Lunar caravans

Ginny1948
Ginny1948 Forum Participant Posts: 27
edited October 2017 in Caravans #1

Good afternoon everyone. 

We are in the process of deciding which make of caravan to buy. We have had a coachman pastiche for the last 10 years. After teething problems it has been a good van. 

We like the look and layout of the Luna Single bed layout. Are Luna good reliable vans, what's Luna like for warranty work? Hopefully none will be required!  Any information would be appreciated .

Thank you in anticipation

 

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Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #2

    Our present caravan is a Lunar Clubman ES. We have had it now for almost 6 touring seasons of 4 months each seasons so has had the equivalent to 2 years full time. We have had two problems due to to Lunar construction. 

    On first trip a fixing on top locker door was coming adrift. Warranty issue with dealer and easily sorted and no other similar problems.

    After a few years one 12v light switch had an intermittent fault. Sorted at no charge by dealership and was due to a poor connection.

     

    When we bout the caravan in 2012 I wanted to buy a Bailey with Alutech and 10 year water ingress warranty. The seating simply was no where near as comfortable. The Lunar then had only a 6 year water ingress warranty. Now for £300 extendible to 10 years.

    A far as warranty work is concerned my view is that (apart from water ingress) the sale of goods is the important bit and the warranty is there to reimburse dealer smile

    I am getting a new Lunar mid November. For us we like the side dinette in our chosen model and the front seats as two 6' 4'' by 29'' singles at night. Don't like the one piece door instead of the stable door. C'est la vie. 

    Apart from ordering the 10 year water ingress we also included the weight upgrade. 

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited October 2017 #3

    Recently had our Swift van serviced at Davan at Westo-super-Mare and noticed a couple of signs posted in the service area.

    They state that due to the number of warranty work needed to Lunar vans that only Lunar purchased from them will be worked on.

    The issue is made worse by the time taken to obtail spares.

    This is holding up standard work/servicing on their regular customers.

    Might be worth considering a call to discuss.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #4

    Suggest you search the forum for the problems Oneputt had with his Lunar, Ginny. He needed a new floor.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
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    edited October 2017 #6

    We`ve had two over the last five years (also two in the nineties) towed something in the region of 15000` one very minor issue and had to have a microwave changed in one, just ordered  another. They have a nice gloss painted finish and I find them easy to keep clean but aluminium side panels are susceptible to dents. The seat cushions have been very good in both vans particularily as in our case they are the mattress, they are interior sprung and have never lost shape or flattened. Good storage especially taking into account the large access front locker. So far I`ve been pleased but as I always say you pays your money takes your chance!

  • SELL
    SELL Forum Participant Posts: 398
    edited October 2017 #7

    I am on my second Lunar both bought from new, the only problem I have had was the front bed slats would not slide back in correctly after use, dealer came to my house and adjusted been fine since then.

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited October 2017 #8

    We have a 2012 Lunar Clubman SB that we brought earlier this year to replace an older Lunar 524. It tows well and is very comfortable and we are very satisfied with it. 

    It did have a spongy floor in front of the sink, which took me a couple of hours to fix. 

    I doubt that you will be able to find a make that haven't generated complaints. 

  • ATDel
    ATDel Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited October 2017 #9

    We have had our 1st Lunar van for nearly 3 years now had some issues including warped front windows replaced under warranty other windows leaking fixed under warranty and a few bits and pieces. The van is a great place to live in loads of storage including 2 large wardrobes in the bathroom. 

    It still looks and feels like new even though we have lived in it since February, I th8nk I have the Lunar floor problem which will be sorted by my dealer in December.

    The dealer is the most important component when talking about warranty and I have dealt with only 2 in the past nearly 20 years both of which are very proactive with warranty claims, both Highbridge caravans and Notham farm are great at dealing with aftersales

    Would we buy another yes our next van will probably be a Lunar

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #10

    We've had 2 Lunar caravans, a Steller, lovely little van which I regret changing, and our current dealer special, based on a Quaser which has been a bag of N**kers.  

    1.  After 3 months all the waste water piping fell off the van

    2. 3 x Omivents fitted to date

    3. Front window catches replaced as wrong type fitted at factory and windows opened under transit, luckily we had a towing cover or the damage could have been severe.

    4.  After a year a substantial portion of the floor replaced

    5. Various other faults all rectified under warranty.

    The dealer, Sussex caravans has been pretty good but the real problem is lack of quality control in the Preston factory and the monthly delivery schedule of spare parts to dealers.

    We like our layout and the van is towed about 10k miles a year and used for about 120/year

    Would we get another Lunar, can't say for sure but probably not

     

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #11

    As you can see there are good/bad reports smile

    I bought a new Lunar fixed beds in 2014, travelled many miles both here and abroad in it.

    Had to plug a cabinet door hinge hole with a matchstick as the screw fell out, would I buy another Lunar, yes laughing

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited October 2017 #12

    I am having a lot of trouble at the moment with lunar. I have a warranty issue. I bought van second hand at approx. 18 mths old. the battery box lock broke of while on way back home from caravan show so wanted to book van in for 2nd service and to have repairs done under warranty. lunar dealer ( Campbell's caravans) want to see the receipt from the last service which I do not have as I didn't own van then. the service book has been stamped but they also want damp report and service sheet from the dealer that did service. the dealer state this could break data protection laws as last customers info could be on the paperwork. why do dealers take in part exchange caravans without all the paperwork from the previous owner and so not cause all this confusion. the service dealer says stamp in book should be enough but lunar and campbells say otherwise and i'm stuck in limbo.  

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #13

    As far as I am aware the previous dealer should have registered the service. 

    Did you buy the caravan from Cambelles, a private sale or another dealer? 

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
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    edited October 2017 #14

    Paragraph below is pasted from Lunars Warranty Q&A Page. Check the full details in your service handbook and see if the change of ownership form was completed.

    Can the warranty be transferred?
    Yes any unexpired warranty can be transferred. There is an administration fee of £50 applied and full documentary evidence that the caravan has been serviced annually should be enclosed. The change of ownership form should also be completed. Full details of how to transfer warranty is listed in the Service Handbook.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited October 2017 #15

    being new to caravans when i bought this i wasn't even aware they had service books and sent my £50 to lunar within a couple of days and got a letter stating the warranty was accepted. they didn't ask for the service book. BUT good new tonight 2 hours after posting i recieved an email after sending a picture to them of the service stamp and the service dealer ringing them, they say the warranty has now been tranfered and i can now get the repairs done under said warranty. relief and a good nights sleep tonight.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #16

    Glad you are sorted

  • TonyBurton
    TonyBurton Forum Participant Posts: 269
    edited October 2017 #17

    We’re on our second Lunar Quasar. The first was burnt to the ground at 18 months old when a thief tried to remove the axle lock. The first had had over 20 warranty faults. They were all fixed without a quibble from our dealer in Ipswich. I wrote to the CEO at Lunar so that he was aware of their poor quality control. He did not have the decency to reply. However our new Lunar has had very few warranty issues and we are delighted with it.  All makes appear to have their share of quality problems. It seems most important to choose a caravan from a local dealer who will honour customer complaints willingly and without too much delay. Our dealer in Ipswich is not able to deal with warranty issues on Lunar Caravans that were not sold by him.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #18

    Our dealer in Ipswich is not able to deal with warranty issues on Lunar Caravans that were not sold by him.

    Is that because your Lunar dealer is too busy dealing with so many warranty claims on vans purchased from them?

    My belief is that if PDI's were carried out correctly, most of the issues with our van could have been sorted before delivery to us.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #19

    Many dealers will avoid undertaking warranty work for caravans not bought from them. I have no doubt that our dealership may well be reluctant to do so for various reasons.  

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #20

    I spoke to 3 dealers and each was willing to carry out warranty work on our van, as one said "its a good revenue stream".

    Has anyone else actually ask dealers if they are happy to carry out warranty work on vans not purchased by them?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #21

     Many have reported being told 'sorry sir'. I know that my own dealership has 'busy' times of the year when they have more than enough work for the available staff. 

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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    edited October 2017 #22

    Out of curiosity, if a second hand caravan is purchased a very long way from the original supplying dealer and the warranty transferred to the new owner, where would warranty work be carried out? The new seller may not be a Lunar dealer and it could even be a private sale. I understand that, in theory, any Lunar dealer is able to do the work but many will not do so on caravans not originally purchased from them.

    I have a similar scenario where my local dealer where I have had warranty work done has gone out of business but my next nearest Lunar dealer (30 miles away) won't touch caravans not purchased from them. I asked Lunar for help in this and all they could do was give me a list of dealers, the next nearest being 50 miles away, but with the caveat that they couldn't guarantee that any of them would do the work. It starts to make the warranty appear to be a bit worthless. I have the caravan serviced by an approved mobile workshop, which is fine, but he is very loath to do warranty work as getting paid fully for the job appears to be impossible. There are also instances where a job needs full workshop facilities.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #23

    My dealer is 40 miles away. 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited October 2017 #24

    I don't understand the thinking of some dealers. customer service is the forefront of any business. if a customer is fully satisfied with the dealer they are doing business with then who are they going to go back to for further purchases/service/repairs. like I said earlier, Campbell's caravans will be doing my warranty work and service in the next couple of weeks, they were not the original seller and didn't do the first service but if they do a good job and put any more found faults right during service, I will be using them for years to come, but if they don't then will not see me again for anything, including new purchases.

  • Doglover
    Doglover Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited October 2017 #25

    We have had our Lunar caravan for 5 years, it was new when purchased. It was only 3 years old when we had to have the whole floor replaced, we’ve had a Heki sunroof replaced 3 times and the whole of the front panel replaced, both sides of the caravan have had to be resprayed due to the paint “bubbling up” we we’re told this was quite a common problem!!! AND it’s now looking like we’ve got a problem with damp.... We have had several different makes of caravans over the years, this was our first Lunar and definitely the last, DO NOT BUY A LUNAR.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #26

     I felt the same way about Swift. Been happy with our 2012 Lunar

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #27

    We've also had bad caravan problems but with a Bailey so we never touch those!!  It seems it's all in the lap of the gods whatever make you buy. They will all have some problems, it really shouldn't be like that but sadly it is.  We have had 3 Lunars now, just bought our 3rd this year.  Yes teething problems, and new floor in one, (never heard of the paint issue Doglover) but otherwise we have been pleased with all of them.  Not always pleased with dealer and PDI but that's another story!  In our experience so far, Lunar have been very fair regarding warranty issues, though getting parts ordered in can take a long time, depending on their supplier.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #28

    Every year the fanfares blast and the manufacturers make big play with new graphics, curtains and seating material colour for their new vans, well guess what I'm not interested in that, just save the design and manufacturing cost and improve quality/integrity of the van.  Benefit of that move would be that warranty costs will probably reduce significantly.  But perhaps that's a business model too far their 1960/70's thinking.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited October 2017 #29

    I think the biggest problems with caravans is the structural strength of the Alko chassis. have a look at their website and you will see there is very little steel involved. the only cross member is the axle itself. this means that all the so called strength comes from the bodywork which being made from ply/plastic/aluminium/foam is ridiculous. 2/3 more cross members would easily double the strength of the chassis and also give a bigger payload for the customer but they would moan that it limits what we can use to tow the extra weight. if you already owned a reliant robin then you wouldn't be thinking about buying a caravan without changing it. http://www.al-ko.co.uk/pages/caravan-chassis.html check it out, you will be amazed, I was.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2017 #30

    The yachtsman, Uffa Fox, said "weight is only of use in a steamroller".  Given the availability of modern materials and techniques, it is not an impossible task.

  • crusader
    crusader Forum Participant Posts: 299
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    edited October 2017 #31

    This is our first and last Lunar, whilst my dealer has been good Lunar don't like to own up to design fault. our under slung water tank fell off and Lunar says I hit something Tosh!!!!!! how can you I don't recall  any big pointed rocks in the road. A block of wood with a bolt in it is all that stops it from dropping off