British caravans

Iv'e had four caravans, one from new bought in 2008, a Sprite with the big front window which Iv'e had replaced eight (8) times in eight years, seven at their expence and once at mine.

..Another problem that is still to be rectified by the Dutch manufacturer 

Iv'e had four caravans, one from new bought in 2008, a Sprite with the big front window which Iv'e had replaced eight (8) times in eight years, seven at their expence and once at mine.

..Another problem that is still to be rectified by the Dutch manufacturer 

Yes, but which UK window maker is geting it right? 

Sadly I don't think there is one left.

..Thats why a lot of "complaints" about uk built LVs are off the mark, as the majority of things fitted are "imported" from the channel

Is the company that ever one goes to for replacements still in the uk (cannot remember name) EECO somthing?

This is what is the (as mentioned several times) if we in the uk did not want all the latest "kit" and tow with less than a big 4x4,as continental vans tend to need ,with a less  than UK spec,then the uk builders could use stronger materials to make them
as some think, less "flimsy" although Australians do not think so

So to summarise British caravans are built to the highest possible standards.  By craftsmen, not monkeys wielding mastic guns like Uzi's.  

Any slight problems very rare are down to the purchaser demanding to much kit in too light a van.  Presumably the manufacturers are to polite to tell the great British public that this is not a match made in heaven.  Or some sort of dastardly plot by foreign
equipment suppliers 

It doesn't  matter about all the glossy brochures and the spin

A company can only be judged whether it is good or bad on its response to you when "you" have a problem. Its called customer service

Fraid you lost me there

The only problems with my British built Autotrail motorhome have come from Foreign manufactured parts,  distorting windows,  made by Polyplastic from Holland, and they still havnt completely solved the problem ! Leisure Battery failing early, Banner battery, from Germany.Boiler/heating failure, Truma, also from Germany.    No, not all things from Foreign manufacturers are better. Never had any faults with Carver boilers/heaters,  Electrolux 3 way fridges,made in Luton, before Dometic took over, Exide batteries(when they were made in the UK), we dont seem to make any component parts in the UK anymore ?   

Our 2014 Bailey Unicorn has just suffred a broken bed frame-its the tranverse bed which telescopes for day/night use. The sliding part has broken.

Bailey won't cover it as that part is out of warranty. 

Pretty good for a £20K purchase?

£168 for the part plus labour. I have had 5 new Baileys yhis is the worst finished. They have now lost a loyal customer.

I will write to them but don't hold out much hope.

If the japanese or Koreans went into caravans it would shake up the industry. Just like it did the british car/motorcycle industry!

Re: Heating current Hymer fitted with Alde heating and its great mainly because it can be set up on a timer a feature that a lot of people don't seem to use.   However a friend with a very high end van had his Alde boiler corrode through It cost him almost
£2k to have the boiler reconditioned ( to be fair I think that reconditioning meant that Alde replaced almost every part).  Whether the failure was due to a manufacturing, installation or maintainence fault I don't know

It is without doubt a good system but still depends on installation.   I remember looking at  a caravan   I think it was a Unicorn 2 which which had Alde heating installed, but when you looked in the under seat storage the concectors were just there so as
soon as you used the storage space for storage it would be inevitable that the delicate fins would be damaged, why could the covers be fitted to protect them?  Why do some Manufacturers to this day insist on fitting in inferior circulation pump in expansion
tank if not to save a couple of quid?

Ps

Previous Hymer had the much derided Truma Ultraheat system fitted.  Couple of detail differences though, 1 the fire installed was the 5kW version not the 3kW version as invariably fitted to  UK built vans and the hot air ducting was run internally, except
for a length of approx 1m that bridged the shower and that was insulated,  

Often it is not the parts it is the attention to detail when they are fitted   

bloody fire cover still threw its self off at every opportunity though. 

Re: Heating current Hymer fitted with Alde heating and its great mainly because it can be set up on a timer a feature that a lot of people don't seem to use.   However a friend with a very high end van had his Alde boiler corrode through It cost him almost
£2k to have the boiler reconditioned ( to be fair I think that reconditioning meant that Alde replaced almost every part).  Whether the failure was due to a manufacturing, installation or maintainence fault I don't know

It is without doubt a good system but still depends on installation.   I remember looking at  a caravan   I think it was a Unicorn 2 which which had Alde heating installed, but when you looked in the under seat storage the concectors were just there so as
soon as you used the storage space for storage it would be inevitable that the delicate fins would be damaged, why could the covers be fitted to protect them?  Why do some Manufacturers to this day insist on fitting in inferior circulation pump in expansion
tank if not to save a couple of quid?

Ps

Previous Hymer had the much derided Truma Ultraheat system fitted.  Couple of detail differences though, 1 the fire installed was the 5kW version not the 3kW version as invariably fitted to  UK built vans and the hot air ducting was run internally, except
for a length of approx 1m that bridged the shower and that was insulated,  

Often it is not the parts it is the attention to detail when they are fitted   

bloody fire cover still threw its self off at every opportunity though. 

 

 

Write your comments here...

Leisure Shop Direct sell the Alde boiler, complete for £1495, so nearly £2000 for reconditioning seems like an uneconomic choice.A 5kw Truma Ultraheat will draw approx 20Amps, which is an exceptional current from EHU. Maybe the more modest UK 3kw at 12Amps
is better suited to leisure vehicles. We too have found the Alde timing with reduced nighttime temperatures to be excellent. We have also fitted the load monitor so that the electrical side of the boiler stays within our user defined limit during periods of
high overall power demand such as using the microwave. I couldn't agree more about uninsulated external ducting, thank goodness it's being superseded by wet heating systems.

Any one with an open mind ,would hopefully look at the product that first, has a good reputation for build quality, that is backed up by the amount of LVs from said company on sites,which in my experiance is an ideal "customer feedback " area ,as anyone with a product with "problems" will more likely to "mention" it to others with same make, as it is a known statistic, that people would rather "moan" about something if it is not in their opinion "satisfactory", and that is proved with a poll of customer feed back that was carried out of manufacturing and service industry companies ,the thousands of silent majority of returnig customers,who are satisfied compaired to the minority of those who complain,who will put pen to paper

As most seem to be with all makes 

As most seem to be with all makes 

you obviously dont read the right (wrong) forums....

...See my previous post

I'm no expert(not even an owner) as JC pointed out the Foreign manufacturers don't give the 10yr warranty the UK builds carry, why is this?. If they are so good why not back them with a confidence boosting warranty. Genuine question as I'm intrigued.