Motorhome recovery from Santander to UK following breakdown, any recommendations

MaidinDevon

MaidinDevon

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2011
Posts
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Location
Bromyard, Herefordshire, UK
Funster No
16,117
MH
Hymer B654
Exp
since 2010
Hi
Unfortunately, the clutch went, and the breakdown service won't recover to the UK. They insist on knowing how much the cost of repair is in Spain, before considering which is most cost effective.
The garage have said they want 10 hours labour, paid upfront, to take out the gearbox, before being able to quote for a repair.
Kath would have to pay this herself, with no guarantee that it can be fixed
Kath came home in my van, leaving hers there, because she has a family emergency to deal with as well.
It has been an awful experience.
Can anyone recommend a recovery firm, or an idea of what it would cost, to being the van back, on a truck.
If she has to pay loads with no guarantee of su cess, better to pay to get it home to a trustworthy garage.
The van is 2001 Swift Kontiki, 7m, 3.5 ton.

Thanks

Karen
 
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MaidinDevon said:
Hi
Unfortunately, the clutch went, and the breakdown service won't recover to the UK. They insist on knowing how much the cost of repair is in Spain, before considering which is most cost effective.
The garage have said they want 10 hours labour, paid upfront, to take out the gearbox, before being able to quote for a repair.
Kath would have to pay this herself, with no guarantee that it can be fixed
Kath came home in my van, leaving hers there, because she has a family emergency to deal with as well.
It has been an awful experience.
Can anyone recommend a recovery firm, or an idea of what it would cost, to being the van back, on a truck.
If she has to pay loads with no guarantee of su cess, better to pay to get it home to a trustworthy garage.
The van is 2001 Swift Kontiki, 7m, 3.5 ton.

Thanks

Karen
Click to expand...
It might be worth having a look at the Comfortmatic Failure thread on here, I'm sure I read that one of the vehicles had been transported back to the UK.

Out of interest, what overseas breakdown company refuses to return vehicle? 🤔
 
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Looks like comfortmatic was first introduced in 2006 if google is to be believed.
 
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I think the cost of recovery will be several times the cost of repair and then you will still have to pay for repair. Being a manual box the clutch shouldn't be too expensive.
I don't think I would trust a garage wanting 10 hours labour to take the engine out. For the clutch they only need to remove the gearbox which is only a couple of hours on a manual box.

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We have had a quote for approx £3500 plus vat to bring it home, less if he can find another load to share the truck.
gus-lopez thank you. If we had known, that would have been amazing.
It is manual.
Trouble is the van is not worth a lot, but it is of great value to Kath.
I think getting it home and repaired.

Thanks to all.
 
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Crouch second to none

Try on time they work for a number of the large reparation companies

And often have space to fill

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The other option is we go and get it
What's the length and overall height
 
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Lenny HB said:
I don't think I would trust a garage wanting 10 hours labour to take the engine out.
Click to expand...
Neither would I.
Lenny HB said:
For the clutch they only need to remove the gearbox which is only a couple of hours on a manual box.
Click to expand...
Exactly
MaidinDevon said:
We have had a quote for approx £3500 plus vat to bring it home, less if he can find another load to share the truck.
gus-lopez thank you. If we had known, that would have been amazing.
It is manual.
Trouble is the van is not worth a lot, but it is of great value to Kath.
I think getting it home and repaired.

Thanks to all.
Click to expand...
So it is a cab over & therefore a conventional van so as said by jerryz around 650€ all in.
& no the engine does not have to come out .
 
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jerryz said:
Clutch job 4 hours max Clutch Kit £150 so max £650 for repair ...
Click to expand...
That was precisely the cost of a mobile mechanic who did a friends van on our drive, their drive ain’t big enough. Arrived at 7.30am finished at 10.30am & all tidy. He said he does roughly 350 a year, him & his son. Local garage wanted £1200 inc

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We used Derek from Crouch Recovery last September - can't recommend them enough - he went above & beyond - not cheap but definitely worth it for our peace of mind 👍. We were the only motorhome on the loader, it would have been @£1000 cheaper on a shared load.

Hope you get sorted soon - it's a very stressful time 🫂
 
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Or does anyone know any mobile mechanics in the area who might be prepared to take in the job?
 
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Dorwyn said:
Could you not find another garage locally? It's not a big job and it is an Italian van i.e. not English. It seems unnecessary to bring the van back. On the few times I've had work done abroad it was amazingly cheap.
Click to expand...
Hiya,
Trouble is, we are back in the UK now, and unable to communicate with the garages.
 
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Where in Spain is the van.

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Our vans clutch failed in Granada...due to corrosion of all the mounting and housing bolts the garage worked all day...we paid just over 900€ due to labour charge hours..being double...
 
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