Who builds the BEST quality Motorhome. (1 Viewer)

[davidathomas42]

So I know every make has niggles and stuff that has to be sorted out by the first owner. And they all use a lot of generic parts. Thule. Truma. Aldi. Sargent etc etc.

But can anyone say after a few vans which converter goes the extra mile that warrants the cost in the final finish and overall strength of components. The number of loose screws in my 2015 Swift was unreal and all it took to fix most was a tiny dot of wood glue or the likes to have them solid and secure.

 

[mitzimad]

la strada superbly finished IH similar

 

[63720]

Hymer, end of .

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[glenn2926]

Self builders usually. They’re not building to a price and are going to be using it themselves.

 

[Larrynwin]

See my avatar, other than a replacement wiper motor ( Fiat) at the beginning the Hymer has been brilliant.

 

[Stealaway]

, end of .

You can't beat a Burstner -----
how may more times

I looked at an Elddis at Browmhills early this year. Pretty much the same layout but £12000 cheaper.
It soon became obvious why I had paid the extra.

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[TheBig1]

I have spent a few grand repairing or replacing various things on our rapido. All of which are add ons or accessories, and not down to rapido. The build quality is very solid and still looks great at 9 years old, despite heavy use and the abuse it gets with long term camping in it.

 

[Wissel]

I'm a little biased, but I would say some self-builders (especially some of the overlander builders) and a few small workshops that build bespoke.

 

[nicholsong]

So I know every make has niggles and stuff that has to be sorted out by the first owner. And they all use a lot of generic parts. Thule. Truma. Aldi. Sargent etc etc.

But can anyone say after a few vans which converter goes the extra mile that warrants the cost in the final finish and overall strength of components. The number of loose screws in my 2015 Swift was unreal and all it took to fix most was a tiny dot of wood glue or the likes to have them solid and secure.

You do not state your budget.

You could consider Morelo, Concorde, Phoenix if you are in the €250k - €500K range, plus extras.

A friend has just bought one and I could, but may not.

You did ask.

Geoff

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[Richard n Ann]

looked at an Elddis at Browmhills early this year. Pretty much the same layout but £12000 cheaper.
It soon became obvious why I had paid the extra.

Elddis are ok if you're good at DIY

They buy the van and start if off, and the owner finishes it, ours was about 10k cheaper though so for 10 hours work I earned about £1000 an hour

 

[davidathomas42]

You do not state your budget.

You could consider Morelo, Concorde, Phoenix if you are in the €250k - €500K range, plus extras.

A friend has just bought one and I could, but may not.

You did ask.

Geoff

Its not a case of budget now. my 2015 was a year old and I paid £40k for it. I then built a camper van for £13k last year for single night stop over stuff walking/cycling etc. Just paid £30k for a 2009 Bessacarr and spending £6k on modernising it. Thats for 2-3 night trips away every other week on days off (collecting it Friday)

The post It a curious thing for when I buy "the dream" one in maybe 4-5 years time. I plan to go part time at work and travel a lot. Option with work at the moment part time is 6 days on 12 days off. I want something I can essentially full time in and then come home for work and general repairs. Its going to spend a lot of time lived in so needs to take punishment. Be it a £40k motorhome or even stretch to £100k is irrelevant. Just needs to be fit for the purpose I desire at that time in my life. And not fall apart. I cant see me ever spending more than £70k personally though even if I can afford it at the time.

 

[WESTY66]

I used to think it was Adria, now I think it’s Carthago
Although months ago I wrote I went in a new Carthago C-tourer A Class and I thought it wasn’t as well put together as my (then) 63 plate Sonic!
I now have a 16 vintage Carthago Chic C-line, which I’m very happy with

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[Southdowners]

With your proposed budget of £70K, I would suggest you look for a used German vehicle.

 

[fullfat]

The Hymer I had was not that solid,tbh no better than the Autotrail I owned before it, maybe a bit of snobbery exists lol

 

[Phileas Fogg]

A relative had a newish Hymer, the toilet fell through the floor. I met a Dutch N&B owner taking his van back for the fifth time and a Concorde owner who had his windscreen fall out twice.
Most people will say their van is the best you can get but truth is you get a wrong in you get a wrong un.
Go for the layout and what suits you best because someone else will always think they have better or know better whatever your budget.

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[Lenny HB]

On our 3rd Hymer wouldn't have another one, probably a Carthago next time quality is a bit better. Morelo & Concorde a bit out of budget and too big for us.

 

[dabhand]

Vario, quality at a price (lots)

 

[Robert Clark]

We’ve experienced 4 brands, British and Europen

Swift Bessecarr
Carthago Chic
Niesman Bichoff - Arto
Morelo Palace

Generally speaking the more we’ve spent, the better the build quality and material quality. With one exception. The N&B which promised much and delivered little.

We’ve had a few niggles with the Morelo, but of all the brands we’ve owned it’s the only one I’d buy again. Having lived full time in the Morelo for 7 months, it’s been a brilliant van and we love it to bits.

Furthermore, having bought from British and Getting dealers, I’d never buy from a German dealer again.

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[clanjones]

Very very happy with Rapido build quality but they are heavy so A classes don't really work at 3500kg from a payload perspective!

 

[dabhand]

I’d never buy from a German dealer again.

Why? Genuine question

 

[gpat]

Everyone is a biased I suppose. Our carado doesnt set the world on fire but in 3 years nor a single fault. Nothing. Everything is screwed together very very well. Not a single rattle on the road.

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[Robert Clark]

Why? Genuine question

Three things:

Language barrier

Culture - They hate admitting their mistakes and have a ‘so what’ attitude to customer service.

Distance to get stuff fixed. We ended up leaving our van with the dealer on a number of occasions and flew back to the uk which was very inconvenient.
When we drove there (Dortmund) it was a 5 hour drive from Calais (each way) so a multi day trip. Which again was time consuming and expensive

 

[jongood]

N&B but pre 2008. The post- financial crash ones just arent the same quality.

Having said that they can all gave their issues, my advice is never give your money over until you been down the road in your actual one.

 

[pagey]

my sunlight is now 4.5 years and only problem has been the crap thetford fridge now fixed the van is well put together

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[Podney]

Rapido. Biased opinion! And I’ve never owned any other make,so totally unqualified to comment………………………but I will

It seems to me that every motorhome converter goes through periods when their vans are well built,and other periods when they are not. I have reached this conclusion by reading stuff on here over the last six years.

So,the skill is knowing how to identify the converters who are doing a quality build at the time you are buying……….which may certainly not be the same as those currently in that category. In order to do that you will need to become something of a nerd on the subject of “how to build a top quality motorhome” and do this by researching on here,and on visiting factories if you can.

 

[Littlewheels]

totally unqualified to comment………………………but I will

Like it………………..a lot of others just don’t admit it.

 

[funflair]

I wouldn't even try to narrow it down to an manufacturer or even country of origin as quite simply a quality van is one that matches your requirements and we know that we all have different tastes and needs.

If the question was which are the best built it might be a different answer.

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[funflair]

N&B but pre 2008. The post- financial crash ones just arent the same quality.

Having said that they can all gave their issues, my advice is never give your money over until you been down the road in your actual one.

That's not that easy with a bespoke factory order Jon, but good advice with a used one or new from the showroom.

 

[nicholsong]

I wouldn't even try to narrow it down to an manufacturer or even country of origin as quite simply a quality van is one that matches your requirements and we know that we all have different tastes and needs.

If the question was which are the best built it might be a different answer.

Martin has probably more insight into build quality because he did many factory tours in the high-quality marque factories before he bought his Morelo Palace.

I know Martin and Jen and that their decision was based on getting a quality MH for life. I think that I would take a similar decision if we were free to travel extensively, which we are not yet- but one day.

One thing that puts me off buying new is delivery times - I might be dead before it arrives

Geoff

 

[Hettie's Crew]

See my avatar, other than a replacement wiper motor ( Fiat) at the beginning the Hymer has been brilliant.

Same here, before all the lighter weight narrow body stuff came out but like said above, if buying new I’d go for a Carthago.