Premium "german" brands?

[CanvasCampFan]

Looking for our first MH and accepted wisdom seems to be start with a barely used premium brand

But which brands are these?

Hymer, Burstner, Knaus have cropped up - but I assume there are others

 

[two]

What I meant was the lower range models look exactly the same build and styling as a Burstner. I loved the old style built like a bus Carthagos and love the higher range models. But to me the lower range models may as well have a Burstner badge on them and nobody would be much wiser. Thats my opinion from a family of generations of cabinet makers.

They may look much the same but I think you'll find that the Carthago construction is far superior. Carthago cabinets are constructed as jointed cabinets and make the whole construction 'bomb-proof'. Worth a visit to their factory in Aulendorf if you happen to pass that way. The internal layouts of most European vans are all very much the same - not many variants.

 

[Pausim]

What I meant was the lower range models look exactly the same build and styling as a Burstner. I loved the old style built like a bus Carthagos and love the higher range models. But to me the lower range models may as well have a Burstner badge on them and nobody would be much wiser. Thats my opinion from a family of generations of cabinet makers.

Nothing against Burstner but the Carthago stood out significantly on design and build quality when I was a looking at them.

 

[Clarky]

Nothing against Burstner but the Carthago stood out significantly on design and build quality when I was a looking at them.

Us too, that’s why we bought one.

Richard.

 

[jongood]

They may look much the same but I think you'll find that the Carthago construction is far superior. Carthago cabinets are constructed as jointed cabinets and make the whole construction 'bomb-proof'. Worth a visit to their factory in Aulendorf if you happen to pass that way. The internal layouts of most European vans are all very much the same - not many variants.

Are the cheaper models made in Aulendorf though?

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[CazPaul]

Are the cheaper models made in Aulendorf though?

No, Slovenia I think.

 

[two]

Are the cheaper models made in Aulendorf though?

No. They are made to the same design (similar construction) to their larger brethren.
Not sure where Malibu are made (may be same place in Slovenia) nor if the constructions different. Malibu being the 'Carado' of Carthago. They must cut some corners to keep the price down, but I think the design comes from Aulendorf.

 

[Rob Turner]

Carthago for us.

 

[Soozywoozy]

Hymer supreme line miles better than our previous Knaus (and we thought that was good) Depends on budget

 

[g3cwi]

This is how the charge of the light brigade occurred but you have been corrected below, another piece of education is that the Hymer group is owned by Thor Industries (Yankee) so fundamentally all you Hymer and N+B owners have Damon Daybreaks! (you have to have had an RV to get that)

They own Elddis too. I like to think of our van as a rebadged Hymer.

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[Beacons]

We liked our Hymer but we really like our Carthago more comfortable to ride and relax in .

 

[The Coops]

Having had two German built vans, Corado and Hobby, our third van is French, we were spoilt by the first and disappointed/disillusioned with the second. There are good and bad vans in every make. its the dealer back up and factory support that makes the difference

 

[Thedriver]

Elddis

Go Back To Bed Jim!!

 

[Christoph]

We went from a Chausson to a Burstner and did notice the build quality and ride improved but it comes at a price! The Chausson was a very good van for the money.

 

[nicholsong]

Go Back To Bed Jim!!

He might have another nightmare.

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[Beltie]

I saw a virtually new Burstner which had jad a serious accident. I was very surprised to see how much wood there was in the structure.
Malibu are very well made 'vans in their own right and use similar materials, but the construction, particularly the jointing of panels is very different to main stream Carthagos.

 

[nicholsong]

I saw a virtually new Burstner which had jad a serious accident. I was very surprised to see how much wood there was in the structure.
Malibu are very well made 'vans in their own right and use similar materials, but the construction, particularly the jointing of panels is very different to main stream Carthagos.

Do you mean in the actual components of the structural parts, i.e. walls, roof and floor, or in furniture?

 

[Pausim]

No wood in the Carthago structure.

 

[leggings]

Dethleffs & Knaus are good, lots of Hymers about too.

No problems with my Hobby.

 

[Beltie]

Geoff,

Regrettably it was in the structural frame. I think the 'van was a Lyseo/Harmony Line, so not one of their more expensive offerings. Nevertheless, it was still a surprise to see it these days.

I think other 'entry level' Hymer products, eg. Carado, Sunlight use wood extensively. Of course if the body joints and openings are designed properly, it shouldn't matter what the frame is made of.

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[Thedriver]

He might have another nightmare.

we don't wand that, do we