I see Autotrail are advertising for a Quality Manager

[Lenny HB]

Exactly! I used to work for the world’s largest certification company and had regular dealings with ISO certification though thankfully I did different work

I did a lot of work writing procceedurers for ISO at the last company I worked for, basicly I could write my own BS.

 

[Lenny HB]

And also how many people on here making negative comments have actually owned one?

Not owned one but had British caravans that was enough to put me off anything Brit built in this industry.
Had a Lunar caravan it had more water in the walls than the garden pond.

Met a Funster with a 9 month old AT he said to me first and last time I ever buy a British built Motorhome.

 

[Lenny HB]

Your gluten for punishment aren’t you….

Wow you really are a glutton for punishment. One leaky water trail would have been enough for most people but to buy 4 of them.

You'd have been better just punching yourself in the face a few times ..it would have been less painful

Beat me to it guys, I had trouble getting to the end of that post, bad enough getting 3rd AT but then a 4th, flipping heck.

 

[Northernraider]

Beat me to it guys, I had trouble getting to the end of that post, bad enough getting 3rd AT but then a 4th, flipping heck.

Yes I kept waiting for a punchline or joke at the end lol. Couldn't quite believe it

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes I kept waiting for a punchline or joke at the end lol. Couldn't quite believe it

Yep unbelievable.

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[Beltie]

My Hymer group 'van, itself a replacement for a vehicle which had a catastrophic water leak in the first month of ownership, is currently at the dealers having major surgery to deal with damp issues in the garage.

The work, fortunately under warranty, is forecast to take seventy man hours. The warranty guy at the dealers told me that they had six or seven 'vans in with the same problem. The dealer has several franchises, both British and European. I spoke independently to the technician carrying out the work and to the service manager asking which brands were the worst for damp problems. Both without prompting said Burstner!

Prior to this 'van, I had three Autotrails, two of which were faultless. The third had some damp issues, rectified at the factory. I kept that 'van for ten years, and still traded it in for over 60% of its original cost.

The issue of British versus European is, therefore, in my lived experience not as black and white as some contributors would have you believe.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Yep just wacked out three grand to repair our water damaged ceiling on our French built Bavaria. So even european vans have issues.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Yep unbelievable.

No...just pure bad luck I kept telling myself !
Now If it were possible to predict what truck would be the best to own ....Im sure we would all have the same one?
We all think , what we have is the best and the way forward to a enjoyable life aboard yes? So with that in mind whether it be a Roma home or a auto trail or a Morrello....If you all wanted to be really honest with each other...you have all had problems with whatever you have had . As stated......I am fortunate enough to buy what I want . Then again.............If you really want a joke out of this......Its more what I am told I can have ! Now .....Who else can own up to that?

 

[Pausim]

If you all wanted to be really honest with each other...you have all had problems with whatever you have had

This is my is a summary of my motorhome buying experiences. I have owned 6 and have enjoyed them all, none have let me down badly.

1. Autosleeper van conversion. Just what I needed at the time and apart from having to replace a few cupboard hinges that had rusty screws it caused me no bother.
2. Autosleeper coach built. A few minor irritations with cupboards and a bit of a palaver making up the bed in the lounge area. When trading it in the dealer found damp in the back wall but said his price would stand because he expected it and knew how to resolve it.
3. Knaus coach built. Had a much nicer interior and felt better constructed. No problems and a fixed bed so no palaver at bedtime. When I came to trade it in the dealer said he needed to check the year with his trade contact because Knaus, like most other manufacturers, had some periods when their quality had been a bit off the mark. I expected him to come back sucking breath through his teeth as he told me he could not be generous on the trade in but no, he said it was fine and gave me a price I was very happy with.
4. Hymer A Class (new). A step up from the Knaus and generally well put together. One or two warranty issues but dealer resolved all including a new set of alloys of a design that didn’t get worm eaten. When it came to changing we were disappointed by the finish on the new Hymer models, not up to the standard of the one we already owned. We got a very good trade in.
5. Carthago A Class (new). Better finish than the Hymer and very well put together. Well looked after by the dealer and Carthago. The issues we had were bar one with appliances not construction. Fiat had to rectify a wiring fault caused by a missing tie from the original conversion/construction. The cost of this work was very quickly refunded by Carthago with no argument. Would have happily bought another Carthago but needed to downsize for health reasons. Got a good trade in price.
6. Malibu Van conversion (new). Generally as well engineered as the previous Carthago and from the same stable. One or two finishings, such as the blinds, of a lighter weight quality than the Carthago but not the least bit disappointed so far. One minor hardly noticeable fault to one of the shower room inserts, replaced under warranty without any fuss or argument. I also found the sliding door to the shower room had dropped out of alignment. I quickly discovered that the sliders on which it was hanging had adjustable thumb screws and had it back in alignment without any problem. I was impressed with the ease and quality of these adjustable hangers.

My wife is fully involved in choosing new motorhomes and vans. She would no rather buy a shoddy finish than I would. We have walked away from several makes where external and internal fishes do not look well put together.

 

[Joethejoiner]

No...just pure bad luck I kept telling myself !
Now If it were possible to predict what truck would be the best to own ....Im sure we would all have the same one?
We all think , what we have is the best and the way forward to a enjoyable life aboard yes? So with that in mind whether it be a Roma home or a auto trail or a Morrello....If you all wanted to be really honest with each other...you have all had problems with whatever you have had . As stated......I am fortunate enough to buy what I want . Then again.............If you really want a joke out of this......Its more what I am told I can have ! Now .....Who else can own up to that?

I did own an Autotrail , bought from new . Never had a problem but dealt with their repair dept after doing some damage . They were excellent.
Only owned the van less than 2 years.
Someone liked it enough to steal it !

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[MitchandJenny]

We bought our A/T Tracker nearly 11 years ago, it had both lounge windows leaking after 3 years. Renewed under warranty.
Not missed a beat since. I renewed a hab door flyscreen cos our Lab ran through it and just renewing an EM40 interface fuseboard.
That’s it !!
Ok I think !!
The only reason to change vans now would be for a drop down bed. But at 77
I can’t be bothered..
Mitch