Autosleeper Fairford or Fairford plus

[FIDGET]

Anybody got one , need to know a couple of things , before I think of downsizing
does the drivers seat rotate , what do you do with hanging clothes with no wardrobe , the 80 watt solar panel is it enough , water tanks smaller than usual at 69 fresh & 40 waste do you find it a problem when showering , fridge / freezer seems quite small , does it have a fly net over the sliding door .
does it come with a spare wheel
anything else I need to think about .

 

[FIDGET]

bump

 

[Poursay]

Hi Fidget
i have a 2019 Fairford. My driver seat doesn’t rotate, there is no sliding flyscreen. With regard to water, fridge capacity, yes bit on the tight side but you adjust to it. Solar panel just about ok for keeping the batteries topped up but I am looking at adding extra capacity. Mine has a spare wheel. Didn’t particularly rave on AutoSleeper quality control, almost got to the stage of returning it as “ unfit for purpose “ with hell of a rattle from the sliding door and other problems due to poor finishing and lack of pdi, poor customer care from AS. Eventually fixed by Marquis. Would I buy another, probably not!

 

[Longjohn]

We have a Fiarford Plus coming on the 23rd this month, I think for the money they are quite good.

We have purchased from Moran motorhomes in Ludlow and I know they will sort any problems out as they are one of the best dealers you could buy from.

They do come pretty well kitted out and I think we will be happy with it, yes room is a pretty tight but I'm sure its manageable once you de-clutter and pack things correctly.

We have ordered a swivel for the drivers seat to give us more flexibility, we will keep the rear bed made up and use the front area for sitting and even use the front single bed as a sofa to sit looking out of the side door at the world going by.

We have down sized from 6-7mtr long hymer's and are looking forward to the new van.

Go spend some time looking at them I'm sure it will work for you.

 

[FIDGET]

Hi Fidget
i have a 2019 Fairford. My driver seat doesn’t rotate, there is no sliding flyscreen. With regard to water, fridge capacity, yes bit on the tight side but you adjust to it. Solar panel just about ok for keeping the batteries topped up but I am looking at adding extra capacity. Mine has a spare wheel. Didn’t particularly rave on AutoSleeper quality control, almost got to the stage of returning it as “ unfit for purpose “ with hell of a rattle from the sliding door and other problems due to poor finishing and lack of pdi, poor customer care from AS. Eventually fixed by Marquis. Would I buy another, probably not!

Thanks Poursay , for your comments , hopefully if we decide to get one , ours won't be a friday special as yours sounds , who did you buy it from , as you say poor PDI , & you had to get Marquis to put right, you say other problems , what should I look out for.
Thanks again for your frank & honest appraisal
Terry

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[FIDGET]

We have a Fiarford Plus coming on the 23rd this month, I think for the money they are quite good.

We have purchased from Moran motorhomes in Ludlow and I know they will sort any problems out as they are one of the best dealers you could buy from.

They do come pretty well kitted out and I think we will be happy with it, yes room is a pretty tight but I'm sure its manageable once you de-clutter and pack things correctly.

We have ordered a swivel for the drivers seat to give us more flexibility, we will keep the rear bed made up and use the front area for sitting and even use the front single bed as a sofa to sit looking out of the side door at the world going by.

We have down sized from 6-7mtr long hymer's and are looking forward to the new van.

Go spend some time looking at them I'm sure it will work for you.

Hi Longjohn & thanks for your reply , can't wait for your comments on your new Fairford plus , please let me know how you get on .
we will be downsizing from a 7.5 motorhome , so a lot of decluttering for me & then stopping her indoors doubling up on everything she thinks we might need ( even if we never have before)
Thanks again Terry

 

[Poursay]

Hi Fidget,
we like the size of the van, having progressively downsized from 2 larger ones. Storage is limited but then you realise that there is stuff that you have cartered around for years and never used.
you need to check the carpet type surround to the windows to the kitchen and rear are stuck down “ it’s the heat that causes them to come unstuck” is the AS response! Apparently this has been going on for years.
1 of the tags that holds the table in place was butchered. A number of screwhead covers were missing. Some leds on the awning light had failed and it the whole light had to be replaced. When Marquis ( who we bought the van through ) removed the light fitting they discovered rust behind the fitting. Despite Marquis and eventually my efforts AS refused to accept any responsibility! Marquis paid to have it sorted themselves, such was their view of AS .
The worst aspect was a horrendous rattle coming from the sliding door. We had arranged to go away in the van just after getting it and the only way we could travel in it was by jamming cardboard around the window frame. Marquis sorted it on the second attempt after I threatened to return the van “ as unfit fo purpose “ I couldn’t drive it very far without getting a splitting headache.
the triangular shaped top of the aerial came off, I knew I hadn’t hit any thing but replacement under warranty was refused on the grounds that I couldn’t prove it wasn’t me.
normally, there are just the 2 of so we tend to leave the rear bed made and use the front as living space. Occasionally our granddaughter is with us, hence the need for more than 2 beds and belted seats..
As we don’t use the rear bit other than for sleeping, I have removed the tables that fit in the side as that gives me a little more leg room.
I think that is about it, hopefully yours will be ok. Driving and handling much better than a coach built. Economy about 34 mpg. I’ve had it uprated to over the 3.5tonnes, cheaper tax, less concern about being overweight as I have added a towbar for bike rack, restricts speed sometimes but Heigh ho, we go on holiday so generally no rush
Good luck
Mike

 

[Longjohn]

Hi Longjohn & thanks for your reply , can't wait for your comments on your new Fairford plus , please let me know how you get on .
we will be downsizing from a 7.5 motorhome , so a lot of decluttering for me & then stopping her indoors doubling up on everything she thinks we might need ( even if we never have before)
Thanks again Terry

Just to update, I took delivery of the Fair Ford plus in Oct took it to have a tow bar fitted and found out I could not upgrade the weight needed to carry my bike and gear.
It is now back at the suppling dealers they are trying to sell it for us it has 130 miles on clock if anyone is interested, it has satellite and is the new 9 speed auto gearbox.

 

[domf]

Just to update, I took delivery of the Fair Ford plus in Oct took it to have a tow bar fitted and found out I could not upgrade the weight needed to carry my bike and gear.

That sounds like an absolute nightmare. I think most people would have just travelled overweight as I'm sure many do without realising.

Hope it works out for you without being too costly....

 

[Lenny HB]

Unless you are giving up your FLT staus I would have thought the water, solar & fridge would make it a non starter.
Our last van only had a 100Lt tank. I used to carry 2 x 20 Lt containers in the garage.

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[Poursay]

Hi Longjohn
have you tried SVTech to upgrade your weight?

 

[Longjohn]

Hi I have not contacted SVTech but it’s the wrong chassis to upgrade, max achievable weight is 3650kg.
it needs to be a maxi chassis as most PVC’s are but for some reason autosleeper decided to use the lighter weight chassis on some of the vans and most seem to be the fiat 9speed auto, I appreciate your help but it will be sold and replaced with a Merc based vehicle.