Impartial and Independent Motorhome Reviews

[Laughing Gravy]

Hi there

Something that has been bothering me for a while

I will keep the question simple

When will we see a truly independent review of a Motorhome ?

All I appear to see on Internet reviews are flavours on how great and fantastic every Motorhome is. I want to see the flaws of a Motorhome as well as it’s good points

Maybe this is unfair and argue back if it is, but 99% of reviewers appear to be in the back pockets of either the Motorhome company or the dealer supplying the “custom special’

We don’t have this problem in the car industry and there are true independent reviewers out there

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Have a look on here for some dealer reviews which might contain some of the information needed

 

[Lenny HB]

German magazine Promobil tend to give independent reviews.

Wohnmobile, Reisemobile, Wohnwagen, Stellplätze, Tests und Ratgeber | promobil

Das größte Online-Portal für Wohnmobile, Reisemobile und Wohnwagen. Hier finden Sie ausführliche Tests, Wohnmobil-Stellplätze, hilfreiche Ratgeber-Themen, Termine und umfangreiche Tipps.

www.promobil.de

 

[Tonks68]

I agree. Similar with caravans where the review is more or less about the layout rather than the build quality etc.

 

[wiljoy]

I remember in the 90's i was manufacturing graphics for a well know company.
The top motorhome magazine testers would come to the factory and be given a van to test. The van was driven to the farmers field next door and the tester would unload his boxes full of items you would associate with living in the van.
These were set up in the van and the photo shoot was underway.
After a short while everything was removed, the van put back in the yard and that was it. I eagerly awaited the report two months later and how disappointed was I. Apparently they had toured the north east and stayed on several sites whilst putting this motorhome through it's paces.
What a load of tosh. It actually covered less than 1000 yards and was not used for anything other than a photo session.
NEVER put all your trust in reviews unless they are from Jim.

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[The Coops]

How true, used to do the same with motorbike magazines, were given a bike, told to try and break it ( literally) for a week and then the *tester* would write up a review but were terrified of negative comments as frightened to lose advertising revenue! ( No names no pack drill I might want to do some more !) Best place is to camp outside Bruntingthorpe and watch what goes in, all the car and bike mags tend to use it for speed testing mid week. Elvington in Yorks is another favourite

 

[Laughing Gravy]

wiljoy

Not sure anything has changed since then.

In fact professional motorbike reviews follow a similar pattern with journalists all invited out to exotic places for the launch if the new motorcycle products. Wined and dined and as a consequence not a bad word to say about the new motorbike

Need to get the fella from Carwow on the case - Mat Watson. He would sort it out

Don’t think he likes any motorhomes though !

 

[Lenny HB]

Same with all magazines, years ago when I had my audio business ( Mixers & amps for the music industry) a mag had one of our mixers for a review then kept phoning for advertising. We didn't place an add so the review didn't get published.

 

[Burgo]

Alan Heath's reviews? https://www.youtube.com/user/alanheath

 

[sallylillian]

I remember watching a MMM video review of the then new 2015 Flair. As an owner I watched with absolute amazement as the twerp lifted the locker door to the BLACK tank, he pointed to it and said a lovely large fresh water tank!

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[mitzimad]

according to a boiler company rep even" which" demand payments even if you top one of their surveys they call it support charges or something other than bribe

 

[bigtwin]

I always found Dave Hurrell’s (of MMM fame) reviews annoying; he comes across as having an anti-european manufacturers bias.

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

I always found Dave Hurrell’s (of MMM fame) reviews annoying; he comes across as having an anti-european manufacturers bias.

Ian

Probably because he relies on the advertisers to pay his salary. The whole magazine industry is a joke.

 

[Jim]

The trouble is you need to live in van three weeks before you can give it an objective review. Yes, you can run an experienced eye over stuff and have a good idea about how it should turn out. But trust me you just never know how good or bad it is till you spend time in it.

I've noticed a few more magazine reviews mention payload a little more these days, I do wonder if we've had anything to do with that