Nec Motorhome Show

[nagsheadwarrior]

egor110 said:

nagsheadwarrior said:

LeighW said:

Anyone going this weekend? We're going tomorrow, it'll be interesting to see if the lead times have dropped. I've noticed a fair few almost new van conversions coming onto the market of late with much more sensible asking prices.

Lead times are very sporadic depending on manufacturers
With the stuff we sell its-
Wildax- Very good, shortish wait or actually immediate availability on some
Swift- Some models coming through noway ford's and some fiat
Comaoss/Elddis- Some in stick but ling waits fir van conversions
Hymer- Nearly sold out for 2024
Adria- Well into next year
Rapido-same
Dethleffs- Same tho some ford's coming through
Hlsode- In stock or coming through

Chausson- Late this year for many
There are others too but generally UK brands are a little better, euros stuff thats higher ticket items are still catching up on orders from sometime ago and selling far in advance

Which brands do you get back most for warranty work ?

I've recently switched from a farming parrs department to a motorhome dealer part department.

I'm amazed how slow it takes to get parrs from Germany, Italy, Slovenia like 6-8 weeks just seems standard.

In farming I'd get stuff from Germany in 2-3 days as standard.

Lol 6-8 weeks is quick!
A body panel, wood or upholstery is 6-8 months half the time, lucky most stuff doesn't come from manufacturers!
Who dya work for?
Tough job that, lots of new to motorhome customers who expect car level times of parts availability understandably when paying luxury car prices .

They all break , euro stuff generally better built but there's so much stuff in any motorhome that something can and will go wrong with any of them .

[nagsheadwarrior]

I went to Adria last year and saw there huge and impressive parts area and got told how 80% of parts are in stock and dispatched within 72 hours.
How the hell that means it takes months to get anything to UK dealers is a mystery, do they file the requests for 3 months then send them!?

[rix]

Just posted this in the wrong forum, but anyone happen to have a spare ticket for Sunday?!

[egor110]

nagsheadwarrior said:

I went to Adria last year and saw there huge and impressive parts area and got told how 80% of parts are in stock and dispatched within 72 hours.
How the hell that means it takes months to get anything to UK dealers is a mystery, do they file the requests for 3 months then send them!?

Indeed, stuff like sending parts out with paperwork not including the price of what's in the box.

Whole different world to farming equipment but way more laid back .

[Mars]

I went yesterday (Thursday) and really enjoyed it. I was only really looking for self-build interiors for a Sprinter (didn't see any) but took away loads of ideas for my build.

Enjoyed:

The Chesterfield sofas. Not sure why they were at a camping, caravan & motorhome snow but their harlequin sofa is right up my street.

The 16" wheeled e-bikes for my neighbour. I think she's going to buy one.

The compressor fridges and coolboxes. I think I know which one I want for my Sprinter build now.

Black Rhino wheels... Awesome. I knew this anyway but saw them on loads of vans.

Thetford cassettes. Can't understand why the Americans persist with composting.

Isabella... again for my neighbours (they bought me a ticket for the show).

Victron electrics. It's not as if I had considered anyone else but seeing them in so many other builds just reinforced my choice.

Loads more... my next bonus can't come quickly enough.

[rix]

I like the idea of a self build but very much lacking the skills/time! Do put a thread up on the build!

[Mars]

rix said:

I like the idea of a self build but very much lacking the skills/time! Do put a thread up on the build!

It's going to be a long build but I am taking lots of pics and will post something when there's useful progress. It'll be at least a year yet though... can't actually afford to progress much for a while.

[James6112]

I went yesterday, with some friends who are looking to buy.
Enjoyed browsing around at the motorhomes & the layouts
Some top notch stuff there, some not so!.
One of the ‘cheaper’ vehicles at 75k, the panels were sealed with silicone around the front end, but finish was shocking. Would have looked a rough job on house windows, let alone a vehicle!
Good day out though

[egor110]

What are they looking to buy ?

Campervan , motorhome , a class ?

[James6112]

Motorhome

A few caught their eye, now doing some research!

Was a good day, so much to see there

[x5x3]

James6112 said:

Was a good day, so much to see there

Agree 100%, I went to see a couple of particular vehicles in the flesh but it did occur to me that going there looking for a 4 berth motorhome would be a very very long day!

[egor110]

x5x3 said:

James6112 said:

Was a good day, so much to see there

Agree 100%, I went to see a couple of particular vehicles in the flesh but it did occur to me that going there looking for a 4 berth motorhome would be a very very long day!

indeed , front lounge or side , length , proper double bed or singles , roof fold down bed .

[Mikey G]

Mars said:

I went yesterday (Thursday) and really enjoyed it. I was only really looking for self-build interiors for a Sprinter (didn't see any) but took away loads of ideas for my build.

These shows dont seem to cater for the self builder, i'm looking to do a Ducato/Boxer/Relay conversion as it suits my needs for a certain layout the best. I went to a show in Malvern not long ago and was very dissapointed, you would have thought at least Dometic and/or Thetford would have some sort of proper parts stand (not just a trailer giving out brochures..), or one of the bigger parts and accesories companies selling equipment etc but none. Its become such a popular section of the market due to costs of fully converted campers and motorhomes you would have thought someone would have setup in one of the bigger shows.

[Mars]

Mikey G said:

Mars said:

I went yesterday (Thursday) and really enjoyed it. I was only really looking for self-build interiors for a Sprinter (didn't see any) but took away loads of ideas for my build.

These shows dont seem to cater for the self builder, i'm looking to do a Ducato/Boxer/Relay conversion as it suits my needs for a certain layout the best. I went to a show in Malvern not long ago and was very dissapointed, you would have thought at least Dometic and/or Thetford would have some sort of proper parts stand (not just a trailer giving out brochures..), or one of the bigger parts and accesories companies selling equipment etc but none. Its become such a popular section of the market due to costs of fully converted campers and motorhomes you would have thought someone would have setup in one of the bigger shows.

Agreed. I kind of know where to go for most of the components of the interior - each of those has a website already and there are plenty of YouTubers who, between them, have all the components I want. But I really would like to see what pre-formed panelling exists. I'm not really keen to create the Swedish sauna interior look out of wood that most people go for. I'd rather have a lightweight, moulded interior and I don't really know where to go for that.

I'm going for a simple interior - fixed end bed about chest height, no windows around the bedroom area, kitchen with slide-out compressor cool box (top loader), toilet/shower, some storage. Three air vents above the bed, shower, kitchen - no aircon (although the bedroom vent will be 40x40cm so I could retrofit one if I ever decide to go into Africa). Garage under the bed. Bike carrier and spare wheel on the back door. Rotating front seats with table. All the framework will be made from welded steel square section tube for stiffness and durability. Wooden frame interiors move too much off road.

The expensive bits will be because I want to make it 4WD. I don't want the Mercedes system because it's just not capable enough so I'm saving for an appointment with Iglhout in Germany (https://iglhaut-allrad.de/). Although theirs is an IFS as opposed to a beam axle (which off-roaders tend to prefer), it has three switches for lockers in the rear diff, transfer case and front diff - similar to the G-class - and their transfer case is genuinely strong and usefully low ratio. I am not planning to use this for extreme rock-crawling adventures but I do wish to be prepared for the unexpected. I had considered portals but the Iglhut solution allows for 37" tyres which gives plenty of ground clearance. In fact, the IFS gives more ground clearance than a beam which is what I want most. The rear beam is supported with an uprated leaf pack.

I have a different engine I will be swapping into it too - an OM606 - but I'm not sure which gearbox to opt for yet. Ideally after a 6-speed auto with no computer control.

I've got a fair chunk of money saved but I'm a little way off being able to complete it yet, so the base van is just parked-up under a cover waiting for me to start in earnest... hopefully around Easter if the company bonus is as generous as previous years.

[Mikey G]

Some people do overdo the wood, I have started calling them "hippy palaces"
I was looking at a combination of wood and aluminium extrusion, but its quite expensive, I think done right wood is ok. If your doing an overland type conversion then all the bouncing around would need a stronger setup so your right to make metal frames.
I found someone who does a flatpack kit but ive not seen it up close and sounds like a lot of adjustments are needed, I'm better off making bespoke.

[LeighW]

Mars said:

I went yesterday (Thursday) and really enjoyed it. I was only really looking for self-build interiors for a Sprinter (didn't see any) but took away loads of ideas for my build.

Have you looked at Evo Design? They now do flat packs for Sprinters, I bought my T5 kit from them back in 2014, I still have it and it's been spot on.

https://www.evomotiondesign.co.uk/product-category...

I did a build thread at the time for anyone interested, link HERE

[Mars]

LeighW said:

Mars said:

I went yesterday (Thursday) and really enjoyed it. I was only really looking for self-build interiors for a Sprinter (didn't see any) but took away loads of ideas for my build.

Have you looked at Evo Design? They now do flat packs for Sprinters, I bought my T5 kit from them back in 2014, I still have it and it's been spot on.

https://www.evomotiondesign.co.uk/product-category...

I did a build thread at the time for anyone interested, link HERE

Thanks. I have seen those before and quite liked them but really I think I will just buy a shower and some matching cabinet doors. The rest I think I'll build myself.

It's interesting to see the various layouts people use. I'm pretty much in agreement with layouts 4 and 5 except for the sofa part. Not sure I want one at all. With the swivel front seats (I'll have some with arms), I don't think I'll need one so I can have more storage. Haven't settled on a design yet. That's my intention for the next few months. I really ought to learn a CAD package rather than winging it though.

[troika]

Went last week. Saw dozens of T6’s with ikea cupboards made by Fred in the shed. Scratched my head and ordered a new California for less money. I’m truly amazed that a lot of these converters even exist.

[Mars]

troika said:

Went last week. Saw dozens of T6’s with ikea cupboards made by Fred in the shed. Scratched my head and ordered a new California for less money. I’m truly amazed that a lot of these converters even exist.

Did you see the prices associated with all those VW vans in that one hall? Insane - most didn't even have any water capacity at all let alone a shower, toilet, kitchen sink.

Bet they sell them all.

[egor110]

Mars said:

troika said:

Went last week. Saw dozens of T6’s with ikea cupboards made by Fred in the shed. Scratched my head and ordered a new California for less money. I’m truly amazed that a lot of these converters even exist.

Did you see the prices associated with all those VW vans in that one hall? Insane - most didn't even have any water capacity at all let alone a shower, toilet, kitchen sink.

Bet they sell them all.

You can't compare them to motorhomes though as there built for entirely different customers.