Hi all, I'm new(ish) to this brilliant forum and would be lost without all the info everyone shares here so thanks to all!
We took the plunge and bought a motorhome towards the end of last year. (06 Challenger) We have done some small trips since to get used to it and learn how things work with the great plan culminating in a two week trip to Brittany in June. Yeah!!
Myself, the Mrs & the two kids all headed off from Donegal to overnight in Greystones on route to Roslare for our big adventure.
Unfortunately we had the nightmare trip that everyone dreads and just thought I'd share our experiences.
All was going well with excitement building until just before the Arklow bypass on the M11. BANG! Something serious... immediate loss of power and very strong noise from the engine. I pulled over immediately and hit the hazard lights! We both knew something serious had just happened without wanting to let on to the kids... yet.
We had AA cover so called them.
While waiting for the recovery man and with a real cloud of depression descended a car pulls in and a 'Good Samaritan' jumps out... Martin (aka Sprinter - motorhome craic member!???) stopped to see if he could help unfortunately to no avail! (hat tip to Martin!!) he told me that East Coast Campers were just 5 mins away.
The AA said they would send someone out within the hour... an hour and a half later and a few calls later the recovery truck arrived.
The mechanic tried to start it but the engine sounded very ill and he said there didn't seem to be any compression when he tried to start it. He called a few mechanics to see if they could look at it and none of them wanted to touch it with a barge pole! (Probably a combination of mechanics just not wanting to touch campers and the fact that it was a Friday of the bank holiday weekend!)
Luckily, with East Coast Campers 5 mins away that would be the place to go.
Called them and we agreed to bring it to them to take a look at it.
They called in their mechanic to look at it.... bad news, timing belt gone, cam shaft broke and head damaged! Most likely a replacement engine required! €€€€'s!!!??
After a hotel stay, two train journeys and a lift we got home to Donegal. We had to cancel the two week holiday completely after much deliberation on whether to go out for one week if the camper could be fixed in time. It was too much of a gamble to take.
What I have learned here is :
1) motorhome insurance does not have any provision for a replacement car (probably makes sense but something I hadn't thought of). They will only swap the insurance to a courtesy camper which I assume is a very rare thing.
2) AA membership is worthwhile although we also had some breakdown cover with holiday insurance
3) When purchasing a used motorhome, change the timing belt and kit no matter what the previous owner tells you they have done!
4) Always have a plan B in case of breakdown
5) Irish ferries were very helpful and offered a credit note to be used within 12 months (We hope to try again in September!)
6) One campsite offered a refund if we can send on a letter from the mechanic / AA and the other could push our booking back to September to allow us to decide what we want to do.
7) I thanks my luck stars (if I have any
) that this did not happens after we got off the ferry in France.
Also lucky it happened 5 mins away from East Coast Campers.
The camper is down with East Coast Campers and hopefully will be back on the road soon and I'm sure our bank account will also be hurting!
Am looking forward to getting it back, moving forward and getting back to enjoying our motorhome!
Sorry for the huge post, but feels good to put this out there for others.
We took the plunge and bought a motorhome towards the end of last year. (06 Challenger) We have done some small trips since to get used to it and learn how things work with the great plan culminating in a two week trip to Brittany in June. Yeah!!
Myself, the Mrs & the two kids all headed off from Donegal to overnight in Greystones on route to Roslare for our big adventure.
Unfortunately we had the nightmare trip that everyone dreads and just thought I'd share our experiences.
All was going well with excitement building until just before the Arklow bypass on the M11. BANG! Something serious... immediate loss of power and very strong noise from the engine. I pulled over immediately and hit the hazard lights! We both knew something serious had just happened without wanting to let on to the kids... yet.
We had AA cover so called them.
While waiting for the recovery man and with a real cloud of depression descended a car pulls in and a 'Good Samaritan' jumps out... Martin (aka Sprinter - motorhome craic member!???) stopped to see if he could help unfortunately to no avail! (hat tip to Martin!!) he told me that East Coast Campers were just 5 mins away.
The AA said they would send someone out within the hour... an hour and a half later and a few calls later the recovery truck arrived.
The mechanic tried to start it but the engine sounded very ill and he said there didn't seem to be any compression when he tried to start it. He called a few mechanics to see if they could look at it and none of them wanted to touch it with a barge pole! (Probably a combination of mechanics just not wanting to touch campers and the fact that it was a Friday of the bank holiday weekend!)
Luckily, with East Coast Campers 5 mins away that would be the place to go.
Called them and we agreed to bring it to them to take a look at it.
They called in their mechanic to look at it.... bad news, timing belt gone, cam shaft broke and head damaged! Most likely a replacement engine required! €€€€'s!!!??
After a hotel stay, two train journeys and a lift we got home to Donegal. We had to cancel the two week holiday completely after much deliberation on whether to go out for one week if the camper could be fixed in time. It was too much of a gamble to take.
What I have learned here is :
1) motorhome insurance does not have any provision for a replacement car (probably makes sense but something I hadn't thought of). They will only swap the insurance to a courtesy camper which I assume is a very rare thing.
2) AA membership is worthwhile although we also had some breakdown cover with holiday insurance
3) When purchasing a used motorhome, change the timing belt and kit no matter what the previous owner tells you they have done!
4) Always have a plan B in case of breakdown
5) Irish ferries were very helpful and offered a credit note to be used within 12 months (We hope to try again in September!)
6) One campsite offered a refund if we can send on a letter from the mechanic / AA and the other could push our booking back to September to allow us to decide what we want to do.
7) I thanks my luck stars (if I have any
) that this did not happens after we got off the ferry in France.
Also lucky it happened 5 mins away from East Coast Campers.
The camper is down with East Coast Campers and hopefully will be back on the road soon and I'm sure our bank account will also be hurting!
Am looking forward to getting it back, moving forward and getting back to enjoying our motorhome!
Sorry for the huge post, but feels good to put this out there for others.
