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Subject Topic: Buying a German caravan??
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Personbrianconwy
23/10/2011 at 8:27am
 Location: north wales
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'The low % of German vans within the UK is probably more to do the high build cost in their economy and the poor value of the £, rather than any failing to produce luxury vans.'

It wasn't much different when the pound was strong against the euro.  When you talk of horror stories it only relates to a small percentage of vans produced.  Most owners will be blissfully unaware.  Stories like this will be very rare amongst vans which are rare in the market anyway and are there are bound to be more cases amongst very popular brands.


Persongazmister123
23/10/2011 at 12:00pm
 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
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I think its each to their own, we have owned brittish caravans and they have all been problematic, our current german one has been great (touch wood) and only had a few small niggly problems that I have sorted myself,

When our van needs replacing I am 90% certain I would probably replace it with another german one or a german built motorhome.



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Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.


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PersonSmiledmb
05/11/2011 at 12:11am
 Location: South Liverpool
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Woooo hooooo!!!! Our first ever caravan is..... Burstner 530tk 2002 :) so Pleased and excited :) fixed bunks & side dinette for the kids :)

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Fab time in France again.... Roll on next year!


Personsavanne1
05/11/2011 at 12:25am
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well done smiledmb, did you mean fixed bed for you rather than fixed bunks? When do you pick it up?

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Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug


PersonSmiledmb
05/11/2011 at 12:41am
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:) it's got fixed full sized bunks with a side dinette, and then for us there's a u shaped seating area / dinner that makes to a queen ish size bed. It's a 2002. We collected last weekend :) going to have a night away next weekend and the weekend after, then to bed for the winter. Roll on spring!!!!

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Fab time in France again.... Roll on next year!


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PersonChewie
06/11/2011 at 8:11pm
 Location: Horncastle
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Quote: Originally posted by Smiledmb on 05/11/2011
Woooo hooooo!!!! Our first ever caravan is..... Burstner 530tk 2002 :) so Pleased and excited :) fixed bunks & side dinette for the kids :)

I'm happy for you. Our 530TL is superb, we absolutely love it.

I'm sure you'll find your van to be as good.


Personiwalani
06/11/2011 at 9:19pm
 Location: East Sussex
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We've got a 525TL and love it.  Never had any problems with it.   Enjoy!

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Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie


Personsavanne1
14/11/2011 at 11:38pm
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OH has been keen on German vans from the start but somehow I persuaded him to buy a brit built. Now vanless he is on the hunt for a German van, any ideas on the best places to look? Are there any uk dealers of german vans?

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Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug


PersonSmiledmb
15/11/2011 at 12:12am
 Location: South Liverpool
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There is 1 I know of, I'll find his details and post them :)

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Fab time in France again.... Roll on next year!


Personnelmo
15/11/2011 at 10:52am
 Location: Surrey
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Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 14/11/2011
OH has been keen on German vans from the start but somehow I persuaded him to buy a brit built. Now vanless he is on the hunt for a German van, any ideas on the best places to look? Are there any uk dealers of german vans?

Try Elite caravans in Northampton - we got our Geist from there and they have several other German brands (search on Google, they have a good website).

...and might see you in it at La G next August



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'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain


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Personsavanne1
15/11/2011 at 11:42am
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thanks nelmo, off for a look now. Theres a lovely Geist for sale on the CC classifieds, weight is fine but is 7m 57 on a single axle. Looks like its the same van as you nelmo. The layout looks perfect. Do you know the MTPLM please?

 



Post last edited on 15/11/2011 12:10:32

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Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug


PersonJTQU
15/11/2011 at 11:46am
 Location: Hampshire
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Lowdham Nottingham have just started importing selected models from Dethleffs.

They will also arrange for personal imports of German spec Hymers if you ask nicely but as these are built to your spec from a long options list that involves a lot of homework. Apparently Germans like to spec-up their own Hymer vans rather than buy a "standard build" product as our industry offers.


Personsavanne1
15/11/2011 at 1:27pm
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thanks JTQU. OH just rang Lowdhams and they're sending the brochures to us. Apparently they've already got three new Dethleffs in already.

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Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug


Personnelmo
15/11/2011 at 4:44pm
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Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 15/11/2011

thanks nelmo, off for a look now. Theres a lovely Geist for sale on the CC classifieds, weight is fine but is 7m 57 on a single axle. Looks like its the same van as you nelmo. The layout looks perfect. Do you know the MTPLM please?
Post last edited on 15/11/2011 12:10:32

It's plated at 1459kg but there is a manufacturers sticker in the locker that says max gross weight is 1600kg. I believe some makers do that - plate it lower to attract more customers.

Just to point out, Geist no longer make caravans, only motorhomes as of about 2008/9.



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'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain


PersonJTQU
15/11/2011 at 5:59pm
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Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 15/11/2011

Theres a lovely Geist for sale on the CC classifieds, weight is fine but is 7m 57 on a single axle.


If there is any inference in the above of concern about being "on a single axle" then IMO it is unfounded.
Clearly if you prefer twins and specifically want one then its not a twin. I run a 1900 kg single axle and know that now there are 2000 kg single axle chassis from both Al-Ko and BPW.
I have no issues running my single axle 8 m van, in fact I could not cope with a twin of that size on my property; simply not the space to manoeuvre it without an undue struggle. [been there]


Personsavanne1
15/11/2011 at 7:55pm
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hi JTQU, I'm not experienced with caravans and just thought that 7m 57 seemed long for a single axle van. We definetly dont want a twin axle (due to weight and size). The Geist looks lovely but OH says its just too long for us.

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Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug



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