Advertisement
Auto-Trail Tracker LB motorhome
Sections:

Key Features

Model Year 2018
Class Overcab Coachbuilt
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 60,614
Engine Size 2.3TD
Maximum Weight (kg) 4,250
Berths 6
Main Layout Island Bed
See full details
Advertisement

At a glance

Berths: 4 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 4,250kg Payload: 725kg

Full review

Once upon a time, Auto-Trail’s coachbuilt Tracker motorhome was compact, very compact. But, as time passed, each model became a bit bigger. These days, the Tracker is pretty indistinguishable from all the firm’s other offerings as far as its style and range of options is concerned.

The 2017 season saw just four models in the range, with this new one making five and adding a second island bed layout (the Tracker RB features a transverse island bed). The LB is the longest motorhome on the Tracker menu – its 7.60-metre overall length is partly a consequence of the island bed’s lengthways orientation. And it’s very British: the twin sofa lounge and extremely well equipped kitchen appealing to motorhomers who need to be able to relax and cook indoors. The test ’van was a Lo-Line and that means it has a less lofty overcab equipped with lockers.

Although it rides on the Fiat Ducato standard chassis, handling proved solid and stable on the road. The standard 130bhp motor is best described as adequate in a motorhome this size but, with four people on board and a full load on its four-and-a-quarter-tonne chassis, it might be found wanting.

The good news is that the 150 and 177 horsepower versions of the 2.3-litre unit are on the options list, if you feel you need more grunt. Cab equipment is fairly decent as standard with passenger airbag, air-conditioning, chromed instrument surrounds, cruise control and ASR that includes Traction+, hill start and descent assistance. Add the Media Pack and the radio gains a large touchscreen, steering wheel controls, sat-nav software and DAB and Bluetooth.

Convivial for around half a dozen friends, the lounge should also prove great for two, with an armchair (a swivelled cab seat) apiece, plus a sofa each, too. One settee is shorter than the other, but, taking into acount the adjacent cab pews, there’s feet-up relaxing for two.

In the LB’s kitchen, the full-sized cooker has four heat sources on its hob, a separate grill and a roomy oven. Directly above, there’s a microwave and a powerful suck/blow ceiling fan up there, too. Across the aisle, the fridge boasts 142 litres of capacity and is raised to an easy-to-get-at height with a deep drawer below. The sink continues the good news with a generous bowl and reasonable drainer. It also comes with a drop-in worktop lid. Below all this, there’s a narrow shelved cupboard and a far bigger one, enclosed by a curved door. Above, one high-level locker offers more storage. All round, it’s a pretty good galley. However, it does lack drawers; a plastic tray inside the big cupboard is the only place for cutlery and utensils.

Located on the offside, the shower works very well. Consisting of a fully separate cubicle with plenty of space within and curved, rigid doors, the easy to operate, temperature-maintaining valve feeds a head mounted on a riser rail. There’s a fold-down drying rail in here and strip LED lighting. 

The toilet/washroom is across the aisle. Its door swings across to enclose the whole as an en suite to the bedroom, exposing a space that’s as plain as the shower is fancy. Plain, yes, but it’s all there, with a D-shaped basin, good countertop, large mirror and well-designed cupboards. Auto-Trail has been using this design for quite a few years now, simply because it works.

Content continues after advertisements
Advertisement
Advertisement

The LB’s island bed comes in at less than the dimensions of a standard domestic double; it’s one inch over six feet long. Subtract the radius and the effective length is even less. The mattress is thick and comfortable, though, and there’s room at the head to get sat up with your book or cuppa, while a surface either side (in front of the his ‘n’ hers wardrobes) provides for your night-time bits and pieces. The head end rises, the base sliding back to make room at the foot. But, with the bed flat, it’s rather tight and could be a squeeze to get around each side.

Up front, the lounge can be converted into a transverse bed in the time-honoured way: simply slide the sofa bases together, drop in the backrests – no infill cushions are needed – and the job’s done. And this bed is long, very long, at a smidge under 6ft 10in. But, thanks to the unequal-length sofas, it’s just 2ft 11in wide at its narrowest.

There’s an easy-to-use touchscreen control panel. It also has the ability to connect with Sargent via its website for fault finding, software upgrades and the like. The rest of the life support systems are more conventional: lighting is plentiful and all LED, while heating and hot water is by mains/gas Truma Combi. Both water tanks are underslung and the generous gas locker holds two 13kg cylinders.

There are overhead lockers, plus expected stowage under the sofas. Useful additions include huge locker space above the cab and various handy cupboards in the bedroom. You’ll not find a garage, but there is a long, low locker right across the rear with a door on either side. Got at from inside, the bed’s foot lifts to reveal a substantial chest-style store.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the October 2017 issue of MMM magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.

Content continues after advertisements
Advertisement
Advertisement

Expert motorhome advice to your door!

Why not subscribe to one of our fabulous magazines and get expert advice, travel ideas, technical help and all the latest news for your motorhome and your motorhome adventures!

MMM Motorhomers' Magazine

Want to know more about MMM magazine?

Every month MMM has articles written by motorhomers who have been there and done it, from great UK and European (and further afield) tours, campsite reviews, owners' reports and DIY projects among other things. MMM's tests, reviews and expert buying guides are not to be missed. MMM's technical advice is a must and includes everything from weekend jobs to longer-term DIY projects. And much more!

About MMM magazine  
What Motorhome Magazine

Want to know more about What Motorhome magazine?

Every issue of What Motorhome magazine provides essential buying advice for anyone looking to buy a new motorhome or campervan or upgrade their existing model. With a pedigree of over 30 years of offering the best motorhome and campervan buying advice, every issue of What Motorhome includes more new motorhome and campervan reviews than you will find in any other magazine.

About What Motorhome  
Campervan Magazine

Want to know more about Campervan magazine?

Campervan is the exciting monthly magazine that will give you all the inspiration you need to explore the world in your campervan. Every issue is packed with real-life campervanning experiences, inspiring travel ideas in the UK and further afield, the best campsites to stay on, campervan road tests and reviews of the latest models, and much more!

About Campervan magazine  

Our verdict

The new Auto-Trail Tracker LB motorhome acquits itself as a well-specified ’van, with added Brit appeal coming from the comprehensively equipped kitchen and sofa-based lounge. If you’re not too tall and don’t want to cart loads of bulky kit, it’s well worth a closer look

Advantages

Super shower
Plenty of useful kitchen kit

Disadvantages

Lack of space at foot of deployed island bed
No cutlery drawer

Sign up to our free newsletter

Join our community and get emails packed with advice and tips from our experts – and a FREE digital issue!

Sign up now!

Subscribe to the best motorhome magazine

Access the latest issue and a decade of previous editions – all fully searchable!

Discover more

More dedicated motorhome content

Advertisement
Advertisement