Coachman VIP 520/4

[janward]

Can anyone comment on this model, used 2003. Thinking of going for quality and long life and van just feeling right for us. There seems to be very little on the forum re Coachman other than a heavy van. Assuming this means everyone who has this type of van has no complaints!

First post on this forum, which has so much useful information.

Jan

 

[Robert_374242026]

Hi Jan,we have a Coachman 460/2 and have often seen how well made this brand is .In my view if this is a bit superior than others, well no wonder so many people are changing their units, there is not much differance to most of them.On reflection Coachman seem to be heavier than some others and have heard they use more timber in the construction but as to interior they are no better than rest

 

[Tim_5120839]

Hi, I purchased a brand new Coachman Amara 500/5 last year with exactly those 2 items (Quality and Long Life) at the top of my list. Not completly convinced, I have a long list of faults and although my previous van was a budget Bailey Discovery, some of the parts used in construction, like roof vents and interior finish were as good if not better.Although I have no doubt that Coachman are a quality build, I just thinks they have taken their eye off the ball with regards to detail.

Thanks and good luck Tim

 

[Icemaker]

We started caravanning with a swift challenger 4 berth and had a very poor introduction to the hobby, the van was appaling in the build quality stakes and leaked like a sive.

We kept this van for 9 month untill we could take no more and decided to look for a new van so we had a warranty, after many months of looking we found that we where allways returning to coachman and the very van you are looking at the 520/4 although we looked at the pastiche.

We took the plunge and bought the van a 2001 model, i can honestly state that right from day one to the day we part exchanged it the van was faultless in every way and fantastic to tow and live with.

We swapped the pastiche for a 520/4 vip 2003 model again new, this unfortunately was probably not the best thing i have ever done, you see mum and dad where buying a new vip 460/2 and saw the 520/4 being put out on the pitch, it turned out that someone had ordered it and when it came to collection day they did not have the funds, well to cut a long story short they rang me and i ended up buying it just becouse it was a model higher and 2 years younger than my pastiche. it was a mistake becouse we looked at it in the dark and found once it was light that the interior was just too dark for us, it was a glossop caravans golden edition and had the interior upgraded but it was not really to our liking.

Due to the above we only kept this van for a year before swapping it for a laser 590/4 2004 model, this van was the ultimate for us it was heavy yes but it was rock solid fantastically well built and had every conceivable luxury i could want, we where smitten; that was untill some tosser in a white van decided he could not see 26 feet of gleaming white metal behind my car and wrote the side of the van off, it was just 4 month old.

The van was repaired but we just could not live with it knowing it had been so badly damaged but unfortunately due to its young age we had to settle for a much cheaper van as we had lost so much money on the laser, we ended up buying a ace celebration 590 as a stop gap, that was my second mistake another swift product that was very poorly made and awfully flimsy, the roof of this van sagged in a rain storm in france and the bathroom door would not open due to it catching on the sagged roof, it was appaling.

On our return from france we rang round a few dealers and found a vip 530/4 at campbells in preston, they gave us a reasonable price for the ace and a bargain for the vip so we now have a 2006 model vip 530/4 and again we are chuffed to bits, it is exactely the same high standard i have come to expect from coachman, not one fault not even a hint of a fault it is just perfect.

I can not recomend coachman enough they are a breath of fresh air in an industry that is ridiculed through the likes of swift and explorer building to a budget, yes they are heavy yes they are expensive but you get what you pay for and built in to every van i have owned from coachman has been peace of mind.

Fantastic.

I have no connection with coachman other than being a very happy owner.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Well there you are Jan,the guys have given you an idea what Coachman are like in their view.As this thread is about Coachman would any one care to comment on fridge draughts coming out at bottom and the sliding shelf above the fridge.I have already posted this problem before and i know its in the wrong heading but as you guys have a Coachman can you comment?.

Regards to you all.

Robert

 

[Tim_5120839]

Robert, I agree, Coachman are not all they are cut out to be, I have loads of problems on mine.Some of which are just basic bad design or workmanship.My fridge shelf retaining bar was broken when we got ours.Not saying Coachman are all bad, however I think they are riding on their reputation a bit.

Thanks Tim

 

[Robert_374242026]

Robert, I agree, Coachman are not all they are cut out to be, I have loads of problems on mine.Some of which are just basic bad design or workmanship.My fridge shelf retaining bar was broken when we got ours.Not saying Coachman are all bad, however I think they are riding on their reputation a bit.

Thanks Tim

Hi Tim , you hit the nail on the head , its happening on all things these day's.

Regards

Robert

 

[janward]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all the comments. Have taken the plunge and collected our 2003 VIP 520/4. So far we are really pleased with the quality and comfort etc. As the weather has been so appalling it has at least given it a good test for any leaks. Has taken all weekend to set the van up - now just would like the weather to clear! Nice to know we do have a 12month warranty and hopefully we will not need to call on it.

Thanks again.

 

[Icemaker]

Every van i have been in has had the draught problem from under the fridge its not just a coachman problem. the draught is caused by those big vents in the side of the van that allows the fridge to receive cool air and disipate hot air, it can not be blocked up as the fridge would stop working.

You could attempt to put some insulation round the floor area under the fridge but i would imagine theire is a very good reason why non of the manufacturers have done this.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Every van i have been in has had the draught problem from under the fridge its not just a coachman problem. the draught is caused by those big vents in the side of the van that allows the fridge to receive cool air and disipate hot air, it can not be blocked up as the fridge would stop working.

You could attempt to put some insulation round the floor area under the fridge but i would imagine theire is a very good reason why non of the manufacturers have done this.

Hello Iceman,today we had the Coachman Pastiche serviced and i asked him about the draughts and what he would reccomend about it .I told him that i had inserted fibre glass wool as in loft insulation and he said thats what lots of people do, however for him its a pain as when getting the fridge out his arms etc get smothered in fibres, but apart from that its ok to do.Aparently there should be no draughts come in especialy when on gas.By the way the one i used is that one with tinfoil one side and polythene the other.

 

[Tim_5120839]

Iceman & Robert,

I don't know whether to feel chuffed or left out !....my Coachman seems to have quite a few faults!...however mine does not seem to suffer from any draughts around the fridge !!!

Tim

 

[Forbes1]

We bought a 2005 Coachman Amara 530/4 in March and are very pleased with it. Beats our friends 2006 Swift Charisma hands down as the only fault we've had is the door lock needing replacing (not Coachmans fault as its a bought in part). Their Swift has had numerous faults and has gone back to the factory to have the front rebuilt as it was leaking so badly! Our van seems to be much better built with thicker worktops etc. In fact its a revelation coming from a 1990 Elddis Wisp!!!

 

[janward]

Hi there,

Just back from a ten day holiday, 7 nights Sennen Cove and 3 nights Bodmin. First trip out with our VIP, have to say we are really pleased with this van, we have encountered winds, rain and a bit of sun! Yes there is a draught under the fridge but we did not find this annoying, more to the point an advantage as it does at least let some air into the van at night (probably an age thing for me at least!). It has taken us this holiday to get used to the heater controls (needed a few times)and to really get to know the van. Seating/beds are really comfy, this is what really swung us from a Baily Senator and the end bathroom.

So far really feel it was worth paying a bit more or getting a one year old caravan - which ever way you want to look at it.

Hope to have this van for a long time.

Thanks for everyones comments, dare say there is good and bad in every make.

Jan

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Jan

I am please you have found your caravan to be good.

Back to your original question, During the 1980/90's the majority of smaller specialist caravan manufactures were swallowed up by the big boys, or went out of business.

The chances are that your coachman will be produced on a production line inside a factory that also produces several other marques. As a consequence it is likely to suffer the same types of faults that other caravans from the same factory or manufacture have.

It is quite common to finds different makes of caravan having an identical layout (often using common parts) and the differentiation between makes is down to the trimmings (Choice of colours and fabrics)

Sadly I have very jaundice view of the level of competency most of the manufacturers, as they do not seem to learn from their design mistakes and continue to remake the same problems year after year.

Even if you do find a make that seems to shine out with quality, it will probably cost quite a lot more than the mass produced units, and even that does not preclude them having problems.

 

[janward]

Hi John

Totally agree with you and feel when buying a used van you have to look at each van and assess it for your own personal needs. Lets hope we have a chosen well on this occasion. Nice to know we have a year's guarantee should any problems occur.

Jan