motor homes from hell?

[Les Sykes]

Does any one know of a web site that delas with motor homes to aviod when buying a new one, or a web site that describes problems to be expected for certain makes or models? Or do i assume that eveyone is happy with their purchases?

[Guest starspirit]

Les, Plough through the motorhome matters forum and you will see plenty of comments about dodgy vans and even more dodgy dealers. Some makes have a better reputation than others and from experience I can recommend Auto Sleepers and Auto Cruise both of whom have good factory based customer support. Also Hymer get good reports although I have never been able to afford one! If you have a local dealer his support might well be more forthcoming and valuable than perhaps a slightly better deal done hundreds of miles away.

[michele]

Quite agree with that comment wish we had of picked a closer to home dearlership. When it go's wrong its to far to sort out up & down the motorway..

[Derek Uzzell]

There's a "MH Models" forum on www.motorhomefacts.com that lists motorhomes by the manufacturer's name and is intended for people to recount problems and provide tips. It's viewable without subscription and might be helpful to you. Patchy build-quality is a major problem with new motorhomes (hardly surprising really given the large amount of human input), so there's no guarantee that an expensive model from a very highly regarded maker won't have serious faults or, conversely that a 'cheap and cheerful' mass-manufactured vehicle won't be perfect. In 2002 the Caravan Club published the results of a survey (based on 2000 questionnaires) that included comments on the state of motorhomes at the time of delivery. 11% of owners reported that their vehicles showed signs of rainwater ingress at delivery, 13% reported bodywork damage, 27% reported damage to interior fittings, 14% suffered leaks in the waste/water system and 13% incurred delivery delays.

[Mick H.]

We bought a secondhand Hymer from Sheffield(definitely the best van to get)however we had a couple of problems and when we bought it were promised that the warranty covered things like problems,but no need to come back to us the warranty is nationwide take it in local get a quote and bingo(or should that read bimbo)no way,any problem bring it back to Sheffield.Moral of this story,buy a Hymie but try and find a local dealer.

[zulurita]

As Derek says the motorhomefacts web site is good for info. Members have left posts on various makes & dealers so gives you a chance to have an informed choice when searching for your motorhome. Nothing beats going around to view various motorhomes and doing the pros & cons routine as to which motorhome is for you. Magazine write ups also play their part. If you find one you like go through it with a fine toothcombe looking for any faults, make sure if not new it has a damp check and test drive it.

[enodreven]

Hi, While i agree in principal to checking our various forums etc, it really doesnt reflect the motorhome owners in real life as i would suggest the majority of motorhome owners do not use web sites and as with most news worthy ?? items only the bad points are generally reported, I would suggest that you look around the various manufacturers for what best suits your requirements in size, beds, layout etc. and then check that the main points regarding damp checks and servicing have been carried out and if there are any warranties they are usable ?? e.g. near to where you live and if its an imported make will the UK agents actually repair it hear under warranty ? as i have read that certain companies will require you to pay up front and then reclaim the costs ? which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it needs to be taken into account. Also don't just check the listings as there are a lot of reports where people are having problems but the manufactures name is not always shown on the title of the thread and perhaps doesnt get shown on the listings as a problem as it does appear from my use of various web sites that nearly all of the manufactures suffer problems. I'm sure if you check through this web site even some of the current threads are talking about problems with certain manufactures without mentioning the manufactures name in the title Hope this helps

[michele]

Quite agree with the above the only thing that I add is I like many others have travelled far to be upset by the aftersales service . Let's face it are we supposed to accept that there will be problems with a new vehicle from the off as one of those things life throws at you . The next vehicle I buy will be the forth and it will be right because I will make sure I stay as close to home as possible and I will hound them into mending it ... Correctly on time and let them know if they are giving good quality service . I would not be embarrsed to promote their good work as well as the bad either. lot's of dosh to part with and then find that you are really misrable about it . *-)

[Fetch Carry]

[QUOTE]Mick H. - 2006-08-16 9:32 AM We bought a secondhand Hymer from Sheffield(definitely the best van to get)however we had a couple of problems and when we bought it were promised that the warranty covered things like problems,but no need to come back to us the warranty is nationwide take it in local get a quote and bingo(or should that read bimbo)no way,any problem bring it back to Sheffield.Moral of this story,buy a Hymie but try and find a local dealer.[/QUOTE] We had a similar problem with the warranty given with our second hand Hymer from Dorset, starter motor went, only got back about half the costs involved to fix it. Mind you, well pleased with the Hymer though, seems to be execellent build quality.

[Brian Kirby]

But Michele

You have complained bitterly about things going wrong on your van, and you have also said you like it.  From what you've said, the things that have gone wrong seem to have been because it was poorly made in the first place, although you have had issues with the dealer about fixing them properly.

Now, I agree that it is the dealer's responsibility to put right what is wrong.  However, if the manufacturer isn't backing up the dealer properly, possibly because they have lots of other faults to put right on lots of other vans, the dealer can't really do better than the manufacturer allows him to.  If spares aren't supplied promptly, or the spares order isn't fulfilled, the problems can't be fixed promptly or fully, but the dealer gets the blame.

From this forum, but also from the magazines, it is clear some motorhomes are more reliably put together than others, and it seems the maker of yours doesn't have an especially good reputation for quality.  They look good, but the assembly quality isn't consistent, leading to lots of niggly faults.

To answer your question, therefore; no we shouldn't have to accept there will be problems with a new 'van.  If we choose the right manufacturer, we probably won't experience the faults, so won't have to make trips back to the dealer to get them fixed.  Can't be guaranteed, though, even the best make "Friday" 'vans.  However, if the manufacturer generally gets his quality right, he's more likely to have the time and resources to put the odd rogue right, even if it does take him a while to accept that one has slipped through his quality net.

The silly thing is that the actual equipment is virtually, or actually, identical in all vans.  Fridges are Dometic or Thetford, Hobs and ovens frequently Cramer, heaters Truma, windows Seitz, rooflights Seitz, Heki or Remis, cab blinds Remis, etc etc.  Most of these are themselves sound reliable products and if they don't work properly, apart from odd instances, it is generally because they have been poorly installed.  Most of the manufacturers get their furniture from Italy.  The aluminium or fibreglass side sheeting and insulation are all bought in, if there are polyester, ABS or fibreglass components they are almost invariably produced by specialist contractors.  All the so called motorhome "manufacturer" has to do is assemble the bits carefully so that they keep the water out and stay assembled.  It really shouldn't be all that difficult, but it does require a trained and diligent workforce.

Autosleepers, Autotrail, Knaus-Tabbert, Hymer, Burstner, Hobby, Rapido, Pilote and Frankia all seem to do fairly well with consistent quality.  Others may wish to nominate more "good guys", these are just the ones I know have good reputations for consistently high quality products. 

So, choose your maker, then your 'van, and then go looking for a good dealer for that make.

[michele]

Brian , I have taken on board what you have said BUT. In this case the roof is leaking due to shoddy workmanship at the Dealers (putting in the Sat Dish) which in turn blew the pace box due to the dealers . I can't really blame the manufactures can I. The shower blind is totally not in its housing causing you to have it all creased and all over the place . Now whilst I can understand that it may of left the manufactuers like this it doesn't need a new one so I took it for repair guess what ...... No don't . I do blame the dealers. The heating in the van used to cut off saying 28degrees but you were ice now whilst again I understand that it should of never been mounted the thermostat under the blower in the first place causing it to have a wrong reading and cut off I expect the dealership to move the thermostat which they have done . Another trip so far away... this is what I am saying or trying to say you know me I always manage to cock it up. if it was close to home or if the dealership made it a little more user friendly it would be managable but it's not I have learnt the broad lesson. At the moment actually no from a little while after we had it the reversing camera packed up now, it only cost two and a half grand . If I was here I would of been back like a shot but it's not again I have learnt . All I am saying is stay as close to home if this is at all possible and it is in your remit of what you require I,m not slayting anyone . When when will I get the time to go to them never the way things are as of late another 3 and ahalf weeks in hospital . Now when they did send someone to repair & collect and took it for two week's I would of at least thought that they would of got it right. ESPECIALLY when warned since day one that we were winging our way back to them with all these problems . we booked this van at their convience It didn't matter to us when they took it and did they get it right NO. I still have no reversing camera still have no shower door still have no blind in the toilet . then they have the cheek to phone me and tell me it's due for a service because they obviously need the revenue?. No not happy with the Dealership not the manufacture I was also promised an occassional table which is apparently sitting there I am sick of asking get's on yournerves in the end.. But this is the second Bessie I have had and would I buy another Yes just not so far away this time . The actual van is fantastic and IMHO it is a good looking van with everything we want ... .......and a few bits we do not want... Brian , we did buy the Avic pioneer from the dealers shop and paid the dealer to fit it along with the Awning Aircon & Sat Dish Fiamma Bike Rack . One other little thing is not everyone is retired they are catering for the older market no i am not complaining but they offer you to stay at the club as if they know they need it in the first place . who thought that one up . there having a chuckle ........I know some peple love it and are great user's of the facilities but the reality of it is even retired folk have things planned places to go people to see . when people have done a long drive they are sometimes blinkered to the fact that this is layed on not for our convience but for their's well there's only so much swimming you can do and I,m swimming up to my teeth. So next one is near home for us.. for all them reason's