Caravan to Motorhome
Looking at going from Land Cruiser and Coachman to a motorhome after many years.
We are doing a trip around the UK coastline visiting every little harbour and coast road, this is being done as and when we can as we are not retired.
Anyone any views on the Roller Team T590, Imala 615 or Benimar 202. What is the REAL fuel consumption? I think a van conversion maybe too small.
Any advice on these vehicles?
David
Comments
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the Roller Team 590 (and the large amount of similar types) give all the advantage of a large lounge/washroom etc in a vary small (6m) footprint.....thanks to the dropdown bed...
i think this will be a more manoevrable van than the 615 (at 6.34) but there is an overcab option....yet better to live in for most of the uk weather!
if you were spending every day out in the european sun....perhaps a different choice?
have a look at Pilote G600L (and G650L) which are A-class versions of the same one-box design....
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Fuel consumption is entirely at the owners discretion. I get nearly 29 on a five tonne tag axle, mostly because I rarely use the brakes, read the road and so on.
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.... mostly because I rarely use the brakes, ....
I bet you're fun to be behind!
I was once on a run out with some micro-cars, the bloke in front of me NEVER used his brakes relying instead
on his diseasal engine braking to the extent I thought his brake lights had failed. Even when I suggested that the person behind him ie ME might appreciate the odd application of brake lights he continued to engine brake only.0 -
perhaps his brake lights didnt work....
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Don't get anything with a bed over the cab they are about as aerodynamic as a brick. You certainly get what you pay for in MH's Hymers are at the top of the list and work your way down. Coach builts ( Fiat Ducato Cab at the front ) are nice and easy to drive with good visibility. A Class are wider at the front and have a long distance to the screen which means they are harder to park as you cannot see / judge the front very well. You get more room in an A Class. Loads to choose from. New ones are now made without wooden frames ( by some manufacturers ) Our Pilote has fibreglass sides and roof so you don't get any small dent from stone chips. Don't be dazzled by the glitz of some of the ones on offer. Our first MH a Swift had numerous faults after 3 years which is why we changed it. You also get rattles that you don't get with a caravan. Some you can put up with and others just drive you up the wall. Lots you can do to stop them. If you want to have a look round the Uk have a look at www.wildcamping.co.uk .. Lots of places to park for free as well as Pub Stops, Taps to fill up and Toilets. Costs all of £20 to join but well worth it. We use CL Sites as well but it's nice to have a few free ones as well. Something you never get with a Caravan.
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Of the 3, the Imala is built in the UK by AutoTrail and thus will be slightly easier to live with because of the availability of parts and dealers. Probably easier to trade in. Build wise, none of the three firms are stars but you will get a decent enough van for the money.
Fuel consumption depends on driving conditions and driving style. Expect as low as 25mpg and don't expect more than 30 mpg. For the 20 years I've been motoring, my anual mpg has varied between 27 and 29.
Van conversions are narrow at 2.05m and can be 6.3m long. Don't rule them out. My Hymer A-class is 2.34m wide and a tad under 6m long but no longer made. Hymer do the Exsisi range which is worth looking at, the suggestion of Pilote is sound and also look at Rapido. Some rural roads are restricted to 1.98m [6'6"] wide vehicles although I doubt anyone will quibble with a slightly wider panel van.
For the type of motorhoming you are doing, you will need excellent visibility for both driver and passenger.
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I get nearly 29 on a five tonne tag axle.....
Write your comments here...we avg 23 - Autotrail Comanche.
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We have an Autotrail Apache 700SE which is a large coachbuilt with the overcab bed. The van weighs almost 4 tonnes and has a 2.8 diesel engine on a long motorway run we can get 27mpg which I think is a decent figure. As others have said the mpg you get depends
on a lot of things such as the way the van is driven, size of engine etc.0 -
.... The van weighs almost 4 tonnes and has a 2.8 diesel engine on a long motorway run we can get 27mpg which I think is a decent figure. ...
That's very good mpg for a vehicle that weight .... I don't get much more from my R Class (when it's on the road
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.... The van weighs almost 4 tonnes and has a 2.8 diesel engine on a long motorway run we can get 27mpg which I think is a decent figure. ...
That's very good mpg for a vehicle that weight .... I don't get much more from my R Class (when it's on the road
)Write your comments here...
That figure is from a long motorway run sitting at a steady speed of 60mph but yes it is a good figure if we are going somewhere that is not motorway driving and is on country roads that figure drops to 24-25mpg but that is still decent
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