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With its new, lower fixed bed and revised internal and external detailing, the facelifted T-725 in the new Tribute range, produced by Auto Trail, looks more impressive than ever.
Has the best just got better? Well, certainly the Sports Pack is good news. As with other entry-level motorhomes, you’d be wearing a jacket with your arms strapped to your back before you’d order a Tribute without this bundle of well-priced options.
And in reality, not one Tribute is ever likely to leave the factory naked of the pack – who would resist an Omnistor awning, rear spoiler moulding on the roof, TV aerial, mains and blown-air additions for the heating, a few minor bits of bling on the fascia, a pair of scatter cushions, heated and electric door mirrors, and removable carpets? Especially when the whole caboodle costs just £999.
The only other option is cab air-conditioning – another £955.
We put the Tribute through its paces on a family weekend trip, four-up (with a teenager and a nearly four-year old) for three nights and well over 300 miles.
Before we’d even started our test trip in the Tribute it scored well with all of us, swallowing every bit of kit we could throw at it.
Of course, here you could argue that the 2012-season T-725 is not quite as good as its forebear as this year the fixed transverse rear bed has been lowered. But in reality, unless you absolutely must store full-sized bikes onboard, this is probably a better compromise.
One of the reasons you’ll buy a T-725 over a broadly similar T-720 (which replaces the garage/bed with a rear lounge) is for the luxury of that big permanent bed. A single fixed step (around the base of which the carpet trim needed re-gluing) replaces the ladder of the old-model T-725, making access easy.
Once in bed, the split, his ’n’ hers, mattresses are excellent and you get individual reading lights and an opening window at the foot end. Similarly, the overcab bed has just an opening window on the nearside and no vent.
That just left the dinette bed to make – from a jigsaw of seven cushions. Its teenage occupant slept well here (waking up a teenager is more of an issue), even when joined by our pooch. Like the other two beds, it’s genuinely an adult double in size.
The size of the Tribute’s kitchen was never an issue – not least because its virtually-triangular appliances leave a really useful area of worktop space between them. You might have had issues with the fridge size before, but the latest (Dometic 8-Series) item now fitted incorporates a removable freezer compartment.
With said shelf and door removed and left at home we had just enough food space left for a quartet of hungry campers. Having three burners on the hob and an oven/grill meant our culinary options weren’t limited (even if they weren’t gourmet!), while the galley also offers plenty of storage throughout.
Verdict
A few very minor niggles aside, this is a fantastic family motorhome – at an equally fantastic price. That parent company Auto-Trail have equipped it with a separate shower is just one example of Tribute giving you more: more than you expect, and more than its rivals.
Price from: £37,649
Cost to insure: £244.50*
Fact-file
- Travel seats (inc driver): 4
- Dimensions 6.96m L, 2.23m W, 2.89m H (excluding TV aerial)
- Interior height: 1.94m
- Maximum weight: 3500kg
- Beds: Over-garage double 2.08m x 1.35m, front lounge transverse bed 1.86m x 1.22m, overcab bed 2.08m x 1.83m
Source: outandaboutlive.co.uk
* Motorhome insurance based on 2012 Tribute T-725 valued at £37,649. Fitted with Manufacturer’s Immobiliser system. Kept on driveway at home at TD9 8ED. Insured & spouse, 57 years old, professionals, with no claims, convictions or health conditions in last 3 years. 5 years transferred protected NCD, 5 years motorhome driving experience. Members of motorhome club doing less than 5000 miles annually. £300 excess applies. European cover £22.00 Extra. European Breakdown £43 extra. Premium includes Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) at 6% and is correct as of 20.01.12.
Bought a new Tribute 720 just over two years ago. It came with numerous faults the most serious being water ingress – initially in 10 locations. It went back to Auto-Trail for repairs. After two months it was returned but the latest habitation test shows that it is still leaking. The dealer has been fantastic. Auto-Trail want the van back to repair it again (and again!). This is not a one off van. If you are going to buy get a habitation test – especially on a new one!
thanks paul you like us all pay the price for poor quility if only manifactures gave us wat we want and not the rubbish they think they can get away with for profit expecting us to find the faults for them and remember our money i hard to earn
We have tribute 720, 12 months old now, to all intense and purposes the same kit.The front dining area is only suitable for 2! peopel as the front seats don’t turn completely due to the panelling and the side seats do not reach the table, which is too small for purpose. The table is also very fragile, the formica on the top of ours has 2 cracks in it already. the washroom ceiling is not tall enough for anyone over 5’10” The wall behind the bathroom sink is not waterproof. The bolier switches on ours were in very awkward/inaccesable places. I could go on about the screws used and the numerous problems we have had, but It would only bore you. The transit however is a joy to drive, the wide track rear axle, 2,2 engine (140bhp), 6 speed gearbox, cruise control, steering wheel controls etc.. the only thing missing was air con. Mileage last year varied between 19-25 mpg (diesel) driving in France. Remember this is a 3.5 ton plus coachbuild body, handles like a dream (except in strong winds!) Feel free to email for extra info/what to look out for fault wise.
Thanks for that – it makes it much clearer – but we are going to the Glasgow Caravan & Motorhome Show next weekend so hopefully there will be one there we can have a look at.
Many thanks.
Little Mo
please check your spec as i think the weight 1.94m is wrong,so what else is wrong with the motor as most buyers seem to have to test from the manufacturer to there cost.
Fact-file
Travel seats (inc driver): 4
Dimensions 6.95m L, 2.27m W, 2.94m H (excluding TV aerial)
Interior height: 1.94m
Maximum weight: 1.94m
Beds: Over-garage double 2.07m x 1.33m,
front lounge transverse bed 2.08m x 1.22m, overcab bed 2.05m x 1.34m
Hi Keith
Many thanks for bringing this to our attention. I have amended the factfile above with the tech spec from the Tribute website.
Heather
Caravan Guard
Would have liked to see some pictures of the storage area ie wardrobe and also shower room layout with pictures.
Thanks
Hi Little Mo
I wasn’t able to find any pictures of the washroom or storage areas on the Tribute website, but I have added the floorplan above so you can get an idea of the layout inside the motorhome. Hope that helps.
Heather
Caravan Guard
Really nice report enjoyed the detail.
What about the weight? and the payload?
Hi Grumpy3
The Tribute website just displays the maximum gross weight at 3500kg. This applies to all the motorhomes in the Tribute range. Hope that helps.
Heather
Caravan Guard
What about how it drove/ MPG etc