PRE DELIVERY CHECKS ON NEW MOTOR HOME

[Craig]

Hi Sandy,

it has been mentioned a couple of times about checking the GVM. I will go a little further with regards to the Esperence, If you are getting the de-rated load limit model then you ARE going to regret it. ie if the GVM has been reduced to allow you to drive it on a normal car licence then I will go so far to say that when it is loaded you will be more than likely overweight. This leads to problems with insurance and the men in blue etc. One member on the Winni forum recently has just jumped through the hoops to have his Esperence's GVM increased. His Tare weight ended up being no where near what was stated by Avida. The Tare is now 4440kg while the GVM is 5200kg and the GCM is now 8700 kg.

It doesn't cost any extra for Avida to supply the vehicle with a 5200 kg GVM so make sure that is what you are getting. You will however be required to have a light rigid licence to drive it. They are very easy to get if you don't already have one.

Also don't get long range fuel tanks as you still won't have the carrying capacity and you don't need them.

[sandygc03]

Hi and thanks for adding me Terry and Thank you everyone for your helpful suggestions.

[dream4red]

Welcome to the phunny pharm guys. That new outfit sounds like a wonderful adventure for you both. Do take the advice from those who know better than I , the weight thing is really scary.
Take your camera when getting the vehicle. Take lots of photos of all the operations, especially each stage of getting the awning down and back up. It is one of those things that many new owners have big arguments about.

Enjoy the experience
Deborah

[T1 Terry]

They will probably do a good handover. Trouble is, a couple of days later you won't remember a bit of it!

Video camera Then you have all the instructions and a frame by frame demo of how all the bits work. The awning one is a definite, actually do the awning set up and put away with the aid of the hand-over person, then again on your own while the hand-over person is there. My first blunder with the awning thing was changing the ratchet direct lever after it was all folded away, no idea why I did it, but at the next fuel stop al the awning was unwound and hanging in a big loop down the side of the motorhome This is not the ideal start to putting the awning out I can assure you as the next move has the whole thing laying on top of you and your partner rolling on the ground laughing.
That brings another thing to mind, get very short occy straps to put around the tops of the awning arms to hold them in the closed position, they do have small locking clips but they are known to let you down at the most inopportune moment resulting in the awning wrapping itself around the bowser as you pull into the servo

[baysidetas]

Personally I do not favor the occy straps. My preference is to use velcro straps with a small buckle at one end which enables you to bind the arms very tightly

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[Dot]

Personally I do not favor the occy straps. My preference is to use velcro straps with a small buckle at one end which enables you to bind the arms very tightly


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Kinky I say

[Keevo52]

Hi and welcome,for years I have used the velcro strap that comes with the camec deflappers they do have a buckle on one end and as my awning arm tie downs they have worked well for me, one on each end, and they give a tight wrap around the arms, enjoy the new toy, its a big and beautiful country out there and you will meet many characters on your travels

[dream4red]

Couldn't get Velcro straps long enough, so we bought a couple of small leather dog collars. They hold the awning posts in position quite neatly.

[SteveW]

Couldn't get Velcro straps long enough, so we bought a couple of small leather dog collars.

[dapope]

Never used anything to hold the awning closed yet. The one our US rental is electric. That is really easy to set up!