Hi Everyone!
I'm a new member and it's my first post on the forum, and I'd be really interested in anyone's thoughts on a predicament that I have!!
(I'm a computer engineer by trade, but unfortunately my mechanical skills aren't up to the same level - so please go easy on me!
).
Long story short. About 9 years ago my wife and I bought a used 2003 Fiat Ducato based panel van conversion. We've had lots of good times touring around in her over the years - however it hasn't been the most trouble free experience by any means(I'm sure most owners of ageing motorhomes would echo this). Generally, though, she has been amazing and I don't resent any time or money spent on her so far. Her interior is lovely, everything works and actually she isn't too shabby from the outside.
And then the rust came.
A few years ago, we started to notice rust around the sills which then very quickly deteriorated on both sides. We had some new sills welded on at the time and the underbody was undersealed to help slow the rust. Not a cheap repair at the time, but again I don't resent parting with the money! She's since made it through two MOT's without issue.
I've since located some further corrosion on the front underside and suspect I'm going to need a bit more welding/filling done, and also the paintwork is starting to show it's age in several areas around the van.
My wife and I have been 'umming and ahhing' about whether we should part ways and buy new, but something just doesn't seem right at the moment. I know there's reasonable work that will need doing on our current motorhome, and I absolutely know that bodywork repairs are time consuming and can be expensive - but my gut feeling is that I should at least try and do something about our current van.
And this is where my problems have begun, and where I'd really appreciate anyone's advice or suggestions.
It always, always amazes me how quick a large number of members of the automotive repair industry are either a) Too quick to suggest writing off your current vehicle and/or b) Can't be bothered to quote or do the work.
Let me first say, to avoid argument, that this isn't directed at the entire industry. I realise that there are goodun's and baddun's in EVERY industry! Mostly good, you would hope.
So - In my mind, the way you approach repairs on a motorhome differs vastly from repairs on a car. We all know how motorhomes retain their value whereas the vast majority of cars don't. Yet some bodyshops, chain or independent, big or small(or at least the one's I've dealt with so far!) appear to treat a motorhome in exactly the same way. e.g "It's going to cost you £XXX to have the repairs done, personally i'd get rid of it". This approach is all good and well, but we are talking about a vehicle that is going to cost a LOT of money to replace, unlike a car. I cannot seem to get this point across.
In my industry, it's a bit like saying "Your broadband router's failed. It's £100 to replace but sorry - we need to replace your entire network!!".
I am desperately trying to throw money at people at the moment to get the ball rolling. Yes - I realise that it will potentially be expensive. Yes - I realise that rust can't be beaten. Yes - I realise I might have to spend more on it next year, the year after, and the year after that. Yes - I realise that I may be throwing money away, and am completely aware of it. Yes - I may be a fool. It's only a chunk of metal after all, as some say. BUT - if I was buying new(for the vehicle I'm looking at), we are looking at £47k which equates to £4700 per year as a 10 year investment(As I'm sure readers would agree, for new this is pretty much the minimum for a new vehicle at the moment). That is a lot of money for something which, in my case, will sometimes only get used 6 or 7 times a year. It may cost me a bit of money to repair my current motorhome, but it will be a damned sight less than buying new at the moment and at the end of the day it would only do a few thousand a year.
Ahem - rant over!. Thanks for your patience if you've made it this far!! .
So the point is - I just need someone trustworthy, honest and reliable to do the body repairs on my lovely van! If anyone on these forums is able to advise me on this and knows any good companies in the North West/North Wales area, I would love to do business!
I'm a new member and it's my first post on the forum, and I'd be really interested in anyone's thoughts on a predicament that I have!!
(I'm a computer engineer by trade, but unfortunately my mechanical skills aren't up to the same level - so please go easy on me!
).Long story short. About 9 years ago my wife and I bought a used 2003 Fiat Ducato based panel van conversion. We've had lots of good times touring around in her over the years - however it hasn't been the most trouble free experience by any means(I'm sure most owners of ageing motorhomes would echo this). Generally, though, she has been amazing and I don't resent any time or money spent on her so far. Her interior is lovely, everything works and actually she isn't too shabby from the outside.
And then the rust came.
A few years ago, we started to notice rust around the sills which then very quickly deteriorated on both sides. We had some new sills welded on at the time and the underbody was undersealed to help slow the rust. Not a cheap repair at the time, but again I don't resent parting with the money! She's since made it through two MOT's without issue.
I've since located some further corrosion on the front underside and suspect I'm going to need a bit more welding/filling done, and also the paintwork is starting to show it's age in several areas around the van.
My wife and I have been 'umming and ahhing' about whether we should part ways and buy new, but something just doesn't seem right at the moment. I know there's reasonable work that will need doing on our current motorhome, and I absolutely know that bodywork repairs are time consuming and can be expensive - but my gut feeling is that I should at least try and do something about our current van.
And this is where my problems have begun, and where I'd really appreciate anyone's advice or suggestions.
It always, always amazes me how quick a large number of members of the automotive repair industry are either a) Too quick to suggest writing off your current vehicle and/or b) Can't be bothered to quote or do the work.
Let me first say, to avoid argument, that this isn't directed at the entire industry. I realise that there are goodun's and baddun's in EVERY industry! Mostly good, you would hope.
So - In my mind, the way you approach repairs on a motorhome differs vastly from repairs on a car. We all know how motorhomes retain their value whereas the vast majority of cars don't. Yet some bodyshops, chain or independent, big or small(or at least the one's I've dealt with so far!) appear to treat a motorhome in exactly the same way. e.g "It's going to cost you £XXX to have the repairs done, personally i'd get rid of it". This approach is all good and well, but we are talking about a vehicle that is going to cost a LOT of money to replace, unlike a car. I cannot seem to get this point across.
In my industry, it's a bit like saying "Your broadband router's failed. It's £100 to replace but sorry - we need to replace your entire network!!".
I am desperately trying to throw money at people at the moment to get the ball rolling. Yes - I realise that it will potentially be expensive. Yes - I realise that rust can't be beaten. Yes - I realise I might have to spend more on it next year, the year after, and the year after that. Yes - I realise that I may be throwing money away, and am completely aware of it. Yes - I may be a fool. It's only a chunk of metal after all, as some say. BUT - if I was buying new(for the vehicle I'm looking at), we are looking at £47k which equates to £4700 per year as a 10 year investment(As I'm sure readers would agree, for new this is pretty much the minimum for a new vehicle at the moment). That is a lot of money for something which, in my case, will sometimes only get used 6 or 7 times a year. It may cost me a bit of money to repair my current motorhome, but it will be a damned sight less than buying new at the moment and at the end of the day it would only do a few thousand a year.
Ahem - rant over!
. Thanks for your patience if you've made it this far!! .So the point is - I just need someone trustworthy, honest and reliable to do the body repairs on my lovely van! If anyone on these forums is able to advise me on this and knows any good companies in the North West/North Wales area, I would love to do business!
