calling all coachman vip owners

dunton10
dunton10 Forum Participant Posts: 53
edited July 2016 in Caravans #1

Having now used my VIp 575/4 for a year, including an extended tour in France I thought I would give some feedback and seek some advice from other owners.

Overall Im really pleased with the build quality and it tows impeccably on the road.

Rather than witter on for ages, as this is my 5th van but first Coachman, I'll just give the postives and negatives over my other vans.

Positives 

The Alde wet heating is a big step up in my opinion  programable and heats up van and water quickly.

Lighting - the led interior lighting is superb. Functional and looks the part, gives a very modern feel.

layout ( i know this is personal) and soft furnishings excellent. Feels roomy inside. Great storage.

Panoramic roof light brilliant and lets in loads of light.

Seems well put together, its the first van Ive had that I havent had to go round tightening and fettling bits and bobs.

Negatives (well things I would change )

Shower door - i much prefer my previous folding door over the full piece pivoting one. - takes up room and drips water outside shower when opened.

Id like to be able to switch on one light when visiting the bathroom at night, rather than have one external light switch which lights everything. guaranteed to wake me up and everyone else in the van,

Bedroom lights - wiring seems odd in that you cant switch this on/off independantly to one side of the front lighting. dont know who thought that one up.

Issues to date (3)

the strip that covers the gaps in the internal wall boards keeps coming unstuck.( most of them), Think I got the end of the roll. Coachman fixing under warranty.

Thetford oven - aspire 2 - all four pan support clips have broken. poor design in that clips are round and pan support is square causing clips to break apart.

One way Non return valve on Alde boiler decided not to be non return and slowly emptied hot water. Happened after winter lay up and fixed having cleaned. For how loong?

Hope these comments may be of use to others and if any vip owners have suggested fixes/improvements let me know. 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • ADD46
    ADD46 Forum Participant Posts: 437
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #2

    What a good post dunton10. Thank you. We own a VIP 460/2 and its interesting to hear other owners pros and cons. Maybe the suppliers would benefit from hearing this kind of information. Our gripe is the positioning of the bathroom light switch and the storage
    and practicality of getting the dining table out of the storage cupboard. I think this has been altered on the 2016 version. Other than that, we're happy Coachman owners. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #3

    We've had our Coachman Laser 620/4 for about a 3 weeks. I have to agree with the (end) bathroom light switch ... all or nothing does seem silly.

  • xtrailer
    xtrailer Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited July 2016 #4

    hi dunton 10 i interested to hear about the non return valve on your alde heating as i just bought my first van with that heating and thought i need to know some of the pitfalls.

  • Solobay
    Solobay Forum Participant Posts: 156
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #5

    Had our 575/4 2016 for 3 weeks and been away three weekends (test runs) or thats our excuse.

    Only gripe todate is that the master panel keeps on resetting abd plugging or unplugging from mains - will get dealer to look at it - more an irritation

  • peterjohn
    peterjohn Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited July 2016 #6

    I had occasion to borrow a 565 VIP 2014 model because mine was not built yet. After a fortnight I was very pleased with the van as a whole, however I agree with the bathroom light problem, when I get mine I will be fitting a small led light close to the floor which will be linked to the low level courtesy light switched on near the bathroom floor.

    i believe the mood light switching will be changed to switch rear light only or front lights only instead of either side, if it hasn't been done I think it can soon be remedied.

    The kitchen preparation area was pathetic on the one i borrowed but has been improved on the 2016 model.

    Oh and the radio/cd player is a nuisance because it won't switch off so you have to remove the front, this is because it is designed to be used in a car and needs a continuous live feed, also  there is a fix to make it switch off , this is dealet with on www.caravantalk.co.uk  where the sequence is given for doing so.

    i must say I am looking forward to delivery next week and will be reporting on it....Peter.

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