kerbyadams Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 We are about to buy a secondhand Tracker as above and wonder if anyone has any hints/warnings about these vans please. This will be our 2nd AutoTrail but we are down-sizing and would welcome any advice. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 We had a Tracker EK on the previous Ducato 2.3 and a very fine van it was too. Totally reliable but rattled and squeaked on anything but very smooth roads - if you can find one! Dunno about the later models but build quality on later vans from many converters has not impressed us recently and do be aware of the under bonnet water ingress issues and the dreaded reversing judder and over high reverse gear ratio of the post 2006 X250 models? We changed to an Autocruise Starlet because we prefer the layout and the softer ride of the Alko chassis plus it rattles and squeaks a lot less than the Tracker and whilst the Peugeot 2.2 hdi is a little down on power from the Fiat 2.3 it is also less harsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 From other posts, payload may be an issue, especially rear axle payload (heavy at rear with end kitchen). Chassis may be 3,300kg MAM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 The Autotrail Tracker seems to suffer from the same disease as cars, each time there is an update it grows in size. The original model was on a very small van base around 5.5m. The current model is now 6.39m long. on the 3500kg chassis. Dimensions & weights are available on the Autotrail website:- http://www.auto-trail.co.uk/index.php/tracker-eks.html It still only gives a maximum payload of 285kg reducing to 126kg after passenger & personel effects. BUT it doesn't show what an Awning, etc., would impact into that figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 flicka - 2011-08-02 10:00 PM The Autotrail Tracker seems to suffer from the same disease as cars, each time there is an update it grows in size. The original model was on a very small van base around 5.5m. The current model is now 6.39m long. on the 3500kg chassis. Dimensions & weights are available on the Autotrail website:- http://www.auto-trail.co.uk/index.php/tracker-eks.html It still only gives a maximum payload of 285kg reducing to 126kg after passenger & personel effects. BUT it doesn't show what an Awning, etc., would impact into that figure. Based on the 2009 Auto-Trail brochure, the specification for a 2009 Tracker EK was as follows: Length - 5.79m Width - 2.26m Height (including aerial) - 3.05m (Hi Line) 2.95m (Lo Line) Wheelbase - 3000mm Maximum Gross Weight - 3500kg Unladen Mass (Basic Model) - 2870kg Maximum Gross Train Weight - 4840kg Maximum Towable Weight - 1340kg (The above data are repeated in the 2009 Tracker handbook (downloadable from the A-T website)) The standard motor was a 2.2litre (100bhp) with 5-speed gearbox, with the option (+15kg) of a 2.3litre (130bhp) motor with 6-speed gearbox or (+50kg) a 3.0litre (157bhp) motor with Comfort-matic gearbox. Adding an (optional) awning would reduce the payload by from 24kg (2.6m awning) to 39kg (4.5m awning). I believe there was also an "SE" version that had an integrated awning, plus various other items that would have added weight. In addition, the 2009 A-T brochure gives maximum axle loadings as: Front Axle Loading - 1600kg Rear Axle Loading - 1650kg There's something odd about the 2009 Auto-Trail brochure figures, as the Tracker EK is said to be built on a Fiat Light 33 chassis which (as Brian speculates) suggests a Maximum Gross Weight of 3300kg. There's also the matter of the axle loadings that, together, total 3250kg. Maximum axle loadings normally total more than the vehicle's Maximum Gross Weight and 3250kg is less than 3300kg, never mind 3500kg. (Incidentally, I've tried to cross-check this with other Auto-Trail downloadable brochures but the information isn't there.) Adverts for Tracker EKs suggest that 3500kg may be correct, so the axle-loading data may be wrong, but the only way to be sure would be to check what's on the VIN-plate of the motorhome kirbyadams is buying. If that vehicle's Maximum Gross Weight is below 3500kg and/or the Maximum Axle Loadings are low (particularly the rear-axle maximum loading), then the vehicle's payload capacity may prove to be restrictive in normal use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porky Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I have sent you a PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Porky - 2011-08-05 4:57 PM I have sent you a PM I guess you mean that you've sent a PM to kerbyadams, as I've got nothing in my in-box (?) (I note that you have (had) a 2009 Tracker EKS that was a good bit larger than the EK.) Regarding overall weight, I found the following advert for a 2008 EK http://www.practicalmotorhome.com/forsale/used-motorhomes/west-country-motorhomes---swindon/auto--trail-tracker-ek/fx58cev that suggests that the maximum overall chassis weight of an EK (at least for the 100bhp version) may well have been 3300kg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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