New motor home collection tips

ypu will het tons of advice about things to check.....does the fidge, heater etc work on all fuels.......etc, etc...

however, have you and your dealer discussed payload? is your  van on 3.5t chassis, are there just two of you?.....the salesman (and the brocure/handbook) will state a number which will undoubtedly be on the 'optimistic' side and, of marginal in the brochure, will be 'difficult' in real life....

so, my advice, get the vehicle weighed (with you all in it) as part of the sale/handover.....then you will know exactly what capacity you have for all the kit (bikes, chairs, tables, hoses, leads, boots, clothes, books, people, water, gas, etc, etc, etc) that you will be carrying.....

not so easy to resolve if you weigh the vehicle (which everyone should) a bit further down the line and you realise there isnt the payload you thought (were told) there was.....  

Good advice - thank you.  It's listed as a 3,500 kg chassis with a 400kg payload which will be fine if the figures are accurate.

Good advice - thank you.  It's listed as a 3,500 kg chassis with a 400kg payload which will be fine if the figures are accurate.

.....a 400kg 'payload' if really the available capacity to you, might well be fine for two people.....however.....

despite the brochure stating '400kg payload' some are a bit backward in coming forward when revealing what has been included in the MIRO (mass in running order) ......

this 'should' include water and gas at 90% capacity, the driver at 75kg.....

some have been quoting MIRO with far less water (Elddis even with NO water in the tank....

nor will ANY of the extras/upgrade be allowed for....

so, allowing for non-included items etc, you could 'lose' payload for ALL of the following.....

engine upgrade, auto gearbox, any water over the quoted amount, a wind out awning, a tv aerial, a sat dish, a solar panel, a bike rack, a second gas bottle, any passengers, a second leisure battery etc etc....

all these items will EAT payload (water alone could be 100kg if you travel with a full tank and MIRO is stated with empty, or 20 ltrs which has become a popular amount) BEFORE you even think about loading up your essentials....

400 kg sounds a lot, take my word, it isnt......the brochure weight will be based on the lightest possible weight to 'emphasise' the payload......

i am not trying to 'scare' you in any way (rather just to raise awareness) however payload is usually the last thing people think about until they realise they are overloaded....

which van are you going for, ill have a look at the included MIRO data, also what extras (as listed above) will you have fitted to the van...

Accept you won't remember everything. Take some post it notes that you can stick on to remind you of some of the things you are likely to forget.

Check you have the manuals for the van - habitation and mechanical - and for any appliances.

Make sure they show you everything is working and get them to fix anything that isn't. 

Ensure all extras you wanted are fitted and the van is the one you ordered - it's not unknown to order a 150bhp engine and get a 130 or the Comfortmatic semi authomatic gearbox you paid for is missing.

Take photographs of the van - one can do this whilst the over is having a handover - worries the hell out of dealers!

Check tyre pressures and ask the dealer to explain what you should be running at. Then in the near future, get off to a weighbridge, weigh the van, and get the tyre manufacturer to conform tyre pressures - search on the web to understand how to do this.

Check the van over before you pay.

And be aware that an empty van can rattle a lot. Try and find the causes without endengering your safety. Remember it's a van, not a car so it will feel different uness you have driven vans before. 

Ok thank you - all understood.  It's a Chausson 718 EB Welcome on the Fiat Ducato base. Extras added are engine upgrade from 130 to 150, Thule Omnistor 4m awning, Fiamma bike rack.  It has the VIP pack and the winter pack. Not had a roof mounted aerial as yet as can't decide which way to go.  Had the Necvox on the VW T5 which will do us for no. It's just the 2 of us and a small dgo (9k). I hear what you're saying about 400kg sounding a lot but in reality I think we will need to careful.

Have started writing a list of questions to ask on the handover- like the photos idea. Thanks 

I've just picked up my first Motorhome and endorse what's been said. Assuming you have a smart phone take photos and if something seems really complicated video them demonstrating it.

Test all drawers and cabinets, the latch bar had been missed of one of our drawers and it flew open as I was on a roundabout.

Weighbridges are so cheap that its worth doing when you first get it and when you do your first long trip.

Are you stayiong somewhere close the first night? If not its worth thinking about so that if you find something amiss you can take it back for fixing the next day.

The dealer is only 5 miles from where we live so any issues and we'll be straight back to them. Will find out where the nearest weighbridge is and get it done as soon as possible. Thanks 

You'll probably find you'll have to make a return trip to fix or add something you hadn't noticed. Don't try to take it all in at the handover. Go through everything again when you take it home and speak on the phone about anything you don't understand or the dealer has forgotten to mention. Put any problems in writing for the next visit so that you have a check list. .....Enjoy your new van.

It may well be worthwhile staying overnight at a site or CL near the dealers on the day you take delivery especially if you live a long way from the dealer. With our last two vans it was a 600mile round trip. It is almost certain you will find a small defect and/or forget how to work something so if you can go back the next day that is good. If the dealer is willing pick up the manuals before the vehicle and study them. Typically manuals are very poor being generic (so they may have info about other models or features yours doesn't have). Additionally you will probably get a bunch of separate manuals for components in the vehicle e.g. fridge, toilet casette, charging panel, etc. etc.  Studying these before pick will help you to understand the handover and raise appropriate questions

Oops sorry didn't read above post properly re your proximity to dealer. Early experience and use of the van is nonetheless recommended.