IH 630 RD. Deposit paid @ NEC today

[57387]

Three visits this week to the NEC but ultimately successful.

We now move from researching to owning (that is when its built)

Great tips last night on the the sites buyers guide which helped me to be focused during the negotiation.

So the research moves on to the gear we need (keeping cost and weight in mind) any pointers on this subject most welcome.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Our mate Pete has been the owner of a N class IH 630 RL and has never looked back. He loves it and always keeps trying to persuade us to make the move from our coach built to IH.
You have a wonderful mh coming we are sure..Enjoy the trip and just chill out.

Kev and Carolyn

 

[57387]

Cheers K & C.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Now the Fun starts
Congrats

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Really, really nice. I like IH vans

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[CazPaul]

Lovely vans, if ordering new I would go for winterised, all water pipes either inside or well lagged, fresh tank inside or heated by the Truma, waste heated by the Truma not the electric 12 volt as use too much power.
Order extra insulation in walls floor roof, you do hear some folk saying they are cold in winter. Order the 6 kW heater not the 4. Or do they do the diesel Webasto?
Just my thoughts whilst it's in build stage.

 

[Blue Knight]

We enquired about a 630RLS in Oct at the NEC but IH told us that it take about a year for delivery on a Fiat chassis.

Have they given you a confirmed delivery date.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[CazPaul]

We enquired about a 630RLS in Oct at the NEC but IH told us that it take about a year for delivery on a Fiat chassis.

Have they given you a confirmed delivery date.

All the best,

Andrew

Wow what a wait Andrew.
Was that because of their order book or because of Fiat delays?

 

[Blue Knight]

Wow what a wait Andrew.
Was that because of their order book or because of Fiat delays?

We thought they were joking Paul but apparently not. They already had four RLS orders and all were being delayed due to so called "production issues". I later found out from the guy who supplies the slide-outs for the IH RLS model that delays were due to a problem with the Fiat delivery pipeline.

I don't think it has changed so anyone buying a Fiat-based van should expect a potential delay (unless IH has unexpectedly received a bulk shipment of Fiat vans in the last few weeks).

 

[carolyn]

We love ours, have had it nearly four years. We've done loads of trips including a few for as long as 7 weeks. We bought new and had to wait about 6 or 7 months even then. No regrets. Would buy another.

Enjoy yours when you get it, IH customer service are great.

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[Riverbankannie]

We have an IH too and love it. Would definitely buy another should the need arise.
Watch out for weight, ours is 630 RL with original steel body and the maxi chassis and came in on weighbridge at 3400 loaded ready for trip but without our bikes, no bike rack or tow bar.

 

[57387]

Thanks for the tips and comments.
We ordered based on 1 of 2 vans that IH had their name on with Fiat.
At this stage it's 3 months till we take delivery.
I note the comments re winter protection and will follow that one up.
They do not offer any winter upgrades in their litratrure.
Have to say matters of that nature seem well covered in the Wildax which was one of the contenders for our purchase.
Thanks again for your comments.

 

[Nirvanauk]

We have an IH too and love it. Would definitely buy another should the need arise.
Watch out for weight, ours is 630 RL with original steel body and the maxi chassis and came in on weighbridge at 3400 loaded ready for trip but without our bikes, no bike rack or tow bar.

I have exactly the same and the same weight on the weigh bridge. Scarey isn't it?

 

[jdk62]

Order one on the VW Crafter base.... 6.8m long and when you add the bits and bobs in, you are nearly £90k....

 

[Nirvanauk]

Order one on the VW Crafter base.... 6.8m long and when you add the bits and bobs in, you are nearly £90k....

The problem with the longer Crafter is that the extra length is in the cab section, so nothing gained. However the Crafter is narrower than the Fiat so you lose a bit in internal space.

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[MikeD]

We have had our IH 630 RL for about 3 years and love it.

We use it around six months a year and nothing has fallen to bits which constantly occurred on our last van.

The few warranty issues were sorted out "first time" without any hassle.

Would definitely recommend them.

 

[57387]

On the payload issue. The 630RD (with fitted options, half tank of fuel, grey and fresh water) that was on show at nec had been on the weighbridge and minus bodies had in excess of 500kg available.
Is there anything in M Fun with guidance on optimum use of payload, I'm struggling to get the wife onside with the need to watch out for the weight and volume of the kit we take when touring.
I,m starting to get a list together of the minimum stuff we will need in readiness for our first venture.

 

[CazPaul]

Thanks for the tips and comments.
We ordered based on 1 of 2 vans that IH had their name on with Fiat.
At this stage it's 3 months till we take delivery.
I note the comments re winter protection and will follow that one up.
They do not offer any winter upgrades in their litratrure.
Have to say matters of that nature seem well covered in the Wildax which was one of the contenders for our purchase.
Thanks again for your comments.

''They do not offer any winter upgrades in their litratrure''

But when buying bespoke like this you can specify winter protection though, not just the 12volt heaters, ask if they can order twin skinned tanks and whilst fitting the heating system run a pipe off to both tanks, it doesn't cost much more at time of build. No exposed water pipes either.

 

[Nirvanauk]

On the payload issue. The 630RD (with fitted options, half tank of fuel, grey and fresh water) that was on show at nec had been on the weighbridge and minus bodies had in excess of 500kg available.
Is there anything in M Fun with guidance on optimum use of payload, I'm struggling to get the wife onside with the need to watch out for the weight and volume of the kit we take when touring.
I,m starting to get a list together of the minimum stuff we will need in readiness for our first venture.

I would like to see the evidence for that. I was told my IH had a payload of 500kg. After purchase I took it to a weigh bridge and I had less than 100 !!

 

[57387]

oopps. Well the statement with at least 2 IH people doing the talking was quite clear and in response to my specific query (after my picking up on the issue on M Fun)
How the hell did you deal with that one (100kg)

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[Riverbankannie]

On the payload issue. The 630RD (with fitted options, half tank of fuel, grey and fresh water) that was on show at nec had been on the weighbridge and minus bodies had in excess of 500kg available.
Is there anything in M Fun with guidance on optimum use of payload, I'm struggling to get the wife onside with the need to watch out for the weight and volume of the kit we take when touring.
I,m starting to get a list together of the minimum stuff we will need in readiness for our first venture.

Just weigh it all as you put it in, and yourselves of course. Remembering that if you fill with fuel or water which most of us would want to do, that will add another 100 kg (assuming you had accurate information that tanks were half full.)

 

[Nirvanauk]

oopps. Well the statement with at least 2 IH people doing the talking was quite clear and in response to my specific query (after my picking up on the issue on M Fun)
How the hell did you deal with that one (100kg)

In theory travel with no water and half fuel. If stopped and weighed then the wife has to walk.

 

[MikeD]

I would like to see the evidence for that. I was told my IH had a payload of 500kg. After purchase I took it to a weigh bridge and I had less than 100 !!

When we bought ours we went straight to Dave Newell's for rear air assist suspension and a 100w solar panel. I don't travel with any water but it had the bedding and clothes etc in it when we weighed it on the way home and it was 3000kg and cost £9.

This gave us around 500kg payload. The weigh bridge print out is below.

Mind Sandra and I weigh a bit, Air awning and a beer allowance was then added so that eats into it. Then we added a tow bar and a 125cc scooter so Sandra might need to get a bus or thumb her way around Europe in the future.

View media item 23477

 

[carolyn]

We have the 630RL 2015 although it would now be called an RD as it has the barn doors. We have a towbar plus 2 electric bikes. Solar panel(120) , strikeback growler, awning. Fully loaded for 7 weeks in Spain including a fridge full of cider, full tank of water, gas and fuel plus both of us. We are not enormous so weigh about the 70-75kg each. Weighed it at weighbridge and it was 3520kg

It really was jam packed in the boot with table , chairs, quest pop up, mats, etc. Just travelled then with half a tank of water.

 

[57387]

Well those last few posts are most reassuring.
I have started a list of the main things that come to mind that we are most likely to need and with approximations I'm already over 350kg of payload. no fuel or water added yet.
I'v best part concluded my order with IH so I'm hopeful IH will be able to confirm the van's potential as built weight.
Thanks for your input one and all, most helpful

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[57387]

I noted on a post elsewhere on the forum a funster who weighed front and rear axle's as well as the all in weight.
Is that to achieve loading within Fiat guidelines?

 

[TinaLes]

I noted on a post elsewhere on the forum a funster who weighed front and rear axle's as well as the all in weight.
Is that to achieve loading within Fiat guidelines?

Its always best to get the front & Rear Axles weighed separately, then the overall weight. Fiat specify their axle weights and overall weights on the weight plate which you will find under the bonnet.
Typically its 1850 KG's for Front & 2000KG's for Rear axle with most vans rated at 3500 to 3850 max KG's overall on coachbuilts.
But not sure about IH PVC's so please check, I know Globecars on maxi chassis can go much higher giving massive payloads, which some prefer as they have lots of extra kit like twin leisure batteries, solar panels, tow bars etc.
Have fun, try and get some sleep it ain't easy when you have just ordered your new van, I know about this problem
Les

 

[57387]

Thanks for that Les.
Yeh the process is proving a tad daunting, we are new to motorhomes and I don't imagine I can cover all the angles.
I'm currently looking at tracker options and an interesting thread on this forum.
I need to bottom it as I have to decide on whether or not to commit to the IH option which is an Autowatch product

 

[TinaLes]

Hi @Homerlad, sorry dont know your real name.
Just a quick question, have you researched the latest news on Autotrail, along with carrying out a full scan of the dealers performance on warranty issues?, there is a link to dealer reviews on here, try and make sure that you get a good dealer, we chose ours on good reviews, however it does mean traveling further than the nearest, but we would use them again.
Its a minefield to every new first time MH buyer, so pleased you had the insight to join the Fun forum before making your choice, as its a lot of money to pay out then learn later.
Have a look at the threads on here from other PVC owers, every brand is probably covered, good points as well as bad, plus loads of advice on upgrades & repairs.
My advice to you, even to myself now, would be if it becomes too expensive to get a new van with all the options that you need upfront, then consider buying second hand, as you should get a 12 month warranty, and any initial faults will likely to have ironed out, hence the need for a dealer with a good reputation.
I could say more, but that's enough for you to begin with.
Don't rush into anything, take your time, we will all help out, best we can, on Fun
Les

 

[57387]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions Les.
We have got past the what van stage, that took 3 years but only the last year was full on.
I used the forum whilst researching but only subscribed when I knew we were commiting to a van.
Our van should be ready for May and then the real fun begins.
The forum and the very sharing funsters like you are a brilliant aid to newbies like myself.
Keep up the good work.
Mick