2016 Lunar caravan build quality
In June I bought a dealer spec Lunar Venus - re branded under the dealer name.
First few outings went ok as we found our way around the caravan. Previous to this we had a good old Conway Crusader.
Nearly two months ago things started to go wrong. Parts of the caravan started to fall off: The front blinds, the front window, parts of the decor panelling, the bolts on the island bed fell out and just today, the waste water pipes fell off from under the caravan!!!
There are numerous electrical issues: hot water does not work under electric, lights intermittent.
I am waiting to hear back from the dealer but I really think that Lunar's build quality control is absolutely non existent.
Has anyone else experienced this or have I just purchased a brand new lemon which will become a ball and chain?
Comments
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I have a 2014 lunar clubman saros edition, the screws which hold the front bulkhead wall to the side walls kept undoing even though i retightened them, It was in the dealer last week for this to be dealt with under warranty, fix was to put larger screws
in and seal them with silicone sealer. Stll ok after 100 mile trip home, I will se how it goes. On the matter of every thing falling off, this happened on the 2011 swift I had, erver time I went out something fell off or became loose, I spent more time refixing
things than enjoying a break, when the water heater packed up when it was just out of warranty and the dealer or swift did not wabt to know, I got rid of it.0 -
We have a 2015 Lunar dealer special and our waste pipes fell of the outside of the van after 3 months. Various other niggling issue but now we are waiting for the floor to be replaced. I may consider another Lunar in future but it won't be a dealer special!
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Our Quasar has gone two and a half years without issues. I am afraid Lunar are about average for quality if you read the PC surveys and they all turn out the odd rubbish caravan some more than Lunar.
On the basis of the survey your best bet by far is an Adria.
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Had a faultless Ariva for three years, now have a Stellar minor catch problem and overheating microwave so no complaints with Lunar at all. Luck of the draw I`m afraid we`ve had four caravans & three motorhomes the two recent Lunars have been the best.
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I've had my Delta for 18 months (from new) and the only couple of issues have been with third party items, but Lunar parts.
I also would recommend Lunar (subject to the proviso that all modern caravans are built to a weight and are not as solid as say a 6-7 year old Bailey/Coachman)
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Our Quasar has gone two and a half years without issues. I am afraid Lunar are about average for quality if you read the PC surveys and they all turn out the odd rubbish caravan some more than Lunar.
On the basis of the survey your best bet by far is an Adria.
always amused when i read this kind of stuff... I know it's a generalisation but ... we purchased a brand new Adora Rhine in 2014 and it was a nightmare to own. And Adria were rotten at customer service. That was our experience anyway...
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Our Quasar has gone two and a half years without issues. I am afraid Lunar are about average for quality if you read the PC surveys and they all turn out the odd rubbish caravan some more than Lunar.
On the basis of the survey your best bet by far is an Adria.
always amused when i read this kind of stuff... I know it's a generalisation but ... we purchased a brand new Adora Rhine in 2014 and it was a nightmare to own. And Adria were rotten at customer service. That was our experience anyway...
I agree that Adria turn out the odd rogue. All I am saying is that statistically an Adria is likely to have less problems. No make is perfect and not sure the backup from any is worth writing home about.
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Has anyone seen the new Alaria range from Lunar launching at the NEC - 3 models all twin axle all priced £32499 looks a serious piece of kit.
The big mistake for me is that front lounge faces the wrong side. Essentially if you put up an awning you will have to look into it, if the lounge was the other way round you will have a view into the site. Possibly they assume a caravan that size has so
much room you do not need an awning.0 -
Has anyone seen the new Alaria range from Lunar launching at the NEC - 3 models all twin axle all priced £32499 looks a serious piece of kit.
The big mistake for me is that front lounge faces the wrong side. Essentially if you put up an awning you will have to look into it, if the lounge was the other way round you will have a view into the site. Possibly they assume a caravan that size has so
much room you do not need an awning.Write your comments here...we didn't like the tall side window. Thought it looked like a travellers van.
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Has anyone seen the new Alaria range from Lunar launching at the NEC - 3 models all twin axle all priced £32499 looks a serious piece of kit.
The big mistake for me is that front lounge faces the wrong side. Essentially if you put up an awning you will have to look into it, if the lounge was the other way round you will have a view into the site. Possibly they assume a caravan that size has so
much room you do not need an awning.Write your comments here...we didn't like the tall side window. Thought it looked like a travellers van.
With an L shaped lounge you will always get that window. We have had two of these lounges and both had that window although one was far deeper than the other. It is how you spot them on site.
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Sorry to hear of your problems with your Venus. I think you have just been unlucky. You have to remember that unlike cars, caravan construction is very labour intensive, they are assembled by hand. we are on our second Lunar a 2015 model and no problems
apart from the Dometic fridge (not Lunar's build issue) but another story of really awful disinterested after sales service by Dometic, and a fridge with an in built design fault. In 2005 we bought a new Swift Challenger and it was a nightmare almost ruined
our main holiday which was island hopping in Croatia, thanks to the Caravan Club Red Pennant major problems with the road lights got temporarily sorted out in Germany. We had a list of problems that were so long, I part exchanged it for a new Coachman at the
end of it's first season. I lost a lot of money, but couldn't stand the stress every time we went away as something else broke or fell off! My advice would be to get rid of it, take the hit on the depreciation and move on to another new caravan. However, I
think all makes UK or foreign are the same, you can get a duff one, but in general British built vans are amongst the best in Europe for build, spec and value don't be fooled into thinking everything German is wonderful.. It's a myth!2 -
An addition to the caravan story about the Lunar in the original post. In hindsight I should have chopped it in as soon as things started going wrong - they still are:
bulkhead screws came undone
front window cracked
heating element packed up
water ingress where front bulkhead meets roof and down the sides
water ingress in the rear bathroom
Just back from a trip to the New Forest at the Centenary site (excellent stay) and had to drop the caravan off for more repairs on the way home.
Seriously this caravan is not fit for purpose and has been a complete waste of money, time and unnecessary heartache. 18 month’s ownership and it is back at the dealers for the 5th time having repairs. A complete joke.
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Our caravan is parked on a drive which results in the caravan sloping to the rear offside corner water never "sits"on the roof around skylights or along awning rails, I have a long piece of rubber about a foot deep fitted at the awning rail at the corner which directs the water clear of the caravan side. So far the two Lunars we have owned at this address over five years have not had damp issues.
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I store the caravan on our drive with it sloping forwards so as to prevent water pooling on the roof. The problem is that the joint between the front bulkhead cowling and the roof had apparently an inferior joint (which I am told has been modified on subsequent models) whereby the screws were insufficient for the job and possibly not enough sealant put in. There is a replacement strapping that joins the two more effectively - with lots of sealer.
Having slept on the problem I now have no option but to have a meeting with the directors of the dealership to find a way forward. The anxiety of ownership is playing on my mind to much and I have no peace of mind as to what will go wrong next.
Unfortunately my first caravan ownership experience has not been the best, memories are not of happy holidays but of what has gone wrong or broken. This is not what caravaning is all about.
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not good Mkubwa. I sent a damming e-mail to lunar and threatened them with legal action, as been waiting for the new floor to arrive so repair can be done. the damp 60% was spotted first week in December, over 3 months. got a reply that they have just received new floor and ready for delivery to repair company on Monday 19/03. fingers crossed it will go in sometime next week but think I will be going through all this again in 9 months after next service. also sent email to the NCC to say that they should be doing more for the customer not the dealer/manufacturer. yet to hear back from them. I am disgusted at the whole caravan industry and them lazy sods that control it. rant over.
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