Pre purchase checks

Innkeeper

Innkeeper

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Hi again
As some of you may know were going to look at some Motorhomes over the next couple of days.
So if, if we see one we like people have mentioned hibernation and damp checks. How would these checks go. If they fail these can something be fixed? Is there a company who does them ie AA, RAC what about normal mechanical checks. If the Motorhome fail these do you just walk away?
Rob
 
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There should be an annual paper record of habitation checks showing damp readings etc. as there would be for the vehicle chassis (but most modern vehicles are serviced every two years).

If you are buying second hand I advise you to obtain a decent non invasive damp meter and use it yourself on the van. Any reading over 20% is suspect and may require remedial work.

Have you read Jim's guide - I think it is a free down load for subscribers.
http://shop.motorhomefun.co.uk/product/motorhome-buyers-guide/
 
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MikeD said:
There should be an annual paper record of habitation checks showing damp readings etc. as there would be for the vehicle chassis (but most modern vehicles are serviced every two years).

If you are buying second hand I advise you to obtain a decent non invasive damp meter and use it yourself on the van. Any reading over 20% is suspect and may require remedial work.

Have you read Jim's guide - I think it is a free down load for subscribers.
http://shop.motorhomefun.co.uk/product/motorhome-buyers-guide/
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Yep read that are the meters easy to get (B and Q) sort of thing. There second hand the Van's were viewing. Should there be some paper work to ask about
 
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Chassis service ie: Fiat etc.

MOT history

Do a HPI check and confirm the vehicle Vin numbers etc.

Habitation checks on the motorhome side of things - Gas, electrical, damp checks etc. There should be around 3-4 bits of paper for each check that has been carried out.

Take your time going through the paperwork.
 
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The owners. Sellers will know what am asking for. Maybe should even have them handy. Like MOT for a car

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This feels like proper lambs to the slaughter
Where do I get a damp meter?
 
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Get an independent survey of your own. Talk to someone like @dave newell lvs . It’s the only way to know if it’s ok, if you don’t know about these things yourself.
 
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Innkeeper said:
Do you just go round touching the exterior walls floor and ceiling in random places or is there a system?

The way people get a broker to sell there Van's future may be to pay people to buy them a van
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It's really not that difficult. I think you're overthinking things. As MikeD suggests above, read the buying guide.

As for checking for damp - its the interior you'd need to check. Just go and take a look at as many vehicles as you can - go to a large dealership. There's no need to think about damp meters until you find a vehicle you're about to purchase. Just buy one from Amazon or B&Q.

Go to a reputable dealer. There's a section on the forum which gives reviews good and bad. All motorhomes have problems - even new ones. There are so many component parts to a motorhome things do malfunction. Its how the dealer deals with them that's important.

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I would get a damp meter and check all vehicles you see. That way you will understand the good, the bad, and the normal. The damp will tend to be low down corners, and beneath the bottom corners of windows. Also check inside garages and cupboards.
 
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M-J said:
Are you travelling all over to view or sticking to the area you are in?
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From Lossiemouth to Nottingham. We also have a 2hr drive south just to get to Lossiemouth. We do live in the far North. We are the wildlings above the Wall
 
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If you’re are going to Nottingham you should go to Gunthorpe, there are three motorhome dealers within one mile of each other, two big, one small

Fuller Leisure (the dealer we purchased from)
Lowdhams
Gunthorpe Motorhomes (small)

Normally loads available but not sure how many they will have as the two big ones were both at the Peterborough MH show last week.
 
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If you buy a damp meter try to get one with blunt terminals not points or the sellers won't be too pleased!!!!. I would just go and look and smell in the cupboards when you see one you like get a professional hab check or if a local dealer/repairer does it just a damp check if you want. I would be a lot more worried about serious damp than a mechanical problem. What age of van and price are you looking at? if its that far have a good chat with the seller first I would avoid anything old that's not had a damp check for more than a couple of years unless you are going to view something else in the same area.

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M-J said:
If you’re are going to Nottingham you should go to Gunthorpe, there are three motorhome dealers within one mile of each other, two big, one small

Fuller Leisure (the dealer we purchased from)
Lowdhams
Gunthorpe Motorhomes (small)

Normally loads available but not sure how many they will have as the two big ones were both at the Peterborough MH show last week.
Click to expand...
How did you find Fullers our friends bought from hem and we have used them for a boiler repair friendly and reliable. We bought from Lowdhams not easy to deal with on after sales and expensive
 
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The Wino said:
How did you find Fullers our friends bought from hem and we have used them for a boiler repair friendly and reliable. We bought from Lowdhams not easy to deal with on after sales and expensive
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Fullers have been excellent and so far a no questions asked attitude with regards to niggles after we picked the MH up.

We had a problem with the strip lights above the cupboards not all coming on when not on EHU but not always the same ones. Simple they said, we’ll just change them all for LED. At the same time they investigated a fresh water problem (MH kept pretending it was empty when it wasn’t, may have been user error) checked the pick up pipe and put a brand new pump on just in case even though the original was working perfectly. (I think the pick up pipe was the problem)

I would recommend Fullers to anyone.
 
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If the interior smells of damp it probably is. If it smells strongly of air freshener, that might be masking a damp smell. Alternatively the previous owner was a smoker which could be a deal breaker for some buyers. Bring your own test meter as has been suggested. Hope the MH you eventually decide you want to buy is a bone dry one.
 
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First one looked over. Did not have a habitation check for now. The broker said he would tell the owner to get one as it would be hard to sell with out one. MOT and hpi( Higher purchase thing) it looked a very nice van.
No smell of damp air freshener on cig smoke
But it did have a use ash tray. So now on to next van. Exciting times.
 
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Innkeeper said:
Do you just go round touching the exterior walls floor and ceiling in random places or is there a system?
Click to expand...

We had our Laika checked the other week, they used a damp meter without spikes on it as they don't like to damage the walls etc. We also have a soft covering over the internal roof. It's not just random places they check everywhere and spend a good 90 minutes doing it.

If you are looking for a MH then the first thing to do is check the paperwork and see if it has had any damp problems. If it has, walk away it's not worth the hassle. If you decide to sell it later it will only show up again. Any sign of damp, water marks or black mould walk away. Black mould is a fungus that is detrimental to health and spreads by air movement. Good luck and don't listen to what the salesman says about getting it fixed. MH should be in tip top condition and ready to go. If they cannot be bothered to sort them out before they put them on the forecourt, what are they going to do after. You also need to research the dealer. Crap reviews give you an idea of what you are likely to get in the way of service.
 
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If you're new to motorhomes I wouldn't bother buying private as if there is an issue you'll spend the money you saved either chasing them or suing them.
A reputable dealer would never consider selling a van without a habitation check, gas check, damp check, hpi check, MOT, replaced damaged or missing items or fit a new timing belt if it's due soon.

There's a good dealer in Inverness, Scottish Tourer sell their hire vans after 6 months and they're all in top condition and aren't hired out to just anyone . The use Swift, Escapes to Bessies, zero wood in their construction. Their Bessacarr's come with extras such as bike racks, satellite TV and the 150 bhp engine upgrade. They are also a Swift approved workshop.
 
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M-J said:
If you’re are going to Nottingham you should go to Gunthorpe, there are three motorhome dealers within one mile of each other, two big, one small

Fuller Leisure (the dealer we purchased from)
Lowdhams
Gunthorpe Motorhomes (small)

Normally loads available but not sure how many they will have as the two big ones were both at the Peterborough MH show last week.
Click to expand...

i can add to that list

oaktree motorhomes just off the m1
smc and brownhills both at newark
we are spoilt around here

with regards to gunthorpe motorhomes, heard some odd stuff about their vans, just be very cautious
 
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And check the Payload by getting the vehicle weighed - there are loads of threads about what you need to do regarding payload.
Get a vehicle with a small payload and you'll have to leave the wife/partner/children/dog at home or be illegal and over weight.
Do not take the Dealer or Manufacturer word for its payload.

:france::france::france::france:

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@Innkeeper don't forget the camshaft belt replacement interval or mileage.
If it's a Fiat the interval is every 5 years.
Worth checking and asking the question.
If not done, haggle £500 off, or have them do it as part of the deal.
Replacement for a Fiat would cost £300-£450 in a non Fiat garage , more if Fiat Proffessional did it.
 
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busbuddy said:
i can add to that list

oaktree motorhomes just off the m1
smc and brownhills both at newark
we are spoilt around here

with regards to gunthorpe motorhomes, heard some odd stuff about their vans, just be very cautious
Click to expand...

We live in Nottingham. Our current MH was bought from Southdowns in Portsmouth. Go figure.
 
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