We are new to motor homes and are looking at Eldis majestic 115 and 140 - we like the look of them but would like advice please

[Trebbie]

We are new to motor homes and are looking at Eldis majestic 115 and 140 - we like the look of them but would like advice please or should we be looking at other models is it best to go for an end kitchen? Etc

 

[rolosroller]

Hi new or 2nd hand
There is also the auto-sleepers nuevo

​

Adria Matrix Axess 590 ST

 

[jongood]

My advice is to buy a good used one preferably getting someone experienced with that marque to cast an eye over it before you part with the money.

You are unlikely to know which layout suits you best until you start actually using it although you can research what people like and dislike about theirs. I hate having to make beds up, other people value a shorter vehicle more.

If you do get it wrong the first time then the depreciation won't be as painful.

 

[Podney]

You will only find out which layout suits you best by looking at lots of different vans and imagining being in them. Even then,most folk take three goes at getting it right!

Do you want to make the bed up at night is a big consideration.

Have you got Jim’s Buyers Guide off here,it’s very good.

Enjoy the search,but don’t rush it.

 

[Shrimp]

I’ve said this before.
Get in the van, pretend to use it as you would on holiday, pretend to cook a meal, sit & eat, sit & watch TV, sit on the loo, use the washroom, pretend going to bed/making up the bed too.
You should do this with the other person also bumbling around, it’s surprising how often you get in each other’s way but at least this way you may find it’s not the layout for you!

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[138go]

We would always go for a European made motorhome, these days.

 

[Bluemanc100]

Based on our recent experience we would not buy another Elddis Coachbuilt motorhome and certainly not one without warranty

We've just sold a gorgeous 2016 Elddis 155 which was immaculate with the exception of rising damp in at least four wallboards because Elddis simply did not seal the boards during manufacture. The result was damp rising from the bottom of the wallboards by capillary action and a significant bill if we had decided to get the issue fixed. Eighty Percent of the quote we had for two of the areas affected was labour and the main issue was that we couldn't find anybody who could do it before the end of the summer.

Our next moho will be a panel van conversion (with warranty) where we hope that the shell of the vehicle will be watertight...

My overriding sentiment is no warranty no purchase....

 

[Two on Tour]

We would always go for a European made motorhome, these days.

Don't see why as they have their fare share of crap vans and problems reported on the forum.
Plenty of happy British made van owners on here.

 

[138go]

Don't see why as they have their fare share of crap vans and problems reported on the forum.
Plenty of happy British made van owners on here.

Fair enough. My husband got sick of fixing our British built motorhome. It pains me to say it but British built is inferior.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Based on our recent experience we would not buy another Elddis Coachbuilt motorhome and certainly not one without warranty

We've just sold a gorgeous 2016 Elddis 155 which was immaculate with the exception of rising damp in at least four wallboards because Elddis simply did not seal the boards during manufacture. The result was damp rising from the bottom of the wallboards by capillary action and a significant bill if we had decided to get the issue fixed. Eighty Percent of the quote we had for two of the areas affected was labour and the main issue was that we couldn't find anybody who could do it before the end of the summer.

Our next moho will be a panel van conversion (with warranty) where we hope that the shell of the vehicle will be watertight...

My overriding sentiment is no warranty no purchase....

I hear you. Our Elddis had rising damp up round the wheel arches, fixed it myself now. They are thrown together in 10 minutes by a semi skilled workforce. There were other issues too that needed attention.
Still a cheap van if you are prepared to finish building it.

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[Two on Tour]

Fair enough, but my opinion is based on a lot of experience.

As are Mine.

 

[Bluemanc100]

I hear you. Our Elddis had rising damp up round the wheel arches, fixed it myself now. They are thrown together in 10 minutes by a semi skilled workforce. There were other issues too that needed attention.
Still a cheap van if you are prepared to finish building it.

The guy picking ours up today is a carpenter and knows a caravan fitter so it’s a bargain for him.. It was a bargain when we bought it to be fair but we didn’t envisage the scale of the issue (nor did the Habcheck show any sign in 90% of the affected areas)

I think I could have fixed the issues myself but I would be very time consuming and require space to carry out the repair that I really don’t have

 

[Richard n Ann]

The guy picking ours up today is a carpenter and knows a caravan fitter so it’s a bargain for him.. It was a bargain when we bought it to be fair but we didn’t envisage the scale of the issue (nor did the Habcheck show any sign in 90% of the affected areas)

I think I could have fixed the issues myself but I would be very time consuming and require space to carry out the repair that I really don’t have

How did you find the damp if it didn't show in the damp check? Also it it a case of just using sealant to fix?

Our van lives in a garage and we holiday in Spain a lot so I'm not ruling out our walls yet, there is a gap underneath where the floor fibreglass stuff meets the plastic capping

 

[wiljoy]

Hymer were to be the new quality conscious owners of Elddis. They started well but after employing people who don't give a dam quality disappeared. Unfortunately they sold to the yanks who can't even spell quality. They have once again introduced damp into there build so beware if purchasing.

 

[uzsnowdrop]

Our next moho will be a panel van conversion (with warranty) where we hope that the shell of the vehicle will be watertight....

Been there ( Eldiss, Benimar , vw) done that. Now on Pug Boxer PVC...go Bluemanc , you wont look back!
The Benimar ( spanish) was trendy inside but had a lowering bed ( is that a phrase? ) and a hilarious design fault, the scissor mechanism on the bed cut the electric wires ... three times
The Eldiss was actually fine, a new van should be, but there were some ropey joins , never leaked though...
We love our PVC, ‘whooshbang’ and I have realised I don’t tip toe round the bodywork like I did on the moulded body ones.
All to their own, I do like the size of the Eldiss 6metre vans, nice and compact , short mirror arms are a luxury too.
Good luck on your hunting!

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[David and Sally]

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't see why as they have their fare share of crap vans and problems reported on the forum.
Plenty of happy British made van owners on here.

All manufacturers have problems but when you compare it as faults against production volume damp problems on German vans are very low.
Hymer brand alone produces more vans in a year than the entire British industry also most of the damp problems on German vans are on 20 year old vans they don't come out of the factory with damp problems like Brit vans.

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't see why as they have their fare share of crap vans and problems reported on the forum.
Plenty of happy British made van owners on here.

All manufacturers have problems but when you compare it as faults against production volume damp problems on German vans are very low.
Hymer brand alone produces more vans in a year than the entire British industry also most of the damp problems on German vans are on 20 year old vans they don't come out of the factory with damp problems like Brit vans.

 

[Bluemanc100]

How did you find the damp if it didn't show in the damp check? Also it it a case of just using sealant to fix?

Our van lives in a garage and we holiday in Spain a lot so I'm not ruling out our walls yet, there is a gap underneath where the floor fibreglass stuff meets the plastic capping

There was one area where the reading was 25% but assumed to be due to a pipe popping off the boiler but it worsened and currently it’s 50%

in the other 4 areas one is at 50% with vinyl paper pimpling and in the others there is blue staining starting to develop.. All at floor level..

The wallboards are clearly visible from below with no sign of a plastic cap or sealant

the fix will involve replacing or patching wallboard and sealing...

 

[Bluemanc100]

Been there ( Eldiss, Benimar , vw) done that. Now on Pug Boxer PVC...go Bluemanc , you wont look back!
The Benimar ( spanish) was trendy inside but had a lowering bed ( is that a phrase? ) and a hilarious design fault, the scissor mechanism on the bed cut the electric wires ... three times
The Eldiss was actually fine, a new van should be, but there were some ropey joins , never leaked though...
We love our PVC, ‘whooshbang’ and I have realised I don’t tip toe round the bodywork like I did on the moulded body ones.
All to their own, I do like the size of the Eldiss 6metre vans, nice and compact , short mirror arms are a luxury too.
Good luck on your hunting!

I’d love to buy the one off Bigbass but SWMBO wants to take some time out from motorhoming to catch up on lost lockdown time with our sons... So I’ll look for another once I get her permission to do so

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[Bessy765]

We had an 2012 Elddis Aspire for 7 years, found it a comfortable van (255 with fixed French bed) excellent Alde heating. But small payload. Updated it from 3500 to 3850 (Check your licence) this was the fourth UK van bought from new. Wife always wanted an A class for for our last big spend we bought a Burstner. On trading in the Elddis I was told it was riddled with damp and ending up paying a lot more as less for part exchange. Strangely enough the van that was riddled with damp was on sale at another dealer” five days later ?? So horses for courses.

 

[strath]

I purchased an Elddis Magestic 140 this year and tbh delighted with it. I wanted a 6m low profile with a rear lounge and this fitted the bill. I had an independent hab check done and with 4 inches of snow on the roof at the time there was no damp anywhere. Its 5 years old and was immaculate but to be fair the original owner looked after it. I also would read forums where a lot considered the "solid" design as having a poor finish and to be fair I looked at some others and they were not the same as this one ... I have learnt a lot from this forum as I am a newbie and with the shared knowledge I would advise you to actually see it and if you like it get an independent hab check done. My hab check picked up 2 issues that were subsequently fixed even though the owner had a hab check done the week prior!!

 

[Jonno1103]

they don't come out of the factory with damp problems like Brit vans.

If you say so...

 

[Stumpie]

We had a majestic 115 for 3 years lovely van one issue the heating roared like a jet engine at night husband slept well each night on the other hand I did not.
Whale heating.
Turned on a sixpence easy to park brilliant van .
we wanted something a little bigger and quieter heating