Elddis or Auto trail
Discussion
Any one got views on the build quality of these motor homes looking to purchase, l can get the layout that I want in either make but not sure on the build quality of them, I'm thinking they will both leak but will be fixed under warranty I don't want to buy one that will fall apart after 6 months. I don't want a hymer or anything like them I don't think they are any better.
Thanks for any replies.
Thanks for any replies.
Before we bought our ours we were total novices but after viewing more than I can remember we came to the conclusion that British motorhomes just aren't very well built. The interior fixtures felt flimsy and often had misaligned interior doors and other poor quality fittings. The european stuff in the main felt a class up from them. We went French and bought a Chausson which still looks new inside despite having covered almost 30k.
I'm sure plenty of owners have had good experiences with British motorhomes but the above was our experience.
I'm sure plenty of owners have had good experiences with British motorhomes but the above was our experience.
I have looked at those the European ones seem to have small ovens and no microwaves ovens, we have a caravan which we use all year round in all weather conditions. The elddis seems to have 10 year water ingress guarantee and 5 for the auto trail, is the build quality still that bad on new vans these days or is it down to luck as with caravans.
Elddis build quality was pretty poor when we were looking to buy a 1-2 year old MH couple of years ago. However, they’ve since been taken over by the Erwin Hymer group, so build quality should improve if they apply the more rigorous standards they have for the continental manufacturers in the group.
Auto Trail quality was better, but to be honest whilst we would have liked to have supported British industry we couldn’t find a UK MH that was really well built, so we bought a German one. Not perfect, but a whole lot better than what the UK had to offer. Swift, Bailey and Bessacar were particularly poor - flimsy cupboards and fittings, cheap upholstery, wonky or missing screws and glue smeared on visible surfaces.
Good luck in your search.
Auto Trail quality was better, but to be honest whilst we would have liked to have supported British industry we couldn’t find a UK MH that was really well built, so we bought a German one. Not perfect, but a whole lot better than what the UK had to offer. Swift, Bailey and Bessacar were particularly poor - flimsy cupboards and fittings, cheap upholstery, wonky or missing screws and glue smeared on visible surfaces.
Good luck in your search.
Pbbuz said:
I have looked at those the European ones seem to have small ovens and no microwaves ovens, we have a caravan which we use all year round in all weather conditions. The elddis seems to have 10 year water ingress guarantee and 5 for the auto trail, is the build quality still that bad on new vans these days or is it down to luck as with caravans.
I think your right there with the down to luck comment.... my advice is if your set on one of these try and buy one as near to where you live as possible. At least it’s local if you do have warranty issues. However I have to agree with other comments on having bought a brand new Auto Sleeper a few years ago, it leaked within 6 months. Plus along with all the other issues we got rid at huge cost and now after 2 years out we have a Burstner and it seems a lot better...
Hopefully you’ll get a good one and enjoy the experience, we’re away this weekend in the cold down to Lyme Regis area somewhere just going to wing it after a couple of lovely days a few weeks ago near Hunstanton.
Steve Kimberley said:
Escort3500 said:
Elddis build quality was pretty poor when we were looking to buy a 1-2 year old MH couple of years ago. However, they’ve since been taken over by the Erwin Hymer group
Which was also subsequently taken over by Thor Industries...
Remains to be seen how the group will fare with American owners...
Spent all day looking at them yesterday and the UK ones fell well short of what I was hoping for.
Benimar were well built and specced as were most other Europeans. The German vans are well built but a little underwhelming to be honest. A bit bland even.
Am away later to look at a Roller Team. Probably a Pegaso.
Benimar were well built and specced as were most other Europeans. The German vans are well built but a little underwhelming to be honest. A bit bland even.
Am away later to look at a Roller Team. Probably a Pegaso.
Brads67 said:
Am away later to look at a Roller Team. Probably a Pegaso.
Funny, I was at Catterick Caravans on Saturday looking at the same thing, although MrsTheWife wasn't too keen on it. I like the fact that, very unusually for an A class, the front door is on the drivers side on a RHD. Decent size shower and an island bed and still room for a decent garage (which I think is essential).Going to the Motorhome show, at the NEC, in a couple of weeks time, so will take the time to look at some more kit. Personally I like the look of Burstners but they can tend to be expensive
Brads67 said:
Can you expand on this a bit please as I'm not entirely clued up on weights and rules.
On your usual drivers licence you can drive anything up to 3.5 tonnes. Anything over that, up to 7.5 tonne, you need a C1 on your licence. Motorhomes plated as up to 3.5 tonne, may not have enough spare capacity for everything you need to take with you (partner, kids, clothes, bit of water, food etc etc). A payload of 200kg would barely be enough for the driver and passengers in a 4 belted van.
Brads67 said:
My missus and I have C1 cause we are old.
I assume that even if plated 3.5t we can drive it whatever the load over and above up to 7.5t?
No I assume that even if plated 3.5t we can drive it whatever the load over and above up to 7.5t?
Basically the vehicle will have a maximum weight
.. even if you have a licence that exceeds that limit you will commit an offence if you load the Vehicle beyond it’s rated weight
chopper602 said:
Funny, I was at Catterick Caravans on Saturday looking at the same thing, although MrsTheWife wasn't too keen on it. I like the fact that, very unusually for an A class, the front door is on the drivers side on a RHD. Decent size shower and an island bed and still room for a decent garage (which I think is essential).
Going to the Motorhome show, at the NEC, in a couple of weeks time, so will take the time to look at some more kit. Personally I like the look of Burstners but they can tend to be expensive
I had a good look before getting ours. Was set on a Frankia but found all we needed in this Burstner. The Frankia was just too expensive, however we nearly went for a Benimar all with the same/similar layout but just thought it wasn't quality enough. For us this Burstner was middle ground and felt just right. We have had 3 nights away on the south coast last week before the storm and it was toasty warm and comfortable...Going to the Motorhome show, at the NEC, in a couple of weeks time, so will take the time to look at some more kit. Personally I like the look of Burstners but they can tend to be expensive
For reference its this model... Ixeo TL 680G. https://www.buerstner.com/uk/motorhomes/ixeo-tl/
Edited by BishBosh on Tuesday 11th February 14:02
Earthdweller said:
No
Basically the vehicle will have a maximum weight
.. even if you have a licence that exceeds that limit you will commit an offence if you load the Vehicle beyond it’s rated weight
and this is why the available payload is SO important. Basically the vehicle will have a maximum weight
.. even if you have a licence that exceeds that limit you will commit an offence if you load the Vehicle beyond it’s rated weight
You can get a 3.5t van 'up-plated' another 2-300kg and it is often just a paperwork exercise, but of course you need the C1 licence (and undergo a medical at age 70 when you renew your licence). There are quite a few new models coming onto the UK market that are above 3.5t - new 2020 Burstner Lyseo (or similar!) is 3880kg and I *think* the new VW Crafter based vans are over too.
Of course you could take a C1 test to add it to your licence, but I've no idea what this entails.
chopper602 said:
and this is why the available payload is SO important.
You can get a 3.5t van 'up-plated' another 2-300kg and it is often just a paperwork exercise, but of course you need the C1 licence (and undergo a medical at age 70 when you renew your licence). There are quite a few new models coming onto the UK market that are above 3.5t - new 2020 Burstner Lyseo (or similar!) is 3880kg and I *think* the new VW Crafter based vans are over too.
Of course you could take a C1 test to add it to your licence, but I've no idea what this entails.
Yep.. mine is up plated to 3880kg and I’m old enough to have a C1 license. There’s a whole lot of stuff online about how poor the payload is for a 3.5t van with manufacturers being allowed in the region of 5% variation on their stated weights. You can get a 3.5t van 'up-plated' another 2-300kg and it is often just a paperwork exercise, but of course you need the C1 licence (and undergo a medical at age 70 when you renew your licence). There are quite a few new models coming onto the UK market that are above 3.5t - new 2020 Burstner Lyseo (or similar!) is 3880kg and I *think* the new VW Crafter based vans are over too.
Of course you could take a C1 test to add it to your licence, but I've no idea what this entails.
Eg. If your van is 3200kg giving a 300kg payload 160kg could be wiped out just on the van being a bit heavier than stated (this is where weigh bridges become necessary when buying) put a few home comforts into the van a bike and barbecue etc...you’ll soon be at the payload limits.
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