First Post - totally confused

[Victory]

Hi everyone, my other half came home from work last week and had bought a fiat ace capri 2006

I am still trying to get information as we have never owned a motorhome or caravan (before this site never heard of payload hab check etc)

I am looking through the documents we have for it and have fallen at the first hurdle I don't actually know what model it is!!!



Hpi check which says it fiat ducato 15 JDT SWB gross vehicle weight 3400kg engine 2286cc (the weight seems to match that on the spec's for this model)

V5C has gross weight and engine size, engine number all tying in with Hpi check

Then we have

National caravan Council certificate?? which gives Mtplm 3000kg no model but does have motorhome serial number?

Looking at the warenty and service handbook the only 3000kg motorhome is a fiat ducato 11 SWB with 2l engine

So now I have no idea what model we have? I would imagine V5C is most accurate but is there anyway to confirm

I know this sounds like a ridiculous question only noticed this as I read about payloads

I will likely be asking a silly number of questions as it should never have been bought with our knowledge but hopefully it will come good

It hasn't got service history for last few years and there is no hab check but seem immaculate no damp smell etc

I have already spent hours on here just getting a basic knowledge and I am so grateful for the resource

I am terrified this will be a costly mistake

 

[Simon Select]

Look on the side and see what numbers it has.
For instance Elddis Encore 255 or Bailey Autograph 75-4
Post it on here and we may be able to help you!

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN. Be very careful is this can be very addictive but a mind of useful information and well worth the annual subscription which you’ll be back in advise alone.

 

[Victory]

Look on the side and see what numbers it has.
For instance Elddis Encore 255 or Bailey Autograph 75-4
Post it on here and we may be able to help you!

Thank you so much it is in storage place will head down tonight and take a look/ picture and post it

 

[Victory]

Hi and welcome to FUN. Be very careful is this can be very addictive but a mind of useful information and well worth the annual subscription which you’ll be back in advise alone.

Thank you I was on util about 4am last night reading already subscribed and for so much info already

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[Simon Select]

Thank you so much it is in storage place will head down tonight and take a look/ picture and post it

Also, if there are any bits you cant suss out, I will do a video call with you and talk you through it.
Did you get it from a dealer or privately? If it was a dealer they should have sorted all that for you.

 

[Hollyberry]

Victory and

Don‘t panic, it all seems overwhelming to start with but gradually it all fits together. Some things you know about but don’t have to worry about them, just put them at the back of your memory drawer.
You could take a couple of photos and post on here. The models tend to show up in different name and number combinations as Simon Howards Motorhomes says.
If there’s no smell of damp, no stains on walls or ceiling, and no mould when you remove cushions they’re all good signs.

 

[Victory]

Also, if there are any bits you cant suss out, I will do a video call with you and talk you through it.
Did you get it from a dealer or privately? If it was a dealer they should have sorted all that for you.

That is so kind of you, it was a private sale all very rushed, we had spoke about getting a motorhime theoretically and superficially but not even looked at basics

 

[jumartoo]

Oh, blimey, you're now on the addictive slippery slope on two counts.

One ... motorhoming
Two... Motorhome Fun

Welcome and ask away, you'll never be alone here

 

[Victory]

Red

Victory and

Don‘t panic, it all seems overwhelming to start with but gradually it all fits together. Some things you know about but don’t have to worry about them, just put them at the back of your memory drawer.
You could take a couple of photos and post on here. The models tend to show up in different name and number combinations as Simon Howards Motorhomes says.
If there’s no smell of damp, no stains on walls or ceiling, and no mould when you remove cushions they’re all good signs.

Thank you the panic is under the surface or was until I discovered this

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[Victory]

Oh, blimey, you're now on the addictive slippery slope in two counts.

One ... motorhoming
Two... Motorhome Fun

Welcome and ask away, you'll never be alone here

Thank you, I can't believe the number of replies and how kind everyone is, I didn't expect it at all, I'm usually a lurker on everything and would have thought I'd have been shamed for such a basic question

 

[Chris]

Hi and welcome to Fun.

This reminds me of the time my late Stepfather came home from the pub rather drunk and very pleased with himself having bought the landlord's motorhome.

My Mum wasn't quite so pleased

 

[Victory]

Hi and welcome to Fun.

This reminds me of the time my late Stepfather came home from the pub rather drunk and very pleased with himself having bought the landlord's motorhome.

My Mum wasn't quite so pleased

At least he had alcohol as an excuse

I was channelling all the inner peace before realising I don't even know what we have bought have to laugh or otherwise I will cry

 

[Puddleduck]

Can I ask where you live - just a general location (eg a county) so that if you are stuck someone might volunteer to come and look for you (once it is safe to do so).

Also (when you can check the van) look under the bonnet or inside the door surround to see if there is a weight plate. Take a photo of any you find (there may be more than one) and post it. We can then interpret the numbers for you.

The people on this site are amazing (as you already know). Once you have sensible answers you will get a bit of banter (all in the name of fun) - but remember we were all once new at this game and any question you want to ask can never be stupid as if you need to ask it other probably will as well. I blush to think how trusting and naive we were with our first couple of vans.

Again once the current issues are just memories we will be getting back into the rallies and you can come along and join in - lots of help for everyone at rallies

Oh and from the beautiful Scottish Borders.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

To the club
everything is hunkydory with your new motorhome.
I’m sure you’ll spend hours on here . I do and non of its motorhome related ☺
( I Leave all that side to Ralph )
All I do is chat to friends on here who own motorhomes

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[gus-lopez]

 

[Two on Tour]

Victory is you other half recovering well ?

 

[wigster]

 

[AndyPK]

Welcome from Ciren.....where it’s too hot for the dogs and I!

 

[chaser]

At least he had alcohol as an excuse

I was channelling all the inner peace before realising I don't even know what we have bought have to laugh or otherwise I will cry

I bought our first van unseen off eBay, within four months, we had been all-around France and into Italy and Spain, 3000 miles in three weeks in it then joined fun and found out we had done it all wrong.
But it turned out to be our very best trip, no breakdown or travel insurance, parked on mway Aires, talked to blokes in black Mercs, all sorts, but it was brilliant.
Just do it how you like it will be the best time before you start worrying about regs and stuff.

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[Littlewheels]

Aires, talked to blokes in black Mercs, all sorts,

I’m not sure everyone will get this but it really is quite apt,brilliant.

 

[s7ev0]

Similar to chaser, we bought our first van unseen off eBay - LHD, 1992 1.9l non-turbo small 5 berth Dethleffs. Just like chaser we too took off round France - family of 5, four bikes on the back, one in the shower. We'd started off looking to hire a VW camper for a festival weekend!
Never looked back though. Enjoy your new van, and your new lifestyle!

 

[chaser]

Here she is in Pisa , the one in front of the tower, brilliant time

 

[chaser]

Similar to chaser, we bought our first van unseen off eBay - LHD, 1992 1.9l non-turbo small 5 berth Dethleffs. Just like chaser we too took off round France - family of 5, four bikes on the back, one in the shower. We'd started off looking to hire a VW camper for a festival weekend!
Never looked back though. Enjoy your new van, and your new lifestyle!

We had no britstops, or Aires book or even park4night or sat nav ,all with maps.

 

[Figaro]

This reminds me of the time my late Stepfather came home from the pub rather drunk and very pleased with himself having bought the landlord's motorhome.

A friend of mine once came home from the pub with a goat he'd bought off a fella.
Put it in the back garden and went to bed, he woke to find it eating all their plants.
His wife is a keen gardener
He lived to tell the tale - just, the goat was taken to a sanctuary

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[Nanniemate]

remember fuel diesel or petrol put the right one in the right hole, water tanks don't drink the used one and put the fresh in the fresh water hole, don't leave the fresh water drain valve open (underneath) most of us have (you will), make sure you have a light for the gas if needed. (I didn't) clean undies , milk, tea coffee, easy snacks so you won't go hungry when you cannot work the cooker because you have not turned the gas on and cannot remember how. Carry too much bedding, too many towels, way too much food, never enough wine/beer. Never sleep naked you may have to move (wild camping not on a site) rubber or plastic shoes to wear in the site showers
Know how tall it is including the satellite if you have one especially in your live surrounded by low bridges
Just enjoy it, don't forget the daft hat and if possible a cute doggy.

 

[s7ev0]

We had no britstops, or Aires book or even park4night or sat nav ,all with maps.

Same here! We somehow also managed to go without knowing anything about aires - but strangely we had found France Passion.
That was back in 2009. The rest, as they say...

 

[s7ev0]

One good piece of advice we got was to have a short checklist you can leave on your dashboard or hung on the steering wheel when overnighting anywhere. It would include things like "skylights shut", "steadies up", "cable reeled in", etc. Basically a last-minute check that you can leave without any unnecessary drama. Simple and effective, we found.

 

[chaser]

Same here! We somehow also managed to go without knowing anything about aires - but strangely we had found France Passion.
That was back in 2009. The rest, as they say...

Strange as it may seem , yes we had France passion too, but finding them was a nightmare, think we only found about 5, so when looking for them and couldn't find them, took to parking in any field gateway or whatever we came across, but for anyone new to France I would really recommend joining to find the real France and free to boot, although since sorting Aires we havnt bothered with it for three years.

 

[chaser]

Strange as it may seem , yes we had France passion too, but finding them was a nightmare, think we only found about 5, so when looking for them and couldn't find them, took to parking in any field gateway or whatever we came across, but for anyone new to France I would really recommend joining to find the real France and free to boot, although since sorting Aires we havnt bothered with it for three years.

Btw they are a lot easier to find now as they now put coordinate numbers in the book now.