Discussion Forum - Caravan World

Building a caravan or motorhome is like building a home. Customisations can push delivery times on new RVs to months, but what if those times aren't adhered to?

One postbag reader's frustrating experience has cast a shadow on his travelling plans, begging the question: are RV manufacturers are keeping their promises with regards to delivery times?

How long did it take for your van to be built? Did you experience any unforeseen delays?

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COMMENTS (19)

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

I have had a van on order since Sept 09 and given March 10 as delivery . All money has been paid As yet no van, "but it will be here next week" for the tenth time. To date it still has not been built. The dealer is Scenic Caravans, Dandenong, Vic.
jg.hazzard@bigpond.com

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

the operative word is "estimated" time of delivery on the contract papers that you sign when ordering a new van. This was the answer to an enquiry given to me by department of fair trade in NSW. It provides dealers with an easy escape route when vans are overdue

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

We had the most pleasant experience of our caravanning career after taking delivery of our 3rd van, a Windsor Genesis Ltd, from Lanhams in Wagga. The van was ordered and deposit paid and we requested numerous changes to the van to which they complied. The van was delivered in 5 weeks after being told it would take 6 and we were kept informed of the progress on a regular basis. On delivery of the van we found no faults and we were even supplied with a startup kit for free. We couldn't be happier.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

I had my Regent van delivered by Ian Grant, on time and in perfect order and modified to our requirements. Could not have been better but I think that the punctuality was largely due to Ian keeping in close contact with Regent. Buy a reputable product from reputable dealers and you wont go wrong. Don Ferguson.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

Unfortunately I get to see the results of rushed jobs due the van build being delayed and some very cheesed off customers. We are on the end of the line where we have to repair, make or replace items missed or due to poor workmanship. I do not believe that the manufactures are doing themselves or the industry any good buy making promises that they know they can't keep. Come on guys tell the truth when talking to your customers, they you can always handle the truth, not false promises.
Andrew

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

We ordered our brand new van in July 2009 and was shown the build time slot giving us a set date of september 30th 2009, how ever it did not ariveuntil mid november, the escuse given was they had half their work force off with the flue for three weeks an dit put them a month behind but ours was still two months later than original delivery date
Cheers Ashley Hart

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

Definitely NOT! We ordered our van in October with a firm delivery date, on the contract, of end June the following year. We took delivery in September - a week AFTER our planned holiday was over, which we ended up doing in our camper trailer. No apologies, no excuses. Apparently it was my fault because I insisted on wheels and tyres to match my car!

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

We have just ordered an new Jayco Sterling and the expected delivery time is August. Lucky for us this time frame is OK. Of course that is provided they come in on time.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

My van took 7 months to build but that was because we did not want the van till the end of the year. the manf says he builds 11 vans in a week which sounds alright but it depends on how many vans he has sold and what time frame the purchaser has placed on the build.
If the van is quite different from the standard vans he sells I'm sure that it would take more time but it is still between the purchaser and man'f to come up with a suitable time frame that suits both
Ken

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

I find the build times ok as I plan far in advance of taking delivery.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

yes waited for 6 months then when we went to pick it up the lay out wasnt what we ordered so we had to wake another 4 months and all we got was sorry nothing that we didnt have a caravan for half the year also we had to send it back when we first went away with it as the roof leaked and we had no water as the pump didnt work

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

I have had vans built by Supreme and Roma and happy with both'
Pete Thompson

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

Van build time was 4 months and I jumped the queue a bit because I paid a holding deposit some 7 months earlier (we didn't commit to a firm design until I knew our house was sold). Delivery was put back one day to allow a few minor modifications - eg the stop light was not multi voltage LED even though they knew my tow vehicle was 24V.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

Our traveller took 5 mths to build without further mods being made , we phoned the factory on the Friday before leaving Adelaide to make sure the Van would be ready and was assured it was !.
We arrived at the Melborne Factory to take delivery but was told " Oh No Your is not ready "!!!!!!!.
We had taken time off from our jobs to pick up the van so to say we were miffed is polite .
We eventually picked up the van on Wednesday and had to transfer our belongings quickly as it was late afternoon ( we live and travel in our van ),
We found several obvious omissions and faults before we even left teh factory these were not rectified, the omissions was no shelving in the cupboards as required in our contract order , and no hot water plumbed to the kitchen , these were plainly caused trough a rushed build even though we kept in regular contact with the factory during the supposed build time.
After we took delivery we negotiated the Hume at peak hour , talk about STRESS CITY ,.
We have had a lot of faults with the van and one particular Nasty unsafe battery installation which I can detail if required.
The barand of caravan is a Traveller Sensation which cost us $90,000 plus on road and empty gas bottles.

Regards Graham & Cathy Porter
Mob 0429825889
Email newnomad@telstra.com

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

We have had three c'vans custom made and the longest we have waited was 6 months. Two of those were up to three weeks over our delivery date, which was frustrating because it delayed our departure time.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

I ordered a Trakmaster caravan in February 2009 and it was delivered on schedule in mid September as promised. I was included in all decisions during the build and kept up to date with photos and a running comentary. Couldn't have been happier with the manufacturer who I know had a full order book right through the GFC. Nice to know I am dealing with company that builds customised vans and will be around for a long while to come. Even if I had to be patient for a product I was not willing to compromise on.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

Around 2002, Coromal poptops took 7 months to be delivered, and full vans up to 12 months. This was due to a demand far in excess of supply, but I found that my van was delivered with a quality build despite the delay.

I believe that their deliveries are now back to lower times, I think partially because of model rationalisation, and discouraged (or unavailable customisation.

Comment by Unknown

posted 5 months ago

We've just received news that our new caravan, ordered in October 2009 has had it's delivery date pushed back for the 4th time - we expected delivery late Feb 2010, it was then March, April and now May. Due to the caravan shows having their dates (apparently) changed.

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