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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Oh crap holiday motorhome disaster- what do I do?

168 replies

IHeartKingThistle · 23/08/2017 15:48

I'm such an idiot but I didn't check. We're supposed to be going away on Friday in a hired motorhome. It's all paid for. It's a 4 berth. I assumed this meant 4 seat belts as it has when we've hired motorhomes from other places. But I didn't check. It has 3. And a side seat with no belt.

Is this normal? I understand that new vans have to have belts but older ones aren't under the same laws. But it's not safe, surely? We've been told an adult has to sit in the side seat. So I have to travel unsecured, sideways (which will make me feel awful) and not next to my husband on our family holiday?

There's no way to get the money back at this stage. Campsites and activities are all booked for the week.

I'm actually in tears. Tell me it'll be fine.

OP posts:
makadan600 · 24/08/2017 22:47

Are the young children allowed to sit in front seats ?

manicmij · 24/08/2017 22:53

Common in motorhomes not to have same number of seatbelts as beds. At this time of year would be nearly impossible to find another vehicle. Check out online if there is any kind of temporary seat belt on market you can use.

kateandme · 25/08/2017 06:47

cousin worked on those vans for years.the reason no belt was there originally is because the force of a crash would properl you in the same way hence would infact cause more injury if belt cut into you upon collision.obviously not all collision but ones where you would jolt you would be taken side ways and it would cause major back problem where as movement from your seat at this point would have been seen as totally unsafe.obviously now there are more regs and crashes can be huge given to larger faster roads etc.but back then it was seen as wholy unsafe.they wouldn't have been legal if not.times have changed not all vans have.
I'm glad you got your van sorted.
and your holiday is no on.dont worry about not spotting it.im sure many wouldn't have either.me included.just enjoy the now and your great holiday.
plus my cousin still has old van and stravels in it.nevr had a problem. this wont make you feel better I'm sure but he has been ok for 40 odd years.take care

sharklovers · 25/08/2017 06:51

There are some very stupid people in this thread

Have you ever been on a bus or a train?

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 25/08/2017 07:24

shark

  1. There are far fewer accidents involving trains than cars. You are very safe on a train.
  2. A bus is substantially bigger than a small motor home. If youre involved in an accident on a bus, the passengers are usually fine.
worridmum · 25/08/2017 07:53

Sadly with the wording you do not have a case for a refund they havent missold anything or misread it sadly so small court would be a waste of money taking it there if your stronly worded letter does do anything you most likely have to accept the loss of money.

As the hire firm hasn't done anything wrong its just that you don't like the idea (while smart its not illegal so your stuffed and the hire firm shouldnt be out of pocket since you changed your mind

Sweetpotatoaddict · 25/08/2017 08:05

I'm glad you've managed to hire another van, I would have done exactly the same as you OP. I hope you manage to get your money back.
On another note to the posters who mention that the roads in Scotland will be slower and safer than the motorway drive north. Absolutely there are no motorways in Scotland.... And rural roads are much safer than motorways Hmm

OP I hope you have a fantastic trip, i hope you are driving north over rannoch moor and through glencoe, it's truly spectacular and my favourite drive.

CasperGutman · 25/08/2017 08:10

The rental company's policy of "no refunds within two weeks of your trip" is irrelevant if the reason for your cancelling is that they had misrepresented what you were buying.

sharklovers · 25/08/2017 08:26

woods my point still stands. Trains do crash and you are just as likely to be thrown around in a bus as in a motorhome. You are happy to accept these risks when you use these modes of transport and will have accepted much higher risks in the past. This is a complete non-issue.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 25/08/2017 08:33

sharks "my point still stands. Trains do crash and you are just as likely to be thrown around in a bus as in a motorhome"

Did you ever do basic physics at schools? If you have an accident in a bus, you will be much better off than if you are in a small motor home.

If it is such "a non issue", why do we have seat belts anyway?Hmm

Lizsmum · 25/08/2017 08:44

I've often wondered why there are seat belts on coaches but not on buses. I realise that the trip length is generally shorter on a bus but a collision is a collision however long or short the journey maye be.

colleysmill · 25/08/2017 08:50

At least it's worked out for the op.

I own an ancient campervan that we've fitted as many seat belts to as possible in the back (originally it had none) but still have one adult passenger who doesn't have a belt. But it's our van and our risk and decision to take.

I think there is distinction isn't there about what expectations we have for hiring vehicles and actually I'd would have assumed 4 berth 4 seat belts too if I was hiring one so I can see where the op is coming from.

We also have what's classed as a historic vehicle which has no belts in it at all (and the chassis wouldn't be able to cope with fitting ones) but we tend to just drive that very locally or at shows because it's just too hairy on main roads.

kastiekastie · 25/08/2017 09:12

I'd have thought the same - have you thought about contacting someone like the link below to ask their advice? If I was really worried I'd try and bungy myself in somehow www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/advice-for-beginners/caravan-and-motorhome-inspectors/

Ropsleybunny · 25/08/2017 09:19

If you paid by card get onto your bank or credit card company. You might have to stick with. Recently we paid for a campsite by bank debit card which turned out to be nothing like the website promised. Luckily we found this out before we went. As we'd paid by debit card we didn't think we stood any chance of getting our money back. The campsite owner had previously told me to get stuffed, or words to that effect.

The bank took it up. It took ages and lots of emails but we got a full refund.

Ropsleybunny · 25/08/2017 09:20

*it

sharklovers · 25/08/2017 11:11

Did you ever do basic physics at schools?

Did you? Do you think the inertia of a human body is different based on what vehicle it's within? If a bus, car or motorhome stops dead at 30mph the forces on the occupants will be identical. I think what you are trying to say is that a bus will decelerate over a longer distance than a motorhome but I expect that the effects on a unrestrained human will be very similar.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 25/08/2017 11:43

No Shark, I was referring to two vehicles hitting each other.

If you on a bus, without a seatbelt and are hit by a car, you will probably be ok.
If you are in a car/small motor home, without a seatbelt and get hit by a bus/lorry you will suffer much bigger injuries

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