Fairford questions to ask at handover

aiming to pick up our new fairford very soon now! I’ve been scouring this site for all manner of info on the fairford , all seems very positive. I am anticipating a few teething problems. 
Do you seasoned autosleeper owners have any advice or tips for things I should ask/double check at handover? I’d like to go prepared as I’m quite a distance from the dealer and not keen to run back and forth frequently, though I would if needed.

Thanks for any help and advice

Lorfal, I'm in the same position of our dealership being some distance away and it is (as we say in these parts) a right pain in the bahookie   In reality it's difficult to check that everything is working as it should on handover but try to get them to demonstrate as much as possible. It's also useful to have someone with you taking notes as it's easy to lose track when your head is full of questions. I wrote a list of those before going to pick ours up. 

Sure others will have more practical advice.

Thankyou, I have a list and a notebook at the ready! There will be 2 of us also. I will get them demo as much as poss.

If you have a spare body, why not try to video the handover on a smart phone?

I’ve had a couple of hand overs, I went on my last one with the idea that I should open my eyes! It’s all too easy to not see what’s in front of you (if that makes sense).

New vehicle, the seller pointing you In various directions!
I would suggest you ask for 30 mins alone to really inspect the vehicle, you can’t do much else really.

Ray

is this going to be your first motorhome?

It’s our second. Only been motorhoming less than 2 years though and learning all the time. First van was coach built bessacarr and really loved it! Still do, but it’s over the cabin bed and long term won’t really suit, so we decided on one van does all, and will use it as day to day vehicle. Not doing huge mileage any more.

looking at some threads here and bearing in mind the time of year, Id be asking for a full demo on the heating system which, it seems, is incapable of heating the front of the van...

I’ve being paying close attention to those threads. I have added that to my list 

You will be dead chuffed with your new Fairford, I am and so are most. 

1- Bolero Boy is right make sure you see the heating working a must. Get them to fire it up before you get there.

2- As for the quote, that the front heating is rubbish, that is not so, it is as good as the rear vent outlets. When used properly it is a good system. I am only using eco at present and it is good on that. If you up the anti to the full wack it will fry you both in the back and front.

3 - A full explanation of the control panel meter readings is a must also. It's only when you start living with the vehicle on a day to day basis that you eventually get to know how it all works. The manual is very good though. 

4- Also get a full demo of the front lounge bed lay out because the cushions and layout is now different to the first model Fairfords and you have different cushions and the layout is different in the manual. 

5- Another good point to remember is to get the dealer to show you the under vehicle LPG tank cut off valve under the tank cover.

6 - Get the dealer to fully explain the Air Top Suspension and show you how it pumps up, it's surprising the ride quality it gives when pumped up to the correct level.

7 - A must. Get a full explanation and demonstration for the vehicle battery isolating function push in tag on the ignition key switch ( there is a sticker on the dashboard ) or you will be guessing, because nothing about it in Peugeot base vehicle manual

I think A/S has taken notice of reported faults in other models in the PVC range over the years and have used those reports to build a fault and rattle free van. Our dealer is 120 miles from us but Auto Sleeper are always helpful. I took my van back to Willersey not to have faults fixed but to get another chrome table leg support fitted because damaged by the dealer and did not notice until I tried to use it. As I said before you are buying a very good product that should give you years of pleasure. My Fairford is the best MH/ PVC I have owned by far and we love the layout, roominess and brightness it perceives. It's also a great driving experience from the quiet 160 bhp engine you could drive it all day.

Enjoy, I know you will. Simmo.

Well Simmons, I am sooooo exited! Lol Thankyou for your comprehensive response.....I’m gonna print it and take it  lol

As we are looking to downsize soon, we looked again at a Fairford at the October NEC Autumn Show this year and we still couldn’t see where the wardrobe is, as we like to hang up our clothes. Can anyone advise please?

Pete

It’s at the right hand side of the kitchen as you stand facing it. It’s a half size under a work top which has 2 access doors. The door at the side under the worktop can be used for access when then front area bed is made up. It’s a bit of a compromise I guess, but one we were happy with. We do t need a full size wardrop as we’d fill it with stuff we don’t need lol

Thanks for that Lorfal. Does it have a rail in there or will you have to fit one if you intend to hang anything up? I guess the cupboard is perhaps too small for a rail of some kind.

Pete

Is it possible for you to stay locally the first night, so you can return in the morning with any questions/issues if need be? We've had five handovers over the years and there's still things that don't stick. As others say, a written list is good. I do the outside and cab only, and Mrs Harrysp does the inside habitation, so not as much to take in. 

Don't worry about remembering every detail though, the AS handbook is good and you'll soon learn it all when using it. Enjoy it. 

H

Maasai Warrior wrote:As we are looking to downsize soon, we looked again at a Fairford at the October NEC Autumn Show this year and we still couldn’t see where the wardrobe is, as we like to hang up our clothes. Can anyone advise please?

Pete

It's in the front as you step into the van through the sliding door. It is not full size floor to ceiling, but it is big enough. It has a rail in it to hang jackets, shirts or whatever etc. It would give the same top to bottom hanging rail space inside as a full size wardrobe would give you. Why did you not ask at the NEC to be shown it when you were there. You could then have seen it for yourself. We have no trouble hanging items in it in ours.

Yep agree with you there H. The manual is very comprehensive and the van should hold no nightmares for anyone such as Lorfal. Don't know if he has had a motorhome before, but if yes that helps.

Go over it inch by inch. 

Check nothing leaks - this includes sink plug holes, cupboards shut properly and the doors do not rub on each other and align properly. Make sure the speaker grills are fixed properly and not able to keep falling off. Check that the plastic windows and bodywork do not have marks all over them - looked like a gritty rag had been used on ours by somebody. Does the rear view camera actually show you the back of the van or somewhere a 100 yards up the road. Check that you have a full tank of AdBlue if your van is on a Peugeot base vehicle.

That's the list of things wrong with our Bourton that we have had to have put right by the dealer. You will not have the vents on the habitation step letting in water, nor will you have a badly fitted waste bin on the habitation door which means a whole new door which is being fitted next week.

I am not forgetting the happy time my wife spent snipping off all the loose threads on the upholstery.

Luckily we are only 45 mins from the dealer and they have been very good. If we had been further away I would have been royally peed off with mainly minor faults that should not exist. If we were further away from the dealer, I would have tried to deal with some of the minor faults myself but am very wary of making minor things worse by fiddling.

Others have mentioned the heating system. You will not remember what you are shown but read the instructions quietly and then have a go - it is really quite simple in the end.

Apart from the door and a rattle we can't trace the van now seems to be as it should be and is great to live in.

pstallwood wrote:Check that you have a full tank of AdBlue if your van is on a Peugeot base vehicle.

Peugeot vans don't have an AdBlue gauge, just a warning light when getting low. (interested to see if anyone proves me wrong)


Check that the van has all the tables it should and places to store them.
My Warwick Duo has a large and small table but the small table and its storage clips were missing on mine when I collected it a few months ago. The storage clips in the wardrobe are still missing, we got a table from one of the other vans on the forecourt.

Thankyou all so much for your input. I have a large list to work from. We had been offered an overnight stay in it, but unfortunately that is not an option at this time. If it needs to g9 back fro anyth8ng we will just build that visit into a trip.

Lorfal wrote:We had been offered an overnight stay in it, but unfortunately that is not an option at this time.

That is unfortunate because it sounds like a really good idea.

Make sure they include the crockery, cool bag and 4 crystal glasses.
Try not to be overwhelmed, I tend to ignore faults because I want everything to be perfect.
Worth checking the heater ducts are all fitted securely, one of ours came off and pointed straight at a water pipe which melted, then vaporised water damaged the Truma boiler data connector, nightmare. We ended up stuck in Campbeltown having to have cold showers.