British better than Continent vans (1 Viewer)

[funflair]

And it's that that I don't get with British vans....we live outside most of the time chasing the sun!. May withdraw inside if it turns cool. The priority for us in a van is the bed as it's the main thing you do is sleep. Getting bedding out and converting a sofa every night? Errr no thanks!lol

When we had a caravan we liked the two big sofas either side for lounging on or entertaining friends, this space had to "multi task" into a bed to get the whole package down to a sensible length, now we have a motorhome we love the fixed bed as we can have bed space and lounge space simultaneously but the bed space again "multi tasks" as a garage underneath, we would not want to go back to making up a bed every night but it worked at the time when we were going away for long weekends or two weeks max, now we are away for two months or more at a time it would get very tedious.

Martin

 

[Dave and Ginny]

I had a look around a fellow campers brand new Autotrail Frontier Comanche yesterday. Cracking interior layout and a fine looking van with what looked like a very comfortable and welcoming bed. But at 8.73m long it was huge and the owner said it took 4 folk watching him to get safely on the pitch here at Racó in Benidorm...and these are very generously sized pitches.
Hearing that scares the life out of me!

Need to get out and try some of the 'alternative' bed possibilities, a more comfortable drop down on newer vans I'm hoping that I find .

 

[Khizzie]

The Autotrail Sieve?

To be fair there are more issues on this forum with leaking hymers than with any of the older British built motorhomes ,unfortunately when swift took over in the 2006 things went askew then from 2013 seems to have got their act together ,,and of course once again like all things you only get what you paid for. Roy

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[Khizzie]

Whatever you buy you end up with a Bloody Fiat, Peugeot or other Seval van and they are all the same whatever make you buy. It does not matter what body goes on it there all similar. Even the Dear ones are the same base. unless you get a Merc and pay through the nose for the name. The box on the back is only what you choose to get the pretty upholstery and curtains, They all seem to leak somewhere at sometime, all the shaking and movement driving down the road makes for the flexible joints shaking loose or the widows breaking the seal. Just choose the layout you actually like and hope it hasn't been made so heavy that you cannot drive it legally.

The most sensible response to date. ..

 

[Judge Mental]

To be fair there are more issues on this forum with leaking hymers than with any of the older British built motorhomes ,unfortunately when swift took over in the 2006 things went askew then from 2013 seems to have got their act together ,,and of course once again like all things you only get what you paid for. Roy

Haven't seen one thread on leaking hymer on here....In Spain last year 4 autotrail owners near me had many repeat tales of terrible build quality...One was on his 4th van! lol talk about a glutton for punishment!

 

[Khizzie]

Haven't seen one thread on leaking hymer on here....In Spain last year 4 autotrail owners near me had many repeat tales of terrible build quality...One was on his 4th van! lol talk about a glutton for punishment!

Whatever.!!

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[nobby &noo]

i looked at some new autotrails yesturday at johns cross whilst getting some bits for my burstner and thought the build quality was awfull they had catches already falling off in draws where the screws were too short one van even had a cupboard door that scrapped the side wall of the loo where it was not hung right,small things i know but when spending 60k on a van attention to little things mean a lot.

 

[My Dog Likes Fishing]

Just done a forum search for leaking Hymer. Only Hymer leaking tap coming up. Did you dream that one up? Do you work for Autotrail?

 

[Khizzie]

What a great thread haha . Everyone so impartial ,,haha .

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[jongood]

Noting the title of the thread - two word spring to mind

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[funflair]

Come on peeps, the poster asked for suggestions for a van with island bed and decent lounge area, and asked that this doesn't turn out to be a slagging match British vs Continental.

There must be some sensible suggestion for vans to look at British or Continental.

Martin

 

[Khizzie]

Sorry ,you are right ,lets give the op a fair idea of what's about in his /her their price range . Because that's where we need to start ,how much dosh available..

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[funflair]

To be fair there are more issues on this forum with leaking hymers than with any of the older British built motorhomes ,unfortunately when swift took over in the 2006 things went askew then from 2013 seems to have got their act together ,,and of course once again like all things you only get what you paid for. Roy

I think you might be mixing up Autotrail and Autocruise as Swift have not taken over Autotrail yet.

Martin

 

[sdc77]

If we could have any sensible sized van it would be one of the Rapidos with an island bed. But we don't need one as our Chausson does everything we need and we love it. Build quality is great and the lack of island bed is made up by the sheer size of our transverse bed over the mahoossive garage.
Only issue is the table can be a bit too big sometimes.
We've looked at all brands at shows and the only ones that do it for us are Rapido and Carthago. We certainly prefer continental vans above British ones.
But that's just us.

 

[Khizzie]

I think you might be mixing up Autotrail and Autocruise as Swift have not taken over Autotrail yet.

Martin

Ahh ! Thought they had ,my 10yr old autocruise is in my opinion far better quality than the ones after swift took them over..however swift made some nice caravans but had little idea of how to build a good motorhome body ..

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[Khizzie]

If we could have any sensible sized van it would be one of the Rapidos with an island bed. But we don't need one as our Chausson does everything we need and we love it. Build quality is great and the lack of island bed is made up by the sheer size of our transverse bed over the mahoossive garage.
Only issue is the table can be a bit too big sometimes.
We've looked at all brands at shows and the only ones that do it for us are Rapido and Carthago. We certainly prefer continental vans above British ones.
But that's just us.

I too if I could afford it go for the rapido its got a great layout . But for now its my lovely little stargazer.

 

[Brightonian]

To be fair there are more issues on this forum with leaking hymers than with any of the older British built motorhomes ,unfortunately when swift took over in the 2006 things went askew then from 2013 seems to have got their act together ,,and of course once again like all things you only get what you paid for. Roy

Without high jacking the thread was my 1999 Bessacarr E600 made by Swift or someone else?

 

[Judge Mental]

When we had a caravan we liked the two big sofas either side for lounging on or entertaining friends, this space had to "multi task" into a bed to get the whole package down to a sensible length, now we have a motorhome we love the fixed bed as we can have bed space and lounge space simultaneously but the bed space again "multi tasks" as a garage underneath, we would not want to go back to making up a bed every night but it worked at the time when we were going away for long weekends or two weeks max, now we are away for two months or more at a time it would get very tedious.

Martin

And that's the rub Martin...UK vans based on caravans...What a yawn

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[Khizzie]

And that's the rub Martin...UK vans based on caravans...What a yawn

Haha couldn't agree more . and German ones based on tanks ...but lets leave that alone and see what the poster is really looking for and a what cost.then maybe we can give him some good idea of what's available .

 

[funflair]

And that's the rub Martin...UK vans based on caravans...What a yawn

To be fair that is what a lot of people want which is why they sell so many, but we are all different.

Martin

 

[deleted-member02]

A quick look through Autotrader shows how few vans have both island beds and bench seats.
I can see a few with half dinette but that's not what OP is looking for... majority are certainly British.
Personally, I'd ditch the island bed, plenty more options then, either drop-down or rear double over garage

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[Chris]

i looked at some new autotrails yesturday at johns cross whilst getting some bits for my burstner and thought the build quality was awfull they had catches already falling off in draws where the screws were too short one van even had a cupboard door that scrapped the side wall of the loo where it was not hung right,small things i know but when spending 60k on a van attention to little things mean a lot.

Our Burstner ( a 2008 Aviano) had rubbishy catches on the fridge and drawers.

 

[mentaliss]

Build Quality, Island bed, Garage that has access from side to side, Alka chassis, 16" road wheels, Well thought out kitchen, comfortable dinette area, Semi auto, LPG and mains electric's outside connections, Latest size Hab door, and more ........... well we saw such a MH yesterday.... Dethleffs Esprit....

 

[Judge Mental]

i looked at some new autotrails yesturday at johns cross whilst getting some bits for my burstner and thought the build quality was awfull they had catches already falling off in draws where the screws were too short one van even had a cupboard door that scrapped the side wall of the loo where it was not hung right,small things i know but when spending 60k on a van attention to little things mean a lot.

And that before you weigh it!lol

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[Minxy]

Without high jacking the thread was my 1999 Bessacarr E600 made by Swift or someone else?

Yes, Bessacarr are the 'premium' Swift offering, made in the same factory but usually with a higher spec.

 

[Judge Mental]

Oops!

 

[Minxy]

Oops!

Eddie ... you're gonna end up with a 'fistula' in the 'facetula' if you're not careful!

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[Judge Mental]

Eddie ... you're gonna end up with a 'fistula' in the 'facetula' if you're not careful!

your to quick..I posted it on wrong thread..moved

 

[Khizzie]

Yes, Bessacarr are the 'premium' Swift offering, made in the same factory but usually with a higher spec.

My autocruise was not made by swift .swift only took over autocruise around 2006 ,and unfortunately the quality took a nosedive ..too many corners were cut to save pennies ,tbh I wouldn't buy a swift motorhome now until I had a full survey and at least a five year warranty on the body.. Having said that there are some bargains to be had with buying British..you cannot compare like for like when you can buy a new British built moho for circa £40k and a German or French one costing upwards of £80k ..so you pays your money and you get what you pay for .. Roy

 

[Dave and Ginny]

Haha couldn't agree more . and German ones based on tanks ...but lets leave that alone and see what the poster is really looking for and a what cost.then maybe we can give him some good idea of what's available .

Haha...how much to spend on that new van now that's indeed the question!
Problem is, our trusty first van Hymer cost all of 21k and has given us stirling service. Now I would have that gorgeous Hymer Duomobil that Martin @funflair posted earlier in the thread (life's too short, you only live once, can't take it with you etc) but, the sensible one would say...103k (or there a bouts) could buy a villa with a swimming pool in Spain, and it can we've seen some!

Having a great van that's done us proud (no water leaks, last service comment was at 13 year old it has better readings on damp Meter than 2 year old vans), I think I can push it to about £50k for the right van.

Ginny has no idea I've just pitched that figure .

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