Pre-purchase survey needed

[82125]

I'm looking to buy my first motorhome shortly, having owned large motorboats in the past, the first step in naturally getting a survey done.

The problem is, unlike on marine surveys, on every motorhome survey company ive looked at the list of disclaimers of how, responsibility for if they fail to do the job im paying them for in first place, is longer than the list of what they actually supposedly check?

I cant see any value in paying for one of these surveys when i have no idea of the competence or thoroughness and that if they do miss something ,no matter how obvious, they make it quite clear i have no come back once ive spent my money and bought the vehicle.
I dont expect a particularly thorough survey to be done in the first place for the typical £300 stated.

So my question is, can someone recommend where i can get a proper survey done please?
I would expect a survey to cost far more than £300 to properly check and test a motorhome and all its systems.

Thanks

 

[Clipgate]

I agree the sum seems unrealistic, as a qualified engineer myself depending on the chassis and electrical complexity at least five hours would be reasonable, thus an expectation of at least £500 plus vat etc. That is a very minimal rate in my view.
Conducting a leisure battery check for capacity alone takes time, not a drop load check.
Hopefully you will locate a professional and qualified engineer, including gas and electrical checks, not just a habitation.

 

[82125]

I agree the sum seems unrealistic, as a qualified engineer myself depending on the chassis and electrical complexity at least five hours would be reasonable, thus an expectation of at least £500 plus vat etc. That is a very minimal rate in my view.
Conducting a leisure battery check for capacity alone takes time, not a drop load check.
Hopefully you will locate a professional and qualified engineer, including gas and electrical checks, not just a habitation.

Hi Clipgate,
I'm looking at 8m double floor motorhomes (Dethleffs, Knaus, Burstner e.t.c) so I'm expecting to pay accordingly for a suitable survey.

 

[tonka]

If you state the make and model of the motorhome you will most likely have members on here who have owned that model and can give you some tips on certain things to look out for. The Mechanical side is maybe best checked by a company that specialise in that ie RAC / AA vehicle inspection.
The "caravan / habitation" side is best served by an a caravan guy doing a habitation service. Damp is one of the main issues to look out for and a reputable checker will often know the areas to check carefully. Appliances like cooker, fridge, boiler are common across many leisure vehicles and always best to check them all on both Gas and Electric.
Assume its a private purchase.
ps.. 8mtr, double floor, Burstner.... I like the sound of that.

 

[82125]

Thanks Tonka, I looked at the RAC / AA inspections and they were similarly unconvincing in terms of their minimal inspection and more thorough list of disclaimers if something is wrong with it. (I also have experience, many years ago, of an AA/RAC inspection (cant remember which or them it was now) on a car that passed their inspection with flying colours - and then turned out to be two different cars welded together!)
What i'd really like is someone who actually knows and cares what they're doing and pay them accordingly.

Top of my list currently is a Dethleffs Globetrotter XLI 7910-2, Burstner Elegance I821 or Concorde Charisma (but that one's pushing the budget more than I'd like). Also looking at Rapido, Hymer if i can find one big enough. I'd prefer to buy from a dealership in the hope the warranty is worth the paper its written on but buying privately is no problem if its priced appropriately.
I need proper winterisation, fixed bed, huge garage and good payload, ALDE heating and spacious lounge, as its going to be my home (I live aboard my boat currently which just sold).

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[Bessy765]

A possibility is to buy private from someone who has owned from new, had habitation and damp inspections carried out as per the makers recommendations. For example our Burstner now 22 months old bought new, came with a two year general warranty and a 10 year damp warranty subject to yearly damp inspection. We have had quite a few small faults with it but nothing insurmountable and having owned and repaired motorhomes and caravans for over 40 years most of the niggles would not have been covered by any pre purchase inspection of a used van. A chassis service history gives and indication of how that side has been looked after,
and most owners of vans take pride in them and keep them in good condition. Buying privately from someone who has had the van from new or for several years removes the buy and sell quick profit element, removes the dealers mark up which could go in the kitty should you experience any hopefully minor niggles. our (brand new van) was delivered with poorly repaired accident damage which took the dealer who claimed to have no knowledge but had had it in stock for a long time three weeks to repair, the van I traded in had £3000 knocked off the trade in as it was according to them riddled with damp would take weeks to dry out and be a very expensive repair was for sale at another company five days later. A third party enquire as to if they bought it how long before they could collect it and was told one week.

 

[Simon Select]

Thanks Tonka, I looked at the RAC / AA inspections and they were similarly unconvincing in terms of their minimal inspection and more thorough list of disclaimers if something is wrong with it. (I also have experience, many years ago, of an AA/RAC inspection (cant remember which or them it was now) on a car that passed their inspection with flying colours - and then turned out to be two different cars welded together!)
What i'd really like is someone who actually knows and cares what they're doing and pay them accordingly.

Top of my list currently is a Dethleffs Globetrotter XLI 7910-2, Burstner Elegance I821 or Concorde Charisma (but that one's pushing the budget more than I'd like). Also looking at Rapido, Hymer if i can find one big enough. I'd prefer to buy from a dealership in the hope the warranty is worth the paper its written on but buying privately is no problem if its priced appropriately.
I need proper winterisation, fixed bed, huge garage and good payload, ALDE heating and spacious lounge, as its going to be my home (I live aboard my boat currently which just sold).

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An RAC or AA inspection will be totally pointless. They will know nothing about the habitation side of the van and the body and that’s the important bit!