, its Norfolk, sadly says it all!! I'm on contract down here and living just outside Cromer in a quaint flint barn conversion - my motorhome is sitting quietly on the driveway at home, currently not being used, as it was incredibly dificult getting any North Norfolk sites to agree to a longer term stay than the usual three weeks; also many refused to have our dog on the site. Norfolks a strange place - lots of signs around this "holiday mecca" saying NO DOGS NO CHILDREN. Hmmm. I won't be too unhappy when the time comes that the contract I'm on is up, but I then may be off to that other jolly old holiday mecca of Torquay on another contract!!

I have seen some mobile caravan service vehicles driving around the Cromer area - a bit like Ash and Mark (CLS) who are members on this site. I know Mark used to take on work on sites sometimes if he was in the area - perhaps ask them both if they are planning on a visit this summer?
:Cool:

Norfolk has its good points, but the holiday makers drive everyone to distraction during the season due to the narrow roads and holiday attitude, especially the wretched tuggers who sometimes have miles and miles of frustrated drivers behind them!! The tractors at least pull over in laybys to let traffic past, the tuggers certainly don't!!!

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[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Is it an Ionisation or Optical type detector? From what I've found out Ionisation detectors (most common) are a waste of time in motorhomes as they don't detect smouldering smoke and slow burning fires, like an optical sensor type alarm.

Sorry I dont know, but I believe its called an Angel but I doubt the Fire Brigade would recommend it or give it to us if it wasnt fit for purpose

 

[Cruising Comet]

In my experience the best place for repairs, servicing etc. is Link Removed . The best accessory shop is definitely www.norwichcamping.co.uk

Good luck!

Bobt

Thanks Bob,

Rackheath is not that far a run from ours, will take a better look at their site :thumb:

 

[Cupcake]

Camcondor sorry to hear that you're not enjoying Norfolk, you can't have met the right people, unfortunately we're on holiday at the moment but could have shown you 'the light' if we'd been at home. As for the not being allowed to stay on sites for longer than 3 weeks expect that this is because the council is pretty hot on these matters... i know as daughter works there!! As for no children if you were on the site where we are at the moment with 3 'little darlings' across the pitch from us you can understand it to some extent!. Now to the original query we bought our van from Simpsons but had it mot'd & habitation checked at Becks which is closer to us with no problem. Perhaps you just got a bad day or the like as usually polite. We did have to book it in weeks in advance as they said they were extremely busy & they can be as has been said before a bit disorganised (a trait which may run in the family as the son-in-law services our boiler & trying to get an appointment is a nightmare but at the end of the day he does a good job with no ripping off). We have picked up other bits & bobs from Gt Yarmouth caravans & they are always friendly & helpful as has also been said store at Blofield tending to cater more for tents etc now. Hope this helps.

Cupcake (on an extremely sunny IOW)

 

[ourcampersbeentrashed]

Have you tried Searles at hunstanton they take dogs and they take children and have kids entertainment both daytime and evening, restaurant on site indoor and outdoor pool etc


It is expensive but speak to Simon explain that you are working on contract and that gail recommended you and see if they can help.

good luck

 

[Chris]

We were at Searles last weekend. My 5 year old daughter loved it.

Dad was a bit less enthusiastic...

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