To buy or not to buy British

[RollingRog]

We are looking to purchase a motorhome having just sold the Eldiss Evolution that we made the mistake of buying!

Looking around on different chat rooms etc, the overriding opinion seems to be that foreign vehicles are of better quality.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated

 

[GMLS]

4 new motorhomes.2 German, 1 French and 1 British (Autotrail).Only had water ingress with the last and that was in every year of 5 years ownership and the last time it had to go back to the factory for 3 months.I will say no more

 

[Northernraider]

I have no doubt that uk manufactured Motorhomes are as good as our European vans and it seems that most people like to support German French etc with their hard earned cash thus making it more difficult for UK vans to compete and lining the pockets of the European manufacturers still don’t worry the uk manufacturers will eventually go out of business giving us all little choice just like our once great car industry along with the accompanying loss of uk jobs that will be lost
Then the we don’t make anything in this country anymore comments
I WILL GET MY COAT

The UK hasn't made anything good for decades.

I hate to say it too but despite having many that looked good British cars were generally shit. And I say that as a fan of many British classics.

 

[Bluemooner]

The UK hasn't made anything good for decades

Can’t agree with that we had a Welsh made Fifthwheel much better build and quality than any German made van

 

[Emmit]

We've just changed from a Burstner to a Pilote. (both A class)
The difference between the two is ridiculous.

Very subjectively I'd say the Burstner Aviano is one of the most attractive vehicles of it's type.

However, the Pilote, whilst standing beside the Burstner is an ugly duckling, the van as a whole leaves the
German van way behind when it comes to standard. The construction is better. The insulation is far
superior as are the quality of fittings.

I know the Pilote is made in France and it's sister the Frankia is over the Rhine in Germany. I don't know
whether it's a case of a German van made in France or a french van that has been exported (in the case of Frankia)
to Germany.

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[meanders]

We've just changed from a Burstner to a Pilote. (both A class)
The difference between the two is ridiculous.

Very subjectively I'd say the Burstner Aviano is one of the most attractive vehicles of it's type.

However, the Pilote, whilst standing beside the Burstner is an ugly duckling, the van as a whole leaves the
German van way behind when it comes to standard. The construction is better. The insulation is far
superior as is the quality of fittings.

I know the Pilote is made in France and it's sister the Frankia is over the Rhine in Germany. I don't know
whether it's a case of a German van made in France or a french van that has been exported (in the case of Frankia)
to Germany.

How do they compare to the Hobby that I think you had when we first met you Derek?

 

[gus-lopez]

Perhaps I expect too much but 'glitches are expected on a new van'

No you've paid a lot of money it should be perfect.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Emmit]

How do they compare to the Hobby that I think you had when we first met you Derek?

Trying to compare a 6.5mt coach build with a 7.5mt A Class is difficult but allowing for size and type they're both up there together.
If Hobby continued to build the same type as wot(sic) we had, I'd have another.
I understand the only reason they stopped building 'my' van was cost, there not being a flat panel on it.

 

[Folkranger]

My daughter bought an Eldiss caravan with their famous SoLiD construction, not supposed to leak. It poured in at two rear corners. it turned out there was a wooden frame with square corners over which they put the rear one piece plastic panel. The problem was the plastic panel had rounded corners over the top of the square wood cornered frame. This caused the plastic to crack where it touched the wood. Rather than have whole front and rear panels replaced, there is a healthy black market in corner covers that patch over the problem.

 

[Folkranger]

PVC all the way. No joints, no leaks, no problems.

OK if you can live with the lack of width

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[Folkranger]

Trying to compare a 6.5mt coach build with a 7.5mt A Class is difficult but allowing for size and type they're both up there together.
If Hobby continued to build the same type as wot(sic) we had, I'd have another.
I understand the only reason they stopped building 'my' van was cost, there not being a flat panel on it.

Bit like mine

 

[Northernraider]

OK if you can live with the lack of width

And they still have windows, skylights and vents so yep they leak too. The Geordie couple I was travelling with in morroco last year had 2 leaking skylights.

 

[Saucer]

Rather than looking for vans from certain countries why not look for one that has wood free construction, at least then if you are unlucky enough to have a leak the damage will be minimal. We have a German van and have owned a British one too, in my opinion our current van is far superior and not that much more expensive than some Brit vans. When looking for our new van wood free was the main criteria along with layout, some will state they are wood free but be careful as this can mean just the walls and floor is still wood.

How do you find out which vans are wood free?

 

[nicholsong]

How do you find out which vans are wood free?

Do not believe a salesman. Ask the factory.

 

[lorger]

How do you find out which vans are wood free?

Research and as above don’t ask the sales rep, I emailed a few companies that I was interested in. One was made by Hymer and a few folk told me they were wood free, I emailed the company and turned out they still use wood. I think most will tell you in their literature but cost nothing to double check.

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[Lenny HB]

How do you find out which vans are wood free?

Look at the manufacturers info they normally boast about if they are wood free.

Hymer. Carthago, N&B, Concorde & Morelo are few that are.
They also have aluminium internal walls, Hymer only new models from 2016.

 

[iamarobot1999]

And they still have windows, skylights and vents so yep they leak too. The Geordie couple I was travelling with in morroco last year had 2 leaking skylights.

Agreed, but you tend to know about roof leaks fairly quickly. It’s the other seams and joints that always concerned me when i had a bigger motorhome.
Don’t think it’s just down to which manufacturers as they all tend to rely on sealant in a lot of areas.
Chassis’s flex a bit and so do the fairly flimsy boxes attached to them. You can hear them creaking about when driven, its no surprise leaks happen I guess.
Makes sense that manufacturers should use materials that don’t rot or soak water, except that leaks will happen and allow drainage holes for when they do.
They would last a lot longer though and that would be bad for business!

 

[Northernraider]

Look at the manufacturers info they normally boast about if they are wood free.

Hymer. Carthago, N&B, Concorde & Morelo are few that are.
They also have aluminium internal walls, Hymer only new models from 2016.

Mobilvetta claimed and boasted to be woodfree as did euramobil.

Buy my hymer, euramobil and this Mobilvetta all had wood internal panels. The Mobilvetta also has a wooden frame

 

[Northernraider]

Agreed, but you tend to know about roof leaks fairly quickly. It’s the other seams and joints that always concerned me when i had a bigger motorhome.
Don’t think it’s just down to which manufacturers as they all tend to rely on sealant in a lot of areas.
Chassis’s flex a bit and so do the fairly flimsy boxes attached to them. You can hear them creaking about when driven, its no surprise leaks happen I guess.
Makes sense that manufacturers should use materials that don’t rot or soak water, except that leaks will happen and allow drainage holes for when they do.
They would last a lot longer though and that would be bad for business!

Not necessarily, the skylights can leak allowing water in which usually ends up in the sills etc . And then they rust .

 

[ceejayt]

As it happens we have a small leak in one of the rear windows - happens in heavy rain and at speed when driving - being forced through.

Popping in to RS tomorrow where they will pop it out, fix and reseal it. In its fifth year, I can't complain really and only leak we have had.

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[nicholsong]

Look at the manufacturers info they normally boast about if they are wood free.

Hymer. Carthago, N&B, Concorde & Morelo are few that are.
They also have aluminium internal walls, Hymer only new models from 2016.

Two questions come out of that statement.

Did Hymer adopt the double-aluminium sandwich after N&B became part of the same Hymer Group?

Which was the first MH manufacturer to use double-aluminium construction, without timber support? I have always thought it may have been N&B. Anyone know for sure?

 

[CazPaul]

Two questions come out of that statement.

Did Hymer adopt the double-aluminium sandwich after N&B became part of the same Hymer Group?

Which was the first MH manufacturer to use double-aluminium construction, without timber support? I have always thought it may have been N&B. Anyone know for sure?

Not sure Geoff but Concorde was from 1997/1998 season.

 

[Lenny HB]

Hymer took over N&B in 1996, Hymer's first model with an Aluminium internal wall was the Dynamic Line in 2016.

 

[Al n Val]

PVC all the way. No joints, no leaks, no problems.

And

no storage
no nice island bed
no storage
no big garage
no storage
no room inside to sprawl out
no storage

tbh they really do have a place in motorhoming but they can and do leak like any other motorhome

did i mention they have no storage

 

[iamarobot1999]

And

no storage
no nice island bed
no storage
no big garage
no storage
no room inside to sprawl out
no storage

tbh they really do have a place in motorhoming but they can and do leak like any other motorhome

did i mention they have no storage

Haha! Each to their own I guess, Ive got a house with all that and more. When we’re away in the summer we spend all our time outside. When we’re away in winter we’re skiing! No time for lounging about watching a tiny TV

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[TrudeandDall]

And

no storage
no nice island bed
no storage
no big garage
no storage
no room inside to sprawl out
no storage

tbh they really do have a place in motorhoming but they can and do leak like any other motorhome

did i mention they have no storage

When was the last time you looked under the bed of a 6.4mtr fixed rear bed pvc? Plus it's great having all that storage in a coach-built van, but you have to keep it empty as there is no payload available. Horses for courses - but it's pvc for me.

 

[Al n Val]

Haha! Each to their own I guess, Ive got a house with all that and more. When we’re away in the summer we spend all our time outside. When we’re away in winter we’re skiing! No time for lounging about watching a tiny TV

And

a tiny TV

 

[Al n Val]

When was the last time you looked under the bed of a 6.4mtr fixed rear bed pvc? Plus it's great having all that storage in a coach-built van, but you have to keep it empty as there is no payload available. Horses for courses - but it's pvc for me.

1000kg storage, that’ll do me

 

[Jonno1103]

How do you find out which vans are wood free?

Depends on age really, 95% of the modern vans are wood free or the minimal amount used is coated in composite. (Chausson & Benimar)

 

[Dazzola]

Christ, I'm glad I built my own van!
Granted its a simple thing compared to a full on motorhome but has everything we need.
Absolutely zero problems so far in 12k miles and over a year of use.
I have very little patience for things when they go wrong, a couple of times it's forgiven, after that it's gone.