RS Motorhomes (1 Viewer)

Sep 23, 2020
133
271
Funster No
76,212
MH
Swift Bolero 744
Exp
I'm a newbie
I have been looking closely at RS Motorhomes with a view to purchasing a new motorhome from them. I have come across a discussion from a few years back pointing out bankruptcies of firms with similar names and the same directors and similar company names, together with links to no missing news articles with "fraud" in the titles. This is clearly concerning/


Are there any users on here who have dealings with, or knowledge of the company that would be filling to share their views, either in this thread or via DM?
 

ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
MH
RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
Hi

I am on my third motorhome from RS. All bought new. There is no doubt that the owners, Mick and Alison, have had a tough time in the past. They have always been straight with me and open about what happened.

my bestrecimmendation is to go to the factory and see what they do and make your own mind up. They are crazy busy I do know that.

I first bought from them after my experience with a Flair purchasedfrom Hymer, again, new, in Preston. Took a year of back and forth and arguing to sort out warranty issues. It’s a big benefit buying direct from the manufacturer in terms of value, and service. You are a direct customer.

you can always PM me if you want to know specifics and you are always welcome to take a look at my Elysian.
 

stewartwebr

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 6, 2010
1,075
3,325
Edinburgh
Funster No
11,937
MH
Morelo Empire Liner
Exp
36 years and 16 motorhomes
Would not go near them, bankruptcy and fraud charges (Both found guilty) Simple google search reveals most of the tale. I can recall at least 3 bankruptcies. Leaving a deposit with them would be seriously risky in my opinion. Many must have lost out over the years each time they go out of business.

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ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
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RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
Just to put the other side, my first build was during that period. They had a hefty deposit from me. My van was delayed but delivered. I am not aware of any buyer losing money or failing to get delivery - same may not be true of suppliers, I can’t say. I was happy to give them a significant cash deposit in each of the last two vehicles as well.

It has certainly damaged their reputation and it’s a shame because the vehicles are highly specced and very well built. I always describe mine as being built in Yorkshire from girders !

If doing a trade in then you have nothing to lose, otherwise put down a tiny deposit.
 

Ian.s

Free Member
Jan 18, 2016
216
607
Oban
Funster No
41,374
MH
Rs Endeavour
Exp
Since 1991
Im picking up my second from RS this week. They have been great with me. Had a small issue with the last MH not their doing and it was fixed without any issue at all. I tend to deal with Jake and Adam. Always professional. The build quality is the reason I go back. Open and up front with me always

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weejocky

Funster
Jan 20, 2010
157
420
Yorkshire and France
Funster No
10,034
MH
Hymer A Class
Exp
not long enough
Im picking up my second from RS this week. They have been great with me. Had a small issue with the last MH not their doing and it was fixed without any issue at all. I tend to deal with Jake and Adam. Always professional. The build quality is the reason I go back. Open and up front with me always

Pay attention to the name on your recept. They have a few companies on the go at the moment, all with similar names.

You wouldnt want it to be this one, it's still active but looks well dodgy


Could be this one


Or maybe this one they formed last year


Given that they seem to go pop every 5 years or so I would be super cautious and not expect a guarantee to be worth anything.
 

ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
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RS Elysian A Class
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Since 2004
Doom and gloom 🥲

One of the best buys of buying from the manufacturer is that the warranty has never seemed to run out. Small issues are resolved without fuss or cost. Eg this year they fixed my Thule step. They increased the height of the locker opening so I didn’t bang my head and they updated some of the electronics all within my £190 hab check.

My understanding is there are two comlanies - one deals with sales and in particular trade ins and second hand sales and the other one deals with manufacturing.

Adam is one of the most knowledgeable engineers I have met. When we are in the way to Morocco and our air conditioning Donetic unit failed I called in I the way to the ferry. While zi waited they removed it, stripped it right down. Repaired something I didn’t understand and refitted it. No charge

And as an aside, you have to love Irn Bru
 
OP
OP
domf
Sep 23, 2020
133
271
Funster No
76,212
MH
Swift Bolero 744
Exp
I'm a newbie
Thank you all for the input. Clearly a "marmite" subject. Oh - all apart from the Irn Bru - horrible stuff

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ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
MH
RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
Thank you all for the input. Clearly a "marmite" subject. Oh - all apart from the Irn Bru - horrible stuff
I guess maybe a little marmite but you are in a good place. Firstly, you are buyer beware so you can do what feels right for you and secondly, you have heard from a couple of people who have actually bought a vehicle from them as opposed to the opinions of those who have perhaps not.
 
OP
OP
domf
Sep 23, 2020
133
271
Funster No
76,212
MH
Swift Bolero 744
Exp
I'm a newbie
I guess maybe a little marmite but you are in a good place. Firstly, you are buyer beware so you can do what feels right for you and secondly, you have heard from a couple of people who have actually bought a vehicle from them as opposed to the opinions of those who have perhaps not.

Thank you for your coment. To be clear I am not progressing on this now but expect (hope!) to be in Q3 to are researching carefully. I (think!) I am down to RS and Morelo (very different). If I were to go with RS then I think I would be looking for an escrow agreement for the deposit - or to purchase an existing van immediately.
 

ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
MH
RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
Good luck whichever way you decide to go - they are both great vehicles and the reason you buy one rather than the other will come down to lots of reasons I am sure.
If you happen to be coming to Peterborough show or if you are passing near my home base in York you are very welcome to come and have a proper poke around mine. When spending that amount of money you need to take your time.

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OP
OP
domf
Sep 23, 2020
133
271
Funster No
76,212
MH
Swift Bolero 744
Exp
I'm a newbie
Good luck whichever way you decide to go - they are both great vehicles and the reason you buy one rather than the other will come down to lots of reasons I am sure.
If you happen to be coming to Peterborough show or if you are passing near my home base in York you are very welcome to come and have a proper poke around mine. When spending that amount of money you need to take your time.

OK - I'm going to show my newbie ignorance here - we bought our 1st motorhome last August, a 2016 Swift Bolero 744 in which e have been so France, Germany, Italy and Spain as well as Wales, Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Humberside racking up 8k miles in 8 months.

However what is the Peterborough show ?
 

Steve and Denise

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 26, 2011
5,253
13,957
Spalding LINCS
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A Class Carthago
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Since 2008
We did look at RS nice solid van that you can easily get repairs done here unlike some European vans, can be a bit of a pain getting stuff sorted out, I am not suggesting Morelo ! But there are plenty of vans that have had major problems from Europe and have taken ages to get repaired
The RS was a bit to big for us and as for bankruptcies that seems to common in a lot of businesses today.
 

ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
MH
RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
We did look at RS nice solid van that you can easily get repairs done here unlike some European vans, can be a bit of a pain getting stuff sorted out, I am not suggesting Morelo ! But there are plenty of vans that have had major problems from Europe and have taken ages to get repaired
The RS was a bit to big for us and as for bankruptcies that seems to common in a lot of businesses today.
My major reason for buying direct from UK manufacturer due to previous experience with Hymer/N and B
 
Jan 30, 2020
2,699
13,965
Mid Bedfordshire
Funster No
68,408
MH
RS Endeavour
Exp
Just a tad..
Hello, I am an RS owner. Mine is eight years old now and I bought it eighteen months ago. I spent quite a few years racing and know a good few long term owners of RS’s, who all have nothing but good things to say about the vehicles and which really seem to stand up to regular ‘hard’ use very well.

I’ve been very impressed with the build quality of mine as I’ve taken thing apart to fit new accessories etc

you’re welcome to have a nose around mine at any of the ‘rallies’ I am at this spring/summer/autumn
 
Jun 30, 2011
7,189
19,911
Barnard Castle, UK
Funster No
17,128
MH
Concorde Concerto
Exp
Since 2007
Hello, I am an RS owner. Mine is eight years old now and I bought it eighteen months ago. I spent quite a few years racing and know a good few long term owners of RS’s, who all have nothing but good things to say about the vehicles and which really seem to stand up to regular ‘hard’ use very well.

I’ve been very impressed with the build quality of mine as I’ve taken thing apart to fit new accessories etc

you’re welcome to have a nose around mine at any of the ‘rallies’ I am at this spring/summer/autumn
And the best test for a van is long term hard use so they sound good quality .

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weejocky

Funster
Jan 20, 2010
157
420
Yorkshire and France
Funster No
10,034
MH
Hymer A Class
Exp
not long enough
You lucky ones keep banging on about the quality. Fine. I must admit the ones Ive looked in have been far too gaudy for me, mayby all that shiny plastic and faux leather is glued together well. I wouldn't know. My only comment is the penchant for doing the dirty on people by continually going bust, and doing a phoenix. Legal yes, ethical? No.

For me its too risky to invest so much money on people with convictions for fraud and such a disgusting business track record
 
Jan 30, 2020
2,699
13,965
Mid Bedfordshire
Funster No
68,408
MH
RS Endeavour
Exp
Just a tad..
You lucky ones keep banging on about the quality. Fine. I must admit the ones Ive looked in have been far too gaudy for me, mayby all that shiny plastic and faux leather is glued together well. I wouldn't know. My only comment is the penchant for doing the dirty on people by continually going bust, and doing a phoenix. Legal yes, ethical? No.

For me its too risky to invest so much money on people with convictions for fraud and such a disgusting business track record
I’m not able to offer any advice WRT their business ethics, the directors past history or the solvency or otherwise of the business at the moment or indeed in the past, so instead I offered my direct observation on the quality of the product they deliver. The OP needs to evaluate if he is happy (or not) to trade with RS.
 
Jul 18, 2010
1,187
2,963
Bournemouth and Gibraltar
Funster No
12,665
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
Since 2003
Probably too simplistic as I claim no expertise whatsoever on finance or legal issues, but could you use a credit card with its inbuilt guarantees to cover the deposit or a big bulk of it?
(Of course, depending on the build time of the moho you will be paying interest for the period.)

Question of balancing risk/cost of interest/desire to own the brand.

Disclosure: I have never done what I propose above.

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Jun 10, 2010
8,421
20,056
Shrewsbury (sometimes)
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12,013
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N&B Clou Liner MAN
Exp
2006
IMHO its a shame that we don't have more makers of quality Mh's in UK, our specialist automotive engineering is very good as witnessed by the number of F1 teams and luxury car makers with factories here and there is plenty of finance available, it just seems that nobody is prepared to invest in such a product here.
 

funflair

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 11, 2013
19,199
29,887
Guisborough
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29,351
MH
MORELO palace
Exp
since 2012
Thank you for your coment. To be clear I am not progressing on this now but expect (hope!) to be in Q3 to are researching carefully. I (think!) I am down to RS and Morelo (very different). If I were to go with RS then I think I would be looking for an escrow agreement for the deposit - or to purchase an existing van immediately.
Very different indeed, I think you observations will make an interesting read so keep us posted please.
IMHO its a shame that we don't have more makers of quality Mh's in UK, our specialist automotive engineering is very good as witnessed by the number of F1 teams and luxury car makers with factories here and there is plenty of finance available, it just seems that nobody is prepared to invest in such a product here.
I guess the home market just isn't there really Jon, the ones that do exist are a spin-off from horse boxes or race trucks, how many Concorde MORELO Phoenix come into the UK in a year? around 10-12 at a guess.
 
Jul 29, 2007
6,526
39,280
Ipswich
Funster No
32
MH
RV and PVC
Exp
30 years
Credit card won't cover you as its over £30,000
When they went bankrupt who lost money is the question, banks, suppliers or clients? If its clients then that's bad, if suppliers not good, if the banks not bothered.

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Steve and Denise

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 26, 2011
5,253
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Spalding LINCS
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A Class Carthago
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Since 2008
You lucky ones keep banging on about the quality. Fine. I must admit the ones Ive looked in have been far too gaudy for me, mayby all that shiny plastic and faux leather is glued together well. I wouldn't know. My only comment is the penchant for doing the dirty on people by continually going bust, and doing a phoenix. Legal yes, ethical? No.

For me its too risky to invest so much money on people with convictions for fraud and such a disgusting business track record
You would be surprised at the amount of companies that as you say “do the dirty and have a disgusting track record” that keep trading here in the UK, a lot of them do not become public knowledge.☹️
 

ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,721
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
MH
RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
You lucky ones keep banging on about the quality. Fine. I must admit the ones Ive looked in have been far too gaudy for me, mayby all that shiny plastic and faux leather is glued together well. I wouldn't know. My only comment is the penchant for doing the dirty on people by continually going bust, and doing a phoenix. Legal yes, ethical? No.

For me its too risky to invest so much money on people with convictions for fraud and such a disgusting business track record
Clearly never really looked at one. Not aware they have ever done faux leather and not sure what shiny plastic you are referring to.
You too are welcome to have a proper look at mine and maybe take your bonnet off to let the bee out 😀
 

Phileas Fogg

Free Member
Apr 27, 2014
319
1,136
west of the tamar
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31,178
MH
c class
Exp
20
IMHO its a shame that we don't have more makers of quality Mh's in UK, our specialist automotive engineering is very good as witnessed by the number of F1 teams and luxury car makers with factories here and there is plenty of finance available, it just seems that nobody is prepared to invest in such a product here.
Interesting comment. A friend owns a luxury yacht manufacturing business and when sales were not so good in that sector we did discuss setting up a manufacturing base for luxury motorhomes from the same factory. Didn't do it as the volumes needed to justify the setting up just weren't there.
Might work for ad hoc builds but the costs of each vehicle would be getting on to £200K to be of yacht quality, then you start looking at weight.....
 

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