Viewing new PVC tomorrow

[Nick555]

We have paid our deposit & will get our RP Rebel late next year. There is one coming out of the factory & we have been invited to view it before the client collects it.

Does anyone have any hints or tips about what to ask? This is our first time buying a motorhome.

 

[PP Bear]

I’m assuming you have all the details for payload, water tank capacities, gas etc, so I think it’ll be a day of drooling over it and feeling good about your future adventures. You could ask about any delivery delays that seem to be popping up at the moment, but just enjoy.

Take lots of pictures and post so we can see your future pride and joy

 

[Landy Andy]

If whilst viewing it, you damaged something on it, surely they would have to give you this one, and the next to the other owner.

 

[DumfriesDik]

The payload is the thing I would be most interested in as that dictates so much. I mean, what accessories do you think you might need and how much do they weigh? I would want to know how heavy the awning is, the bike rack, the tow bar, the gas bottle and so on. Bring on the options list!!

I have to say, it is a cracking looking van and the 4x4 looks very capable of taking gravel roads and muddy fields in its stride. Love it.

 

[CazPaul]

Insulation what type is used?, are all areas insulated, particularly areas that some manufacturers neglect, overcab area, inside rear doors, inside side sliding door, floor?
Are exterior screens included?

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[DBK]

We have paid our deposit & will get our RP Rebel late next year. There is one coming out of the factory & we have been invited to view it before the client collects it.

Does anyone have any hints or tips about what to ask? This is our first time buying a motorhome.

I think you need to look at what options you would want to have on yours. For example, if you are going to use it in Scotland a good broadband antenna on the roof may help in the remoter glen's. Similarly, if it comes with solar panels what is their capacity? I suggest a minimum would be 200W but if they can fit 300W then go for it. A SOG toilet if it doesn't have one will cut down on chemicals which owners of septic tanks will appreciate.

If you want TV then a dish will be better than a terrestrial aerial in some places but it will take up roof space and most of them don't like strong winds. I would forget it and just stream using a data sim, hence the roof mounted broadband antenna.

Consider how you are going to use and where. Is there a choice of floor coverings? If so consider something hard-wearing if you think you may get it dirty!

 

[Nick555]

If whilst viewing it, you damaged something on it, surely they would have to give you this one, and the next to the other owner.

Excellent! I'll get wifey to use the toilet!

 

[Nick555]

I think you need to look at what options you would want to have on yours. For example, if you are going to use it in Scotland a good broadband antenna on the roof may help in the remoter glen's. Similarly, if it comes with solar panels what is their capacity? I suggest a minimum would be 200W but if they can fit 300W then go for it. A SOG toilet if it doesn't have one will cut down on chemicals which owners of septic tanks will appreciate.

If you want TV then a dish will be better than a terrestrial aerial in some places but it will take up roof space and most of them don't like strong winds. I would forget it and just stream using a data sim, hence the roof mounted broadband antenna.

Consider how you are going to use and where. Is there a choice of floor coverings? If so consider something hard-wearing if you think you may get it dirty!

Good tips, thanks.

Weve done some work on the options list, we wil get a 4G thing on the roof, no aerials though - we only watch DVDs or Netflix.

Floor covering is interesting, there are removable carpets as an option, the regular covering is like in a boat. Not sure which to choose. We're happy to have motorhome slippers.

They have the regulat toilet cassette & a spare casette. They are working on compositing toilet too. Not sure about that.

Solar panels are Victron 115W & I can fit 2. I realise the solar power isn't ideal & we can upgrade the Victron Lithiums from 2x160A to 2x200A is needed.

 

[Nick555]

Insulation what type is used?, are all areas insulated, particularly areas that some manufacturers neglect, overcab area, inside rear doors, inside side sliding door, floor?
Are exterior screens included?

The floor has significant insulation. Not sure about the doors - I will check.

Exterior screens?

 

[Nick555]

The payload is the thing I would be most interested in as that dictates so much. I mean, what accessories do you think you might need and how much do they weigh? I would want to know how heavy the awning is, the bike rack, the tow bar, the gas bottle and so on. Bring on the options list!!

I have to say, it is a cracking looking van and the 4x4 looks very capable of taking gravel roads and muddy fields in its stride. Love it.

We will go for the 4050kg upgrade giving a payload of 950kg. My licence covers it.

We're not aiming to get an awning or a bike rack, tow bar is a standard fit & it has a small gas tank for the hob.

Here our options before their 12% increase. So I have to chop some stuff out.

AWD Exclusive Rebel twin	109,995.00
Slide updrade	10,500.00
TV	920.00
Maxview WiFi	450.00
Maxx Air roof fan	415.00
Water filter	395.00
Cab blinds	995.00
Half leather upholstery	2,250.00
Leather cab seats	1,890.00
Half leather cab seats
Habitation aircon	2,595.00
Extra waste cassette	115.00
Electric side step	420.00
Electric awning	1,595.00
Self leveling	5,250.00
Roof rack & ladder	1,570.00
Roof box	650.00
Black Rhino Alloys	2,585.00
Off-grid electical pack	6,930.00
Extra solar panel	315.00
	149,835.00

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[Stonemags76]

Realise you don’t want to go cheap, but the things I would look at are
TV - get the point fitted & buy your own
Electric awning - still rubbish in wind! Not sure how you’d peg it down either?
hab air con - Maxfan instead? Need a lot of power for most hab air on.
Thats what I would research anyway!

 

[Nick555]

Realise you don’t want to go cheap, but the things I would look at are
TV - get the point fitted & buy your own
Electric awning - still rubbish in wind! Not sure how you’d peg it down either?
hab air con - Maxfan instead? Need a lot of power for most hab air on.
Thats what I would research anyway!

The awning & hab aircon are both coming out because of price rises. I already have a Max fan in the list. I'll check that TV.

 

[Ridgeway]

Refillable gas bottles ? (Current project here)

 

[Nick555]

Refillable gas bottles ? (Current project here)

It has a gas tank for the hob.

 

[Ridgeway]

It has a gas tank for the hob.

Refillable ?

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[Nick555]

Refillable ?

I'm assuming so. Why have a gas tank that you can't top up? I only have experience with gas bottles on a boat & bottles for our gas hob at home. I'm assuming that you just fill up a gas tank at a petrol station that advertises autogas?

 

[Ridgeway]

Tank will be refillable

 

[royandsharont]

The only things on your options list that I would likely take would be the cab blinds and the electric step.

Whilst viewing this new van I personally, in your situation being a non camper, try and give some thought as to how you may camp, e.g. what you would likely need & take, and have a good look around as to where you may safely store such things. Your knowledge from the boat will help.

An example is in our old C class we had quite large high wall cupboards so used plenty of baskets on the 2 inner shelves. In our soon to be new PVC we now note that the cupboard top is curved Re the van and therefore the baskets will not fit so we are going to have to search and find smaller ones, but as big as possible, that will fit to make best use of the space available. We have some idea but did not nite the cure in the first instance and did not measure.

I did measure the garage/under bed floor space & height so we had some idea if what we already had would fit, we are downsizing so space will be a compromise. It all helped in getting things a bit clearer in our minds for when we actually get it and then can fine tune things. E.g. we have always used a microwave (fitted in U.K. van) a lot and now think there is not enough space to carry one really so we have had plenty of time to think of what else we shall do without one. We cooked breakfast every day in it and camped around 150 days a year so a big change

You can only really sort these type of things out when you start living in a new van but a heads up is a big help rather than a shock on the day. We spent around 2 hours just sat inside our new van making sure we could make the compromises before we committed to putting the deposit down well over a year ago now, and there are none around to revisit in the meantime, so take this opportunity with some advanced thought.

Good luck

 

[Nick555]

A very long drive, but a very interesting time at RP. We weren't rushed at all & they answered every question, zero waffle. I like RP as a company, they are very "can-do" seem to be happy to so anything the cusatomer wants. They're even happy to delete the "RP" logos from the van. (We want to be very low profile & they offered to delete the logos).

They lined up both the 6m Rebel (with slide-out bathroom) & 7m Rebellion with raised rear lounge. For us, the 7m Rebellion is just too big, so we will have to fit in the 6m Rebel. The Rebel is definately smaller than the video perception & that went all the way through - smaller cupboards, smaller hob, smaller oven, but we spent 3 hours there & will have to learn to fit fit. Just a bit of compromise on how much stuff we can take with us. With price rises, we had to tweak our options list, so after careful comparison, we have deleted the sliding bathroom. It's 10k, gives some extra space at the front, but the ceiling is lower & I have to stoop in there. We spent a lot of time figuring out space for my medical requirements & RP were really good with that. Offering to resize cushions etc.
We had a good look at the Remis blinds. These things do look a bit delicate & we are thinking of another privacy option they're working on. Bearing in mind that cab blinds scream out "campervan", they are working on a fitted privacy curtain behind the seats. This may also work well for our pussycat travelling with us. Looking to upgrade fresh water storage from 85 to 160 litres. As we would be using more under bed space with the off grid battery kit & inverter, they suggested putting a frost protected water tank in the spare wheel holder under the van & move the spare wheel to the back door, like a Jeep. This would keep some under bed space.
We talked about extra inverter power sockets & the only thing we didn't cover was space for a coffee machine, although I think they can probably make a shelf for it.
Updated options list coming.....