Auto Trail - Water Ingress
I am trying to establish the extent of water ingress problems involving Auto Trail motorhomes. Our 2014 Chieftain revealed extensive damp problems after its second habitation service in March 2016 involving the bed box behind the driver’s seat and the rear garage space. Our dealer undertook repairs during April and May but it has been back several times since because rain water continues to find its way into the garage. It has been at our dealers for the last month and they are saying that they cannot fix it, so now it is going back to Auto Trail this month.
I am led to believe, that of late, perhaps within the last two to three years that Auto Trail have had extensive issues with water ingress.
I would be pleased to hear from anyone that has experienced similar problems involving the ingress of water with an Auto Trail motorhome during the last three years or so.
Comments
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My 2002 Tracker is fine, as are most older vehicles....however I would suggest that virtually all makes are not as well built as they used to be and it is not an Auto Trail specific problem.
One or two of the 'new construction method' makes are horrors!
Just thank your lucky stars it is still under Guarantee
I browse the German MH forums and the so called top marques also have lemons!
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My 2012 Savannah had leaks in the same place, bed box behind the driver, low down where side panel joins floor, 2 services running so, it wasnt fixed the first time.quite extensive.Perhaps the guy on that part of the producrion line doesnt know how to fill up his mastic gun .?
Traded in now for an Autotrail panel van.
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Our 2015 Mohawk just had its second habitation service and also has an ingress problem with a reading of 30-40 around perimeter and 70% behind drivers seat! We have had eitheen other issues with this MH and and totally disappointed and fed up with it! A number of spoilt holidays!
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Looks like that the damp problem is not just a AT problem and as been said even German top marques have problems. On this winter trip to Spain the Dutch guy next to me in a Hobby caravan said they have a saying in Holland " Buy a Hobby and you have a Hobby", he then said you need a tool box with you in fact a big tool box LOL. The AT damp problems seem to be mainly in the 2010 to 15 vans not sure about brand new 2017 ones. Have fun and enjoy whatever van you get.
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Hmmm... I've just put a deposit on a 2014 Autotrail Savannah. I had the forethought to ask if I could take all the documents home to have a look at.
I've found that the previous owner had water ingress in the places mentioned in this thread plus in one or two other places. He paid almost £1000 to rectify the problems (see pic). Now I'm wondering if I should go ahead with this purchase. I don't want a major outlay of money every year just to keep the van dry.
I phoned the dealer (Spinneys) which does have a good reputation and they assured me that a complete check will be carried out and any problems fixed before they will let it go. There is a 12 month warranty and they said to take it in to have a damp check after 11 months, before the warranty expires.
What would you do? I'd be grateful for any advice.
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plenty more fish in the sea.....dont go near a 'damp' (fixed or otherwise) MH....
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Thanks for the responses. I have trawled the internet looking at AT motorhomes and the verdict isn't good. I'm not going to buy this van but would appreciate some advice on which make to go for.
I've also read that none of the newer motorhomes, regardless of make, are made as well as older versions. I've got a Bessacarr which I've had for 2 years. It's my first, is a 2002 model and other than lookin tired and a bit rough around the edges, it is a solidly made van. Maybe another Bessacarr?
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apart from theni tegrity of the vehicle, what layouts are ypu looking at...
rear lounges, end bedrooms, garage versions? number of passengers?
these, to a degree, will dictate which brands can provide what you want.
some designs may limit you to UK only or Euro only....
if looking at a 2014 Savannah, you have a reasonable budget to play with.....with a little more info there might be some more advice forthcoming...
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Why " fix it if it ain't broke"!!
Is it a fashion thing ?
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All makes of motorhomes suffer from damp/water ingress. It's just that some are worse than others and some, especially owners of British vans, have the courage to admit they bought a damp 'un.
I had two Swift motorhomes in the late 90's, both leaked and both were repaired under warranty. In 2000 I bought a Niesmann & Bischoff Arto [they weren't upper class then], and two Hymers since. No damp in 17 years. My experience is not unique.
If you want to minimise the risk of damp, buy a motorhome which does not use unseasoned wood in its construction, that is bonded together and not screwed together, and that has closed-pore polyurethane foam side walls - Hymer call their's PUAL. Some do leak because of after market fittings but the polyurethane foam gives the water nowhere to go. Oh and Hymer now keep the damp check records for each van on its computer whilst in the past, you had stickers for the first six years.
I'm not recommending Hymers or Artos because they won't suit everyone but they are worth looking at below the skin to see what is possible and where, in the past, some other makes have fallen down. You can download a brochure off its website - PUAL has been about for a long time.
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Thanks for the info, very helpful indeed. I'll take a look at those 2 makes. I'm no expert on the construction aspects of motorhomes but your comments have added to my fairly meagre knowledge of what to look out for and what questions to ask.
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well. id hardly say the Savannah had good garage space.....yes, it has a locker that runs under the rear beds but (usually) the word garage is reserved for rear storage areas are taller than 1m high, to provide a 'garage' for a scooter or bikes etc.
in general, it will be continental vans that have beds (singles or transverse double, or even island beds these days) over garage sized storage.
the down side for you might be that the lounges are likely to be of half-dinette style to accommodate two extra seatbelts.
opposing sofa lounges are more the preserve of Brit vans....
i think Swift have garage/single bed/sofa lounge version of their Kontiki but has only been around a year or more....
some brands like Rapido have made 'sofa' lounges to go with other rear end garage designs in an attempt to combine the best of both markets.
the savannah is a pretty large MH and an equivalent might start to feel cumbersome should you wish to use it for getting out and about.
we have electric bikes (definitely worth thinking about, with that garage) to get us about upto 20+ miles radius from a site, but we've also downsized to a 6.4m van (still with garage) but, crucially, only 2.12m wide which makes a world of difference when travelling between (or off of) sites.
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Hello to all
This is my first post on this forum. I have a 2016 Dakota. When not 1 year old water ingress was found in similar place to previous listings . It was supposed to be repaired, but just found damp paperwork which was left under the seat , I can’t believe that a van now not 2 years old require such major repairs. I am totally disgusted that this appears to have been an ongoing problem for several years. Can anyone tell me how they got it resolved as I now have no confidence in Autotrail
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