Forerunner to RMB. (1 Viewer)

[Snowbird]

A friend has been looking for an RMB as his first motorhome and asked me to look out for one. I found an Arnold on mobilede which was just down the road here in the UK. So off we went to have a look this afternoon. WOW, what a beast, in fantastic condition for its age, with every factory fitted option and only 70000 miles on the Merc410 chassis. Built like the proverbial brick dunny and built in 1985. He has put a bid in which I thought was a bit low ball, but if the deal falls through am very tempted to have a go. Its a bit big at just under 8 metres, but what a machine for long terming. Full width rear bathroom with vacuum toilet into black tank with built in macerator. Twin beds and huge stateroom lounge. Large newish fridge freezer, solar panels and even motorcycle rack. Am begging to hope his offer is refused.

 

[Jim]

Here we go again

 

[DuxDeluxe]

You should never have sold the last one.............

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[Snowbird]

You should never have sold the last one.............

Or the one before.

 

[Theonlysue]

Or the one before that lol

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Or the one before.

The blue/grey one........with the matching trailer. It was just awesome

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[phil1946]

Even with the current poor exchange rate that is a lot for not much!!!!!!

 

[dabhand]

My first m/h was an 83 Arnold, smaller than the one above, have bumped into it a couple of times in Portugal! Loved my Arnold!

 

[Minxy]

Looks nice!

Broken Link Removed

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[Minxy]

.... one question ... WHY has it got a wall mounted telephone in the lounge???? Surely the cable wouldn't be long enough to have a 'land line' permanently attached!

 

[Snowbird]

.... one question ... WHY has it got a wall mounted telephone in the lounge???? Surely the cable wouldn't be long enough to have a 'land line' permanently attached!

Many American Rvs have the same. Its for phone hookup on site, and telling the driver to stop and make coffee whilst lounging in bed.

 

[dabhand]

And this is how I found her years later in Alvor!

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[celticprince]

A friend has been looking for an RMB as his first motorhome and asked me to look out for one. I found an Arnold on mobilede which was just down the road here in the UK. So off we went to have a look this afternoon. WOW, what a beast, in fantastic condition for its age, with every factory fitted option and only 70000 miles on the Merc410 chassis. Built like the proverbial brick dunny and built in 1985. He has put a bid in which I thought was a bit low ball, but if the deal falls through am very tempted to have a go. Its a bit big at just under 8 metres, but what a machine for long terming. Full width rear bathroom with vacuum toilet into black tank with built in macerator. Twin beds and huge stateroom lounge. Large newish fridge freezer, solar panels and even motorcycle rack. Am begging to hope his offer is refused.

Hello Dave. I am a long time 'lurker' and joined today to ask for a little advice, if you don't mind? I don't seem to be able to PM/link yet? I wondered if you had seen the current "RMB Exclusive Line 680" on ebay and what you think of its condition/price etc? I am pretty sure it is an RMB Arnold and looks to have been used, but very well looked after and loved. I am interested but would value your opinion. Please PM me if more appropriate. Thanks in advance, Chris

 

[Snowbird]

Hello Dave. I am a long time 'lurker' and joined today to ask for a little advice, if you don't mind? I don't seem to be able to PM/link yet? I wondered if you had seen the current "RMB Exclusive Line 680" on ebay and what you think of its condition/price etc? I am pretty sure it is an RMB Arnold and looks to have been used, but very well looked after and loved. I am interested but would value your opinion. Please PM me if more appropriate. Thanks in advance, Chris

I think you mean this.... For sure it will certainly be depreciation proof at that price. Any problems that may arise anywhere in the world can be fixed by anyone with a bed spanner and bike spanner. As long as you dont mind sitting in the slow lane it will be fine and should go on for another 30 odd years. All parts are readily available on any street corner should they be required. What else can you buy for £9k that will outlast you ?.

 

[celticprince]

Thanks very much for your reply; I had thought it looked like a pretty decent deal. The current owner had a turbo/intercooler added in 2006 from TB Turbos which I would hope adds a bit of 'punch' on hills. Is it simply a "if the layout suits and you like it, buy it" deal?

Anything in particular to look out for?

Thanks again for your help

Chris

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[gus-lopez]

I spotted that yesterday.Thought it was brilliant value for price being asked.

 

[Figaro]

I`m sure that spoiler on the roof makes all the difference

 

[Snowbird]

Thanks very much for your reply; I had thought it looked like a pretty decent deal. The current owner had a turbo/intercooler added in 2006 from TB Turbos which I would hope adds a bit of 'punch' on hills. Is it simply a "if the layout suits and you like it, buy it" deal?

Anything in particular to look out for?

Thanks again for your help

Chris

The only place an RMB can get any damp issues is around the roof hatches if the sealant has perished. If this has happened, all is not lost as they are built on an aluminium frame, so no chance of dry rot setting in. Just reseal and away you go again. The old school Merc diesels will go on for ever as long as you change the oil at 5000 miles, using dino oil and not synthetic. One thing that does seem to give problems on the old Merc engines is the radiator viscus fan coupling does not come in when it should. This is an easy fix though,so nothing to worry about. Like I said earlier, what else can you buy for that money that you will have to leave to someone in your will.

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[celticprince]

I`m sure that spoiler on the roof makes all the difference

It seems to have ben removed in the current pictures

 

[Figaro]

I`m not suprised !

 

[CazPaul]

I went to see the first van advertised in this thread, it was a good solid van but absolutely filthy inside, all the blinds were filthy but the rear blind at the back of the van was pure black with filth. The rear area stunk of damp and there was a high damp reading around the rear window, which I presume was leaking, so easily fixed.
The fridge was just a domestic household one someone had fitted, worth a tenner or nothing, so would only work on EHU. Exterior vent missing. Underneath good condition although there has been a leak around the shower which needs sorting out.
The heating did not work although the hot water did work.

Roof very good condition.

Bodywork really good for the age of the van, a decent buy if you had a few quid to spend and a couple of boxes of cleaning materials, repair heating, new 3 way fridge, a few new blinds, exterior vent, take out exterior window, investigate damp smell at rear of van.

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[Bellini]

One thing that does seem to give problems on the old Merc engines is the radiator viscus fan coupling does not come in when it should. This is an easy fix though,so nothing to worry about.

My RMB has had THREE brand-new MB viscous fan clutches fitted this year alone and ALL were faulty. I gave up and had an electric pusher fan fitted to the front of the radiator and had the radiator and all other cooling components replaced for good measure. All Genuine MB items, save for the fan.

It was a steep and frustrating learning curve, but it gave me the opportunity to have the front of the engine given a through overhaul and to have a few other 'nearly gone' components replaced at the same time.

No doubting RMB's quality. Many of the mechanics who worked on mine were astounded at how well built these motorhomes are.

 

[Snowbird]

My RMB has had THREE brand-new MB viscous fan clutches fitted this year alone and ALL were faulty. I gave up and had an electric pusher fan fitted to the front of the radiator and had the radiator and all other cooling components replaced for good measure. All Genuine MB items, save for the fan.

It was a steep and frustrating learning curve, but it gave me the opportunity to have the front of the engine given a through overhaul and to have a few other 'nearly gone' components replaced at the same time.

No doubting RMB's quality. Many of the mechanics who worked on mine were astounded at how well built these motorhomes are.

I had a similar problem with my 410. Finished up with a Kenlow fitted in front of the rad with control on the dash. What I did find out during this process was that the Merc temp sender to the gauge is not balanced as in most vehicles and gives a "true" reading at all times. This is why the gauge slowly goes up until the fan kicks in, then immediately drops back to normal. As I watched the gauge going up whilst climbing Spanish mountain ranges towing a car trailer, I instinctively eased off the gas so that the temp went down. I was told to keep my foot down and the fan would come in. I found to my delight, it did.

 

[Bellini]

I have the same with mine.

My viscous fan is still installed as it spins at the slower speed anyway and pulls a fair amount of air that way. My electric fan is set to switch on at 90'C and, you're right, the temperature needle will move - almost alarmingly - towards the red. Like you, I eased off, but found out later than the fan does kick-in. On mine, I also have a manual override switch and now usually activate it well in advance of steep gradients to try and keep the temperature a bit lower before the climb.

It worked well enough on the 500 mile drive to Fort William and across Rannoch Moor and all the way home, but I think I'll install a larger diameter fan as I can increase the diameter a few more inches as long as I can find a fan that has the same flow rate.

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[Snowbird]

I have the same with mine.

My viscous fan is still installed as it spins at the slower speed anyway and pulls a fair amount of air that way. My electric fan is set to switch on at 90'C and, you're right, the temperature needle will move - almost alarmingly - towards the red. Like you, I eased off, but found out later than the fan does kick-in. On mine, I also have a manual override switch and now usually activate it well in advance of steep gradients to try and keep the temperature a bit lower before the climb.

It worked well enough on the 500 mile drive to Fort William and across Rannoch Moor and all the way home, but I think I'll install a larger diameter fan as I can increase the diameter a few more inches as long as I can find a fan that has the same flow rate.

I had a new radiator fitted on the 410 but things were no different. Strangely, it never used or lost any water, but I called at a Merc specialist in southern Spain and he told me they did two thicknesses of radiator, one for northern Europe and one for southern Europe. He said with the size of body and if I was continuing to tour in hot countries, it would be advisable to fit the higher output radiator.

 

[Kawasaki jake]

Thanks very much for your reply; I had thought it looked like a pretty decent deal. The current owner had a turbo/intercooler added in 2006 from TB Turbos which I would hope adds a bit of 'punch' on hills. Is it simply a "if the layout suits and you like it, buy it" deal?

Anything in particular to look out for?

Thanks again for your help

Chris

 

[Kawasaki jake]

Hi Chris, did you go to view the arnold? Ive noticed its still for sale. The chap seems genuine and a nice guy on the phone, so I may make the 4 hour trip up north to check her out.. Has anyone else had a look at it and decided against it? Jake

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[Robin McHood]

See its down to £7999, a steal.

 

[Kawasaki jake]

Its a great price. I was after a hymer 670/660, but they are getting a bit expensive. This Arnold has a great layout, the bunks are perfect at the back of the bus. I want something to refit aswell so it ticks alot of boxes.

 

[dabhand]

Mine never overheated and always ran a bit cold, the previous own had removed the thermostat as he was mainly in hot countries, I saw no reason to put one in and it ran fine all the time I had it?

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