Small(ish) motorhome.
Because of a change in family circumstances, we are considering swapping our caravan for a motorhome/campervan. (I'm not really sure what the difference is.). The campervan will have to be used occasionally for school runs/shopping so we need to keep it as compact as possible. I have been doing some research but am becoming bogged down with information. We have borrowed a VW camper for a couple of nights and, while it was great to drive round towns and to park, it's was really too small for us for holidays
Ideally we would like a two berth van with four belted seats and a toilet cubicle - it doesn't need to be large as we always use site facilities for showers - bench seats that convert into a bed, and floor space for a dog. An Autocruise Accent has all of theses features, but looks quite big. Does anyone drive one in similar circumstances, or can anyone suggest another model that might fit the bill? I would like to be able to park in normal spaces if possible.
Am I simply being unreasonable in my expectations?
All replies/advice/information very gratefully received.
Comments
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We take our Laika round the Supermarket car parks when we are out and about. You just have to watch for overhanging trees etc. Sometimes you find a height barrier so you just stop somewhere else. The Laika is 7.5m it's just what you get used to.
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My Marquis Majestic 125 is 6M x 2.14M, has four belted seats, fixed bed, garage, loo and shower combined. Unless you go for a VW type, which you have found too small for serious holidaying, this is about as small as it gets. Given the congestion around the school gate, it is still going to be a bit unwieldy, although not impossible, doing the school run.
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most Ducato based PVCs that have 4 belts tend to use a half dinette for the seating which means it's not easy to make beds from, so there is inevitibly a fixed bed...
to have seats that have belts but can be turned into a bed you're probaly looking at the VW sized van (or even the transit as mentioned above.
make up beds and seat belts don't normal.y come together.
Dreamer (Rapido) have a four (+) berth PVC with shower and roof bed which might work.
there are a couple of Merc or Crafter based vans which have belts but the typical rear lounge pull together style can't provide the belts you. need.
the VW type rock n roll bed faces forward and allows for seat belt but is a small unit.....nice to drive but too small for some to camp in.
its a dilema....which bit of the compromise is the most important?
driving/parking, four belts or touring comfort?
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Been doing similar research, currently exploring van below and a similar Adria. The drop down bed on the one below has a low height for easy access as a 2 berth or a higher position for 4
https://www.rollerteammotorhomes.co.uk/range/t-line/590
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Does it have to be new? Some of the older VW monocoque models come in at 5.5 metres and are brilliant two berths. We know because we have got one. It all depends how “occasionally” the school run needs doing. Some models do have the extra belted seats, but you are giving up a lot for those occasionally used seats. We use our VW MH for some day to day journeys, but it still needs thought about the parking. Supermarkets and big car parks a doddle. Fighting it out at the school gates? Too precious to even consider.
Second hand comfort and usability, use the savings to get another vehicle second hand car to do the school run?
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If you are Ok buying a van which is a few years old it may be worth looking at an Auto-Sleepers Symbol ES.
The van is 5.75 metres long, including a rear step which could be removed if that extra length creates a problem. I think it is 5.4 metres long without the step. The ES version (no longer available new) has 4 seatbelts. The off side travel seat can be turned into a bench. The sleeping arrangements can be either a double or two singles. The dog could sleep in the space at the back between the fridge and the loo or between the single beds if you use that configuration.
We have had a Symbol ES for ten and a half years during which time it has been our only vehicle. Being a panel van conversion it is narrower than most (if not all) coach built vans. We have had few problems parking it (if there are no height barriers) especially if there is a parking space with an area behind for the slight overhang.
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Hi we have a Rollerteam T590 as mentioned by Viatorem, after following many threads on subject, used advice and researched all, it suits us, 5.9m compact though all we need and more. Best advice was make a must have list and go look, Benimar, Swift, quite a few makes have them, good luck.
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the A class version called the Pegaso is (IMV) even better than this little belter....
why?
becaus the drop down bed is over the (wider) cab and not the lounge so that the lounge can be used at the same time as the bed is deployed.
A class leading van in many magazine polls.....
the half dinette has two extra belts, large lounge for dog (if reqd) and decent storage.....a terrific little an at a great price, might even get a pre reg one at a good discount.
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Thank you all very much for your comments and advice. I am looking at all the vans mentioned. It will definitely be a pre-owned van and I do realise that there will have to be compromises, especially in size v features
I will probably end up with a hit list and then start phoning round.
Any other suggestions are welcome.
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If you are going for preowned, can recommend this company. We bought our small MH from here, and have had no problems at all with it. Owner only sells decent quality stuff that he researches carefully. Offer a decent warranty, and an all round pleasure to deal with, and MHs are very well presented and prepared before collection.
http://www.used-motorhome.co.uk/
No idea of course where you are based, but we travelled 100 miles for the one we wanted, and for us it has paid off. I think they currently have an AS Symbol on offer.
They also have this little beauty...... with rear seat belts
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the van might be 'a beauty' but that interior must be 'in the eye of the beholder'.
when anything that dazzling is put into a TV news item, it carries a warning 'for those with.....'....
with the dealers stock all from around the same era, most of the vans would come with a similar type of pattern.
i see AS still uses the same stuff 20 years on
....they must have bought a very large roll of it....0 -
I feel I must add that my AS does not have that upholstery😂😂😂
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this one not that old, I rest my case....
.....id call that 'busy' at the least....0 -
However, it’s a vast improvement on the earlier one pictured.
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Back in the room..........If anyone is looking for something similar to me, check out the Wildax Pulsar. Unfortunately it would require deeper pockets than mine!
Some of the interior colour schemes on older motorhomes and caravans are a bit of an acquired taste but some of the newer ones are totally impractical, especially the ones with mainly white or light coloured fabrics. My dog would tone them down within minutes.
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having a dog is not a prerequisite of caravan or motorhome ownership
weve managed four MHs and not one dog.
we find the interior of ours perfectly practical for us humans.
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Ha ha BB, I sort of agree. But then you are looking at MHs 15 plus years old, and tastes do change. Interestingly, we have never yet come across a van or MH interior that has appealed to us, but then our trick for getting what we want is to buy something a whole lot cheaper than new ( in MH terms, that’s been around £50k saving for us) and then spending a bit of time and money kitting it out to exactly how we need it. It’s why we have them for so long, they are truly ours and not a compromise😁 (We’ve done the same with our house, old, but solid, bought for a snip, refurbished gradually. We could have had a dog kennel built on a flood plain, but we had more common sense, even in our early twenties......)
The one thing I do detest is anything white or beige, ghastly. And totally impractical. It’s what sends folks off for throws, covers, etc.... anything that makes the resale value achievable. We would rather go with quality fixtures and fittings, up to a lot of wear and tear, as changing the seat covers is dead easy. We are mid way through refurbishing our caravan. The one thing that has stood the test of time is the recovered furnishings. Instant gratification sometimes carries a very big price tag, but canny investment reaps different rewards.....😁
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by the same token, many owners of contemporary vans could never do cottage 'chintz'.....ghastly
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I agree. Tastes differ hugely though. Much as I love Airstreams, all that leather puts me off. Contemporary, in terms of vans, MHs and indeed holiday cottages, is fairly easy to live with, clean and redecorate. But unless it’s top quality contemporary, it’s soon starts to look tacky.
Van and MH interiors tend to follow trends, at the moment, plain, grey/White/beige are on trend. Our caravan dates back to mid 1980s. It won’t be plain, it definitely won’t be chintzy, and the Cath Kidson empire won’t be benefitting either 😁
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If you buy one a little bigger , have you thought of parking a little bit away and walking to school ?
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Update.
Once again, I appreciate all the helpful suggestions.
Having spent many hours researching and travelling to view potential contenders, there is one van that we really like the look of and which seems to have the kit we want and is less than 5.5m long.
The problem is that we can't find one for sale within striking distance of home so if anyone sees an Autocruise Jazz for sale within 100 miles of Manchester, I would be very grateful.
I'm going to put a separate post which may reach a wider audience.
Thanks again.
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