Geist Caravans

[Dawn_5040242]

I am considering purchasing a Geist caravan due to the size of the fixed bunks in the activ range.Could anybody tell me how the front double bed is made up and if anybody has any experience of these vans i would be grateful for their advice.

 

[Geist]

Crumbs! - this must be flame bait 😉!

Seriously, I have a Geist (2006, purchased new this year) and have entered into a death feud with Geist Vehicle Leisure.

Somewhere, perhaps in a remote corner of a distant galaxy, there is probably a worse company than Geist - but here on earth, they hold the title for non-existent customer service delivered with contemptuous arrogance.

Which, in summary, translates as 'don't buy a Geist'

Having said all that, and without wanting to get embroiled (once again) in the specifics of my dissatisfaction with the crew of the jolly pirate ship GVL, I can answer your main questions.

The front bed is made using roller slats. sounds OK, dunnit? - however, these slats have been a pain in the posterior to a lot of Geist owners.

The slats are about 15mm thick, which is good. However, they run in two parallel aluminium channels and the ends of the slats are rebated to about 7mm thick to accommodate these channels - which is bad.

The rebating effectively means that the entire slat is only 7mm thick - and, naturally enough, they snap - usually depositing the occupants of the bed onto the floor.

We are of average build (we're not talking Giants & Giantesses here 😉 and our slats snapped , leaving us with no ******* bed for the night!.

I'd like to be able to say that the slats snapped because of wild abandoned sexual shenanigans - but, alas, they just snapped. that's all.

In my case (and knowing that Geist wouldn't give a rat's backside about the problem) I repaired it by using an aluminium 'slat' (about the width of three conventional slats) which I covered with self-adhesive 'velvet' material on one side (to avoid any condensation issues)

I have to say that I'm very proud of the result (do ask me to post a pic, please 😉 and feel that the finish (I also used a nice brushed aluminium trim) is vastly superior to the original factory effort -

Total cost - about

 

[Dawn_5040242]

Thanks for that extremely compehensive and informative reply, i trust your problems with GLV are in the hands of your solicitor 🙂 !!!!!!!

My concerns were that the front bed was made with the table as with older vans and maybe it would appear that this would have been a safer option in light of the fact that the current set up deposits the occupants on the floor.....

I think this does leave me with no option but to look at other continental vans but sadly i have a weight restriction as my tow vehicle is not a 4 x4.

Good luck with your continued quest with GLV and hopefully they may have taken your problems on board and improved later models????????????????

 

[Geist]

re-reading my post I realise that i mis described the problem.

the slats are curved and made from (presumably) glued layers of birch plywood (a la Ikea)

They are fine - you'd have to hold a Swingers party that involved the entire site the break them 😉

The problem is the leading 'plank' that is the first to pull out (the handle is attached to it) and which is about the width of three of the birch slats.

this is also made of plywood - and it is this that is rebated at each end to allow it to slide in the aluminium guide channels on either side.

Because of the rebate( which more than halves the effective thickness of the wood) it routinely snaps. It's just bad design.

Since replacing with the aluminium we have had no further trouble - that's how Geist should make them - or, more accurately, should specify how LMC (who build the vans for Geist) should make them)

It's typical of Geist that this problem has been rumbling on since the first vans were introduced in 2003/4. Despite lots of feedback about the issue they haven't bothered to do anything about it.

That's how they are.

You'll find that all the German vans at this price point are very much of a muchness. They all seems to be part of the Hymer group, share common parts, and have a similar build quality.

The deciding factor should be the level of customer service - and that is where Geist retire from the race 😉

Good luck on your search - think Dethleffs. or Burstner, or (better still) Hymer - although he Adria's now have a very good build quality as well.