Have you seen the new Pilote Joa Camp models? Thought?

SirPooley

SirPooley

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Hi all

I shall shortly be in the market for a new motorhome - and I do mean new. I've read a lot of advice on going for new/used vehicles and I've decided that for my plans, I want new.

The Pilote Joa Camp 70Q (no specific reason to link to this site - it's just one of the only sites with a decent spec and pics at the moment) is looking really attractive to me. There are a few extras that I'm going to need, chief amongst them an extra bed for occasional use. Fitted with all optional extras (including the bed and the usual gubbings) it comes in at just shy of £52k. It's coming out in January 2022 which is bang on the time I'm looking at.

I shall be travelling solo with the odd visit (hence the extra bed option) and everything about this seems perfect for me.

Interested to hear what seasoned MH experts think.
 
No pic of the bathroom. Nowhere to lounge full length. Very sparse cooking facilities. Not for me.

By 'payload' when we ask that, we mean how much can we carry, additional to the weight of the vehicle and what Pilote have already put in it - not what driving licence one needs to drive it on the road.
 
Payload at nearly 7Mts could be tight with full tanks, water & Fuel, plus 2 leisure batteries, solar panels maybe, large garage to keep bikes and other junk in is so tempting.
No mention of the MIRA weight that's the vans weight from the factory before any additions are added, deduct that figure when known, from the MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) which is 3500KG's, and the difference is your usable payload.
Best advice get it weighed on a weigh bridge with a certificate from your dealer before parting with any money, so many 1st timers have been caught out with vans that are not useable and that will continue no doubt. Many think if a vans been built with 4 belted seats, sleeps 4 etc, then it must have been designed to be safe & usable for 4 with all their kit...so wrong in many cases.

Think about upgrading engine to 160BHP it will be much better on that sized van, manual or new auto box whatever suits you.
Good luck, welcome to FUN.
LES

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Have you any idea of delivery time, you say it comes out in january 2022 but have you asked a dealer ? Because of the current shortages some manufacturers have already sold their 2022 models
 
busbuddy said:
Have you any idea of delivery time, you say it comes out in january 2022 but have you asked a dealer ? Because of the current shortages some manufacturers have already sold their 2022 models
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Yes. I have asked a dealer website sort of close to me to give me a delivery estimate. Their site says 'taking orders' so we'll see.
 
TinaL said:
Payload at nearly 7Mts could be tight with full tanks, water & Fuel, plus 2 leisure batteries, solar panels maybe, large garage to keep bikes and other junk in is so tempting.
Many think if a vans been built with 4 belted seats, sleeps 4 etc, then it must have been designed to be safe & usable for 4 with all their kit...so wrong in many cases.

Think about upgrading engine to 160BHP it will be much better on that sized van, manual or new auto box whatever suits you.
Good luck, welcome to FUN.
LES
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Thanks for this advice. I've seen a number of comments on van engine size so will definitely take this into account.

I will be travelling almost exclusively solo with very occasional visits from one other person and I live pretty minimally. Given that, how do you feel about the weight allowance remaining.
 
The French motorhome press are describing the range as budget end, one review Here it's in French but Google will translate, or one other Here
Not too much detail at the moment but I'm sure the press will have them soon for a proper review.

I'm a big Pilote fan having owned several through the years but the last few years has seen many complaints and problems, there have been many reports on Pilote forums of the last couple of year vans having many faults with their habitation electrics, they have changed from using Schaudt Elektroblocks to Scheiber, utilising touch screen interface for the control of living area electrics and the cab head unit. Hopefully that has now been resolved but worth doing a bit of research before committing to a purchase.

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For a 7 metre van it looks very cluttered inside, not a lot of space, I think even for one person this would feel a bit restrictive, also if it’s the budget end van it won’t have longevity!
 
The French web site says "Charge utile 800kg" which I guess is payload, if you are as you say solo and fairly minimal that should be enough.

Half of the van floorpan is taken up with the island bed;) OK but at the expense of space in the daytime areas ie kitchen and lounge.
 
I become a first time Pilote owner in 2019, I'm also on Pilote forums, Facebook etc and have to agree there are some criticisms of the electric controls. We must have been very lucky as we've had very few problems, any have been minor and, in part, due to our lack of knowledge.

The building quality is excellent and probably better than any van owned in 30+ years of motorhoming.

I would not hesitate to buy Pilote or any marque from this manufacturer. This new model is classed as "budget" and it will be interesting to see how savings have been made. If less hi-tec electric controls have been used then that may be an improvement.
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
How do you come to that conclusion.......has to be expensive to last?. ..really?
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I'm quite amazed by how motorhomes seem to hold their value. It's one of the reasons I like the idea of buying new and touring the UK for a couple of years. After that I'll either be a van lifer for ever or I'll have scratched my lifelong itch and will sell on.
 
My thoughts are that the lounge area looks extremely cramped. If you’re going to have another bed I assume it will be a drop down? If that’s the case it will make the lounge feel even smaller. Do they do a transverse bed instead of the island bed? If so, it could give you a more useable living area.
 
Southdowners said:
My thoughts are that the lounge area looks extremely cramped. If you’re going to have another bed I assume it will be a drop down? If that’s the case it will make the lounge feel even smaller. Do they do a transverse bed instead of the island bed? If so, it could give you a more useable living area.
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Looking on the French website Broken Link Removed they all have the cramped Eurolounge at the front which is a big off put if you like lounging around inside. It looks like Joa camp might be similarly placed to Mooveo, the other Pilote budget brand.
 
Interesting as a modern entry level model (for Pilote range) for those buying new. Shame that the campervan models don't also have the swing wall bathroom as it's a great use of space. This model starts at £53k:

 
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Thinking of buying a Joa Camper 75t, would anyone happen to have any positive/negative opinions to share? Thanks🚐👍

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