Auto trail owners

statusMoty1
statusMoty1 Forum Participant Posts: 225
edited June 2016 in Motorhomes #1

we are at the serious end of purchasing a newish ( no older than 2//3 years) Dakota or Delamere....we have recently seen negative reviews regarding Auto trails and just wondered if they are in the minority or if there is a common thread with them. This is
a huge spend for us and we don't want to get it so wrong. Obviously you get teething problems with most purchases and mostly hopefully they are minor and easily fixed, just wondered how you Autotrail owners out there have faired. Look forward to your comments
negative or otherwise.

Comments

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #2

     browse Motorhomefun or Motorhomefacts forums and look at the appropriate Brand Section....should be plenty of stuff, AT is a popular brand so will get some positive and negatives to think about.

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
    100 Comments
    edited June 2016 #3

    I have had two Autotrails and been very happy with them.  A friend of mine has had three if not four and would not purchase anything else.  There are some complaints regarding damp that i have seen.  I would
    suggest you get a full damp report before you go ahead and purchase just to be on the safe side.  Just bear in mind that people tend to write reviews when they have had a problem, not so much when all is well.  Autotrail is a very popular brand so it might
    seem like there are lots of problems with them.  But judging by how many of them are on the road they must be doing somthing right.  I would have no hesitation in buying another one when we want to change again.

  • statusMoty1
    statusMoty1 Forum Participant Posts: 225
    edited June 2016 #4

    Thanks for both your comments, I have had a snoop into Motorhomefacts but will try the other one. Nice to have some positive feedback and advice from JD....food for thought

  • black caviar
    black caviar Forum Participant Posts: 242
    edited June 2016 #5

    Outandaboutlive is a good motorhome forum, with plenty of knowledgable members , before we went over to caravans we had three autotrails and found them ok ,its like someone else said you only tend to hear of the problems :) good luck with your purchase.
    Regards mrs bc

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited June 2016 #6

    Don't buy anything that has not had its Habitation Checks done and make sure they were done by a AT Dealer. You do your research and you make your discission. When you find one get it checked by someone else. Don't rely on the dealer / owner to say its ok.
    You will have to pay but its a big investment. Its what they do with boats. You will then have an independant assesment. Any damp and you walk. If you think you can cure it think again. Then think how much time you are going to be without it while they try
    and dry it out. Once you get mould it stays forever.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2016 #7

    Watch the payloads, if memory serves me correctly the Dakota wasn't very good. Make sure it can meet your requirements. I had a Mohican for nearly tern years and had no serious complaints. It certainly did not suffer from damp.

    peedee

  • Grumblewagon
    Grumblewagon Forum Participant Posts: 246
    edited June 2016 #8

    I did have an Autotrail many years ago, and it was the worst van that I've had.  At that time, it turned out that they had a lot of problems with the floor delaminating and sagging - not good!

  • connie 2
    connie 2 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited June 2016 #9

    We've had an Apache for 4 years now and it's been reasonably  trouble free,we had a damp scare at the third hab check at low level around the rear wheel arch.Turned out the vent for the gas water boiler had never been sealed properly and two screws weren't
    tightened

    I think it's a bit of pot luck if you get a good one or not,the quality control leaves a lot to be desired with most manufacturers.

  • MikeW
    MikeW Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #10

    We have had 2 ATs and are more than happy with them. We have had some minor problems which were quickly sorted by our dealers. I think this is true of all makes. However advice about habitation check is good.

  • Cajun Duo
    Cajun Duo Forum Participant Posts: 48
    edited July 2016 #11

    Have a look on the Auto Trail Owners Group on Facebook. We are happy with our AT Tracker use it for 20 weeks a year over the channel and have done for a few years now.Just back from 8 weeks getting down to Austria/ Czech Rep/Germany. Spain in the winter.

  • statusMoty1
    statusMoty1 Forum Participant Posts: 225
    edited July 2016 #12

    Thanks for all your opinions.....still looking....found a couple we liked but want one a bit younger, it will be out there

  • Cajun Duo
    Cajun Duo Forum Participant Posts: 48
    edited July 2016 #13

    Yes good idea took us nearly 2 years but got it in the end. Good luck and have fun when you find it.

  • Brocol
    Brocol Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited July 2016 #14

    Hi, sorry to not have seen this request for opinions earlier. Had an AutoTrail Cheyenne 632U from 2009 until October last year. Our 4th 'van and the best we've ever had. Changed to a new AutoSleeper and regretted it ever since!

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