Advice please, New Motorhome sink draining issues. Right to return!

is your sink draining speed fit for purpose?

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    81
Yet another case of shoddy design and build. Lost a small fortune on last one myself ( if somebody jumps in and informs me I made a bad choice and it happens all the time I shall scream ) top British brand, sold on bling factor. My other half loved it to start with and I coped with it until we had both had enough of shoddy workmanship and build quality, sold it within 8 months. I do not name names as proud owners seem to live with it and only get upset , I kind of understand with the amounts of money involved and yes I am generally happy with the build quality of the present van. Just as a note dealer was great with no problems or attitude. It was handed to me spot on but fell of a cliff thereafter . ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?
 
Is there an Elddis forum anywhere? If so perhaps you could find out if this is a known issue and how to resolve the problem. If not then the best course of action would be to get legal advice before proceeding further.
 
jwoffy said:
Yet another case of shoddy design and build. Lost a small fortune on last one myself ( if somebody jumps in and informs me I made a bad choice and it happens all the time I shall scream ) top British brand, sold on bling factor. My other half loved it to start with and I coped with it until we had both had enough of shoddy workmanship and build quality, sold it within 8 months. I do not name names as proud owners seem to live with it and only get upset , I kind of understand with the amounts of money involved and yes I am generally happy with the build quality of the present van. Just as a note dealer was great with no problems or attitude. It was handed to me spot on but fell of a cliff thereafter . ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?
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Spot on, I feel these Motorhome builders need to get there house in order and be held more accountable for poor workmanship and quality control, the list of issues I had for my Motorhome was quite frankly embarrassing not only for Elddis but for the dealer. I should of walked away from this one.
 
Not an excuse but I reckon that the up turn in the market and the use of agency zero hours workers in a lot of businesses leads to lower quality.
 
Not an Elldis but in my Rapido the kitchen sink is a long way from the waste tank. In its normal front down attitude on level ground drainage is very slow. Raising the front a bit it drains fine. I always like to find a parking place with a slight slope.

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jwoffy said:
Yet another case of shoddy design and build. Lost a small fortune on last one myself ( if somebody jumps in and informs me I made a bad choice and it happens all the time I shall scream ) top British brand, sold on bling factor. My other half loved it to start with and I coped with it until we had both had enough of shoddy workmanship and build quality, sold it within 8 months. I do not name names as proud owners seem to live with it and only get upset , I kind of understand with the amounts of money involved and yes I am generally happy with the build quality of the present van. Just as a note dealer was great with no problems or attitude. It was handed to me spot on but fell of a cliff thereafter . ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?
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You made a bad choice and it happens all the time!
(I’m listening. Can’t hear you.
Where’s the scream??)??
 
Waynesmith said:
Brand new Elddis 196
The sink from new didn't drain at all
sent back for repair

now drains a fraction better
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When you say ‘didn’t drain at all’ from new that implies a total blockage or kink, do you know what they did to make it drain at all? I would still suspect the original problem is still partly present , what is the bathroom sink like?

Personally and with no legal knowledge feel you have no chance of rejection. But also think there will be a quick fix

As a get round if the bathroom sink drains freely, use a bowl for washing up, as we do anyway to save wasting water, then tip that down the bathroom sink ?
 
whilst it seems trivial - it ids going to hack you off every time you use the van so I feel your pain. Whether it is grounds for total rejection is another matter.

Surely it is not beyond the wit of man to be able to resolve the drain ing of a sink. Eldiss should be ashamed of themselves if this is a fault well known for years
 
DavidG58 said:
When you say ‘didn’t drain at all’ from new that implies a total blockage or kink, do you know what they did to make it drain at all? I would still suspect the original problem is still partly present , what is the bathroom sink like?

Personally and with no legal knowledge feel you have no chance of rejection. But also think there will be a quick fix

As a get round if the bathroom sink drains freely, use a bowl for washing up, as we do anyway to save wasting water, then tip that down the bathroom sink ?
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the space between the bottom of the sink and the top of the fridge is an inch at best and this small gap needs to fit the plug, bend and pipe, it wasn't blocked it was squashed as it has no room, they took it all apart and have made it drain but incredibly slow.

a get around by pouring waste water down the bathroom sink on a brand new £49500 motorhome! sorry but I don't feel that I should need to do that, the sink should work.
the bathroom sink drains fine, ive not tried the shower as we used the sites shower.

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Waynesmith said:
Consumer rights act 2015 says even a minor fault within 30 days is grounds for a reject without giving them the chance of repair.
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I'd rather doubt that.
I think they are entitled to be given the opportunity to correct the problem.
The fact they haven't so far is pretty disgraceful but I think you have to try again with them or write to them and tell them you're getting a caravan engineer to fix and you'll be expecting reimbursement.
 
Just a thought. If you want to reject the van. It might be an idea to put it in writing, dated asap so that you are within the time frame.
I would be pretty fed up if my sink didn't drain.
 
Figaro said:
I'd rather doubt that.
I think they are entitled to be given the opportunity to correct the problem.
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this is not the case, the first 30 days I do not need to give them a chance, but I did.
 
Jumpstart said:
I would get it fixed by others and bill the dealer.
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I think from what the OP is saying that it is a design fault rather than a decent design which has a fault in it.

If the gap between the base of the sink and the top of the fridge, which the sink is situated above if I visualise it correctly, is less than an inch then I doubt any "off the shelf" plug fitting would work.

Without seeing the set up the only "fix" I could imagine right now would be a very shallow, but wide outlet for the plug fitting, probably made with a 3d plastic printer which would taper to a pipe fitting once past the edge of the fridge or sink.

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There is a Eldis Motorhome and Caravan FB group - they currently have 582 members. Might be worth joining and posting on there to check if anyone else has similar problems (I suspect you will find that they do).

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Waynesmith said:
Hi all,

Im after some advice and feedback please.
I will try and keep this as short as possible.

Brand new Elddis 196
The sink from new didn't drain at all
sent back for repair
now drained at a rate of about 100ml per 5 minutes and was told by the dealer this is a design floor with the Elddis 196 as the sink is too close to the fridge and will not get much if any better.
send back for repair again
now drains a fraction better

So this is making the van smell as its never draining the last part.

Ive emailed and returned the van under my right to reject within 30 days.
Dealers response was.......
See you in court.
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I've posted some weird videos on MHF but this one must be the oddest! I've just put half an inch of water or so in the kitchen sink of our Murvi then pulled out the plug (which I missed, the only action in the clip) but what you can see is the water drains away very quickly and even has a gurgle to itself. :) If I had filled the sink completely I would have expected it to empty in not much more than 30 seconds.




I don't agree with the majority on here. The sink should and can drain quickly as this video shows. Poor design, construction or choice of materials and components are not a viable excuse. The waste tank in our Murvi is on the other side of the vehicle from the sink and the waste pipe to it must be four metres long at least and has several bends - but they are gentle bends. No sharp corners.

I would get some legal advice. A letter from a solicitor might be all that is required to get the dealer's attention. Don't accept second best or in this case fourth or fifth best. :(
 
Is your waste like this ebay part 321107771188
 
DBK said:
I've posted some weird videos on MHF but this one must be the oddest! I've just put half an inch of water or so in the kitchen sink of our Murvi then pulled out the plug (which I missed, the only action in the clip) but what you can see is the water drains away very quickly and even has a gurgle to itself. :) If I had filled the sink completely I would have expected it to empty in not much more than 30 seconds.




I don't agree with the majority on here. The sink should and can drain quickly as this video shows. Poor design, construction or choice of materials and components are not a viable excuse. The waste tank in our Murvi is on the other side of the vehicle from the sink and the waste pipe to it must be four metres long at least and has several bends - but they are gentle bends. No sharp corners.

I would get some legal advice. A letter from a solicitor might be all that is required to get the dealer's attention. Don't accept second best or in this case fourth or fifth best. :(
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if only my sink drained even 1/10th of that speed I would not even be concerned.
Update.....
after a meeting with a solicitor he said I have a very strong case and perfectly within my rights for rejection and has already sent them a letter today.
lets hope this works.
 
Waynesmith said:
if only my sink drained even 1/10th of that speed I would not even be concerned.
Update.....
after a meeting with a solicitor he said I have a very strong case and perfectly within my rights for rejection and has already sent them a letter today.
lets hope this works.
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Good luck, I really hope you win. Shoddy workmanship and design should not be something you have to put up with.

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Sandancers said:
I think from what the OP is saying that it is a design fault rather than a decent design which has a fault in it.

If the gap between the base of the sink and the top of the fridge, which the sink is situated above if I visualise it correctly, is less than an inch then I doubt any "off the shelf" plug fitting would work.

Without seeing the set up the only "fix" I could imagine right now would be a very shallow, but wide outlet for the plug fitting, probably made with a 3d plastic printer which would taper to a pipe fitting once past the edge of the fridge or sink.
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Correct it is a design fault and the dealer even said as much.
 
Waynesmith said:
if only my sink drained even 1/10th of that speed I would not even be concerned.
Update.....
after a meeting with a solicitor he said I have a very strong case and perfectly within my rights for rejection and has already sent them a letter today.
lets hope this works.
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Since retiring I have lost the plot so I salute your courage to stand up to these people , and all others who do the same many thanks.
 
Ivory55 said:
I would say it’s normal build quality of a motorhome, it’s just the way it is . Annoying but normal.
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Normal build ? I certainly wouldn’t accept it but how to resolve the situation is another matter.

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Good luck with your efforts.

I have a 3 year old (now) Elddis and all the sinks work perfectly. In fact the only snags I had with the van from new was the reversing camera stopped working (bad connection)

The water heater would not start on gas after 3 months of working. (electrical plug not clicked in place properly, a good wiggle and push and sorted)

It still does not rattle and things have stayed on so far. no leaks.

It has been "Gigged" (abused).

Used as a removal van 3 times driving from London to central France, Carried sand and cement, bricks, blocks and garden machinery. Rubbish to the decheterie in France.

I have cleaned it three times since new and the hubcaps are scratched to buggery on high kerbs when parallel parking in London streets, no problem a good rubdown and rattlecan silver paint, good as new.

I have done 20,000 miles in almost 3 years and, touch wood, it all seems to work.
 
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Waynesmith said:
Yes I have left it with them, they wouldn't let me but as I rejected it I needed them to know I'm very serious with my decision.
Lets hope it doesn't get stolen then.

Ive had caravans in the past and never had any draining issues, this isn't me being picky the sink really doesn't work as it should. they have had the van twice and rerouted the whole pipe from the sink, the first bend is the problem as there isn't room for it, nothing can be done.
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Notify your insurers of its location to ensure cover continues.
 
Thank you all for your time, I'm not sure if everyone has understood just how bad this sink is, its a design fault and ive given them my van twice and they have failed twice and admitted its a design fault and can't be fixed.
ive never once in my life needed to complain about a product, goods or services so this is a first for me and very stressful, we have booked and paid for two holidays this month 3 days and 14 days and we can no longer go so this decision was not taken lightly.
I shall be keeping this post updated with my progress for those interested.
for me £50k is a massive amount and all my life savings present and future.
my 3 young kids are gutted we can't take it or them to Spain for 14days.
 
In my view withe the top of the fridge that close the sink is not in a good position and not fit for purpose there should be room for at least a flat type trap and the pipes.
My solution would be raise the worktop by an inch or two but without seeing it that may not be possible.
Good luck with it hope you get your money back.? these manufactures need to get interior designers that have practical experience before drawing up plans.????
What’s the point of fitting a sink unit that does not drain correctly absolutely ludicrous?
 
Can you not take pictures of the problem and contact Elddis directly, posting the photos in an email to the MD of the company or better take video of the draining sink and post this to him.

Start an account with youtube, post it on that (telling the MD of course)

I cant believe that such a simple thing as a sink draining can cause such a response from a dealer as a design fault and there nothing to be done.

There is ALWAYS a solution. There must be room for the drain pipe, so a simple flat L shape connection with elbow joins could work?

without pictures who knows, so if you can get some done!

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