Which Converter, NuVenture or S&L? (1 Viewer)

[Ranger]

We are in the early stages of finding a conversion company to make our next motorhome and currently favour NuVenture or S&L Motorhomes. Has anybody had any dealings with either company or any comments would be welcome. Mindful of recent posts about Mototrek who are from Yorkshire and also convert horseboxes as S&L are also from Yorkshire and have a horsebox conversion business although I have been unable to find any connection between them. we are also keen to use a company that is on the Insurance companies Approved list. Thank you and await comments. John

 

[Deneb]

A user called grahamw on the Outandaboutlive motorhome forum had a conversion built to his own specification by S&L and appears to have been very pleased with it. I hope it's not forbidden to mention another forum here, but it may be worth PM'ing him on there for his opinion.

 

[Judge Mental]

never heard of S&L while Nu Venture established....just compare carefully

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[Ranger]

Thanks, had a good poke about in a S&L conversion at Newark show and couldn't find anything wrong with it so worth another look. I know my way around all the bits but would be more worried about problems with the company like some people have had with Mototrek and the like.

 

[Judge Mental]

why I stick with the big boys that have economies of scale equaling better value then bespoke operations can get anyway near.

 

[Paddywack]

why I stick with the big boys that have economies of scale equaling better value then bespoke operations can get anyway near.

I am not sure about the economies of scale argument, one of the things that made me think Moto-Trek would be OK to deal with is its size. In their Equi-Trek / Moto-Trek guise they are the biggest importer of Peugeot vans and chassis. If you go to their showroom alongside the motorhomes and horseboxes (mind to call a £150k vehicle a horsebox doesn't sound right), are a lot of specialist vehicles for the police and ambulance service.

With this level of purchases they are able to buy with a massive discount from Peugeot, so much so that a family member who is a Peugeot main dealer told me even he could not source a base van cheaper than MT get them. It gives them a powerful starting point, which if they got their build and customer service right should enable them to corner the market in high-end motorhomes - well british built ones!

Sadly the execution of the build and the buying experience, once you have placed the order, is so disappointing I would encourage anyone to run away and buy elsewhere.

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[Judge Mental]

I am not sure about the economies of scale argument, one of the things that made me think Moto-Trek would be OK to deal with is its size. In their Equi-Trek / Moto-Trek guise they are the biggest importer of Peugeot vans and chassis. If you go to their showroom alongside the motorhomes and horseboxes (mind to call a £150k vehicle a horsebox doesn't sound right), are a lot of specialist vehicles for the police and ambulance service.

With this level of purchases they are able to buy with a massive discount from Peugeot, so much so that a family member who is a Peugeot main dealer told me even he could not source a base van cheaper than MT get them. It gives them a powerful starting point, which if they got their build and customer service right should enable them to corner the market in high-end motorhomes - well british built ones!

Sadly the execution of the build and the buying experience, once you have placed the order, is so disappointing I would encourage anyone to run away and buy elsewhere.

well they build 100's if not 1000's of these a year and can be imported from about £32-35K..... build quality first class.

 

[Paddywack]

well they build 100's if not 1000's of these a year and can be imported from about £32-35K..... build quality first class.

Well if it only takes them 7 minutes to build one I'm not surprised they're so cheap!

What was also interesting in the video was that they water test the finished product, my current complaint with Moto-Trek is that the side door leaks like a sieve because the internal trim panel is not fitted within the aperture. They don't want to know and no longer respond to emails, so it looks like I am going to get it (and a few other minor but still annoying issues) fixed elsewhere and go through the small claims court to recover these costs.

What is annoying is that the van is 95% perfect (although when we first got it was only 85% right), the process to correct all of these faults are simple and easily achievable, some good quality control as shown in the video. But it seems that Moto-Trek, like some other companies do not recognise that the best salesperson is a happy customer and prefer to spend thousands on glossy marketing and websites.

As it happens I did look at the Globecar range when we where looking, but as documented elsewhere on here I wanted a PVC with a fixed bed and large garage for expensive bikes and kayaking equipment under. The UK importers of Globecars couldn't do bespoke so that wrote them out of the short list. This van will do us until retirement (fiveish more years) but when we do get to change I will follow your mantra Eddie "go across the water to get value!" - and you don't mean sarf London!

 

[Judge Mental]

Well if it only takes them 7 minutes to build one I'm not surprised they're so cheap!

What was also interesting in the video was that they water test the finished product, my current complaint with Moto-Trek is that the side door leaks like a sieve because the internal trim panel is not fitted within the aperture. They don't want to know and no longer respond to emails, so it looks like I am going to get it (and a few other minor but still annoying issues) fixed elsewhere and go through the small claims court to recover these costs.

What is annoying is that the van is 95% perfect (although when we first got it was only 85% right), the process to correct all of these faults are simple and easily achievable, some good quality control as shown in the video. But it seems that Moto-Trek, like some other companies do not recognise that the best salesperson is a happy customer and prefer to spend thousands on glossy marketing and websites.

As it happens I did look at the Globecar range when we where looking, but as documented elsewhere on here I wanted a PVC with a fixed bed and large garage for expensive bikes and kayaking equipment under. The UK importers of Globecars couldn't do bespoke so that wrote them out of the short list. This van will do us until retirement (fiveish more years) but when we do get to change I will follow your mantra Eddie "go across the water to get value!" - and you don't mean sarf London!

Here you go!

Can help you get one LHD or RHD

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[Paddywack]

@Judgemental

Next one's an A class!

 

[Judge Mental]

@Judgemental

Next one's an A class!

Same here it there is a next one

 

[Ranger]

well they build 100's if not 1000's of these a year and can be imported from about £32-35K..... build quality first class.

Globecar is about the only one that comes near to our requirements and build quality but its a pity they only come in front wheel drive.

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[Judge Mental]

Globecar is about the only one that comes near to our requirements and build quality but its a pity they only come in front wheel drive.

with ESP and traction + etc...They are pretty good these days unless after something more hardcore like 4 wheel drive. Not been stuck yet

but the X250 onward a very practical van for a conversion as its wider then most

 

[Ranger]

I agree the X250 is an excellent shape for conversion but front wheel drive would not even get out of our yard at this time of the year, twin rear drive with M&S tyres digs its way out but you know where its been plus we are sometimes 5.5 ton with the trailer on across very wet fields. Our current van is the first one we have had which is not four wheel drive for many years. The 4x4 X250 look good but I don't think they are making many.