IMHO the fit & finish on a motorhome habitation "box" is not all that impressive regardless of brand. Last year I started looking at finding a replacement for the mh we owned at the time. I was disappointed with the build quality of the broad range of locally built mh's upto $200k. I assume it is because they are basically hand built and often use average quality components , I assume, to offset the labour rates they need to pay on the assembly line. So I chose to buy another mh built in Europe. It is not perfect but as a value for money purchase it seems to be a better option than the locals. No doubt time will tell.
If you spend $150k on a prestiige car you expect good fit and finish along with quality in components. In my experience that is not the case with a motorhome.

Thank you, for taking the time to write, really appreciate your advice. Going to have another look at the Sunliner Habitat AH1 as the storage and water capacity, together with the layout seems the best way to go. At least they dont want progress payments.  Its our first purchase of a MH so a little daunting and I guess trying to do it right as much as we can. 

Think long and hard about slide-outs.

A good concept and I would have dearly liked one for my caravan but I strongly suspect they will be nothing but trouble as the years pass.

In my M/H ,the motor will not start with the slide out , out.

I dont have them on mine ! The amount of people who come up to means say they wished they hadnt due to having to put sides out to use inside space ! Ok ours has less room . But as they say . Sometimes theres no room to put the skid outs , out . Then they have limited space inside !! I dont care too much either way ! Was surprised when I was told though !

If you are going to Tow just ensure that the chassis goes right to the rear for a towbar. Spoke to a fellow Mh'er his did'nt and it was $10K fix, his solution to sell his mh and get another that he could easily put a tow bar on.

Thank you Warren, we are checking the sites out, it a lot of money for a lemon, we will review carefully.
I dont know if this is in the right section, but here goes. We have also ordered a new Suzuki Jimny to flat tow with a ABar, I know you have to have a dog clutch fitted in the Suzuki, what I would like to know is when you buy the Aframe and bracketry, that has been engineered certified, is there any other legalities that need to be considered in NSW.

Its daunting on our first purchase and I appreciate all the wisdom and advice on this forum..
Cheers ,

Dennis

-- Edited by Deno1 on Sunday 25th of April 2021 06:57:46 PM

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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Hi Dennis,
It's a bit late now & I'm surprised that Possum didn't come across your post but he would normally get people to look at the caravan council - you can find many of his posts with the link.
There is also a Facebook page labelled Lemon Caravans. You've got a few months to research your purchase.

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 True WP, See Caravan council website to download free technical info and checklists Caravan Council of Australia

Lemon caravans and RV's do have a list of manufacturers and dealers to avoid - don't purchase without checking it out.

Hi Deno1 

Did you ever get your HA1? We also have our order in but have to wait until mid to late 2023. Now I am reading horror stories about delaminating panels and other problems. Also hearing that warranty repairs are done in Melbourne and we would have to pay to get it there.

Do you have any news?

Do confirm that the chasis goes all the way to the rear. We were looking at Sunliner Switch and it didn't. Around $7000.00 to have a chasis fabricated and engineered. Check it out before much longer

Hi Brodie, couldn't agree more, stepping into our 12yr old Sterling is like being in the living room at home. All the led downlights are soft warm, the cupboard doors teak coloured wood and curtains at the windows ( those venetian blinds must be a bugger to keep clean). Very good friends who we often travel with, bought a new van about a year ago, very nice but totally sterile inside. Everything is either Black or White and the lighting is akin to the ones at the MCG.

To each his own I suppose and it would be a dull old world if we all liked the same things, but I reckon the old Sterling will see us out alright.

Motor homes are not like any new vehicle. If you're buying one then you must appreciate that it wasn't built by a manufacturer but by 2 organisations that do not guarantee the whole unit only sections of it. So you forever have the complex issue of who is responsible for what and who pays. For example damage to the 'home' construction can be caused in part by the vehicle manufacturer's rough suspension, so the 'home' builder doesn't take responsibility neither does the vehicle manufacturer as they built it to be a cargo van not a motor home with all the extra weight constantly on the suspension. The load in cargo vans varies from full to empty and doesn't subject the suspension to a constant full load. Having a constant full load on any suspension has its issues.
My decisions in buying any vehicle is to do a lot of research and always buy a vehicle at least 2 years old. The euphoria of owning a new vehicle soon washes off with the initial depreciation and any list of warranty problems, if you can sort who is responsible. Some issues are easy like engine and gearbox but anything that pertains or could pertain to the weight being carried and the balance of the weight being carried could be a minefield. I'm surprised by how many Fiat owners have complained about how harsh their vehicle rides when they have paid those high prices you would think they could travel in comfort, however it brings me back to the vehicle's suspension being at or near its maximum carrying weight. The same vehicle probably rides very well as a delivery van when only half loaded.