We have found a used motorhome. I am due to go in to view and pay a deposit to secure so that they can start PDI. I am just wondering what equipment should really come with it as standard and what you would reasonably expect to pay extra for.
I ask this as I hate haggling. I have already got money off the screen price and will haggle a bit more but how far is too far? so far the Motorhome has 2 gas bottles, a leisure battery and EHU, previously fitted roll out Fiamma awning and the attachments/hoses for an external BBQ and shower points.
Another caravaner here, so MH knowledge a little limited.
It sounds like you've got a decent bundle of accessories there, not sure that there is too much that you should feel 'entitled' to, as new units tend to be pretty bare bones, so the extras, essential as they are, tend to be supplied by the dealer, sometimes as a free incentive to purchase, sometimes as a paid for package.
The essentials needed will vary to some extent, depending on the spec of the MH.
You will need:
A fresh water tank, may be built in, or external Aquaroll type.
Grey/waste water tank, again, may be built in or external.
Pump for Aquaroll or food grade hose to supply fresh water/fill onboard tank.
You may need an extra step to anything built into MH.
Levelling ramps.
Ensure the gas cylinders are full.
A 25M (proper 16A rated as well!) EHU cable will likely become needed at some point, a shorter one will inevitably not be long enough on all camp sites!
Toilet chemicals if onboard toilet.
Blinds/heat shield for cab windows if not integral.
Bedding, MH beds are sometimes odd/unique sizes, so something to fit required.
Washing up bowl and dish drainer for the kitchen - the collapsible ones are great with the limited stowage space in caravans/MHs. Often chopping boards/extra workspace covers for sink would have been OEM equipment, ensure they are supplied.
Silly little things, if you've got a grill with the cooker, ensure grill pan and often detachable handle are included. Plugs for kitchen sink/bathroom basin!
You'll need/want to sterilise the water system/tank before use, so get some Puriclean bundled in!
If you've got the Fiamma awning, check if sidewalls, storm straps included. May be worth seeing is some deal can be done there if you want them.
Perhaps depending on age of the unit, flexible gas hoses MUST be no more than 5 years old, the gas regulator MUST be no more than 10 years old. Both should have date of manufacture marked on them. If approaching end of life, get the dealer to change them! Again, road tyres should be less than 7 years old (date of manufacture stamped on sidewall) AND have no cracking of rubber visible - look IN the tread as well as at sidewalls! MH and caravan tyres tend to stand stationary for long periods and suffer degradation from lack of use, often where they are deformed at the bottom from standing. They rarely wear out from mileage use, they fail from lack of use and old age! - risk of MOT failure and worse, blowout when driving!
When it comes to 'haggling', often better deal to be had by getting stuff/accessories added to the deal, rather than driving windscreen ticket price down! To the dealer, anything off the asking price is a straight loss, whereas bundled in 'extras' rarely cost them anything like the retail price, so they are more amenable, but YOU gain, 'cos you'd have to spend the money at some point.
I'm sure there's more, but hopefully a few points to ponder.
Unlike caravans motorhomes have water tanks etc fitted at the build stage so no need for ancillary equipment to be provided.
What you have listed is what would be fitted by the manufacturer apart from the awning which might have been an optional extra. You will need other things such as an EHU cable and a water hose to use the van but they are not always supplied. Many sellers/dealers will throw in extras as an incentive to buy but as you are buying second hand ‘as seen’ and as you have already bargained the price down there’s little incentive for them to do this. You could ask if they will include other things but they have no obligation to do this.
Everything else you need is easily bought anyway and you will have the peace of mind that it is all in good condition.
One final thought is to ask the seller to show you everything that is in there working and to get a proper handover so you are confident you can use it,
No help/advice as my van started off as a blank canvas being a PVC (panel van conversion).
However, I would probably advise for the leisure battery that comes with the van to be checked over to see if it is still capable of holding a charge. Hopefully, that will be included as part of the PDI, however it may not.
I have 2 leisure batteries fitted in my PVC back in early 2021 by the company that carried out the conversion, and they are showing signs of aging already during the recent habitation checks, and have been advised to have them replaced.
DK
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Quote: Originally posted by Nosaj on 10/9/2024
Hi all,
We have found a used motorhome. I am due to go in to view and pay a deposit to secure so that they can start PDI. I am just wondering what equipment should really come with it as standard and what you would reasonably expect to pay extra for.
I ask this as I hate haggling. I have already got money off the screen price and will haggle a bit more but how far is too far? so far the Motorhome has 2 gas bottles, a leisure battery and EHU, previously fitted roll out Fiamma awning and the attachments/hoses for an external BBQ and shower points.
Thanks
I'd say you've got the basics covered although the leisure battery really is a standard part of a motorhome unless it's a 2nd leisure battery but that really should be considered a part of the motorhome too if it's fitted.
In this day and age I would also expect a solar panel fitted as standard with a dual splitter to keep both the leisure and vehicle battery topped up.
The EHU cable should be included as a courtesy too.
If you're paying top dollar, then you might well expect everything to be provided. If it's an older van, then I'd look for just the basics and add the things that you need. I'm not one for gadgets - keep it as simple as possible and there will be less to go wrong.
I actually removed a lot of add-ons fitted to my van.
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We've bought two new caravans and each came with a step and a 25m EHU lead and a pump. That's it.
The vans had equipment fitted which varies but the keyword is fitted. Note that the step and lead are not fitted. This included things like radio, TV aerial, microwave etc.
Things like battery, gas bottles, regulators, aquaroll, waste master etc are all things we had to buy.
If you're buying 2nd hand it's entirely between you and the seller. Obviously you can push for as much as possible and they will feel that have to cave in to you to get the sale. It is now a buyers market as summer is over so you should be in a strong position.
Quote: Originally posted by Nosaj on 10/9/2024
Hi all,
We have found a used motorhome. I am due to go in to view and pay a deposit to secure so that they can start PDI. I am just wondering what equipment should really come with it as standard and what you would reasonably expect to pay extra for.
I ask this as I hate haggling. I have already got money off the screen price and will haggle a bit more but how far is too far? so far the Motorhome has 2 gas bottles, a leisure battery and EHU, previously fitted roll out Fiamma awning and the attachments/hoses for an external BBQ and shower points.
Thanks
I would suggest that if buying from a dealer also use hire purchase for better cover if anything went wrong. We place a large deposit and take HP over 3 years. It has worked for us in the past and had good results.
We got a new MH from a dealer several years ago. The only removable / loose extras we got were the EHU cable, a blue fresh water filler pipe & the whale pump / water pipe. Plates & glasses - but not cutlery. Minimum cushions, you’ll add your own. Plus wind out awning, Electric steps, solar panels, under slung gas tank (old MH came with 2 canisters in the gas cupboard). And a starter kit for setting up the toilet: reservoir chemicals & toilet waste chemicals: buy a formaldehyde-free one later as rural sites will have a septic tank rather than a mains sewer.
Don’t expect anything else to be included as standard - there won’t be any toilet paper….
Everything else we have is what we had bought ourselves for the previous old MH & did not leave with it when we sold it via our dealer. So: Extras / don’t expect these for free - inner and / or outer silver screen for winter, grey water canister, ramps for sloping pitches, grass skid mats, fridge vent covers for camping in less than 10 degrees. Adds up to several hundred £.
MHs don’t use an Aqua roll because of the volume it takes to carry it; we would attach the whale pump to the tap on a serviced pitch.
New MHs from dealers don’t seem to come with a grey water canister, everyone expects a drive-over drain on site but best to assume there won’t be one on older, smaller or rural sites and it’s essential on your first trip away - the other items are not. A collapsible bucket works as well as a cheap black plastic canister or a pricier grey one with wheels.
(It’s illegal to drain your grey water any old place in Scotland, like a tarmac car park or your site hard standing: you can get a fixed rate fine through the post from SEPA for the former, or barred from a site for the latter.)
You’re about to start having some amazing adventures - I wish you good luck & midge free sites.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 10/9/2024
We've bought two new caravans and each came with a step and a 25m EHU lead and a pump. That's it.
The vans had equipment fitted which varies but the keyword is fitted. Note that the step and lead are not fitted. This included things like radio, TV aerial, microwave etc.
Things like battery, gas bottles, regulators, aquaroll, waste master etc are all things we had to buy.
If you're buying 2nd hand it's entirely between you and the seller. Obviously you can push for as much as possible and they will feel that have to cave in to you to get the sale. It is now a buyers market as summer is over so you should be in a strong position.
As what you mention is for a caravan, the situation will vary greatly for a motorhome.
What the OP is getting seems all fair and good to me, but as has been mentioned the leisure battery would warrant a competent check.
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Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
A lot depends upon whether you're buying a used MH or a new one, a used one may come with some extra goodies left by the previous owners, for instance our current MH was used, it came with an EHU cable, a spare number plate, 10 litres of Ad-Blue and a set of virtually new Milenco Levelling ramps as loose equipment. It had also had a Motorhome Wi-Fi system, a Carentec TV and a 2nd leisure battery fitted which also came with.
We've always kept our gas bottles when changing MHs (although the current one came with Gaslow fitted courtesy of the previous owner).
As for the Aquaroll, we've been MHing for 18 years, we've always had one, I know many, many MHers that do, we rally quite a lot and the water tap isn't easily accessible and/or is far away. Our current MH has a large garage so we have room there but our previous MHs didn't always have this luxury so the Aquaroll travelled in its bag, in the bathroom. We also have an extensive range of hoses and fittings which we can use if we can easily access a tap butyou'll have to fund these yourself (likewise whatever waste water solution you come up with)
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Topic: What Equipment should be included
via mobile 10/9/2024 at 9:37am
