1st CamperVan Purchase Advice

bellucio

Hi all
I am interested in buying a 1999 camper. I just have a couple of quick questions that somebody hopefully will be able to help ne with.
1) The RSA Roadworthiness Testing of Motor Caravans. Is this required now? Is it every year it is due? Should I insist on this being carried out before purchasing ?
2) This camper has over 110,000 KM done. Is this excessive for a camper of its age (11 years)

Thanks for the advice
Bellucio

corkbuoy

My camper is 1998 with 150,000 km on the clock and its going better now than when I bought it 5 years ago. I believe that they run better when driven frequently and are not standing around for long periods, thats been my experience anyway.

bellucio

Cheers Corkbuoy. That sounds good...My intention/hope is to use it at least every fortnight from April to Sept/October.:D
Take it out for a couple of spins doing the winter just to keep her ticking over..
Have you had any experience of the RSA test yet ?? Is it actually required as of now ??

killalanerr

from what i know the test is still in the consultation stage but looks like it is comeing,if i was to buy a van of the age i would expect it to have a DOE done,their is loads of good stuff in the stickies on here i found very helpful when i was starting off, best of luck with the purchase and happy camping

bellucio

Thanks Killalanerr...I will have a search through the stickies when I get home...Have done too much surfing in work today!!
I think your right about the DOE/RSA test all right.. Will request that the current owner does it to ease my mind..

demoreino

Hi bellucio,
It may be a good idea to get someone in the trade to give it a full check out.
Habitation check,appliance check,damp test and mechanical check.
This will cost around 100-150 euro but could save you lots more than that if things start to go wrong.
Maybe Aiden M-M on here will reccommend someone for you or you could try www.munsterleisureservices.com

Best of look with it and Happy Camping.

kevin www.iwmotorhomes.ie

Aidan_M_M

someone call me? haha .
What make/model is it?

bellucio

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

someone call me? haha .
What make/model is it?

PM sent

bellucio

Hi All
Thanks for all the advice, but it looks like it is sold....I will have to be a bit quicker out of the blocks next time I think....
ah well back to hunting:(

bellucio

:D:D:D:D
Awaiting confirmation that the DOE is organised and to be complete. (its a 98 camper)
Now my next question is...What happens next ?
Once the DOE is confirmed to be OK, we plan to meet the seller in a few days and finalise the deal. What do I need from him to change ownership ? Is it just a change of ownership form? how about insurance ? Is dolmen the only insurance company for campers ? is the price generally around EUR300 for any other companies also ?
I presume that this would need to be sorted before collecting the camper ? Open insurance on the car wont cover a camper ...or would it ??
Sorry about possible silly questions but this is my first private deal for any vehicle so not sure of the general procedures
Any other advice greatly appreciated
Thanks:)

650Ginge

Not sure what you are looking for but I am just about to but my 2000 Euramobil 515s up for sale.

Bought in Germany 3 1/2 years ago.

If you are interested let me know I can pm you further details.

spaceHopper

bellucio wrote: »

:D:D:D:D
Awaiting confirmation that the DOE is organised and to be complete. (its a 98 camper)
Now my next question is...What happens next ?
Once the DOE is confirmed to be OK, we plan to meet the seller in a few days and finalise the deal. What do I need from him to change ownership ? Is it just a change of ownership form? how about insurance ? Is dolmen the only insurance company for campers ? is the price generally around EUR300 for any other companies also ?
I presume that this would need to be sorted before collecting the camper ? Open insurance on the car wont cover a camper ...or would it ??
Sorry about possible silly questions but this is my first private deal for any vehicle so not sure of the general procedures
Any other advice greatly appreciated
Thanks:)

Assume it the same as a car re change of ownership just send in the paper work.

For insurance Stuarts do it as well but both cost much the same.

Get some photos of inside and out side, contact dolments and you'll be fine.
They will want you ro get a engineers report as the doe doesn't cover habitation gas........

bellucio

@650Ginge.
Thanks for the offer, but we have gone sale agreed on another camper. Just waiting on result of DOE.

@spaceHopper
Contacted Dolmen and they seemed good so will probably go with them.
I was checking things out, and it seems the changeover is the easiest part...:D
Hopefully all will go OK and this time next week we will be proud owners of a new camper:D
Thanks for all the advice

650Ginge

Good luck with the purchase. It is a great way to get around, the biggest annoyance is that everyone thinks it very cheap, but it sure aint.

But having your own shower and bed clothes on your own bed anywhere you go is FAB.

Macy0161

Hi, we're looking at the moment and have a few in mind for our first purchase as well, so this thread is making interesting reading.

Does anyone know anyone/ anywhere that does habitation checks in the Dublin area?

I had assumed the engineers report was the mechanicals only, as I'd read previously that a SIMI garage should be able to do it? And would a DOE do the same job?

killalanerr

bellucio wrote: »

:D:D:D:D
Awaiting confirmation that the DOE is organised and to be complete. (its a 98 camper)
Now my next question is...What happens next ?
Once the DOE is confirmed to be OK, we plan to meet the seller in a few days and finalise the deal. What do I need from him to change ownership ? Is it just a change of ownership form? how about insurance ? Is dolmen the only insurance company for campers ? is the price generally around EUR300 for any other companies also ?
I presume that this would need to be sorted before collecting the camper ? Open insurance on the car wont cover a camper ...or would it ??
Sorry about possible silly questions but this is my first private deal for any vehicle so not sure of the general procedures
Any other advice greatly appreciated
Thanks:)

glad you found a van to suit,hope you enjoy it,and dont forget to give us a wave as you pass in your new van

Aidan_M_M

Macy0161 wrote: »

Does anyone know anyone/ anywhere that does habitation checks in the Dublin area?

I had assumed the engineers report was the mechanicals only, as I'd read previously that a SIMI garage should be able to do it? And would a DOE do the same job?

Don't know of anyone in Dublin tbh ... We do all our own work .


The SIMI garage is as you thought , just the "oily bits"!:D

bellucio

killalanerr wrote: »

glad you found a van to suit,hope you enjoy it,and dont forget to give us a wave as you pass in your new van

Cheers and don t worry there will be waves for every camper we meet...
Have almost being doing it in the car for the last two years while looking around for a camper:D
All going well, :cool: will be picking it up over the weekend...Hopefully head off then some time next week for a few days up the west..No ideas where yet, but sure isn;t that the fun of it all !!!

tmalmb

Hi Guys,

I'm about to make an offer on a camper today, agreed a price just took the last 48hrs mulling it over and I've come to the conclusion...go for it :-)

Given its a large amount of money and from reading this thread I figured it would make sense to get it checked out before handing over the cash, anyone know of a place offering such a service in the Galway/Sligo region?

thanks

Irishgoatman

Hi Bellucio,

I imported my camper, 1986 Bedford, from the U.K. Went into Dolmans office in Dublin to insure it, they mentioned an engineers report, which I said I didn't have, so I produced the U.K. M.O.T. cert. and they accepted that.
Once you have a D.O.E.cert. it might be worth trying my way before going to any more expense.

Just a thought.