American Motorhome (RV) , anyone? Forums

becky

Hello Alex

We had our brave for 3 years and never had a major bill, it was always reliable and we covered about 25.000 miles in that time. I had to have a joint replaced on the front suspension which was found to have too much play in it for the MOT testers liking and was later told by two other people that packing it more tightly with grease was probably all it needed. The brake lights had a tendancy to stay on occassionally and that turned out to be an adjustment on the switch behind the pedal. The most expensive problem I encountered was more to do with my inexperience when I had a rear inner tyre puncture and did not realise it as I had not had the RV long, when it was repaired a large bubble appeared on the side of tyre during a 100 mile trip. I was lucky that a motorist following me flagged my down before it blew out and told me he could see the bubble.

I hope you are as lucky with your Brave and have many enjoyable trips.

Becky

mauramac

Hi and thanks for those, I will have a look at them now. I have been in touch with both Gold and Dudley's - and just about all other RV garages in the past 6 months but nothing suitable so far. Gold are VERY expensive and sadly we cannot stretch our budget to their prices. We have around £20K - maybe a bit more if it's exactly what we are after and have seen 4 for that sort of money but on closer inspection they all had something we would not consider.

In case you think I'm just being fussy - the sort of things we found were: one had a really dodgy LPG conversion kit (looked DIY), one had massive rust problems on the chassis and another the interior had been wrecked by combination of kids/dogs. I suppose we could have put the problems right but when you see that sort of thing it makes you wonder what else might be wrong that isn't so obvious.

By the way they are all still for sale!

I will look at the Dudleys vehicle though but I think it is one they are advertising for a customer - they don't own it and the girl on reception gave me the impression it had a few problems. I will check it out again on Monday.

Does anyone know anything about Pointon Garage? I think it is in Leicester. I keep ringing their number but no reply at any time of day. I understand they import RV's and would like to hear from anyone who has had any dealings with them.

Thanks again for your replies.

Maura

ps. Just looked at Dudleys RV and it is almost £40k! very nice model and only a year old. We would be looking at one maybe 4 to 5 years old on our budget. Thanks Keith & Debs, appreciate your help

Also Peejay, Blooming typical I didn't get this months MMM but will go and look online at the ads. The private sale one is only one within our budget. I will keep looking though.

GeorgeTelford · Account Deactivated

Do bear in mind that virtually all gas fitting on motorhomes is Amateur ie most motorhomes will never see a Corgi unless you drive past Buckingham palace and get lucky.

This is not meant to put down your decision, but you will not find any motorhome with a gas inspection cert unless its an ex Hire vehicle these are the only ones that "ever" see a proper corgi fitter.

Same with mains there are not many vans that would pass a proper 16th edition wiring regs check. None that I have ever checked would pass.

George

PS I only mention this because everyone assumes that its all done professionally, in reality it is not

peejay · Campsite DB Admin

maura wrote;
[quote:6105207813]Does anyone know anything about Pointon Garage? I think it is in Leicester. I keep ringing their number but no reply at any time of day. I understand they import RV's and would like to hear from anyone who has had any dealings with them.
[/quote:6105207813]

Pointon garage is not a million miles away from me at Sleaford (01529 240471)

I have no first hand experience of the garage but they did dabble in importing smaller rv's at one time and maybe still do, i could check next time i'm passing if you like maura.

pete.

mauramac

[b:c6d786e8f7]Hello George[/b:c6d786e8f7]
When I said I thought it was a DIY job - I meant it literally and the owner did not inspire me with any sort of confidence to be honest. I have seen 3 other vehicles who have been converted to run on LPG as well as petrol and all of them had 'certified' conversions carried out at well established garages which specialise in this. - I imagine this is the best one can hope for at this time. I hadn't realised that a Corgi certified engineer would be experienced in LPG conversions, I know they have to carry out all domestic work - or are you pulling my leg? My son is fully qualified electrician so would have him onto the electrics straight away - especially as an RV will have been converted for use here in UK.

[b:c6d786e8f7]Peejay[/b:c6d786e8f7] you are a star, many thanks for the offer. I have heard about this garage and would be interested to know if they are still dabbling in RV's but not sure why I am not getting any telephone response. If you have any time and hear anything at all I would be grateful. Will PM you about the private sale RV. Wink

Now for bed - it's late even for us night owls Shocked

Night Night
Maura

GeorgeTelford · Account Deactivated

Hi Maura,

The Garages that do these conversions (to LPG as Road Fuel) do not have Corgi Registered Fitters, the conversions do not have to be certified and are not.

Further your (and everyone elses) habitation (cooking, heating gas etc) as never seen a Corgi Fitter either, I did throw out this challenge before but got a zero response (as I expected) Can anyone produce a gas safety certificate ?

Maybe if you buy an ex Hire Motorhome you might see one, there are very few Corgi's that have the relevant Mobile LPG Certification from Corgi.
When serviced at dealers the Gas system doesnt see a corgi either.

Electrics, ask your son whethor its OK to have a 240v Socket in a bathroom?

[img:a7b672883a]http://homepage.mac.com/payroll/.Pictures/Hobby/IMG _1339.JPG.jpg[/img:a7b672883a]

Sorry not the best of pictures but bottom left is a light switch and a 240V full mains socket.

I would say more Vans see a real electrician, but that of the ones I have checked out very few would pass UK wiring regs (even the ones made in UK)

George

coolcolly

George, what's your point here? Are you suggesting that LPG installations and electrics [i:3d7ffd63f2]should[/i:3d7ffd63f2] be certified (ie the manufactures and resellers not trusted or regarded as negligent)? You've mentioned these "wiring regs" elsewhere, and in another you post stated that gas alarms were pointless. Confused

GeorgeTelford · Account Deactivated

Hi Colly

My points are

1. Do not assume you Van is wired according to regs.

2. Do not assume your van as been seen or tested by Corgi

3. Some vans would not pass, the above is an absolutly obvious no no

Use the above info wisely, it will help you stay safe.

No I do not wish that all vans have to be tested, nip to a show look for an obvious no no then ask the salesman whethor its safe and meets EI 16th edition, The waffle and bull you will receive would be good for your roses.

The other point is that the gas and EI regs have not got force of law, so at present its all legal regardless.

No I dont want more red tape. They would have a Major prob on their hands if all needed certs because there are not enough LPG Corgi's, Costs would be terrible.

Main point is dont assume, look think and be safe.

Re Gas alarms

The Gas is Made to STINK, all of us are fitted with gas alarm (Nose Mark 1 Campers for the use of)

Alarm goes off, you jump up bleary eyed and switch on a light !! Whoosh

Wake up to smell of gas hopefully brain would kick in and you would not switch on light.

Be safe and think.

mauramac

George,
I think we get the picture but surely there would be no MH sales at all if everyone wanted Gas and electric fittings to be certified to the extent you are suggesting. I know I know - I can almost hear you screaming at me from here and yes I have also read your other postings on this subject. It would be great if every home and every vehicle were 100% totally certified by qualified gas fitters/electricians - but they are not and until then surely we just have to be as careful as possible.

Thankfully my son is qualified up to the 16th edition regs and would come down on me like a ton of bricks if I purchased anything unsafe and would I hope point out any potential problems and put them right for me.

The garages are Certified to carry out this work and they are inspected and the Government seem to be keen on this type of "Green" conversion, and that is better than nothing isn't it? There are many 'Cowboys' putting these types of kits on vehicles and that was the point I made when way back in this topic I happened to mention this was why I didn't buy a RV I had seen -[/b]Seems like a long time ago that I was talking about RV's and now onto Corgi's[b:fbd449775a]

As it happens a lot of the RV's that I am looking at - the smaller B Class campervan types ARE ex-hire vehicles from Canada and USA.

Maura[/b:fbd449775a]