we've been planning on buying a MH, our first, for some months. It was intended to buy a brand new one but circumstances have prevailed in that the necessary funds will now not be available & we will only be able to afford a pre-owned Escape. Can anyone offer advice & experience in what we should look out for when purchasing 2nd hand as opposed to brand new - thank you
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I would if you can take a friend who owns or has owned a motorhome/camper for a while to be knowledgeable enough to have a good look at the camper in question.
Hello there,
I am curious why you are only thinking of an Escape - as far as I can see the next range up, the Sundance, is similar money and has a swishier spec. I am half thinking of selling my 59 reg 590RS at a sensible price which I guess wouldn't be hugely more expensive more than a similar Escape. Or is the difference more marked with a later model maybe. Just a thought.
Advice wise, apart from the usual stuff when buying a vehicle such as HPI checks and no odd warning lights or strange noises etc', take a good look around the interior of the underseat boxes and around the interior of any external openings etc' for damp. Check that everything works and that the on-board charger definitely charges the leisure battery. I imagine a further good indicator would be one with full Fiat service history and full Swift service history. This isn't everything but it's a good start.
Anyway, good luck with it - motorhoming is a very pleasant way of wandering around.
Thank You for the replies - we've been eyeing up the Escape for sometime since around 2010, it was a good entry level price & I wanted the large rear lounge aspect which makes up a decent sized double bed - if the sons come with us at all they need the leg room being 6'5" & 6'6" - went to NEC in Feb & had a look around at all makes & models, the new 644 is actually not such a good layout as it now has to have the 2 extra belted seats which has shortened the lounge area, so its just as well we can now only afford a 2ndhand 622
Sold our Swift Escape 622 last year as we found the toilet/ shower room too small to use,don't get all excited when looking at vans make sure it's the right layout and everything is workable
Quote: Originally posted by tyreman1 on 25/7/2013
Sold our Swift Escape 622 last year as we found the toilet/ shower room too small to use,don't get all excited when looking at vans make sure it's the right layout and everything is workable
& your in our neck of the woods, could have bought yours!!
tbh, we usually use club sites with good facilties so would rarely use the shower, only if we start using CL's or Aires in France but thanx for the input
I certainly wouldn't recommend one,on the first habitation service they picked up 50% damp readings in the over cab and I thought the fittings and general build quality of the van were pretty flimsy,have a look on the Swift forum "swift talk" and see what problems other Swift owners have had......I think Elddis as an entry range are far better only downsides are small water tanks and very delicate aluminium outer skins.
Along with all previous advice, something that is not often mentioned, but which is VERY important, is: PAYLOAD!! There is an article in this month's Out and About on just this topic, link HERE
Some motorhomes we looked at whilst at the NEC had very little payload, in one case only 300kg! When you think that only a driver is included in the MRO, that means the passenger's weight has to be added, plus all the little "goodies" you may have, like an awning, satellite dish, bikerack, then things like pots and pans, crockery and cutlery, table, chairs, BBQ and everything else.
In our own experience when buying motorhomes, a lot of salesmen didn't have a clue about payloads either, yet it is so important and could leave you with an inadequate payload for your needs.
Edited to say that looking at the payload for the 622 is 470kg, which is not bad, but not overly generous. But you also say that your sons may want to come with you, so that would be an extra 2 bodies, as well as the passenger, plus gear etc. VERY roughly speaking and not wanting to insult anyone (!!) say each person is 70kg, that would be a total of 210kg off the payload, leaving only 260kg for everything else, just a thought.
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Topic: Swift Escape
