Length of motorhome
we have an auto trail apache that is 6.9m long and it is coming to a sensible time to renew it. the newest version is 7.4m long as are many of the vans that fit our requirements/wants. a friend has said that anything over 7m is a problem with grounding the back end. is this just his experience or is this common and limits the sites you can visit? Thanks for your advice
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Grounding has more to do with the rear overhang, as JVB said, rather than overall length.
Small is beautiful in my book but each to their own🙂
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We used to have an Apache 700SE which was 7.2 meters long. I must admit we did ground it a few times a couple of times on our way in to Berwick Seaview club site which has quite a steep approach road but we learned to take the road at a certain angle and it was fine. Also managed to clatter the towbar once when coming out a petrol station as there was a (slight) dip on the road. Overall it was fine we had the van 4 years and this only happened say 4-5 times. The van did have quite a long over hang at the back.
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I can't speak for the model in question but our previous Bailey Approach 740 was 7.5 metres long and a fairly long overhang. It was renown for being very low to the ground and in six years it only grounded once and that was when I turned off a main road and into a minor steep approach road to the campsite in Austria. I had been expecting problems but they never materialised. I had always thought that Auto Trail's always higher off the ground than Bailey's?
David
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My "Concorde Charisma" (and most Concorde's) have 'drag wheels' fitted as standard.These protect the rear valence and under body from damage due to the long overhang,such as ferries/tide levels',road humps etc etc .Not an expensive addition i would think ,compared to the rear end being ripped off !! 
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We can't consider a longer motorhome due to the angle and steepness of our driveway. Somehow the articulated caravan and tow car manged it but there are drawbacks in certain situations, particularly on steep sided sites and steep bends etc.
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we have the apache 632 with a transverse rear bed which is just under 4ft wide..... it can get just a bit cosy! we are going to the nec to see what other options there are. we just wanted to see if the length was a significant issue. we are also very aware of the payload issue but thanks for reminding me.
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Very interested in this post as we have an Eldiss 175 which has a long overhang and unfortunately we have had two scrapes and have to have a replacement 'bumper' fitted. Can anyone advise where we can purchase these 'drag wheels' for after sales fitting so that they can help eliminate the problem.
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We switched to a motorhome over three years ago and cut down massively on the equipment that we used to carry in the caravan and car. No loungers, no picnic table, tiny awning mat and so on. I was quite surprised then when I weighed it fully loaded (admittedly with a full freshwater tank) and found I was only about 60kg within the total 3500kg. So, around 500 kg payload with the minimum of equipment (and two lightweight passengers!).
BoleroBoy has quite rightly raised this payload issue a few times and it is extremely important. I should also mention that I am close to the rear axle maximum weight of 2000 kg.
We have looked at many different motorhomes on our travels through Europe and researched at the Show and on-line. The fact is that there are a large number of motorhomes that have totally inadequate payloads and it is almost false representation for manufacturers to sell them as 3500 kg when a weight upgrade will almost certainly be needed. No wonder they quietly state, for example, that the fresh water should be limited to 20 litres when travelling despite the 100 - 150 litre capacity.
Fine, most can be up-plated, but there are many issues once you go over 3500kg - licence for over 70’s, speed limits on the continent, weight restrictions etc. I wonder how many buyers are aware of all this?
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Hi, have a word with "Southdown Motor Homes" at Portsmouth,,they know all about drag wheels ,,as they are fitted as standard to " Concords" .
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Thanks triky auto will get in touch with them and they might also be able to point me towards a dealer in the north east who can help.
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Thanks bolero boy we are mostly going to look at layout options and hope to buy a 1-2yr old. We put the bikes on the back but like a garage for bbq, windbreaks etc
what sort of van do you have? it really is bed space that is the issue with ours and those figures are certainly worrying.
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I would have a look at the Unhappy Autotrail Group on Facebook. Lot of unhappy people on there complaining about the build quality of MHs they have bought. Few have even rejected them because they have so many faults.
I would say buy a foreign Motorhome at least you know it will be well screwed together. Trouble is they don’t have this British Specification that the Dealers harp on so much about.
We have an A Class Laika with very comfortable beds, no microwave and a small oven. Depends on what you want it for but making up beds every night if you are away for 6 x 8 weeks is a pain.
As for grounding we have a Fiat Chassis and at 7.5m we have never grounded. Watched a Bailey with a low chassis ground on a speed hump. Why do they have to make then that low. Possible to save on having to add an external step.
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Thanks for all the help. Also at the nec this weekend and have gone for a rapido. Great payload, rear bed, garage etc. It has an oven but we had to sacrifice the electric ring on the hob..... 7.2 long so 23 cm longer but overhang is the same.
thank you
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We have a Hobby motorhome with Fiat chassis which is 7.5m and has a long and low overhang. Only twice have we grounded the rear and both times involved using Scottish roll on/ off ferries.
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