Should I get (1 Viewer)

[bilM]

Hi
I have two questions for you I will be picking up my motorhome soon very soon and I want to have all the things I will require fitted before I get it. So do I need a inverter I have three leisure batteries and 120w solar panel. Will it come in handy for charging my wifes gadgets.

Next
Air suspension should I get this fitted.

Thanks

 

[Badknee]

Hi
I have two questions for you I will be picking up my motorhome soon very soon and I want to have all the things I will require fitted before I get it. So do I need a inverter I have three leisure batteries and 120w solar panel. Will it come in handy for charging my wifes gadgets.

Next
Air suspension should I get this fitted.

Thanks

Personally I would get them retro fitted so you have the opportunity to get the best price rather than a fixed price from a dealer.

 

[Rapido925M]

Some info about your purchase might help folk give you "better" advice!

I bought an inverter (300W) when mine was "new" but haven't used it for approx 5y. Why not see if you need one? It shouldn't cost significantly more to fit at a later date, even if you go for a high capacity one.

As for air suspension: why? What is the ride like now? What is your payload? How much money do you have to spend?

I would wait and see, but it's up to you - Gordon

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Wino]

If you don't know don't buy them!!! we bought loads of stuff at the start but now only when needed we only have one leisure battery and no solar but as we move very day usually have never needed them!

 

[Richard n Ann]

Just fit a small sine wave inverter, they are more efficient. Ours is a 200w studer And only uses 0.2 amps on standby.

 

[WynandJean]

We haven't had either in our previous or our new motorhome. Don't need them.

Wyn

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Richard n Ann]

You need one for certain things that are mains powered only. Like electric toothbrush charger, vacuum cleaner charger, hair clippers and in our case tv.

 

[funflair]

Just fit a small sine wave inverter, they are more efficient. Ours is a 200w studer And only uses 0.2 amps on standby.

It might be more efficient, but would be next to useless for our requirements,

I think the advice above about wait and see what you want/need is pretty sound and on top of that if I wanted extra stuff I would want to use a specialist in that area not a dealers workshop.

Martin

 

[Richard n Ann]

It might be more efficient, but would be next to useless for our requirements,

I think the advice above about wait and see what you want/need is pretty sound and on top of that if I wanted extra stuff I would want to use a specialist in that area not a dealers workshop.

Martin

Yes certainly, if you don't have a use for one, don't waste your money.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Dudess]

Had an inverter in our last van which was already fitted. The only time we used it was when I was using my hair dryer and tripped the campsite electrics. The inverter kicked in without me realising and the first thing I knew about it was hearing a whining noise because it had drained the batteries. We've had 4 vans and didn't have an inverter on the other 3. Regarding air suspension - wait and see what the ride is like. If it feels too hard check your tyres, you may find that deflating them a bit helps. We did have air suspension added to our last van via SAP in Doncaster and it made a huge difference, but we had driven the van for 2 months before we made the decision ('cos it's proper expensive!).

 

[Robert Clark]

My take on this;

You only need an inverter if you are going to be 'off grid' and want to use the same electrical appliances that you use at home. If so, you need one big enough to support your largest appliance. Ours is 2kw and was plenty big enough for a 1400w Nespresso machine and Mrs C's hair dyer - but not at the same time

You only need air suspension if you are covering long distances and want improved ride comfort and stability. Full Air Suspension along with Hydraulic Levelling were the two 'most loved' features on our last van. Personally I wouldn't be without either of them.

 

[tonyidle]

Charging anything is best done using chargers for use on 12v. They're cheaply available for more or less anything that needs charging and avoid the inefficiencies involved in 12v - 240v - 5v (or whatever) conversion.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[peterc10]

The answer depends on what your wife's gadgets are. I suspect nearly all will be able to be charged or used more efficiently off of the 12v system. TV, phones ipads tablets computers cameras etc can all use 12v with the correct adapters. Our electric toothbrush uses AA batteries which can be charged off the 12v using the correct charger.

For heating and cooking without EHU you really need gas or your batteries will rapidly run out.

We have a 2000W inverter. The only thing it is used for is drying my wife's hair.

 

[Lenny HB]

We have a 2000W inverter. The only thing it is used for is drying my wife's hair.

My wife uses a hair dryer.

 

[Tincataylor]

Save your money and just start using your camper, only then will you know what add on's that suit you will be necessary.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[two]

You probably don’t need any of your extras. Before answering either of your specific questions, what do you want them for? What mains items do you want to use? What are you hoping to gain with Air Suspension? There may be cheaper alternatives. Having them will not harm your enjoyment of the new van but, as for your bank balance…

 

[MitchandJenny]

If you want to charge the laptop and toothbrush, then just get a 300w pure sine wave inverter from Maplins. Job done.
Enjoy the van.
Mitch.

 

[bilM]

Thanks for all your advice.
I am going to have a 1000w pure sine wave fitted as I will not always be no a hook up. I am sure I will use it one day. As far as the air suspension I am going to hold of on this for the moment the wife wont let me spend 6K on this.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

Thanks for all your advice.
I am going to have a 1000w pure sine wave fitted as I will not always be no a hook up. I am sure I will use it one day. As far as the air suspension I am going to hold of on this for the moment the wife wont let me spend 6K on this.

Trouble is then you might but a Nespresso machine and it wants 1200watts.

Martin

 

[Richard n Ann]

Trouble is then you might but a Nespresso machine and it wants 1200watts.

Martin

And a 1000w one would be wasteful just to charge a 5w toothbrush

 

[funflair]

And a 1000w one would be wasteful just to charge a 5w toothbrush

But a big inverter will run small stuff a small inverter won't run big stuff, just because it a 2kw vs a 1 kw it doesn't mean it has to take twice as much more out of you batteries to charge a tooth brush.

You might guess we have a 2kw and it does everything we want it to.

Martin

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Poutie57]

If you've got the money buy full air suspension, best thing we've bought for our van no more levellers needed, ride vastly improved and braking efficiency increased, watch the VB promotional video on YouTube

 

[Alistair33]

Thanks for all your advice.
I am going to have a 1000w pure sine wave fitted as I will not always be no a hook up. I am sure I will use it one day. As far as the air suspension I am going to hold of on this for the moment the wife wont let me spend 6K on this.

Get the E & P levellers instead

The answer depends on what your wife's gadgets are. .

We have a 2000W inverter. The only thing it is used for is drying my wife's hair.

Rabbit? ( no link provided !)

 

[Poutie57]

Trouble with levellers is that's all they do is level the van whilst adding alot of extra weight where as full air gives you the levelling facility plus a far better ride. I think there are pros and cons to both and each person will have their opinion according to what they have on their van

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Alistair33]

Trouble with levellers is that's all they do is level the van whilst adding alot of extra weight where as full air gives you the levelling facility plus a far better ride. I think there are pros and cons to both and each person will have their opinion according to what they have on their van

Please excuse my ignorance but I was under the impression that they served a different purpose. Glad I only went for rear air !

 

[Two on Tour]

Fitted a 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter and a big battery to run my wife's hair dryer off grid. I know when to say yes and no dear and when to do what I'm asked (told).

 

[Poutie57]

I fitted a 1500watt inverter on my last van for the nespresso etc but found it drained the batteries very quickly (2x85 amps) so on our present van all we've got is a little 200watt one just for the PC and TV's, does us fine, the wife has short hair now so no hairdryer required

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BillandHelen]

Hi, facing the same situation as yourself, we installed a 1500w pure sine invertor, wired to a dedicated socket and with a remote on off switch. We figured that we might use our nespresso maker, so wanted to be on the safe side.
Bill

 

[Poutie57]

If we're off grid we now use a moka pot instead

 

[peterc10]

If we're off grid we now use a moka pot instead

Us too. Makes good Italian coffee.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}