Trigano is one of Europe's largest leisure vehicle manufacturing groups, with roots stretching back to 1935 and a portfolio of over 25 brands spanning motorhomes, caravans, campervans, trailers and garden equipment. While Trigano is primarily a corporate group rather than a single motorhome brand, the Tribute range carries the Trigano name directly and has become a popular compact campervan option in the UK.

The Tribute is a panel van conversion built on the Fiat Ducato long-wheelbase high-top chassis, originally produced in Italy by CI (Caravans International) and later moved to Auto-Trail's Grimsby factory. It was designed with significant input from Auto-Trail to ensure UK-friendly specification: right-hand drive, nearside habitation door, quality kitchen and practical layouts.

The Tribute earned a reputation for offering remarkable specification for the money — a four-burner hob with oven and grill, full washroom with electric-flush toilet, flexible sleeping configurations and decent build quality, all at a price that significantly undercut the competition. Models include the compact Tribute 550 (5.5m) and the larger Tribute 650/670/680 ranges.

For used buyers, the Tribute represents one of the best-value entry points into motorhoming — a well-designed, practical campervan that's affordable to buy, economical to run and simple to maintain. The Fiat Ducato base provides reliable mechanicals with widely available parts and servicing.

The Trigano story began in 1935 when the Trigano family started selling textile goods. The following year, when France introduced paid holidays for the first time, Trigano supplied workers with tent canvases — establishing the company's connection to leisure that continues today.

The company evolved from textiles to camping equipment, then to caravans in 1971. Financial difficulties in 1974 led to acquisition by French bank Credit Lyonnais, but the company recovered and was floated on the stock market in 1998. Since then, Trigano has grown through almost annual acquisitions: Autostar (France, 1998), Caravans International/CI (Italy, 1999), Auto-Trail (UK, 1999), Benimar (Spain, 2002), Eura Mobil and Karmann-Mobil (Germany, 2005), Adria and Auto-Sleepers (2017).

The Tribute brand was originally an Italian-built panel van conversion managed by Auto-Trail, before manufacturing moved to the Grimsby factory in 2017. Today, Trigano is one of Europe's largest leisure vehicle groups with production units in six countries and a portfolio of over 25 brands.

Outstanding value for money — the Tribute consistently offered more specification per pound than virtually any competitor: four-burner hob with oven, full washroom, flexible sleeping, and quality fittings at prices that undercut similar van conversions by thousands.

Compact, practical design — the Tribute 550 at just 5.5 metres is small enough for everyday driving and parking but provides genuine touring capability with a proper kitchen, washroom and sleeping for two.

UK-friendly specification — designed with input from Auto-Trail for the British market: right-hand drive, nearside door, quality fabrics and furniture that suit UK tastes.

Flexible sleeping arrangements — the bed system can be configured as two singles, a transverse double, a longitudinal double or even a super-king size — one of the most versatile sleeping arrangements in any compact campervan.

Panel van durability — as a conversion within a factory-built panel van (rather than a coachbuilt body), the Tribute is inherently resistant to the damp and structural issues that affect traditional motorhomes.

If you want an affordable entry into motorhoming — the Tribute is one of the best-value used campervans on the market. Prices start from around £15,000 for older models, making motorhoming accessible without a huge financial commitment.

If you want everyday drivability — at 5.5m (Tribute 550), this is a vehicle you can use for shopping, commuting and school runs as well as weekend getaways and longer tours.

If you want a proper kitchen and bathroom — unlike many compact campervans that compromise on facilities, the Tribute includes a genuine four-burner hob with oven, full washroom and electric-flush toilet.

If fuel economy matters — owners report 30mpg or more from the Fiat Ducato diesel engine, making the Tribute significantly cheaper to run than larger coachbuilt motorhomes.

If you want low maintenance costs — the Fiat Ducato base has widely available parts and can be serviced at any commercial vehicle garage. The panel van construction means minimal habitation maintenance compared to coachbuilt alternatives.

Soft cushion foam — the most common complaint across all Tribute models. The original seating and bed foam is too soft and tends to collapse over time. Many owners replace it early in ownership with higher-density foam.

Poor insulation for winter use — as a panel van conversion, the Tribute lacks the insulation levels of a proper coachbuilt motorhome. Winter camping can be cold, and condensation is a common issue, particularly on the cab windscreen and inside overhead lockers.

Compact living space — the trade-off for everyday drivability is limited living space. Extended trips require careful packing and a willingness to live minimally.

Fiat Ducato cab draughts — the Ducato is notorious for cold draughts around the cab doors in winter. Aftermarket draught excluders help but don't fully solve the issue.

Seating position issues — some owners find the lounge seats uncomfortably high, and the offset pedal arrangement in the cab can be awkward for shorter drivers.

Limited headroom in places — despite the high-top body, some areas require care, particularly when standing up from the cab seats.

Check the Fiat Ducato mechanicals — verify cam belt history, test the clutch (slipping clutch is a known Ducato issue), check reverse gear engagement thoroughly (especially on X250 models), and listen for unusual engine noises.

Test the cushion and mattress condition — sit on all seating and lie on the bed. If the foam has collapsed (very common), factor in replacement costs — approximately £200-400 for quality replacement foam.

Check for condensation damage — inspect inside overhead lockers, around the windscreen area and behind furniture for signs of condensation damage, mould or water staining.

Test all habitation systems — run all four hob burners, test the oven and grill, check the fridge works on both gas and electric, test the water pump and verify the electric-flush toilet operates correctly.

Check the fridge door catch — a known weak point. Ensure the fridge door stays closed, particularly important when driving as contents can spill.

Inspect the heating system — run the space heater and check it works efficiently. Habitation heater repairs can be expensive.

Verify the model year and specification — later models (silver metallic, alloy wheels, upgraded grill) are worth a premium. The very last 56-plate models offer the best specification.

Used Tributes are typically well beyond their original warranty period, making an independent warranty backed by the RAC particularly valuable. The Fiat Ducato base is generally reliable, but clutch replacement, heating system repairs and habitation equipment failures can all be expensive without cover.

OakTree Motorhomes offer up to three years of RAC-backed warranty, which provides peace of mind on a vehicle where the low purchase price can be quickly eaten up by unexpected repair bills.

When buying a used Trigano, look for a dealer that offers an independent warranty backed by a provider like the RAC. This means your warranty remains valid even if the dealer ceases trading. OakTree Motorhomes offer up to three years of RAC-backed warranty, covering the average ownership period.