Are Chausson motorhomes any good?

[crazy camper]

My wife and I are looking for our first motorhome, and have been recommended the Chausson range, and like the look of the flash 11 and flash 18 models. what concerns me is the lack of any used examples in the mags. This has made me wonder, are they so good people keep them or so useless they dont sell well.

please help a total novice

many thanks

Steve

[Brian Kirby]

Steve

They are made by the giant Trigano group, along with Challenger motorhomes.  The differences between Chausson and Challenger are cosmetic.  I believe all Chaussons have a Challenger counterpart.  There are three ranges under each marque.  They cover the market entry level, up to somewhere in the mid quality market.  They are not "top of the market motorhomes" but they do not sell at "top of the market prices".  For the money, they represent fair value in France, which is their home market.  In UK, like many imported vans, they have tended to be somewhat optimistically priced, but that is my opinion.  The differences between them and higher quality products will show in the quality (though not necessarily durability!) of fabrics used, a relative simplicity in the soft furnishings, and maybe a bit less refinement in the cabinet work.  For the rest, you'll find Messrs Dometic, Truma, and Thetford etc all present and correct, with much the same products as in any top of the range motorhome.  I am not aware of any particular problems with leaky coachbuilt bodywork.

[Brock]

I have always chosen a dealer than a make of van. A good dealer is worth his (or her) weight in gold. A good dealer will be able to guide you through the joy of buying your first van, will explain what you need to know about the vans, and will be there to help when things go wrong - inevitably wrong I might add.

 

A bad dealer will sell you the van s/he wants rid of. Will make whatever claims are necessary to sell the van, deny them after it all goes wrong, and be absent when you need help the most.

 

Visit dealers, preferably within convenient travelling distance, and get to know them. Read the magazines and brush up your own knowledge and you will begin to separate the good and bad dealers. MMM awards are a good guide.

 

Once you've identified a few good dealers, see what they stock.

 

The first van I bought from a dealer was a mistake. The second and third were bought from the same excellent dealer and both served me well. A house move meant the 4th and 5th were bought from the same dealer in the north west and they were even better!

 

Used Chausson examples will be rare because they have not been imported for long.

[Mrs Bear]

We purchased a Flash S3 last spring from RDH in Nottingham. As a dealer we found them unpushy and very helpful.

 

We chose this model as it was under 6m in length and had rear bunk beds. We have found that the Ford engine has plenty of oompf and will at 65 return 27 to the gallon.

 

We have found the robustness of the interior pretty good and the beds very comfortable. Ok so it is not as posh as some other brands but suits us completely. But as with all motorhomes it is always handy to carry a small toolkit, just to tighten up anything that gradually wiggles free.

 

We have taken the van back to have a rear light replaced and to add an exterior light, but apart from that it has been fine.

 

We have travelled it down to the south of france and have now managed over 40 nights.

 

The diesal heating was a godsend in October and appears very ecomonical to run. The water tank lasts on average 2-3days for a family of 4, and the 3 burner hob is very useful.

 

One thing we have done is have a single Gaslow bottle installed, this seems to last for ever and during our 3 week tour of europe was never refilled. The gas locker on the S3 only has room for one bottle.

 

You could always hire one for a weekend to see the pros and cons, RDH can arrange this.

 

There has been some reviews of chausson done by Which Motorcaravan and MMM, maybe you could get a back issue.

 

Hope this has been of help. :-D

[ian81]

We purchased a Challenger 34+ in France 3 months ago and are pleased with it -for the money. The most irritating aspect is the quality of the final finish coupled with French aftersales (lack of ) service. Excessive mastic is easing out of the edge joints for example. Also the fitted Remi rooflight blew open because of a fault with the latching mechanism!! Fortunately Remis in Germany have helped getting that replaced.

The Ford base is great -excellent performance and about 33mgp.