Last week I wrote about production delays, and that due date and delivery aren't the same when ordering and buying a brand new motorhome. I wasn't complaining about it, just saying, in case anyone would benefit from our experience. This post is written in a similar vein, I'm not complaining but....
Any motorhome has a lot of sophisticated equipment crammed into a small space and has the potential to go wrong. So, bear this in mind because if you decide you would like a brand new moho the bits and bobs that need fixin' can get a bit tiresome if you live a long way from the dealership. This is also why many purchasers go for a nearly new motorhome. The engine may not even have been run in on some vehicles that come up for sale at six months to a year old. Mike likes a brand new motorhome because he's getting the bang up to date, top notch technology that's available. Blinkin' expensive mantra though, which is why we have treated each of our motorhomes as a home on wheels and worked to pay for them. And if anyone knows us or has delved deep into the travel archives on this website we ended up selling an RV in America when she seemed to refuse to grow out of her teething phase.
So, did we experience initial problems with our Wildax? Did we experience initial problems with our Rapido? Yes and yes. As I've said we pretty much accepted this was likely to happen and we were disappointed in both instances. Customer care is key and Wildax were always very obliging and looked after us well. That's all history now, so what has happened with the Rapido? The fridge stopped working, the engine coolant level dropped right down and the Alde heating system needed bleeding because the radiator in the bathroom wasn't heating up evenly. The same symptom that a bleed is required for with a domestic system. No, I'm not swearing, nor have I slipped into a medical treatment from Tudor times. Anyway Dometic allowed a local mobile engineer to come out to look at the fridge and he found loose wires and it was working when he left. Mike drove the motorhome across a field after this had been resolved and the fridge still wasn't working. Mike returned to Newark to get the fridge and other issues fixed. The workshop there diagnosed a faulty circuit board on the fridge and had to order one in. Another trip would be required when it arrived - poor Mike.
We went away for a weekend and on our return Mike opened up the garage and much of what was inside had been sprayed with glycol. This is the fluid that fills the Alde heating system and is very sticky indeed. Thank goodness the brand new motorbike hadn't been in situ. So, another item on the list which Brownhills sorted out.
You may be wondering how we were feeling at this point. Not great, it has to be said, and Mike spent a day cleaning up the glycol mess. Anyway, all is fixed now and running like a dream. Next installment to follow soon, but before I go I must share with you the workings of a superior comedy mind. A close friend of mine from way back in my distant past contacted me through Facebook. I was over the moon, we always used to have such a laugh. Back in the day motorhoming definitely wasn't on our radar but quelle surprise (Franglais) he's into motorhoming with his wife and they're on their fourth Hymer. On one of my pages somewhere I have written, 'A life of full time travel, mainly in a motorhome' and Mel responded with "Dr Who has to make do with a police box". Priceless. I must also mention at this point that his wife, Julie has also delved into the book writing world and has published a most useful book. It's called "Campsite Chef" Google it and let me know what you think.
Below are two interior snap shots of the now, nicely centrally heated motorhome. I include these because I had a request via Facebook to include some. I think the brochure photographers are far more talented as I'm no David Bailey, but here we go.
More to come soon, happy travels, Ali
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