2002 - 2005 Autotrail models with MOT issues?

[Eddiex]

Not a very well titled thread but hopefully someone can enlighten me!?

Having had a campervan for a number of years we would like to now have a motor home and to that end rather like some of the Autotrail models. At the moment the Apache 640 looks like it would be good for what we need. Budget is up to £20k so this puts us into the older used market.

Here's my question - When I see something I like the look of I always run the index number through the DVLA MoT History database as a starter.

Many of the vehicles that I have seen advertised with say about 50,000 miles seem to have a fair few MoT failures. The ones that concern me are the structural failures like front cross members, inner chassis rails, inner wheel arch suspension mounting point corroded through and seslt belt anchoring points corroded through.

There are also a fair few failures on brake pipes and wheel bearings - bearings I understand, but brake pipes so badly corroded with only 50,000 miles? Maybe they live under or by the sea!

Is the structural a problem with the Fiat donor chassis a common problem?

Many thanks

 

[CazPaul]

Yes, a lot have to replace the front cross member due to corrosion.

 

[mitzimad]

front cross member on a fiat isnt a big job

 

[Geo]

The early Fiats and Talbots are a corrosion nightmare
as an MoT tester and a somewhat regular welder of rotten vehicles in general i would be quite confident
in saying looking at 1997 on the welding problems faded away, the exception being the front cross member under the radiator
And as already pointed out this is not a big job as the removal and replacement is a simple bolt off and on task
no welding required at all, some very nice Autotrails around that budget but as always dont go in blind
some Gangsters have any welding done pre MoT so it wont show any corrosion, my choice would be to look for a nice white painted chassis as apposed to a heavily undersealed one.
One last point I mentioned im a welder, im on my third Autotrail converted Fiat they cant be that bad.

 

[Spriddler]

The c

Many of the vehicles that I have seen advertised with say about 50,000 miles seem to have a fair few MoT failures..... structural failures like front cross members, inner chassis rails, inner wheel arch suspension mounting point .........

The corrosion is due to age, not mileage.

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[Eddiex]

The early Fiats and Talbots are a corrosion nightmare
as an MoT tester and a somewhat regular welder of rotten vehicles in general i would be quite confident
in saying looking at 1997 on the welding problems faded away, the exception being the front cross member under the radiator
And as already pointed out this is not a big job as the removal and replacement is a simple bolt off and on task
no welding required at all, some very nice Autotrails around that budget but as always dont go in blind
some Gangsters have any welding done pre MoT so it wont show any corrosion, my choice would be to look for a nice white painted chassis as apposed to a heavily undersealed one.
One last point I mentioned im a welder, im on my third Autotrail converted Fiat they cant be that bad.

Thanks for all your replies - this comment from Geo is particularly encouraging! To me, £20k is a reasonable investment and I don't want to make a mistake as having owned a number of 'Classic' cars I know what a money pit welding can be! Good advice re the chassis rails - the funny thing is a couple I have spotted have been in Nottingham so I may be 'crossing your palm with silver' at some point for a 'pre purchase' MoT !!

 

[pappajohn]

I would be more concerned about the conversion than the chassis.
Damp is a killer but some owners are quite content to ignore it until its too bad to ignore.
At least each year the chassis is structurally checked and if structural it can be fixed straight away rather than be irreperable in a few years time.

 

[Eddiex]

I would be more concerned about the conversion than the chassis.
Damp is a killer but some owners are quite content to ignore it until its too bad to ignore.
At least each year the chassis is structurally checked and if structural it can be fixed straight away rather than be irreperable in a few years time.

Yes - That is something that also concerned me and I'm trying to get up to speed with that issue. I'm thinking that once I have found MH that really like, I would pay fo my own, independent, Hab check.

 

[OG1]

You may be able to purchase the front cross member from
MC TRADING BODY PARTS,SEVENOAKS KENT.
TEL NO 01732742881. We changed one on our previous MH
Swift Gazell 61. Don’t forget Chasse earthing

 

[Lofty1]

This is what you get for not buying british vans that leaked so much oil that the chassis never rotted lol

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[Itsmcb]

Coastal motorhomes and various places including Amazon! Around £75