I am looking at buying a burrnster belcanto and was wondering if there are any down sides to buying a German caravan. I know the door is opposite but wondered if there any down sides such as parts and repairs etc.
Seen a lovely van which will be our first ever purchase so after some tips please.
I have had no problems over the last 11years with my Hymer. It has never had any significant repairs, the only parts I have ever needed have always been available, order one week delivered to the dealer a week later. The only parts I have ordered were a plastic section of the shower which is quite large and unique to this van and it was there in les than a week, and a winding handle for the roof which was initially supplied wrongly but a direct enquiry to hymer provided tbe part a few dats later. The door on the wrong side is no problem at all in fact I prefer it.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
I just googled it and there was some people saying that some campsites refuse German vans and they are hard to sell on. Surely not, this is our first van and haven't got a clue. They look more solid and classy than the others in our price range.
Don't worry about that we have had German vans for a few years now and have never had a problem with being refused by a campsite! They are very well built and you will love the quality. Enjoy!
Parts like interior fittings/appliances & also chassis/running gear are common to both UK & German built 'vans so they can be serviced by any UK caravan workshop no problem.
I think the so-called "logic" behind sites refusing German vans is that they are popular with the travellers community. When we were thinking about buying our German van 6 years ago we were told this, and also that we would have trouble getting insurance. Who told us? Several dealers at the NEC who sold English makes only!
Undeterred, we went ahead and bought a Burstner Belcanto. We've never had problems with insurance, campsite xenophobia, damp ingress, or indeed any other problems apart from a couple of minor ones - once, a light shade was broken during a routine service, but the dealer had no trouble getting a replacement. We've had the foam filling of the cushions replaced after several years (including a full year spent travelling in the van, followed by four months living in it in this country while house-hunting.) We also had to have a delaminated window replaced last year, but had it done locally with no difficulties.
We absolutely love our van, it's as solid as the proverbial brick s**t house and has served us well on our very extensive travels.
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
We have had our German van for over 3 years now and have never been refused access to any site, both club sites or private.
Parts are easy enough to come by, through the dealers or there are some ebay shops that can supply bits and pieces.
Every time it goes in for service, the chap who does it makes it his mission to find some damp....nothing yet. It's built like a tank. That would appear to be the only downside we can see - it's heavy and you need a good towcar to pull it.
BTW there is no problem getting insurance either. We do ours with the C&CC and far from being difficult to sell, they tend to hold their price in our experience because of the build quality.
We have had two German
Hymer Caravans over the entire last 12 years; if there is a down side we have yet to
encounter it. Possibly it is people wanting to look inside them!
Unless the UK builders make
a quantum change in the technical quality of their products we can't see any
new purchase being from them.
I think you have to like Teutonic
style but if you don't then you would not be asking
We too have had German made 'vans for the past 20+ years. No insurmountable problems - ever! The prophets of doom are always there and not always as informed as they might have you believe. Positive posts above give a much clearer experienced picture. Enjoy!
I thought the problem with German vans being refused was to do with fire regulations.
Most sites will insist the vans are parked with the hitch pointing a certain way, so the awnings are all on the same side and the spacing is correct for the fire regulations.
If a German van has the door on the other side then the awning will be on the 'wrong' side and so the site will be breaking the fire regulations. If you park the van the other way around then this can also break the fire regulations as they might not be able to pull the van out by the hitch if it's nose in towards a hedge or fence etc.
I have no evidence of this, but was just something I was told a few years ago. Might all be a load of rubbish !
Some campsites do have it in their small print, no Hobbys etc, but I think its just there in case they need it, so no probs if you turn up in a normal touring sized Hobby behind a Mondeo, they probably wouldn't even notice the make, but possibly not a large residential twin axle behind a commercial vehicle.
Quote: Originally posted by clever on 24/2/2014
I thought the problem with German vans being refused was to do with fire regulations.
Most sites will insist the vans are parked with the hitch pointing a certain way, so the awnings are all on the same side and the spacing is correct for the fire regulations.
If a German van has the door on the other side then the awning will be on the 'wrong' side and so the site will be breaking the fire regulations. If you park the van the other way around then this can also break the fire regulations as they might not be able to pull the van out by the hitch if it's nose in towards a hedge or fence etc.
Quote: Originally posted by clever on 24/2/2014I thought the problem with German vans being refused was to do with fire regulations.Most sites will insist the vans are parked with the hitch pointing a certain way, so the awnings are all on the same side and the spacing is correct for the fire regulations.
I think those "most sites" you mention would be on some CC main sites?
They recently realised that their inter-pitch spacing broke the "recommended" 6 metre fire break between facing "habitated" units; somebody pointed out children may sleep in an awning thus it may be habitated?
So they have in these close pitched areas to phase the awnings, all one way and require precise parking to the peg.
Yes I have been asked to pitch nose in if both putting up an awning and using specific pitches. Other pitches have been available, so far. It is an irritant but not a big one and fortunately we are rare users of CC sites. Hopefully new sites and developments on existing ones will better take into account these fire break recommendations.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: German Caravans
