Which Manufactuer?

[Coolasluck]

We are interested in learning what you guys on this site would consider to be the best make of motor home.We shall be looking to buy a fixed rear bed model which has the bed arranged so that its length is the width of the mobile home(the type with a mini stair unit is used).Once we sell our home as far as we are concerned thats it for the property scene so our mobile home is forever! We are hoping to wild camp in our van for a good 3 or 4 years whilst still working in our jobs before retiring very early in our late 40s!
So we want a good quality home with all mod cons that will keep us snug and safe.We were thinking Hymer..i just wondered what you all thought...and please no arguments please!!!!

 

[Captain]

When we started looking I had my heart set on a Burstner. Due to finance we have ended up with a CI. We are very happy with it, but I still think German engineering is very good (cars, motorhomes,weapons etc.). Theres alot of Hymers around and people wouldn't have them if they were poor quality.

I think you pays your money and you makes your choice

 

[vera]

Which Manufacturer

Hi we have a Burstner Aviano A Class i684 we have the fixed bed but not across the back of the vehicle as you described.
In the A Class they would be the Garage model, which if you are full timing you will probably need the storage space.
We choose our particular model as we are hoping to eventually tour Europe for 12months or more.The only suggestions I would make are depending upon where you are in the winter some vans have a double floor with underfloor heating and storage so your van does not freeze (this is one thing we would change)
Don,t know your budget or how new a van you are going to buy but there are a few 2nd hand vans with a lot of extra,s, I would look on all the forums and in the Caravan club Magazine etc if you are buying used you will probably get a more genuine deal.There is the Motor Home Show at Lincoln in September if you look there you may get more ideas.
With regard to the Fiat Chassis we have one and do not experience the JUDDER but had we known beforehand we may not have bought Fiat as you have to think of your re-sale.
Hope you find the right van and enjoy your Travels-Sue

 

[jogguk]

We are interested in learning what you guys on this site would consider to be the best make of motor home.We shall be looking to buy a fixed rear bed model which has the bed arranged so that its length is the width of the mobile home(the type with a mini stair unit is used).Once we sell our home as far as we are concerned thats it for the property scene so our mobile home is forever! We are hoping to wild camp in our van for a good 3 or 4 years whilst still working in our jobs before retiring very early in our late 40s!
So we want a good quality home with all mod cons that will keep us snug and safe.We were thinking Hymer..i just wondered what you all thought...and please no arguments please!!!!

A quick dash up the M5 this coming weekend to the big motorhome show at Malvern may answer some of your questions? Lots of people up there to talk to who have, or are fulltiming.

John

 

[chigman]

When we started looking I had my heart set on a Burstner. Due to finance we have ended up with a CI. We are very happy with it, but I still think German engineering is very good (cars, motorhomes,weapons etc.).

Except for my german (burstner) motorhome which has been a real let down with many many problems, with still one or two outstanding after two years of ownership. I went with a gerry because of what I read and heard but have been sorely let down with my van. Would i buy another German van over any other? sure i would, but it wont be a burstner. My next one if it happens will probably be a Frankia. They look to be on another level again.

steve

 

[cipro]

If you are full timing then I would have a A class size although I now there are people that are full timers and have smaller vans and not all ways new

There are site users that full time here i am sure you will get a collection
of advise, with that maney makes and models your chioce will be hard, try
not to let your heart rule your brain.

good luck with your venture.

 

[janeandbob]

Hi, I would say German build, and A class.

We would not buy another British van, we have a Eura Mobil and very happy with it, fully winterised big garage two big double beds, one each on a Mercedes chassi, so rear wheel drive, what more could you want. Bob.

 

[Coolasluck]

Yes we are deffinatly going to go for an a class and i expect german!
Its likely i will be visiting the NEC in october for the motorhome show.

 

[bob690]

You need a hymer 694 coolasluck. I have a hymer 690 which I use for fulltimin, the bed is at the rear but lengthways not across the rear as you stipulated. Its a tag axle which is a must for fulltimin, it has nearly a ton payload, and you,ll need that if youre carryin everythin with you. Also because of the two rear axles its extremely stable, it doesnt waddle cornering, and it doesnt fishtail on the motorway if something big overtakes. I have posted in the past about the excellent service Ive had from South Hereford motorhomes(although I didnt buy mine from them) and they deal especially in Hymers of this type and Niesman and Bieschoff. It would certainly be worth going to talk to them, they will give you solid advice, DONT BUY A NEW ONE....Bob

 

[Coolasluck]

cheers Bob,good advice especially with regards to not buying new,2nd hand would deffinatly be what we are going to be looking at,how long have you been full timing?

 

[Captain]

Mobile.DE

If your heart is set on a good German manufacturer I would seriously consider buying in Germany.

Although our CI is Italian, we actually bought it second hand from Germany after finding it on Mobile.DE.

I think you will save yourselves a few grand, and if it is 2nd hand, the German TUV test is certainly on par if not superior to our MOT. We have had no complaints with ours and would certainly import again.

 

[j77ake]

, out there

hi to you all.. i have been motorhoming for the past 12/14 years, iv had v/w first which i loved, then to the granduca, which was great , then onto a burster, even better, then to a bessacar e410 what a let down, then onto the best one iv ever had , chasson flash 08, its now 3 year old , and was down at highbridge caravans last week, was thinking of going for another one , but there was none with the perfect layout that wee have, this motorhome is not in the top class1 , but for layout there is none better .,with the 2800 engine, and all ,, will never give this up until i see a better layout well done to the french,, and for there expert parking places for motorhomes, jake and dot.....

 

[bob690]

Nearly four years now, spend most of my time between here and france. Theres always something new to see, good luck with your plans, if you need any info send me a p.m....Bob

 

[guerdeval]

Well I guess we have exactly what you want, its a Hymer S820 which is the range above the usual A class, its the quality you pay for. Real wood, excellent workmanship,built for long term cruising, king size bed across a huge garage, double floor with 3 heating systems, carries lots of water/waste with insulated tanks, loads of storage inside and outside in sliding lockers,based on a Mercedes chassis,27feet so accepted on all sites,single axle with twin wheels and limited slip diff so unlike the 3 axle front wheel drive you never get stuck, gross weight 5990kg so you can carry over a ton and with a train weight of 7990kg you can also tow nearly 2 tonne,air assisted brakes with ABS, 20mpg which isn't bad for a big van, we've lived in ours for 2 years now and never felt crowded.get one you won't be disappointed,if you want to see mine we're in Staffordshire.

 

[Coolasluck]

Well I guess we have exactly what you want, its a Hymer S820 which is the range above the usual A class, its the quality you pay for. Real wood, excellent workmanship,built for long term cruising, king size bed across a huge garage, double floor with 3 heating systems, carries lots of water/waste with insulated tanks, loads of storage inside and outside in sliding lockers,based on a Mercedes chassis,27feet so accepted on all sites,single axle with twin wheels and limited slip diff so unlike the 3 axle front wheel drive you never get stuck, gross weight 5990kg so you can carry over a ton and with a train weight of 7990kg you can also tow nearly 2 tonne,air assisted brakes with ABS, 20mpg which isn't bad for a big van, we've lived in ours for 2 years now and never felt crowded.get one you won't be disappointed,if you want to see mine we're in Staffordshire.

Yes,the S820 does look like our kind of thing,alas we feel it is a bit too long for us,however everything else looks just our cup of tea!
We are looking for something not over 6.5 metres and as we have no kids and are only catering for our own needs and not those of guestswe are hoping that we could live in something akin to what you have ,just smaller.
Its nice to see a taste of the modern day in the 820 and not the tired and dated material and old dated patterns that we are used to seeing in most m/homes.Thanks for the offer of taking a gander at yours,if we do i will bring some cake or biscuits!!!
We would like to spend large parts of the year on the greek islands,and we also will have a base at the in-laws so would need the manouvrability that a smaller home would afford.

 

[guerdeval]

I think the smaller one is a S690 or something like that but the rear overhang must be almost on the 60% limit so easily overloaded.

 

[Hazy-thoughts]

I have a Hymer S700, still a little longer than you are looking for though at 7.37m The length causes absolutely no problems as far as we have found, we have a fixed rear bed above a humungous garage and plenty of room indoors for whatever we want to do.

If you can be a little flexible on length, well worth a look

I too travelled to Germany to purchase and was mightily impressed with the savings made

 

[maingate]

Except for my german (burstner) motorhome which has been a real let down with many many problems, with still one or two outstanding after two years of ownership. I went with a gerry because of what I read and heard but have been sorely let down with my van. Would i buy another German van over any other? sure i would, but it wont be a burstner. My next one if it happens will probably be a Frankia. They look to be on another level again.

steve

Dear Chigman,

I am in the process of buying a Burstner 747 2003 model. Have you just been unlucky or are there specific probs with this van. I would appreciate any other feedback from owners.

 

[cipro]

save a furtune a get one of these, get close to your partner
HERE

 

[888dee]

I don't have much value to add to this discussion as our van is considerably older however...

Ours is a '91 Frankia A730RD tag axle and whilst is is obviously much older than what you're after but the internal build quality is very good...

I also read a number of reviews of Frankia MH's and the concensus was also very good with particular praise for inovation in design, for instance I believe Frankia were the first company to introduce a double floor.