Difference between Bessaccar range and other Swift motorhomes

[Landscapes]

We are looking at the Bessaccar Motorhomes and have noticed they are made by swift. Would be build quality be as good with a swift Escape or Bolero?

Thanks

 

[Hettie's Crew]

It would be absolutely no different in build quality whatsoever. We had an E450 Bessacarr and it appears to be a style/decor exercise. I’ve always thought the Bolero was better.
Just the same with Elddis and their Buccaneer caravans.

 

[M-J]

What age?

 

[138go]

Swift don't know the meaning of the word quality. All looks good with lots of bells and whistles but not the best design. They certainly push the Uk Specification but there are far better MHs out there.

 

[Landscapes]

It would be absolutely no different in build quality whatsoever. We had an E450 Bessacar and it appears to be a style/decor exercise. I’ve always thought the Bolero was better.
Just the same with Elddis and their Buccaneer caravans.

Thank you for that

Swift don't know the meaning of the word quality. All looks good with lots of bells and whistles but not the best design. They certainly push the Uk Specification but there are far better MHs out there.

do tell. We can always learn from people with experience of different makes

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[M-J]

On the age you are looking at (2012,2013 I assume) not much difference apart from different wood finishes and fabrics. We preferred the Bessacarr colour palate across the board.

We also wanted Alde heating which is in Bessacarr models from those years, not sure if they were in all Swift at that time.

As far as build quality goes I think it’s a mixture of research and luck. Ours seems to be very good and I know others of the same model have been from other members on here but have looked at brand new Bessacarr models at the motorhome show and they were not that great.

 

[138go]

Thank you for that

do tell. We can always learn from people with experience of different makes

When we collected our NEW Bolero I had a good look round and then had a look underneath and noticed water pouring out. Just overfilled the salesman told us. Thirty minutes later when I looked again it had stopped but the water tank was now empty. After a wait of a couple of hours the MH turned up with a Technician who assured us it was fixed BUT not to fill it with water for 24 hours to let the sealer set. When I filled it again this time at home the water just poured out. So as we were due to leave on holiday following day I took it to bits. This is the pipe on the back that drains the water. All they had done was stick it back in with a mountain of Sikaflex. There was so much of it that it had not set in the middle. Cleaned everything and found a large cork that fitted the hole. Small amount of Sikaflex and job done.

When it went back to the Dealer with a list of other faults about 8 weeks later ( Their earliest appointment ) They rang me to say that the repairs to the tank would not be covered by warrantee as I had removed the pipework and bodged it to stop it leaking.

So I told them to get stuffed and just repair it or else.

When we collected it I asked about the tank repair. All sorted was the reply. What did you do I asked. So he looks at the worksheet and tells me they have cut a new thread in the tank and refitted everything. So I was expecting to see some sort of adaptor on the tank. How can you recut the thread if you don't fit a bigger fitting. Well it still leaked. All they had done was wrap lots of PTFE tape round the fitting and very carefully fit it back in the hole. Problem was as soon as you touched the pipe it moved and water came out. So back to the cork. Who needs a tap anyway.

We had water coming in above the passenger seat. That was condensation that built up in the roof space at the front round the window because there was no insulation in the void.

The blind above the cab seats sagged and would not concertina back up. They said we were leaving it out for to long.

Water on the side sets left blue rings because the seat material was not colour fast.

The blind above the cab fell down as it was only held up by for small screws into very thin plastic.

Impossible to use the off side bed in the back because the ALDE Heater lived under there.

Storage was a joke as you had to lift the beds to get chairs through the side locker doors.

Rear double camera showed two images on the mirror style screen. Crap wiring and both cameras sending signal at the same time so you got interference, Dealer just said they all do it.
Ours didn't after I fixed it.

Then the door frames started moving and I realised they were glued to the wallpaper that looks like wood. So finished up removing and refitting.

The carrousel broke and the very tiny screws holding it together were in the bottom.

The microwave had square wheels after using it a couple of times. Dealer said it was because we were not level when we used it.

Best one was the small white plastic cover on the external power for the water pump. The cover split and needed replacing. I asked the spares dept for a new one. They are £1 + Vat.
He wanted the old one back and gave me an envelope to send it back in so they could claim it back from Swift.

After having seats recovered and spending hours fixing it I decided to add it all up and send the Dealer the bill. They refused to pay until that is the Small Claims Forms arrived through the door.

After 3 years we were glad to see the back of it.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I have personally had a poor experience with a new Swift, but they are a high volume pile-it-high type of manufacturer.
Bessacarr is now sold as a Swift Bessacarr
As posted above its now a stying exercise and i bet the B range dissapears soon

 

[funflair]

Bessacar used to be a top of the range caravan manufacturer as were Buccaneer Bessacar were bought by Swift and Buccaneer by Elddis, they both used the respective names for a range of vans that were built on the same floor plan with the same bodywork but loaded with more features and more sumptuous upholstery and decor.

Martin

 

[M-J]

I have personally had a poor experience with a new Swift, but they are a high volume pile-it-high type of manufacturer.
Bessacarr is now sold as a Swift Bessacarr
As posted above its now a stying exercise and i bet the B range dissapears soon

I think the Bessacarr range is planned to change next season to something like swift sports or black edition

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[138go]

Continued ..

Don't forget that with all British MHs you have to have the compulsory HABITATION Check
and Water Ingress Check. This is a real BRITISH thing same as the BRITISH Specification which means you get a Cooker usually with a hot plate, Microwave and Habitation electrics that you cannot use on the move. Also means you cannot have the heating on in the back when you are on the move and its cold.

Before you pick your MH make sure that the Dealer you are using has a good reputation. Nothing worse than being told we are very busy sir and its going to be at least 8 weeks before we can look at it. The reason for this of course is they are busy doing HABITATION Checks which they get PAID for. So sod the customer we have his money.

Our Dealer is some 200 miles away. As with all MH you get minor problems due to the fact they are hand built. We have had a couple of broken bits and usually get them within a week from the factory in Italy. Nothing seem to be to much trouble and they are always there should we need them. So pick your Dealer not because he is near but because you are going to get good service. They are the ones who will sort out the problems. Your CONTRACT is with the supplying Dealer not Swift or whichever MH you chose.

 

[Caggsie1]

The escape range is swifts budget range.

 

[Lenny HB]

When we collected our NEW Bolero I had a good look round and then had a look underneath and noticed water pouring out. Just overfilled the salesman told us. Thirty minutes later when I looked again it had stopped but the water tank was now empty. After a wait of a couple of hours the MH turned up with a Technician who assured us it was fixed BUT not to fill it with water for 24 hours to let the sealer set. When I filled it again this time at home the water just poured out. So as we were due to leave on holiday following day I took it to bits. This is the pipe on the back that drains the water. All they had done was stick it back in with a mountain of Sikaflex. There was so much of it that it had not set in the middle. Cleaned everything and found a large cork that fitted the hole. Small amount of Sikaflex and job done.

When it went back to the Dealer with a list of other faults about 8 weeks later ( Their earliest appointment ) They rang me to say that the repairs to the tank would not be covered by warrantee as I had removed the pipework and bodged it to stop it leaking.

So I told them to get stuffed and just repair it or else.

When we collected it I asked about the tank repair. All sorted was the reply. What did you do I asked. So he looks at the worksheet and tells me they have cut a new thread in the tank and refitted everything. So I was expecting to see some sort of adaptor on the tank. How can you recut the thread if you don't fit a bigger fitting. Well it still leaked. All they had done was wrap lots of PTFE tape round the fitting and very carefully fit it back in the hole. Problem was as soon as you touched the pipe it moved and water came out. So back to the cork. Who needs a tap anyway.

We had water coming in above the passenger seat. That was condensation that built up in the roof space at the front round the window because there was no insulation in the void.

The blind above the cab seats sagged and would not concertina back up. They said we were leaving it out for to long.

Water on the side sets left blue rings because the seat material was not colour fast.

The blind above the cab fell down as it was only held up by for small screws into very thin plastic.

Impossible to use the off side bed in the back because the ALDE Heater lived under there.

Storage was a joke as you had to lift the beds to get chairs through the side locker doors.

Rear double camera showed two images on the mirror style screen. Crap wiring and both cameras sending signal at the same time so you got interference, Dealer just said they all do it.
Ours didn't after I fixed it.

Then the door frames started moving and I realised they were glued to the wallpaper that looks like wood. So finished up removing and refitting.

The carrousel broke and the very tiny screws holding it together were in the bottom.

The microwave had square wheels after using it a couple of times. Dealer said it was because we were not level when we used it.

Best one was the small white plastic cover on the external power for the water pump. The cover split and needed replacing. I asked the spares dept for a new one. They are £1 + Vat.
He wanted the old one back and gave me an envelope to send it back in so they could claim it back from Swift.

After having seats recovered and spending hours fixing it I decided to add it all up and send the Dealer the bill. They refused to pay until that is the Small Claims Forms arrived through the door.

After 3 years we were glad to see the back of it.

Sounds like you had a good one, I hate to think what a bad one is like.

 

[Landscapes]

Bessacar used to be a top of the range caravan manufacturer as were Buccaneer Bessacar were bought by Swift and Buccaneer by Elddis, they both used the respective names for a range of vans that were built on the same floor plan with the same bodywork but loaded with more features and more sumptuous upholstery and decor.

Martin

Thank you for this

 

[Landscapes]

What age?

Around 2013 to 2015

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[Landscapes]

Sounds like you had a good one, I hate to think what a bad one is like.

It sounds as though you had a terrible experience and I’m sure it would put you off any make for ever. As newcomers it’s difficult to determine what’s good and what isn’t. Along with trying to find something that complies with our requirements within budget. In addition there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to valuation of motor homes. This will be bought out of hard earned savings and as such we are frightened to make a huge mistake that will spoil our dream of retirement on the road.

Thank you for your honest reply.

 

[Landscapes]

When we collected our NEW Bolero I had a good look round and then had a look underneath and noticed water pouring out. Just overfilled the salesman told us. Thirty minutes later when I looked again it had stopped but the water tank was now empty. After a wait of a couple of hours the MH turned up with a Technician who assured us it was fixed BUT not to fill it with water for 24 hours to let the sealer set. When I filled it again this time at home the water just poured out. So as we were due to leave on holiday following day I took it to bits. This is the pipe on the back that drains the water. All they had done was stick it back in with a mountain of Sikaflex. There was so much of it that it had not set in the middle. Cleaned everything and found a large cork that fitted the hole. Small amount of Sikaflex and job done.

When it went back to the Dealer with a list of other faults about 8 weeks later ( Their earliest appointment ) They rang me to say that the repairs to the tank would not be covered by warrantee as I had removed the pipework and bodged it to stop it leaking.

So I told them to get stuffed and just repair it or else.

When we collected it I asked about the tank repair. All sorted was the reply. What did you do I asked. So he looks at the worksheet and tells me they have cut a new thread in the tank and refitted everything. So I was expecting to see some sort of adaptor on the tank. How can you recut the thread if you don't fit a bigger fitting. Well it still leaked. All they had done was wrap lots of PTFE tape round the fitting and very carefully fit it back in the hole. Problem was as soon as you touched the pipe it moved and water came out. So back to the cork. Who needs a tap anyway.

We had water coming in above the passenger seat. That was condensation that built up in the roof space at the front round the window because there was no insulation in the void.

The blind above the cab seats sagged and would not concertina back up. They said we were leaving it out for to long.

Water on the side sets left blue rings because the seat material was not colour fast.

The blind above the cab fell down as it was only held up by for small screws into very thin plastic.

Impossible to use the off side bed in the back because the ALDE Heater lived under there.

Storage was a joke as you had to lift the beds to get chairs through the side locker doors.

Rear double camera showed two images on the mirror style screen. Crap wiring and both cameras sending signal at the same time so you got interference, Dealer just said they all do it.
Ours didn't after I fixed it.

Then the door frames started moving and I realised they were glued to the wallpaper that looks like wood. So finished up removing and refitting.

The carrousel broke and the very tiny screws holding it together were in the bottom.

The microwave had square wheels after using it a couple of times. Dealer said it was because we were not level when we used it.

Best one was the small white plastic cover on the external power for the water pump. The cover split and needed replacing. I asked the spares dept for a new one. They are £1 + Vat.
He wanted the old one back and gave me an envelope to send it back in so they could claim it back from Swift.

After having seats recovered and spending hours fixing it I decided to add it all up and send the Dealer the bill. They refused to pay until that is the Small Claims Forms arrived through the door.

After 3 years we were glad to see the back of it.

It sounds as though you had a terrible experience and I’m sure it would put you off any make for ever. As newcomers it’s difficult to determine what’s good and what isn’t. Along with trying to find something that complies with our requirements within budget. In addition there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to valuation of motor homesr. This will be bought out of hard earned savings and as such we are frightened to make a huge mistake that will spoil our dream of retirement on the road.

Thank you for your honest reply.

 

[Landscapes]

Continued ..

Don't forget that with all British MHs you have to have the compulsory HABITATION Check
and Water Ingress Check. This is a real BRITISH thing same as the BRITISH Specification which means you get a Cooker usually with a hot plate, Microwave and Habitation electrics that you cannot use on the move. Also means you cannot have the heating on in the back when you are on the move and its cold.

Before you pick your MH make sure that the Dealer you are using has a good reputation. Nothing worse than being told we are very busy sir and its going to be at least 8 weeks before we can look at it. The reason for this of course is they are busy doing HABITATION Checks which they get PAID for. So sod the customer we have his money.

Our Dealer is some 200 miles away. As with all MH you get minor problems due to the fact they are hand built. We have had a couple of broken bits and usually get them within a week from the factory in Italy. Nothing seem to be to much trouble and they are always there should we need them. So pick your Dealer not because he is near but because you are going to get good service. They are the ones who will sort out the problems. Your CONTRACT is with the supplying Dealer not Swift or whichever MH you chose.

Thank you for this
We don’t mind how far we travel to a dealer, but have found that wading through the salespersons patter. Can be hard going. We have started to look for reviews of dealers on this site, which has been really useful

 

[138go]

Our Motorhome is a Laika, made in Italy. We love it. We bought it from Southdowns and they give excellent customer service. They were recommended to us and we haven’t been disappointed. Although I hate to say it, the British built motorhomes do seem to be inferior to those built on the continent.

Mrs QFour

 

[Landscapes]

Our Motorhome is a Laika, made in Italy. We love it. We bought it from Southdowns and they give excellent customer service. They were recommended to us and we haven’t been disappointed. Although I hate to say it, the British built motorhomes do seem to be inferior to those built on the continent.

Mrs QFour

Now I hadn’t even heard of that make. But I’m heading off to check it out. Thank you

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[Kingham]

Having had both Bessacarr and Swift motorhomes, I found that other than the leather in the Bessie, there wasn’t a noticeable difference in quality between them.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Landscapes I know it’s a daunting and confusing experience trying to find the right Motorhome, with lots of confusing advise/opinion being offered.
We had four new British caravans between 2001 and and 2011, all except the Bailey Pegasus, built in the traditional way. We then bought a new Swift Bessacarr E450 in 2011 and it was built in the same traditional way, soft woods, hard board, screws and staples that rust, flimsy hinges and matting type insulation. It was what it was and we loved it for three years, travelling around France, though not very warm in cold weather.
We part exchanged for a one year old Hymer in 2015 and now have no thoughts about changing to anything.
If we were ‘starting out’ knowing what we’ve learnt over the years we would be looking at Hymer, Burstner, Carthago, Laika etc and buying from Belgium or France, not being the slightest bit concerned about left hand drive. We prefer to be in Europe mostly if we can.
If buying British, I would look at Bailey, at least they’ve moved on a bit regarding building techniques.
It comes down to what suits you and what you like as we all have different experiences and preferences.
If you can, look at as many as you possibly can, plus online at EU dealers so you can gauge prices, try Campirama in Belgium for instance.

 

[The Wino]

I think you will find posts for the same make saying they are terrible or fantastic!!!. We have a Chausson its our second so we were obviously pleased with the first! I wouldn't class all british built as bad or all german as good (of course ours is french so maybe inbetween!) but most chausson owners seem happy despite it being owned by trigano who also own a lot of the british makes maybe the factories have a lot of autonomy how they assemble m/h. One yhing that might worry me about a british make is they seem (at least on here) to come in for a pasting will it eventually affect resale/trade in values at the moment it seems not to

 

[kip]

The escape range is swifts budget range.

You can say that again !! We're having to use a swift escape 694 while our motorhome is being repaired. Pony is an under statement , had it just under 3 weeks, catches on cuboards have fallen off along with window clips that join insect & window blinds together.Seat cushion batons holding seats to the base & uprights have come away from their fixings leaving bare screw faces on show (They use picture frame / mirror hooks to fasten them to the pillars.) Plastication everywhere else !! Apart from that their alright ...Got another 2 weeks of luxury before we get our camper back...

 

[Landscapes]

You can say that again !! We're having to use a swift escape 694 while our motorhome is being repaired. Pony is an under statement , had it just under 3 weeks, catches on cuboards have fallen off along with window clips that join insect & window blinds together.Seat cushion batons holding seats to the base & uprights have come away from their fixings leaving bare screw faces on show (They use picture frame / mirror hooks to fasten them to the pillars.) Plastication everywhere else !! Apart from that their alright ...Got another 2 weeks of luxury before we get our camper back...

Wow, that doesn’t sound good at all. Thank you for this

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[Lofty1]

We have a swift 2014 ex hire vehicle had 30000 on the clock, now 55000, no leaks or problems (touch wood) only fault is weight limit 3.300 ton for a five birth. An ex hire vehicle tends to have all it’s problems sorted in the first few years.

 

[Landscapes]

I guess it’s the luck of the draw. I’m glad you’ve had a positive experience

 

[Landscapes]

Landscapes I know it’s a daunting and confusing experience trying to find the right Motorhome, with lots of confusing advise/opinion being offered.
We had four new British caravans between 2001 and and 2011, all except the Bailey Pegasus, built in the traditional way. We then bought a new Swift Bessacarr E450 in 2011 and it was built in the same traditional way, soft woods, hard board, screws and staples that rust, flimsy hinges and matting type insulation. It was what it was and we loved it for three years, travelling around France, though not very warm in cold weather.
We part exchanged for a one year old Hymer in 2015 and now have no thoughts about changing to anything.
If we were ‘starting out’ knowing what we’ve learnt over the years we would be looking at Hymer, Burstner, Carthago, Laika etc and buying from Belgium or France, not being the slightest bit concerned about left hand drive. We prefer to be in Europe mostly if we can.
If buying British, I would look at Bailey, at least they’ve moved on a bit regarding building techniques.
It comes down to what suits you and what you like as we all have different experiences and preferences.
If you can, look at as many as you possibly can, plus online at EU dealers so you can gauge prices, try Campirama in Belgium for instance.

Thank you for this. Most of our time away will be in the uk for the next 5-6 years so left hand drive might be better when we retire. We will take a look at the vehicles you mentioned and let you know how we get on.

 

[hilldweller]

As newcomers it’s difficult to determine what’s good and what isn’t.

I have criticised Swift for years over terrible quality control. I'm talking over ten years ago.

But last year 'er indoors wanted a fixed read bed so the search was on. We looked all over Lancs and Cheshire. Some missed by a mile. Some were close. There were 3 very similar MHs, Swift, Tribute and Elddis. We saw a Swift - "I'll never buy a Swift" - locally and the design was exactly what we wanted. A well cared for 2011 Sundance 620FB. So we bought it. 18 months on, Spain/France/German/Italy and we cannot fault it. Without doubt one of the best layouts out there.

I have a good damp meter, it keeps passing the test.

I've glued a few trims back in place. Bits like that.

 

[stevewagner]

Landscapes I know it’s a daunting and confusing experience trying to find the right Motorhome, with lots of confusing advise/opinion being offered.
We had four new British caravans between 2001 and and 2011, all except the Bailey Pegasus, built in the traditional way. We then bought a new Swift Bessacarr E450 in 2011 and it was built in the same traditional way, soft woods, hard board, screws and staples that rust, flimsy hinges and matting type insulation. It was what it was and we loved it for three years, travelling around France, though not very warm in cold weather.
We part exchanged for a one year old Hymer in 2015 and now have no thoughts about changing to anything.
If we were ‘starting out’ knowing what we’ve learnt over the years we would be looking at Hymer, Burstner, Carthago, Laika etc and buying from Belgium or France, not being the slightest bit concerned about left hand drive. We prefer to be in Europe mostly if we can.
If buying British, I would look at Bailey, at least they’ve moved on a bit regarding building techniques.
It comes down to what suits you and what you like as we all have different experiences and preferences.
If you can, look at as many as you possibly can, plus online at EU dealers so you can gauge prices, try Campirama in Belgium for instance.

I couldn't agree more. We have are on motorhome number 17 (Carthago) and it's head and shoulders above any British motorhome we've owned.