Where to find spare parts

SPARES FOR REPAIRS

Motorhome maintenance can be costly, as we found out when we had a slight accident in a recent long-term motorhome that resulted in the scraping of a wardrobe door. £200 and a new door later I was a little in shock.

The cost was high, but fully justified – it had to be shipped from Germany and, coming from a company with a 50-strong model range, it was probably made to order.

This replacement process is even trickier for older motorhomes, as it’s unlikely that a particular woodgrain or upholstery style is still in production. Model updates take place regularly – some every year – and this means manufacturers and dealers often don’t hold spares in stock.

WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE

It’s not surprising then that a lot of the queries we receive relate to where to source parts. Many readers say that contacting manufacturers has a mixed success rate. The spares department at Auto-Sleepers gets a lot of praise, mainly for the knowledge that its manager Alan Osborne can impart. Auto-Trail has an online shop for some of its stock and a contact form on its website.

The next port of call is owners’ clubs and classic clubs if your ‘van is a little older – these people will have found crafty alternatives and suppliers of unusual parts. It's also worth trying motorhome forums - click here to visit ours. Motorhomers are a friendly bunch usually willing to impart a little home-grown knowledge.

THE SUPPLIERS

Specialist suppliers should also be able to supply parts or offer advice. If the original manufacturer of your ‘van is no longer around, specialists can help. O’Leary Motorhomes, for example, buys a lot of its stock (which is all new) from administrators. It currently holds parts from Autocruise before the Swift Group bought it in 2008 and pre-1994 Bessacarr parts. It also buys unwanted stock from across the industry. Carver heaters and fires, toilets, fridges, oven doors and Ellbee exterior motorhome doors are just a small selection of the products spread throughout six warehouses. The company also supplies manufacturers and dealers, so it’s worth checking here first. There’s also Charles and Sons, which specialises in the older parts for Autohomes and older Elddis motorhomes.

Breakers are also a key source of spares. The Caravan Centre, located in Wales, offers a wealth of spares and parts. The Centre is always on the look out for motorhomes to break down into component parts. Freecycle may also be worth a look – it’s mostly domestic stuff, but if you’ve noticed a lot of motorhomers living in your area, it may be worth a punt.

NEW OR USED

When it comes to new versus used it’s all about availability, price and aesthetics. But one of the most important questions is always how much you can (or are prepared to) pay. For engines and base vehicles, there are a lot of high-quality pattern parts available, but there are also a lot of unbranded variable quality components knocking about.

As quality is more important than cost when replacing mechanical parts, you should always buy through a reputable source, such as Eurocarparts or Halfords. But remember to always check the price through a main dealer first as some older parts can actually be cheaper from them. Our Interchange experts suggest that there are lots of sub-standard parts and unlicensed replicas on eBay. It’s that old chestnut: if it seems too cheap to be true, then it often is.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to frequent model changes, motorhomes present their own unique problems. The key question is whether the product in question is still available new. Seek advice from specialist repairers or suppliers who should be able to source specific parts or suggest a viable alternative. But remember you don’t have to always fit a direct replacement. If a part has broken (especially for things like handles, taps and other fittings) you may be able to source a part that’s better suited than the original. There are plenty of companies out there offering spares – simply take a look through our Business Directory to search for more.

TO DIY OR NOT

Before embarking on any DIY task, be confident that you can do the job and any unforseen issues that arise during the work. External graphics can be one of the trickiest items to repair yourself. So it’s likely you’ll have
to go to a vinyl graphic producer and get them to replicate the decals. It’s often better to come up with a new scheme – if you want to apply the graphics yourself then take a look at the January 2008 issue, when we ran a step-by-step guide. Graphic companies and your local bodyshop will also be able to advise.

Damp repairs can also be tackled yourself (see Matters in MMM Dec 2011). Russell Heath from specialist parts supplier, O’Leary, says: “The most common query is about wallboards mainly for repairing damp. We keep 10,000 units in stock and offer 60 different types of board. Damp is an expensive thing to repair, but it can also be quite simple to do it yourself. We can talk customers through the repair process."

This feature was originally published in the January 2012 issue of MMM. Click here to download the pdf.

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