Old new comer.

[srf]

We have been the owners of a touring caravan for over 10 years.  We are OAPs, and use the van for family holidays mainly in North Wales.
A new Xplore 574 has been on order and is shortly due to be collected by us from Glossop Caravans.  We use a Ford Kuga Mk2 2 litre 163 bhp SUV to tow with.

We have traded in a Bailey Pegasus and have owned a Swift Challenger. in the past.  I always carry a good selection of tools because from experience running repairs are always required.  Our breakdowns included the Bailey which had a collapsed wheel bearing within the first 100 miles of use from new.  Failures include an exploding extractor fan when one of the blades sheered off. 2 toilet electric flushing pumps replaced and 1 toilet electronic button.  We had a failure of the onboard water pump and an ATC warning lamp failing.  A leaking shower tap and the same with a sink tap.  I always have our vans serviced regularly and winterise properly.  We use a cover over winter.  I don't know whether we are just unlucky or whether these type of problems are common.

The Xplore was chosen after seeing reviews on line including the Caravan Channel.  We hope we have made a good choice, but only time will tell.  I am looking forward to reading and taking part in this forum.

[Dickers]

Hello srf and welcome to the Forum.

You certainly seem to have had more than your fair share of problems with caravans! Let's hope that is the last of them.

Please feel free to ask questions if you need to. We work on the principle that the only stupid question is the one you haven't asked. Someone will answer the question or point you in the right direction.

Conversely, if you can answer someone else's question, so much the better. We are all still learning.

Above all, enjoy your caravanning and here's to a good season in 2015.

Dickers.

[Carper]

Hi srf
Welcome to the forum. You have had a lot of problems with your Caravans lets hope you will have years of trouble free Caravanning with your latest Caravan. If you have any questions just ask. Someone will either give you the answer or point you in the right direction to find it. On the other hand if you can help others feel Free to do so. Just remember the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.



Les

[srf]

Thanks for the welcome, we collect our new van on Thursday afternoon. I have spent a couple of hours sorting out insurance and ordering a new insert for our Alko wheel lock.  The caravan dealer said it would take 4 weeks for order to arrive.  I went to Alko online shop and should get it in 3 days!!!!

When we get it home we can start the process of loading our gear, our garage cannot be used due to caravan stuff.  The Xplore 574 doesn't have outside lockers, everything is stored under the beds.  As long as there is enough room I don't mind.  I have had 2 occasions where a side locker came undone whilst travelling, this shouldn't happen again.  Each time we change vans we say we are only going to take the essentials but as everyone knows it can soon get out of hand.

[srf]

Well it has started, first of all do I keep posting on this welcome site or can you move this post to the right section.
Now back to my woes.  When I bought the van from Glossop caravans I paid extra for ATC and a Phantom tracker.
On collecting the Xplore I saw a Phantom tracker box which I assumed had contained the tracker.  Nothing was mentioned at the hand over and I never thought to ask.
The next day on checking the box I found it was completely empty and I couldn't find any paper work anywhere.  I tried registering the serial number on Phantom's web site but it was not recognised.  I tried ringing them to activate their product I couldn't get through.  The weekend stopped any further enquiries.  Yesterday I started again, I ended up sending an Email to Phantom and one to Glossop caravans.  Due to a family medical emergency I couldn't do anything else until today.  First thing this morning I rang Glossop caravans, I was promised a return call.  After spending most of the day at Hospital, I rang Glossop again at 4pm.

No trace of my original call was found.  I was passed from pillar to post and 50 minutes later the fitter from the workshop rang me.  He confirmed the tracker had been fitted and told me where the switch was.  He was also adamant that he had put the documentation in the welcome pack personally.  I cannot find any paper work anywhere.  I switched the tracker on and contacted Phantom ops.  There was still nothing on the system.

Luckily I have made sure the van is physically impossible to steal, my insurance would be void due to no tracker.  I will take up the battle again tomorrow.

[Trooper]

Mar 10, 2015 18:09:21 GMT srf said:

Well it has started, first of all do I keep posting on this welcome site or can you move this post to the right section.

It's up to you, continue here or start a 'New Thread' in the Caravan Section.

I hope your tracker problem is sorted soon.


Trooper

[srf]

we used the Xplore for the first time over Easter.  As soon as I disconnected the mains cable I tripped the tracker.  It tripped again 30 minutes into the journey.  I was told that I should switch the tracker off before moving off. On the return journey disconnecting the mains hook up tripped the tracker again even though it was switched off.     Our first impressions of the van were mixed, it is basic as expected but adequate for our use.  The cons first  The rail on the pull  out section which converts the front benches to a double bed fell off.  it was glued and was attached with small screws into the chip board rail.  This is totally inadequate and a better method was used to reattach.  I reversed the direction of the screws so they went into the real wood of the rail.  3 heads of stainless screws show but so what.  The doors on the wardrobes are held closed by very strong magnetic catches.   My wife gave a tug to open one and the bottom hinge pulled away from the carcase.  The screws in my opinion aren't  long enough and it was re attached with longer screws.  If it comes off again I shall use bolts through the hinge and wood even though the heads wil be visible.  Practicality over appearance.  A screw fell out of the  sink.   Annoying little  things  not worth a warranty repair.   On the plus side, even though the whip tv aerial didn't work at home we got good reception in Wales.  The hot air heating is good we only ever needed a low setting even on a very chilly night. All in all a good first trip.

[Trooper]

Lets hope future trips go a little better, although it sounds that overall you enjoyed your first trip in the new van.


Trooper