Pilote - any good?

Simon Select

Simon Select

MH Trader
LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Mar 18, 2016
Posts
1,349
Likes collected
7,839
Location
Devon
Funster No
42,036
MH
A Class Coachbuilt
Exp
25 Years
Hi all,
I have blindly agreed to take a punt on a part exchange thats coming in. In truth I have not had much experience with Pilote as a brand.
If anyone knows the model, its a 2017 Pilote G781 Emotion.
Looks like a smart piece of kit!
Si
 
Theres a pilote owners on fb.
 
I think they are good vans. Traded my Pilote up for a Le Voyageur which is the same group. They are as well made as any on the market
 
Also Bavaria made by the same group. Not bad looking, but out French friends who have a Bavaria tag axle have spent way too much time at the Pilote factory having major warranty repair work done, like a new dash ×2 because it cracked, new table, new fridge freezer ×2, new Surflow pump ×3, new Truma boiler, new hab door lock ×2, etc. The list goes on. Van is now 4 years old and they're struggling to sell it.
 
I've got an explorateur G782, 63 plate, 50k, 3lt auto, tag axle, 4 berth and fully loaded.

I love it, it's the dugzbaws!

I have had it almost a year, I've not had any problems that I couldn't sort myself such as duff leisure batteries, a Hab door handle that required replacement (but I suspect that could have been my daughter swinging on it whilst having a force ten tantrum!) and a 3 way fridge that needed a good clean and service, but that was poor performance from the dealer rather than a manufacturing problem.

It's built like a tank, goes like a train, stable as a rock, is as warm as toast and turns heads wherever it goes. It is spacious and modern, well constructed and as dry as a bone.

I would buy another.
IMG_20190406_141510608_HDR.jpg


Can't say fairer than that.

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Pilote are quiet well thought of here in France. Good quality workmanship that seem to last. My brother in-law has a 2001 which looks like new inside. I have a Bavaria which is part of the same group. I've had mine two years with no problems so far. Both are left out all year round.
 
Simon Howards Motorhomes said:
Hi all,
I have blindly agreed to take a punt on a part exchange thats coming in. In truth I have not had much experience with Pilote as a brand.
If anyone knows the model, its a 2017 Pilote G781 Emotion.
Looks like a smart piece of kit!
Si
Click to expand...
Ours is a nearly a year old and apart from a faulty window blind it been perfect , clocked up 7,000 last summer around Europe .
When is it going to be advertised on your website
BC093EE4-BBB2-4741-85EC-D485B7EDA939.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Neil S said:
Ours is a nearly a year old and apart from a faulty window blind it been perfect , clocked up 7,000 last summer around Europe .
When is it going to be advertised on your website
Click to expand...
Hi Neil, collecting it tomorrow. Its another Managers Father in Laws old van. Apparantly had £15000 worth of option and accessories so looking forward to seeing it!
 
Thanks all, sounds like a good vehicle to have bought.

Si
 
Had a 2016 G740C A class for three years from new, before downsizing late last year.

No problems whatsoever in the three years, really well built with a good specification. Dealer sold mine within 48 hours of it going on the sales lot.

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Ahem, nor wishing to spoil the fun. I bought a 600L in July last year after previously owning two Hymers. I find that the Pilote looks better but it feels soooooo flimsy.
I am still waiting for spares to have both the windscreen blind and hab door blinds repaired. I have spoken to a Pilote dealer who told me that the windscreen blind system was replaced as the system I have was troublesome, mine is a 2016 model.
The non Pilote dealer I bought the van from are still adamant that they can get replacement parts while I know that they damn well can't. :oops: :oops:
Did I say that I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM CAMPBELLS OF PRESTON.
 
We have good friends who have owned a Pilote for at least 6 years now and they are very happy with it. For what it's worth we looked at one in the SMC showroom last year and were not impressed by the quality. There was even a broken panel with screws sticking out.
 
TUCANO said:
Ahem, nor wishing to spoil the fun. I bought a 600L in July last year after previously owning two Hymers. I find that the Pilote looks better but it feels soooooo flimsy.
I am still waiting for spares to have both the windscreen blind and hab door blinds repaired. I have spoken to a Pilote dealer who told me that the windscreen blind system was replaced as the system I have was troublesome, mine is a 2016 model.
The non Pilote dealer I bought the van from are still adamant that they can get replacement parts while I know that they damn well can't. :oops: :oops:
Did I say that I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM CAMPBELLS OF PRESTON.
Click to expand...
Our Habitation door blind failed and our dealer got a replacement from Pilote within 3 weeks so they seem to get parts out fairly quickly
 
We have had our 2014 G741 since July 2019 and although impressed by the build quality (on par with the Hymers/Rapido and Burstner we have owned) it has to be the noisiest van on the road we have had. It bangs and creaks and groans but we are working our way through it to deaden the noise.

TUCANO is yours an A Class?
 
TUCANO said:
Ahem, nor wishing to spoil the fun. I bought a 600L in July last year after previously owning two Hymers. I find that the Pilote looks better but it feels soooooo flimsy.
I am still waiting for spares to have both the windscreen blind and hab door blinds repaired. I have spoken to a Pilote dealer who told me that the windscreen blind system was replaced as the system I have was troublesome, mine is a 2016 model.
The non Pilote dealer I bought the van from are still adamant that they can get replacement parts while I know that they damn well can't. :oops: :oops:
Did I say that I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM CAMPBELLS OF PRESTON.
Click to expand...
What is the problem with the blinds?
 
Hope this works as I have never tried multi-quoting before,
Simon Howards Motorhomes said:
I am intrigued now!
I will have a look. Due to get it on Thursday.
Click to expand...
Mr Colpot said:
We have had our 2014 G741 since July 2019 and although impressed by the build quality (on par with the Hymers/Rapido and Burstner we have owned) it has to be the noisiest van on the road we have had. It bangs and creaks and groans but we are working our way through it to deaden the noise.

TUCANO is yours an A Class?
Click to expand...
The Freeminer said:
What is the problem with the blinds?
Click to expand...
Mr Colpot, this van is also the noisiest I have known and I put it down to being on the lighter Ducato chassis as my last two vans were on the Maxi.
Simon Howard Motorhomes, the blind is a vertical system as opposed to the side to side closing of other makes. To close the blind you have to pinch two clips together in the centre which should release the end locking mechanism to pull down the blinds. A system that was replaced by Pilote about the 16 -17 reg period because of inherent problems.
The Freeminer, as above.
An A class Pilote G600l.
Norman.
 
We have had one for about a year now (albeit a different model). But for the budget that we had we thought it looked like a good option compared to what else was out there.
We have used it fairly regularly with no issues. If we were looking to upgrade we would be happy to buy another.

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I have had a 2008 Pilote Explorateur 730FGJ for three years and love it. The fridge can be a pain in the arse on gas (Dometic) but they are known for their issues. You soon learn how to clean the burner etc. Layout of van is spot on. Currently travelling in Spain. Fingers crossed....no issues
 
Something was nagging at my mind. (dux nailed it). When we where looking to change, from the Caravan, we actually looked at Le Voyager. The quality looked to be reasonable, but we could not find one with an accessible Bed that we could use.
 
TUCANO said:
Hope this works as I have never tried multi-quoting before,



Mr Colpot, this van is also the noisiest I have known and I put it down to being on the lighter Ducato chassis as my last two vans were on the Maxi.
Simon Howard Motorhomes, the blind is a vertical system as opposed to the side to side closing of other makes. To close the blind you have to pinch two clips together in the centre which should release the end locking mechanism to pull down the blinds. A system that was replaced by Pilote about the 16 -17 reg period because of inherent problems.
The Freeminer, as above.
An A class Pilote G600l.
Norman.
Click to expand...
That blind system must have changed from the 2014 system which was vertical and without any issues
 
Toady said:
I have had a 2008 Pilote Explorateur 730FGJ for three years and love it. The fridge can be a pain in the arse on gas (Dometic) but they are known for their issues. You soon learn how to clean the burner etc. Layout of van is spot on. Currently travelling in Spain. Fingers crossed....no issues
Click to expand...
You didn't get it from BCS Manchester by any chance did you?
 
TUCANO said:
Howard Motorhomes, the blind is a vertical system as opposed to the side to side closing of other makes. To close the blind you have to pinch two clips together in the centre which should release the end locking mechanism to pull down the blinds. A system that was replaced by Pilote about the 16 -17 reg period because of inherent problems
Click to expand...
Our 2016 van has the same blinds. It appears to have suffered issues before we got it as therequested is reference to warranty work in the file. However, although it works a treat it has suffered some damage probaby by the fitters at the dealers being heavy handed when checking them which has resulted in the paper pleats being squashed....and we never noticed so can't prove it wasn't us!
Although it doesn't effect the operation, I'd like to fit a new one. Any idea of cost and where to get one?

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We traded our Carthago for a Le Voyageur in June. We are very impressed with her. Lots of space, comfy and great build quality
 
TUCANO said:
DuxDeluxe still vertical but more a bind than a blind.
Chilloutsolutions l can only suggest that you contact Pilote but they won't be cheap.
Click to expand...
Leltel said:
We traded our Carthago for a Le Voyageur in June. We are very impressed with her. Lots of space, comfy and great build quality
Click to expand...
Alloy electric shutters on the Le Voyageur.

build quality on mine is streets ahead of anything else I have experienced. Rare as hen’s teeth it seems.....
 
Bonkers the Dog said:
I've got an explorateur G782, 63 plate, 50k, 3lt auto, tag axle, 4 berth and fully loaded.

I love it, it's the dugzbaws!

I have had it almost a year, I've not had any problems that I couldn't sort myself such as duff leisure batteries, a Hab door handle that required replacement (but I suspect that could have been my daughter swinging on it whilst having a force ten tantrum!) and a 3 way fridge that needed a good clean and service, but that was poor performance from the dealer rather than a manufacturing problem.

It's built like a tank, goes like a train, stable as a rock, is as warm as toast and turns heads wherever it goes. It is spacious and modern, well constructed and as dry as a bone.

I would buy another.View attachment 356846

Can't say fairer than that.
Click to expand...

that looks one hell of a van tbf
 

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