Elddis motorhome problems
I have owned from new an Elddis Autoquest 120 for 5/6 years. It has around 23k miles on the clock. Although we love the layout and facilities of the vehicle, we are constantly having problems with it. To name but a few: replacement water pump twice, replacement toilet pump, replacement electric heating switch, intake of water problems, fridge on gas problems, problems with gas fire, rubber trim outside coming away from vehicle. It seems that we have to book in for repair so frequently.
I now want to replace with a new motorhome, but with my experience of this Elddis vehicle am wondering if other owners have experienced similar problems, or is thIs just bad luck. Should I buy a different make?
Comments
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The make is unlikely to make much difference. The majority of your problems have been with non-Elddis components and the same parts tend to be used across the board by most converters.
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As above the only problem with the Vehicle by your post is the trim ,all the rest are related to equipment supplied to Elddis,which as Tinwheeler says will be fitted to the majority of LVs,it will not matter what make you go for from any country in europe,
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Thank you for the advice. I suppose now I need to ask for any recommendations for reliability before I go ahead and purchase the new motorhome. We are not DIY people, so the next MH needs to be much more reliable.
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Thank you for the advice. I suppose now I need to ask for any recommendations for reliability before I go ahead and purchase the new motorhome. We are not DIY people, so the next MH needs to be much more reliable.
..And buy from a local ,if possible ,dealer.,nothing worse than having to travel a long distance to get thing rectified
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Thank you for the advice. I suppose now I need to ask for any recommendations for reliability before I go ahead and purchase the new motorhome. We are not DIY people, so the next MH needs to be much more reliable.
..And buy from a local ,if possible ,dealer.,nothing worse than having to travel a long distance to get thing rectified
...far preferable to buy one that doesnt go wrong in the first place.....
just to put things in perspective, you will know where Elddis sit in the MH food chain and, if 'all the components are the same' as in fridge, heater etc, then the ability to knock them out so cheaply must come from somewhere else...?
that must mean materials, components, assembly, testing, QA whatever....but if everything 'were the same' as (say) a mid range van, then you'd be spending a lot more.
however, spending more cash doesnt guarantee (necessarily) a better MH...
i dont know what your budget is, but if i were guessing (based on your thoughts of diving back in with Elddis again), Id be looking at a one/two year old 'more upmarket' van from (say) Knaus, Hymer, Rapido, Pilote etc (from the Euro camp) and (possibly)
Swift, Autotrail, or Autosleepers if you are prepared to go UK again.have a good hunt around some dealers and really get in these vans (all makes) give them a real good hard look (read kick) and test them....
beds (sizes, comfort), same with showers, lounges and kitchens.
do you need good insulation with inboard water tanks, how does the water inlet (and waste) systems work....theres some quirky stuff out there....
good luck...
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Thank you for the advice. I suppose now I need to ask for any recommendations for reliability before I go ahead and purchase the new motorhome. We are not DIY people, so the next MH needs to be much more reliable.
..And buy from a local ,if possible ,dealer.,nothing worse than having to travel a long distance to get thing rectified
...far preferable to buy one that doesnt go wrong in the first place.....
just to put things in perspective, you will know where Elddis sit in the MH food chain and, if 'all the components are the same' as in fridge, heater etc, then the ability to knock them out so cheaply must come from somewhere else...?
that must mean materials, components, assembly, testing, QA whatever....but if everything 'were the same' as (say) a mid range van, then you'd be spending a lot more.
however, spending more cash doesnt guarantee (necessarily) a better MH...
i dont know what your budget is, but if i were guessing (based on your thoughts of diving back in with Elddis again), Id be looking at a one/two year old 'more upmarket' van from (say) Knaus, Hymer, Rapido, Pilote etc (from the Euro camp) and (possibly) Swift, Autotrail, or Autosleepers if you are prepared to go UK again.
have a good hunt around some dealers and really get in these vans (all makes) give them a real good hard look (read kick) and test them....
beds (sizes, comfort), same with showers, lounges and kitchens.
do you need good insulation with inboard water tanks, how does the water inlet (and waste) systems work....theres some quirky stuff out there....
good luck...
...Reading the ops post that apart from one thing, that have gone wrong seems to be equipment that is bought in by Elddis, which as we all know are normally from beyond our shores
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youll see (unlike yourself) my post was country-neutral, suggesting brands form here and abroad...
despite the kit in vans being largely the same, there is a degree of skill required in installing, checking and testing that all is done properly. some 'installations' are beyond belief..
at the end of the day, a cheap(er) van must be saving money somewhere, and if the components are (apparently) the same, then that saving must come from somewhere else....
IMHO, far better to get a decent 2nd hand van from a 'quality' brand....not a guarantee by any means, but i know where id be putting my hard earned.
neck on the block?.....buy yourself a two or three yr old Hymer...
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youll see (unlike yourself) my post was country-neutral, suggesting brands form here and abroad...
despite the kit in vans being largely the same, there is a degree of skill required in installing, checking and testing that all is done properly. some 'installations' are beyond belief..
at the end of the day, a cheap(er) van must be saving money somewhere, and if the components are (apparently) the same, then that saving must come from somewhere else....
IMHO, far better to get a decent 2nd hand van from a 'quality' brand....not a guarantee by any means, but i know where id be putting my hard earned.
neck on the block?.....buy yourself a two or three yr old Hymer...
..i hope the German family have got theirs sorted
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oh yes, the 'one' (apparently) you heard of....
do you have a sensible suggestion for the OP other than to pooh-pooh everything i post?
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BB, you really do look at all things German Made through rose tinted spectacles, Burstner have had many water ingress problems, look on some of the German Brand forums for a jolt back to earth. Even your beloved Carthago (overpriced and over here, to misquote a well known wartime saying) is not without faults, Eldiss may not be perfect, but they do produce vans at a price that most people can afford,in the UK, and considering how many they sell, most customers are happy with their purchases. Of all the ops problems, only one stems from Eldiss, all the others are bought in appliances some of which probably also grace your van ?
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oh yes, the 'one' (apparently) you heard of....
do you have a sensible suggestion for the OP other than to pooh-pooh everything i post?
Write your comments here...
oh yes, the 'one' (apparently) you heard of....
do you have a sensible suggestion for the OP other than to pooh-pooh everything i post?
...The one That i personally know about ,but as compared to the few Uk built LVs that seem to have problems out of the Thousands sold Each Year,against those in the UK built elsewhere,have Hymer soreted all the cracked locker doors on their Novas ?
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BB, you really do look at all things German Made through rose tinted spectacles, Burstner have had many water ingress problems, look on some of the German Brand forums for a jolt back to earth. Even your beloved Carthago (overpriced and over here, to misquote
a well known wartime saying) is not without faults, Eldiss may not be perfect, but they do produce vans at a price that most people can afford,in the UK, and considering how many they sell, most customers are happy with their purchases. Of all the
ops problems, only one stems from Eldiss, all the others are bought in appliances some of which probably also grace your van ?Ray, please read what i type before coming back with this type of post....
i suggested 7 makes of van to the OP....2 german, 2 french and 3 uk vans...
neither of the two german brands were Burstner or 'my beloved' Carthago.
whats the point in recommending a van that is likely to be in a different budget.....how about a Concorde or a Morello.....
my suggestions were realistic ones, in the area of a replacement Elddis....
given the choice, id take a two/three year Hymer over a new Elddis for the same money....
with all the appliances the same, why arent (say) AutoSleepers the same price as an Elddis.....rather than 50% more... and as for overpriced, you bet...almost £75k for the Burford....
...
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oh yes, the 'one' (apparently) you heard of....
do you have a sensible suggestion for the OP other than to pooh-pooh everything i post?
...The one That i personally know about ,but as compared to the few Uk built LVs that seem to have problems out of the Thousands sold Each Year,against those in the UK built elsewhere,have Hymer soreted all the cracked locker doors on their Novas ?
...are you actually suggestion that uk MH dont have issues, and that its all down to the fridge and heater makers?
...has anyone actually stuck their neck out and suggested the OP should just forget his reservations and go straight back in for another Elddis?
is this what youre recommending....?
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BB, you really do look at all things German Made through rose tinted spectacles, Burstner have had many water ingress problems, look on some of the German Brand forums for a jolt back to earth. Even your beloved Carthago (overpriced and over here, to misquote
a well known wartime saying) is not without faults, Eldiss may not be perfect, but they do produce vans at a price that most people can afford,in the UK, and considering how many they sell, most customers are happy with their purchases. Of all the
ops problems, only one stems from Eldiss, all the others are bought in appliances some of which probably also grace your van ?Ray, please read what i type before coming back with this type of post....
i suggested 7 makes of van to the OP....2 german, 2 french and 3 uk vans...
neither of the two german brands were Burstner or 'my beloved' Carthago.
whats the point in recommending a van that is likely to be in a different budget.....how about a Concorde or a Morello.....
my suggestions were realistic ones, in the area of a replacement Elddis....
given the choice, id take a two/three year Hymer over a new Elddis for the same money....
with all the appliances the same, why arent (say) AutoSleepers the same price as an Elddis.....rather than 50% more... and as for overpriced, you bet...almost £75k for the Burford....
...
How much is the Merc base vehicle compared to the standard Sevel base on most
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oh yes, the 'one' (apparently) you heard of....
do you have a sensible suggestion for the OP other than to pooh-pooh everything i post?
...The one That i personally know about ,but as compared to the few Uk built LVs that seem to have problems out of the Thousands sold Each Year,against those in the UK built elsewhere,have Hymer soreted all the cracked locker doors on their Novas ?
...are you actually suggestion that uk MH dont have issues, and that its all down to the fridge and heater makers?
...has anyone actually stuck their neck out and suggested the OP should just forget his reservations and go straight back in for another Elddis?
is this what youre recommending....?
Write your comments here...Has the OP said he did not like the Elddis? only that a more reliable one? but that seems by his post because of the Bought in equipment that give the same problems what ever LV is purchased
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BB, you really do look at all things German Made through rose tinted spectacles, Burstner have had many water ingress problems, look on some of the German Brand forums for a jolt back to earth. Even your beloved Carthago (overpriced and over here, to misquote
a well known wartime saying) is not without faults, Eldiss may not be perfect, but they do produce vans at a price that most people can afford,in the UK, and considering how many they sell, most customers are happy with their purchases. Of all the
ops problems, only one stems from Eldiss, all the others are bought in appliances some of which probably also grace your van ?Ray, please read what i type before coming back with this type of post....
i suggested 7 makes of van to the OP....2 german, 2 french and 3 uk vans...
neither of the two german brands were Burstner or 'my beloved' Carthago.
whats the point in recommending a van that is likely to be in a different budget.....how about a Concorde or a Morello.....
my suggestions were realistic ones, in the area of a replacement Elddis....
given the choice, id take a two/three year Hymer over a new Elddis for the same money....
with all the appliances the same, why arent (say) AutoSleepers the same price as an Elddis.....rather than 50% more... and as for overpriced, you bet...almost £75k for the Burford....
...
How much is the Merc base vehicle compared to the standard Sevel base on most
...still over £70k for the Peugeot version
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BB, you really do look at all things German Made through rose tinted spectacles, Burstner have had many water ingress problems, look on some of the German Brand forums for a jolt back to earth. Even your beloved Carthago (overpriced and over here, to misquote
a well known wartime saying) is not without faults, Eldiss may not be perfect, but they do produce vans at a price that most people can afford,in the UK, and considering how many they sell, most customers are happy with their purchases. Of all the
ops problems, only one stems from Eldiss, all the others are bought in appliances some of which probably also grace your van ?Ray, please read what i type before coming back with this type of post....
i suggested 7 makes of van to the OP....2 german, 2 french and 3 uk vans...
neither of the two german brands were Burstner or 'my beloved' Carthago.
whats the point in recommending a van that is likely to be in a different budget.....how about a Concorde or a Morello.....
my suggestions were realistic ones, in the area of a replacement Elddis....
given the choice, id take a two/three year Hymer over a new Elddis for the same money....
with all the appliances the same, why arent (say) AutoSleepers the same price as an Elddis.....rather than 50% more... and as for overpriced, you bet...almost £75k for the Burford....
...
How much is the Merc base vehicle compared to the standard Sevel base on most
...still over £70k for the Peugeot version
...?
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do you really need me to help you with the maths?
i would imagine that the AS differential of around £5k (like for like) would reflect (roughly) the relative prices of the two base vehicle choices
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do you really need me to help you with the maths?
i would imagine that the AS differential of around £5k (like for like) would reflect (roughly) the relative prices of the two base vehicle choices
Write your comments here...Burford not in pug line up?
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Crispy pancake, I'd go for another Elddis. They are great value for money and good vans. What you need is a good, local dealer.
As has been pointed out in other posts, your problems were not specifically Elddis. Whatever van you buy it's the luck of the draw. Just over a year ago myself and two friends all got new vans. The couple who bought an Autosleeper are about to sell it as
they've had so many issues with it. The friends who bought an Auto Trail had also had their fair share of problems. We bought an Elddis and have had two non-Elddis related issues that were quickly sorted by the dealer. Ours has just sailed past it's first
habitation with no issues. Get a good local dealer and choose the van you want. In all the years we have owned caravans and motorhomes I still believe the industry is a joke in general and a good van is pure good luck. I just love camping so much I just keep
going back for more0 -
We are having a few days at our regular bolt hole,
and spoke to a couple who have just seen the light again and come back to the fold after several m/vans UK and their last in their words "Nightmare Knaus"
They have now got in their words again "a c/van that we should have had from the start"and have now got all the things of home in a reasonable size and the freedom of a car to go anywhere
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do you really need me to help you with the maths?
i would imagine that the AS differential of around £5k (like for like) would reflect (roughly) the relative prices of the two base vehicle choices
Write your comments here...Burford not in pug line up?
...no, each range (merc or peugeot) has its own model names...the nearest model to the Burford is the Corinium, which (as i said) is around £5k less than the Burford..
so, on a similar model, the merc is around £5k more.
do i have to do all the work for you....
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We are having a few days at our regular bolt hole,
and spoke to a couple who have just seen the light again and come back to the fold after several m/vans UK and their last in their words "Nightmare Knaus"
They have now got in their words again "a c/van that we should have had from the start"and have now got all the things of home in a reasonable size and the freedom of a car to go anywhere
you and your 'friends' eh?....everyone you meet seems to have so much trouble.....
you'll be adding this one to the 'horrible Hymer' we hear about in every thread about MHs
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We bought our Hymer second hand 12 tears ago. It hand 20k on the clock: it now has over 150k! Apart from a fatigued window, brought about by lots of continental sunshine, the bills we've had have been due to wear and tear on the Fiat base vehicle. Most
years we've toured for 24 weeks out of the 52, and we've even met Boleroboy on the way. So we agree that buying a nearly new Hymer could be a wise investment.0 -
For us, buying a MH or caravan depends on the dealer and the layout. The dealer has to be at the very least local and OK to deal with. I have yet to find a truly 'decent' dealer but that's a problem with the industry as a whole....and another topic.
In the past 10 years we have owned an 8 year old Knaus that we had for 18 months with no real troubles. We then bought a brand new Chausson. Again no major issues in 3.5 years of ownership apart from it needed a new habitation door after 18 months as it
started to rust along the bottom edge. After that we had a Swift caravan for 18 months that needed a new front window and had to be checked for borderline damp around the wheel arches. Just over a year ago we changed to the Elddis MH with no real issues so
far, touch woodThe only van that stands out in my mind as pure quality was an Eriba that Mum and Dad bought years ago. Mind you, it was years ago and it did cost the Earth at the time. No doubt it's still on the road now
These items are so complex with so many features fitted to them from so many different manufacturers things will go wrong. It's the warranty and dealer issues that need to be addressed in my opinion. Choose a van that suits your budget and style and enjoy.
As I've said before, unfortunately I think luck plays a large part of getting a trouble free van.0 -
Thank you for all your posts. I would like to confirm that the dealer we bought our MH from in Southampton; Dolphin Homes, have been great and dealt with every problem efficiently. It's not only the inconvenience of having to return it to have the repairs
done, whilst still trying to juggle the logistics of getting to my workplace, but having to work round the immediate problem whilst hundreds of miles from home and half way through my holiday each time. The main reason we went with a new model,in the first
place was to avoid breakdowns as we are not techy people. we love everything about our MH especially the large windows at the rear, enabling us to sit and enjoy the views. I would emphasise that the Peugeot engine has never caused us problems. Just not confident
in choosing a second hand MH.0 -
Is it really worth changing your MH now you've had the various components repaired/replaced, CP1? Your MH itself seems pretty reliable and, as I pointed out before, those same bits of equipment will be fitted in any make of van. Personally, now the repairs
are done, I'd stick with it if I was happy with the MH as you'd very likely go through the same again with another MH. Better the devil you know.0 -
Pancake, a very good point from TW above....
however, for info, the base vehicles that underpin these MH are very robust commercial vehicles that are built to do start/stop motoring over a 200,000 mile or so period...
most are incredibly reliable. each brand will have its foibles but manufacturers would go out of business if these 'vans' litterally didnt deliver.
as you are still working, your van is likely to be doing about 1% (2000 miles) of their normal life expentancy, just loom at the miles Chas (above) has done in his vehicle compared to you..so a new vehicle will not necessarily be any 'better' than a one/two year old one.
yes, get the van serviced, lack of use is at least as bad as overuse....also get yourself decent recovery insurance (just in case) and you shouldnt really need to worry about the underpinnings.
but as to the conversion, this is where the major differences in price will come...this will be where the money is (or isnt) spent on materials and components (built upto a spec or built down to a price?...) and how well these are designed to be put together well and how well that process is then delivered.
looking at things like bed construction (or drawers, lockers etc) from different brands will give you some idea of how well (or not) the different converters actually screw the whole thing together...
also, try and check out a couple of two year old UK vans just to convince yourself that everything still feels like it will work, no saggy sofas etc...
you say you like the large rear windows for the view....despite most vans having decent windows, it seems that you are looking for a rear lounge design.
this is one favoured by many Brits and produced by many uk makers....not such a popular design from Continental makers as their customers spend more time outside 'lounging, dining, relaxing' rather than being sat inside 'enjoying the view'...
so, Elddis, Swift, Bailiey, Auto Trail, Auto Sleepers will be the converters producing this layout.
as you have Dolphin fairly close by, this will seem a logical choice for you, but i would have a look around elsewhere as well, just to give yourself a full recce before signing up again.
good luck.
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You've all got me wondering now whether it's worth trekking to the MH show in Birmingham. We need to do some serious homework before we decide on next move.
quite a random question but does anyone have the solution to cleaning the roof of a MH which doesn't have a ladder attached? Our local car wash won't do the roof and we are not great at the very top of a stepladder.
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