New Caravan

jules47 · The Happy Helper

New Caravan

tommo · Veteran Member

Hi all Jeanette and I have just put a deposit on a new Belmont Concept van @ the melbourne show has nay one had any problems we should cover before we take delivery and what things should we go over on pick up day, as we have never had a new van before and any help would be aprecated

best regards Paul

mongrel · Guru

Welcome Paul and Jeanette. Hope you enjoy our forum , I can't help you with your question but I am sure someone will give you the answer......Alan the Mongrel.

tommo · Veteran Member

thanks Alan it looks like a nice forum

Duh · Guru

Welcome folks,

Try all the appliances to make sure they work before you drive out the yard, also make sure you are hitched up ok and your rig is suitable for pulling said van and you have all the necessary towing equipment, electric brakes etc.

Check the outside of the van for any damage, dents etc and if any bring this to the attention of the sales person, also any damage to the inside of the van. Will let others add their bits of what to look for etc.

deadlyprincess · Veteran Member

Welcome , when I picked up our first new van, didn't get the run down on the electrial pannel, and as switched are un marked was trial and error to sort out battery setting etc for solar+++. This last time had note book and had scribe (the princess) take notes what a god send last week when no 12v, able to go back and find that I had flicked the wrong switch on the battery protector. All smiles again!!
As said check all doors, draws, windows, hatches and appliances and the note book is very handy. Also get the direct/mobile phone number of the boss/owner not just the sales person.

Baz421 · Guru

Welcome guys. Here's some info that may assist. BOTH OF YOU DO THIS TOGETHER AND TAKE NOTES IF REQUIRED (Jeanette wear trousers/slacks/jeans).

1 Get a folder and put ALL the manufacturer's papers in it.

2 Get the manufacturer to show you how it all works inside the van and reference it the documents you have (especially fridge, stove, hot water supply, water pumps).

3 Get UNDER THE VAN with the manufacturer with the water tanks FULL and get them to show you what goes where (not the saleman but someone who knows S**t) - NOW is the time to identify the hoses and electrical wires etc and while you are there make sure ALL holes through floor are fully sealed.

4 Look at all the seals ON ROOF (yep get up there and look and they can tell you what's what on top, you may not see top again for a long time) sides, front and back.

5 Take a break, and sit BY YOURSELF AWAY FROM ANYONE, and go through with each other, what you know and did you BOTH feel it was made clear to you.

6 Get them to hitch up and show you how to do it ON/OFF till you are clear.

7 Do all the checks with 12v hooked up,,, brakes, lights, accessories.

8 Go inside van with 240v power and gas ON and make sure you know what works etc. Make sure you know how to isolate 240v and 12 v power (ie RCD or 12v fuses).

9 Go through step 5 again.

10 Tell them you are ready to have the van brakes "bedded in" and adjusted to suit the weight.

TIP; TELL THE MANUFACTURER YOU WILL BE CLOSE BY FOR FEW WEEKS AND WILL BE BACK IF THEY DON'T EXPLAIN IT ALL.

You then drive away to a great new life,, and you may just see us somewhere.

Hope this points you in the right direction.

Baz

spida · Guru

great advise Baz - but please explain why and how to isolate 240 - 12v power. Not something I have heard discussed before.

ozjohn · Guru

Reverse the name. The brand is Concept and the model is Belmont.
Definately one of the better brands available. Well done.
OJ

Baz421 · Guru

Spida

for 240v there should be an off switch at the RCD, where the power comes into the van and is then wired to power points (GPO) and other 240v appliances.

12v find out where van fuses are so you can pull them out if required and / or is a circuit breaker (some have auto reset) is fitted near the battery.

cheers Baz

tommo · Veteran Member

Thank ever one it has bee a big help its a lot of $$$$$$ and don't wont to make a nice day turn into a big problem. I think i am going to like this forum and hope i can contribute the way you all have to me. Thanks again

Regards Paul & Jeanette

RodLainie · Senior Member

Hi Tommo
We are fairly new to the forum too and it is great, really like all the help and advice we have received. Just on Baz's comment about telling manufacturer you will be staying nearby. Do stay nearby and try everything out thoroughly before you head out, at least 2 weeks. We picked ours up and drove straight from Melbourne to Sydney, a few weeks later took off north. Then we found the problems and had to drive back to Melbourne to get them fixed.

Welcome to a life of fun in your new caravan.

Regards,

Lorraine and Rod

tommo · Veteran Member

thanks Lorrain and Rod the good thing is the place were the van is made is in the same state as i live

Regards paul

justcruisin01 · Guru

ozjohn wrote:
Reverse the name. The brand is Concept and the model is Belmont.
Definately one of the better brands available. Well done.
OJ

I saw a concept last year , tandem axles & the centre suspension load sharing rocker mounts had been fully rewelded.

Can only assume that they had broken out as the welds were fresh, not even painted.

Did not see the owner so no info available.

JC.

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

One point from us would be:

Get them to WEIGH the van whilst you are on site and ensure that the plated weights are correct.

We just had a problem where our EMPTY van weighed 4kgs HEAVIER than the plated ATM.

Has taken nearly 10 weeks to get it sorted.

If we happen to get another van - it will be re-weighed before we leave the yard.

Barb

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Jeanette and Paul, welcome from me, enjoy here and out in the playground. Enjoy your new toy.

As has been said above, make sure you familiarise yourself with everything that opens and shuts and turns on and off and plugs in or pulls out.

Oh, most important of all, avoid wombats, they are bad around here and will put a big hole in your new toy.

Grams · Guru

Hello everyone,

We are very new to being Grey Nomads, My husband Les (Poppy) and myself Lynn (Grams) have just bought a brand new Island Star Opal caravan. We have had other vans but this is our first ever brand new one. I was very glad to see Paul's thread on what to do and look for when picking your new van up. Thanks Paul :)

We picked our van off the lot instead of having it made, as this van had everything we wanted (for me of course :p ) Les got to pick the outside, I got to pick the inside, this van matched everything we were looking for. When we pick up our van, Noel's Caravans are going to spend about 2hrs with us showing us how everything works, where it is, and what it does. Plus they are fitting our car with electric brakes, haymann reese hitch and an anderson plug....plus all their vans have reversing cameras so they will install the screen in the car too.

They also arrange for 2 nights free at the Blanchetown Caravan Park to get used to the van, so any problems we are still able to go back and get it seen to.

We live in the Mid North of SA, so we are unable to just pop round to get things looked at. So in about 2 years we are selling up and going to join the convoy of caravaners around Australia. We plan on making this our permanent home, so no more mortgage, rates and electric bills. Just seeing the kids and Grandkids when we head back into reality. We are looking forward to this, but with some trepidation along the way.

I am so glad I found this forum.

Grams

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

Welcome Grams and Poppy

Last year we took 9 months to do a half circuit of Autralia. Would have taken longer but had commitments back on the east coast.

Loved every moment of whilst we were out there. Looking forward to head ing back out next month but concentrating on Qld for this year.

Having the delay because of the weight issue has affected our plan ABC + D so now we are onto plan E - as long as the rain behaves itself :D

tommo · Veteran Member

ha Barb and Darryl how do you get your van weighed at time of pick up don't you have to go to a weigh bridge ????

Grams · Guru

Thank you Barb and Darryl for the welcome.

Tommo we had our trailer weighed at a hardware store that sells soil, gravel, etc. They weighed the trailer empty then weighed it again with sand in. I noticed they had a sign saying they will weigh your vehicle, caravan or trailer for a small price. Which might be what you are asking about.

herbie · Guru

It would make it so much easier if these c/ van yeards had a weighing device on site,as all the trouble one has to go to find a weigh bridge ,some times there is none around where people live after they have taken the van from the c/ van yard...would stop a lot of heartache to some people.

Baz421 · Guru

Paul,,, ahve you picked up your van yet? If so how did it all go?

tommo · Veteran Member

hi baz not not as yet it should be ready for the long weekend in june i will put some photos and my coments on how it all went

regards Paul & Jeanette