Who builds the BEST quality Motorhome.

[davidathomas42]

So I know every make has niggles and stuff that has to be sorted out by the first owner. And they all use a lot of generic parts. Thule. Truma. Aldi. Sargent etc etc.

But can anyone say after a few vans which converter goes the extra mile that warrants the cost in the final finish and overall strength of components. The number of loose screws in my 2015 Swift was unreal and all it took to fix most was a tiny dot of wood glue or the likes to have them solid and secure.

 

[Snowbird]

Have forgotten just how many vans have owned over the years, from American RVs down to PVCs and just about everything in between. IMO there is nothing that even comes near, quality wise toan RMB Silver Star. Having owned 2 of these MHs in the past a 670 and a 760 with matching RMB trailer I can say without doubt they will never be matched today at any price. Both RMBs I sold several years ago are now worth at least 50% more now than when I sold them. The first photo is the 670, zoom into the hab door and check the thickness of that door. The second photo is the 760 and trailer.

 

[Jamesh]

Very very happy with Rapido build quality but they are heavy so A classes don't really work at 3500kg from a payload perspective!

Are there any decent build quality 3.5t A classes with reasonable payload???

Cheers James

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Just googled a RMD 830HD from 2007, even has the layout I would love to find with two long benches plus fixed bed, something almost impossible today!

 

[funflair]

Have forgotten just how many vans have owned over the years, from American RVs down to PVCs and just about everything in between. IMO there is nothing that even comes near, quality wise toan RMB Silver Star. Having owned 2 of these MHs in the past a 670 and a 760 with matching RMB trailer I can say without doubt they will never be matched today at any price. Both RMBs I sold several years ago are now worth at least 50% more now than when I sold them. The first photo is the 670, zoom into the hab door and check the thickness of that door. The second photo is the 760 and trailer.
View attachment 548979View attachment 548982

Great vans for sure and that little bit of shape to the body on the earlier one will make it so much more rigid, I looked at new RMB a few years ago and was most disappointed. I think you can get that build now but you are talking upwards of £1/2m.

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[Stealaway]

Are there any decent build quality 3.5t A classes with reasonable payload???

Cheers James

I would suspect not.
The extra body work plus the huge windscreen is going to cut into the vehicles payload.
Older vans seem to be built with more wood. Newer vans seem to have more added extras.
The usual answer is to up scale the wieght, but that's more difficult for people over 70

 

[SandraL]

Wochner, german van made in relatively small numbers.
Saw one on show at dusseldorf a few years back. We thought it was really well put together and although dear better value than hymer and carthago.
Ok, its only our opinion........

 

[Lenny HB]

Three things:

Language barrier

Culture - They hate admitting their mistakes and have a ‘so what’ attitude to customer service.

Distance to get stuff fixed. We ended up leaving our van with the dealer on a number of occasions and flew back to the uk which was very inconvenient.
When we drove there (Dortmund) it was a 5 hour drive from Calais (each way) so a multi day trip. Which again was time consuming and expensive

Any particlar reason you didn't you use Reliance for warranty work as they are approved by N&B.

 

[jongood]

Are there any decent build quality 3.5t A classes with reasonable payload???

Cheers James

Not a chance

 

[glenn2926]

Just you lot wait until Tam Northernraider finishes his. You’ll see who builds the best quality vans .

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[Northernraider]

Just you lot wait until Tam Northernraider finishes his. You’ll see who builds the best quality vans .

Steady lol.

Dont write cheques I can't cash lol

 

[Snowbird]

Great vans for sure and that little bit of shape to the body on the earlier one will make it so much more rigid, I looked at new RMB a few years ago and was most disappointed. I think you can get that build now but you are talking upwards of £1/2m.

I had the original build sheet and invoice for both RMBs. The 670 was 190000 Euros over 30 years ago when new. The 760 if I remember right was 260000 and a certain Hr Beker (tennis player) paid RMB to build the only trailer they ever built, the princely sum of 75000 to build him a trailer on a Fitzel alloy kneeling chassis just to carry his Porsche. 75000 sounds a lot, but it was built to the exact same standard as the MH, one piece monocoque shell and fully carpeted interior.

 

[Al n Val]

Just googled a RMD 830HD from 2007, even has the layout I would love to find with two long benches plus fixed bed, something almost impossible today!

Autotrail Comanche has this very layout

 

[VXman]

You can't beat a Burstner -----
how may more times

I looked at an Elddis at Browmhills early this year. Pretty much the same layout but £12000 cheaper.
It soon became obvious why I had paid the extra.

My Burstner had 5 faults from brand new. 3 are still not fixed!!!

 

[Robert Clark]

Any particlar reason you didn't you use Reliance for warranty work as they are approved by N&B.

They’re not goldschmitd approved me thinks

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[Lenny HB]

They’re not goldschmitd approved me thinks

Did you have problems with the air or the Jack's?

 

[Robert Clark]

Did you have problems with the air or the Jack's?

Both

 

[Stealaway]

It sounds like the dealer is at fault.
Motorhomes are so complicated they need first class after service for

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Autotrail Comanche has this very layout

Thanks I did think about a commanche. it does have close to the perfect layout, problem is our current van (Autosleeper) is so incredibly comfortable for two people and has been near 100% reliable after the initial niggles we wonder how much having to make up a double bed is a problem! A new commanche would probably cost us an extra £50K and not sure it can be justified.

 

[Northernraider]

So I know every make has niggles and stuff that has to be sorted out by the first owner. And they all use a lot of generic parts. Thule. Truma. Aldi. Sargent etc etc.

But can anyone say after a few vans which converter goes the extra mile that warrants the cost in the final finish and overall strength of components. The number of loose screws in my 2015 Swift was unreal and all it took to fix most was a tiny dot of wood glue or the likes to have them solid and secure.

Short answer


Nothing British ....most likely German

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[CazPaul]

I had the original build sheet and invoice for both RMBs. The 670 was 190000 Euros over 30 years ago when new. The 760 if I remember right was 260000 and a certain Hr Beker (tennis player) paid RMB to build the only trailer they ever built, the princely sum of 75000 to build him a trailer on a Fitzel alloy kneeling chassis just to carry his Porsche. 75000 sounds a lot, but it was built to the exact same standard as the MH, one piece monocoque shell and fully carpeted interior.

They were exceptionally well built for sure although I know a couple with a 1993 7.5 tonne model and they had to repair the garage door which was timber construction underneath which surprised me.

 

[CazPaul]

I would have to say Concorde in answer to the question but before 2007 though, although I believe the later models have improved.

 

[Lenny HB]

Both

Oh dear, I had a problem with my Goldschmitt air, lucky I was in Belgium at the time about 100km from the guy who fitted it. He came out the same evening and sorted it.

 

[jongood]

Both

Are you going to tell us what was wrong with the arto?

 

[hymermick]

Its Hymer for me. Im on my third new Hymer since 2003 and have been very pleased with them all. I think German vans are far superior to British made vans having owned British vans from 1986 until 2003.

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[Northernraider]

Ive had the following and would give them the following marks out of 10 for overall build quality and comfort


Motorhomes
2001 Mobilvetta euroyacht 5/10
1998 Euramobil 670 5/10
2003 Burstner 747 argos. 7/10
2008 Frankia 840bd 8.5/10
2004 Hymer 654. 6.5/10

Not had any british ones , mum and dad put me off those as they had swift, ci, autosleeper, autotrail and lunar and everyone bar the autosleeper had leaks
Sister has a 2011 autocruise and its now leaking for the 2nd time in 18 months

Ive had Loads of smaller campers of various makes but not really the same as the motorhomes.

 

[Al n Val]

Thanks I did think about a commanche. it does have close to the perfect layout, problem is our current van (Autosleeper) is so incredibly comfortable for two people and has been near 100% reliable after the initial niggles we wonder how much having to make up a double bed is a problem! A new commanche would probably cost us an extra £50K and not sure it can be justified.

We love our Comanche, it’s had a few niggly issues from new but all have been sorted very quickly by our superb dealer who is 30 mins away and Autotrail who are 70 mins away.

I personally think having a good dealer close by is an absolute must, a friend who purchased a brand new NB sold it because of the poor after sales he received from Travel World & NB

 

[Robert Clark]

Are you going to tell us what was wrong with the arto?

No

 

[MaidinDevon]

My first Van was a 2007 Burstner Argos 747. Loved that van, we full timed in it, until we traded it in for an Elegance.
Still looking for my perfect van, but my Hymer 654 is pretty good overall. Let down by the massive draft across the van, because the oven and kitchen extractor, allow a gale to blow through. Gaffa tape is my friend.

The best designed van was definitely my Murvi. Very well thought out little details. I would have kept it, but wanted a garage, for all the outdoor gubbins.

My friend has an Arto,(2007) lovely quality, but somehow not comfortable, or homely to be in.

I would like another PVC next, I think, but can't find a layout i like. A Murvi is very expensive, but something very similar would be a great option, with a bulkhead at the back for hoses and chairs etc.

 

[Littlewheels]

No

Get in. Next.

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[jako999]

German
Had lots of vans our Hymer was old but great a 2008 Niesmann excellent we kept it 10 years then went to a Carthago but never liked it so we are stepping up again to another Niesmann just hope the 2021 quality is as good as it it should be, mind you by the time we actually get it it will be a 2022.