Hi, new to motorhomes etc (1 Viewer)

[Mickthemove]

Hi, i have finally taken the plunge and ordered a motorhome, i thought buying a home was stressfull!

I am now just working out what extras to have with it that i will actually use, and that is a bigger minefield!

When i ask the main dealer, all the prices seem to be very top end ie a 120w solar panel for nearly £400 and then the cost of fitting it, my question is, if i get someone else to fit any accessories to my MH, will it invalidate the warranty on the habitation area, the dealer says i must get it fitted by a authorised dealer? Does anyone have any experience of this?

Many thanks Mick

 

[WillandLes]

Hi Mick, I fitted a solar panel to my new Fluerette MH in May. I have just had the first service completed at Webbs of Reading and no mention of any problems with the warranty. The 100watt panel and mounting brackets cost me £160 and the hole saw set a further £15. I glued it all down using a cable entry gland and had no problem with water ingress. Inside the van, Fleurette have provided a pair of cables in the TV cabinet for the output cable from the solar panel to run down to the electrical controls area under a seat. I then routed a cable into the battery housing under an adjacent seat and fixed the solar control unit in there. there is a 20 amp fuse between the controller and the battery and all works fine. The suppliers information stated that the output would be 5amps but in reality it is more like 3-4amps. However with the summer we have just had there has never been a problem. We spent 4 days at a festival with no EHU and had no problem with the battery. I also installed a status tv aerial which required cutting a hole in the roof. As long as you get the right size of hole saw and you exercise care then the quality should be no different from the dealer who will charge you £80 per hour and probably bill you for 3 hours. Good luck

 

[Mickthemove]

Thanks William, i am about as good a handyman as i am a brain surgeon, and i dont mind paying a installer but the prices from main dealer are eye watering

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[PP Bear]

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

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[The Dudess]

 

[TerryL]

Hi and

Getting dealers to fit extras that aren't available as choices on the basic vehicle is always going to be more expensive than an independent; they just get one to do it for them and charge a markup on the cost. We bought ours as used and the first owner had lots of extras fitted, the bills were still in the paperwork! Provided fitment does not affect warranted bits on the vehicle and is done professionally I see no reason why the warranty should be affected.

 

[Howard H]

And

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[Burgo]

, if i get someone else to fit any accessories to my MH, will it invalidate the warranty on the habitation area, the dealer says i must get it fitted by a authorised dealer

Can't see that, as its easily sorted out.
If it leaks where the panel fitter mounted the panel or fed the cable through its their fault and and a claim on their warranty.
If it leaks somewhere else it's the other parties fault.

 

[cruiser]

Welcome to the house of fun ..

 

[Rob and Val]

and a warm welcome from us.

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[buttons]

Hi and Welcome....

 

[Silver-Fox]

 

[tonka]

Diy fitted most of my accessories, inc solar so a nice hole in the roof.
Never an issue with warranty claims and i have had a couple.

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[peterc10]

I would recommend that you get a price for the extras before you agree to buy the motorhome and then get them wrapped up in the deal. For some strange reason they always seem to be cheaper.

Otherwise use the motorhome for a while before you decide what extras you really need. Then either DIY with lots of help and advice from this forum or go to specialists to hey them fitted.

 

[Mickthemove]

Thanks for your replies and for the warm welcome guys, pick up the MH in the first week of September and hit the steep learning curve

 

[138go]

The Dealer will know where all the wiring is and where to run cables for Solar Panels. Should you have a problem with the electrics / electronics then its down to them to sort it. You could finish up with the Dealer saying they were fitted wrongly and the Fitter saying its the vans electrics that are at fault.

I asked our Dealer while he was on the roof to fit the roof gland for the Satellite dish that I was swapping from our old MH.

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[DaveandJen]

It’s normally regarded best to include the extras when making the deal on a new Motorhome because the dealer is keen to make a sale. Nevertheless use the leavarage that you have recently purchased your Motorhome from them and expect a discount from the prices charged. Those who do not ask - do not get. Tell them head on that you are not happy with the cost and they will reduce it. All sellers have margins - and always worked for us. Be mindful that you have a cooling off period by law should you wish to change your mind on the deal and make the dealer aware of that.

 

[St Ivian]