Newbies going to look at this MH. Need a little help please

Aerialmark

Aerialmark

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I'm new to it
As the title says we are going to look at this MH over the weekend if possible but need a bit of info. Have you owned one what did you think of it ? What do you think of the price ? ( it was up for £17500 but got no bids) What should we look for fault wise ? Lastly is it too small or is that difficult question as everyones different ? Thankyou
 
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I am sure someone with more experience with Rapido's will be along soon with advice.
But in the meantime, the gaffer @Jim has put together a guide to buying motorhomes in the Resources section but I can't find a link whilst using my phone. Anyone supply a link??
Barry
 
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a nice little first van, assuming there is no damp or hidden issues. The toilet/shower room wall appears damp stained. buy a damp meter and learn to use it

if you can get the price below £15,000 it "should" be a good buy and not lose any money over about 2 years

If you go and take a good look over it and anything is badly wrong or the seller seems dodgy, be prepared to walk away. There's plenty more to see
 
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Usually good vans. Get a professional to check it over.
My only thought is shower may be a bit snall to use.
 
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namwaldog- I have read the guide, its very helpful thanks
Pesky R- I will do thanks, you seem to be enjoying yours.
The Big 1- We have just bought a meter so will take it with us. By the way good spot on the bathroom wall. Thankyou
I,m not sure on the size as i think we may need slightly bigger but we will give it coat of looking at . Thankyou all.
 
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It looks a nice enough van and well looked after.

Read Jim’s book and take adamp meter and check the MOT history to check the accuracy of the advert. You can do that online.

Good luck
 
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The other thing that has just struck me which im not too keen on is that they may have had a dog in it. (Im just looking at the sticker on the door)
We are going to see if we can go Sunday as we are planning to go to Motorlands in Lytham in the morning to see if we can narrow down our options.
I never thought it would be this difficult.
 
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Chris said:
It looks a nice enough van and well looked after.

Read Jim’s book and take adamp meter and check the MOT history to check the accuracy of the advert. You can do that online.

Good luck
Click to expand...
Thanks Chris that has saved us a trip. We are not prepared to buy one that has had these problems.
It failed its mot in 2018 on these
  • Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)
  • Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)
  • Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)
  • Offside Front Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)
  • Offside Front Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)
  • Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)
  • Steering system excessively tight strut top bearings siezed (2.2.D.1)
Motorlands tomorrow then and see what we find

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Aerialmark said:
Thanks Chris that has saved us a trip. We are not prepared to buy one that has had these problems.
It failed its mot in 2018 on these
  • Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)
  • Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)
  • Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)
  • Offside Front Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)
  • Offside Front Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)
  • Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)
  • Steering system excessively tight strut top bearings siezed (2.2.D.1)
Motorlands tomorrow then and see what we find
Click to expand...
It was March 2017 when it failed on those points, you could always ask if the subframe been replaced and other welding jobs done?
 
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No I’m not going to bother, It has put me off with all that welding work. It only has 4 months to next mot so more rot could have appeared. I don’t expect them to be showroom condition at 16 years old but with all that choice out there I will pass on this. Thanks for all the help.
 
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I know you've discounted this van but just a couple of thoughts......
The french bed looks a bit narrow for two people to me. Also I would find the shower area a bit of a faff because it will make the toilet wet. It would be important to me to have enough outside storage for chairs, table etc Good luck with the search. We're also looking for a new van :) so know how difficult it is.
 
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good luck with the search, when we were looking last year we had a similar criteria for layout and trawled through as many internet sites as we could, trying to find what we wanted. we found it useful to make up a spreadsheet of the vans that had the layout we wanted within our price range. we found that private sellers were not much cheaper than dealers, even though dealers had a profit to make. we didn't limit our search area or budget for viewing. we ended up buying privately from an advert on marketplace (facebook)

the ability to be able to check a vehicles mot history was invaluable, as you can see if a vehicle is deteriorating over a period of time and you can see the miles travelled within each year. checking that info was for me was the single most important thing before deciding whether to go and view a vehicle or not.

strangely, towards the top of our check list was weight - so the kids could drive on their current licenses and an older van so it wouldn't matter if they 'dinked' it a bit internally or externally. I suppose what that meant was that we were looking at how we would use it and not just what it came with and wouldn't be constantly worrying over minor damage ( as we might have done with a much newer van)

one thing we did want though, was a van that didn't look out of place externally and looked relatively modern (albeit the cab itself gives an indication of age) - the one we bought had new decals (stickers) on and makes an older van look much more modern than it actually is, so dont be put off by external 'in your face' decals, they can be changed relatively simply and can take years of its appearance - just like make up does .......!!!
 
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A bit of lateral thinking - my priority no knowing much, and having no DIY nor mechanical skills - was Dealership, dealership, dealership.

I made a list of what were considered to be regarded & even trustworthy dealerships - and quickly found my first van at the Peterborough show... at bang on your budget

01 Outside.jpg

It was a cracking little van - and when a bit of damp was found a year later... the dealer came & collected it, dealt with it and brought it back - thus, to my mind, justifying the mantra...

CamperUK btw.
 
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Thankyou all so very much for taking the time to read my droning posts and then offer such great insites like the little nugget from Mr Hills &Mrs Glen. External storage space ! I hadn’t thought of that but we need it for our chairs and such. Just stopped for brekkie and had a chat on our plan. Just though talking to you guys I feel a lot more prepared than last time. Thankyou all.
 
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Search for and read lots of information on this site even if you think it doesn’t concern you.... you’ll be surprised at how it can change your thinking on what you actually want in a Motorhome, maybe like stuff you think you can do without while away then two weeks into your holiday you realise that you can’t ...

It depends on what kind of travels you do as well, stay on sites, wildcamping or a bit of both can determine what you need...

Space for bikes, (bike rack), table & chairs groundsheet windbreaks bbq tools spares dirty washing, the list is endless and most importantly beer and wine...(y)

Any Motorhome you go to see just sit in it for 15mins and really think what you can do in it... whether is pouring rain for days outside or 35c and 25c at night...:eek: what you can cook.

what you can do to make the van better and suit your needs more...

I know where your coming from when you say about “they had a dog” if no damage appears to be done by the dog then all fur and any muck can be cleaned up... I used the rug doctor carpet cleaner you can hire from Morrison’s (other outlets available) for the weekend and used the small attachment for furniture and it comes up a treat...:)

I also had my upholstery recovered to a Colour and pattern more to our liking ....

Best of luck, keep looking at lots even if you think you’ve found the one...:D2

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We were lucky in that we knew when we wanted to buy a van, started looking seriously a couple of years beforhand, plan ws to see new vans which we hoped would be up for grabs, used, when the time came. We also hired a couple of our chosen layouts. was worth the effort. Good to get it right first time.
Prioritise, are you ever going to carry passengers? make sure you have sufficient seatbelts. try out the beds for size and ease of making up if not fixed. simulate using the loo and having a shower too.
 
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you need to look at several before even thinking of buying just to get a feel for what will suit you, for two people payload isnt going to be that important what i find most vans lack is lounging space but if your out in all weathers types this isnt so important so realy its down to working out whats important to you having said that all vans apart from the monsters are going to involve some compromises
 
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Aerialmark said:
Thanks Chris that has saved us a trip. We are not prepared to buy one that has had these problems.
Click to expand...

I would have done the same with that much work to be done on a new-to-me van. Saved the cost of site membership already!

Aerialmark said:
We are just setting off to Lytham to view a few MH,s.
Looking forward to it.
Click to expand...

Good luck. I always took a camera and made sure that I took a photo if the make and model of van (and number plate) before and after all the other photos as it gets so confusing. Plus a notebook of course. Best to leave any means of paying a deposit at home.

Just smiffy said:
Search for and read lots of information on this site even if you think it doesn’t concern you.... you’ll be surprised at how it can change your thinking on what you actually want in a Motorhome, maybe like stuff you think you can do without while away then two weeks into your holiday you realise that you can’t ...
Click to expand...

And make a list of the things you do not want at any price!!!!

Upholstery can be cleaned but if anyone is allergic to dogs there will always be a risk if a dog has lived in the van for any length of time. That might not apply to you I hope.
 
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Aerialmark said:
Thankyou all so very much for taking the time to read my droning posts and then offer such great insites like the little nugget from Mr Hills &Mrs Glen. External storage space ! I hadn’t thought of that but we need it for our chairs and such. Just stopped for brekkie and had a chat on our plan. Just though talking to you guys I feel a lot more prepared than last time. Thankyou all.
Click to expand...
We are Mrs Hils and Mr Glenn :rofl: Glad to be of help.
 
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scotzsue said:
make sure you have sufficient seatbelts. try out the beds for size and ease of making up if not fixed. simulate using the loo and having a shower too.
Click to expand...

Very good advice.

Lift the seat of the loo before you sit down as they are quite flimsy - leave your pants up though. Make sure you can close the door before you sit on the loo. Where will the loo roll live? Make sure the shower isn't going to drip on it !!!!


Close the shower screen before you pretend to use the shower and check if the shower head and hose will stretch to rinse your "bits". Oh and before you do that check there is room to apply your chosen shower gel / shampoo to your body within the shower enclosure - and that you can pick up anything that you have dropped - if you drop something when showering and can't get to it without opening the door to the main van and the blinds are up you will soon be :blush: and :swear2:

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Looks like I'm too late, but we had a Rapido 709f for our first van - and a cracking one it was. Designed like a TARDIS - short length but good layout and decent space inside (with one exception, which I'll come to in a moment).

It was a 2004 model, 54 plate. We bought it in March 2010 from Martins of Exeter. Had 13k miles on the clock and we paid £24k.

Very well specified for its age - cab a/c, twin armrests on captains chairs, external shower, external gas point, independent on- road heating system for the habitation area, full central locking including habitation door, plus more - all fitted as standard. Very well put together too.

BUT I had to sell it after 6 months because there was not enough room for the driver's seat to go back, doh! Thought I could manage after short test drive, but discovered otherwise later. Mrs mikebeaches wasn't too impressed at being always asked to drive...;)

The problem was, I'm 6' tall, and the kitchen unit prevents the chair going back. Fine if your shorter, or as originally designed for left-hand drive (just move the dinette table further back for travel).

Such a pity, but you live and learn. Replaced it with a new Chausson, but now have another Rapido.

But to summarise, if you're not too tall, then the 709f is a cracking van! (y)
 
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Well what an afternoon that has been, we have sat in at least 20 Mh,s with various lay outs and lengths. If you want a laugh at my expense we sat in a Chausson welcome suite mini fiat ducato 2.3 (130) and said "well its a lovely van but i cannot see where you sleep" so when the the sales chap passed by i said how do you turn this seat into a double bed ? he replied you don't the bed is above your head ! Its electric and comes down with a switch. WOW !!!! I like that idea, the only trouble its 30 grand. But we sort of now have a better idea of what we want. The search continues........ Thanks again to everyone who has contributed.
 
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Aerialmark said:
Well what an afternoon that has been, we have sat in at least 20 Mh,s with various lay outs and lengths. If you want a laugh at my expense we sat in a Chausson welcome suite mini fiat ducato 2.3 (130) and said "well its a lovely van but i cannot see where you sleep" so when the the sales chap passed by i said how do you turn this seat into a double bed ? he replied you don't the bed is above your head ! Its electric and comes down with a switch. WOW !!!! I like that idea, the only trouble its 30 grand. But we sort of now have a better idea of what we want. The search continues........ Thanks again to everyone who has contributed.
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Be wary of electric beds - they are great when they work but lots of reports of problems on here & Facebook groups with Project 2000 ones fitted to various manufacturers motorhomes (including Chausson) getting stuck due to programming or electrical issues. Manual pull down beds avoid that problem.
 
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Hi :welcome3: on the drop down bed, many vans have this layout, we have had our Hymer 584 6meters.with this bed for the last 14 years it's still as comfy now as when we bough it. Good luck with your Search
 
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