Does It Exist ??
We have decided that we might try a motorhome for a few years rather than caravanning but have specific "wants". We have trawled through all the for sale sites etc and can't seem to find exactly what we want and wondered if you guys might be able to help.
We prefer the British style of motorhome with lounge area seating facing each other from the sides rather than dinette or forward facing seats.
So our wants are:
Lounge area as above
Garage ( very important to us )
Alde wet heating ( not blown air )
Rear fixed bed or 2 singles with bolster between ( not a climb up a ladder type )
Bathroom with shower cubicle not shower over toilet
Probably not more than 3-4 year old ( which it prob wouldn't be with Alde heating )
Does this sound like something anyone knows off?
Thanks
Comments
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Sorry, I cant think of anything that will give you exactly that wish list but others may know better.
I suspect you will need to compromise as I think you are trying to fit a caravan onto a MH chassis.
Have you considered weight and size as bigger is not always better in terms of MHs?
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You've just described my Rapido, with the exception of Alde wet heating which was an option. Unfortunately they no longer do the model. Incidentally the Alde wet heating systems have been around for ages, I'm going to guess 20+ years, so it shouldn't be impossible to find one.
I'd say foreign motorhomes are more likely to have your desired layout.
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Don't be misled by Alde heating being modern. Our big van, built in 1984 had an Alde heating system!
You need to have a really good look around dealers, sit inside different models, lay on the beds, imagine living in the layout for a couple of weeks or longer in all weathers, using loo/shower on a daily basis, possibly having family/friends in for a meal, imagine taking it out for day to places you want to visit, in towns, in supermarkets, on Moors etc.... This will give you a good idea of living in a MH, and which layout will suit.
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9096DF, 2008 model, but they did them with variations for 4 or 5 years.
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Although Alde has been used for decades in boats and caravans, it is a fairly new innovation in the mass produced MH market. A few models used it some years back - the original Autocruise 'golf course' models spring to mind - but it was rare until recently.
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Ahhhh ok. Maybe I am phrasing it wrong then when I say Alde heating I simply mean not the blown air heating which we had previously in caravans and was pretty useless. I mean wet central heating - is it only Alde that do that or do others?
In our current caravan the wet Alde heating is absolutely brilliant - you couldnt even begin to compare it to the blown air heating
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I'm not aware of anyone other than Alde making a wet heating system. I agree it's superior to older blown air systems but I've been pleasantly surprised by newer ones.
I'm a fan of Alde but have had to compromise and it is no longer high on my list of priorities. I look for weight, size and layout, in that order.
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...you also need to be aware of some terminology....
'garage' usually means a rear storage compartment at least 1m high, in order to store bikes or a scooter, etc....
so, you dont get 'garage' style MHs with anything other then high beds, although Carthago mount their island bed above a grage but have gentle steps leading up.....
so, if you mean 'decent underbed storage' this is still possible without it being as high as a garage layout....which are (almost) all continental vans.
however, our pals have an Autocruise model (as mentioned by TW) its the Oakmont....twin side facing front sofas, alde heating, low island bed over a storage locker....
however, it is 7.70m long, huge rear overhang, requires a B+C1 to drive it (4.25t) has a thirsty 3.0 ltr engine but pulls like stink....
sorted
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That's what I am realising. Perhaps our "wants" are based too much on our current set up, but we like our current set up
.The new 2018 Bessacar 597 Lounge version is being released soon and is as near to our requirements as we can see at the minute.
But it has a healthy price tag!!
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I'd advise being very careful in your choice. Simply thinking caravan on a chassis/cab doesn't work.
Think about taking the MH to car parks, town centres, supermarkets, beaches etc. Will one of sufficient size to accommodate your chosen layout fit in those places or do you intend towing a car (another minefield) or using bikes?
Without knowing your age or driving licence category, I can't suggest whether you need to consider the 3500kg weight restriction but I've no doubt you'll have thought about it.
Sorry if I sound negative but I'd really hate for you to make an expensive mistake.
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It does take some thinking through and when you change from a caravan to a motorhome it's quite natural to want to replicate what you already have in your caravan. We did the same when changing five years ago and we have gradually realised that we should have probably chosen a smaller motorhome, probably something between six and seven metres long rather than the one we have which is 7.5 metres long. You also have to think how you are going to use the motorhome, especially taking into some of the points raised by TW above.
David
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We went through this last year as we needed a new towcar and it would have been the ideal time to make the change, we had similar problems.
We did find a few that we liked the layout on, but all fell down on the size of the shower compartment, an essential item for us, and were too expensive. On some the payload would not have worked and an upgrade would have been needed, which would have meant getting my +3500 kg licence re-instated.
Kitchen space was also fairly limited but workable.
In the end we decided to stick with the caravan.
I would also say however that we have not seen any newer caravans that compare favourably with our current one!
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When we changed we went for something completely different, a lot smaller and nothing like our caravan. Had our choice turned out to be a bit warmer and draught proof we would probably have stuck with it. So we changed to a different motorhome that has lasted the course. Sometimes it's good to think outside the box, you can't easily replicate the caravan experience, a motorhome is different.
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this post is very important for a novice regarding weights....
ive just checked the spec of this van, and the MH you have 'chosen/suggested' is 8.11m long, with a silly length rear overhang...
it has all its (large/heavy) storage aft of the rear axle.
with the desired 150bhp and auto box, it comes std on a 3500kg chassis, with a pathetic (read totally unusable) 'payload' of 195kg.
this includes NO fresh water.
put a tank of water in and then add your OH to the passenger seat and you now have ZERO payload.....large boot that can only carry fresh air.
not to mention, any satellite systes, twin batteries, bikes/racks, clothes food, books, electrical kit etc, etc....
not only that, due to the rear weight bias (huge overhang) the rear axle weight will be close to its limit when empty, and certainly marginal with just water and wife on board.....(be interesting to get a dealer to weigh one empty.....)
Swift offer a 'chassis upgrade'to 3850kg which 'appears to the untrained eye' to offer 350kg more payload......HOWEVER, the upgrade only changes the MTPLM....the total weight, NOT the axle limits.
so, this changes nothing with regard to the fact that the van will go over its rear axle limit well befor you get anywhere near its MTPLM.
IMHO, this vehicle is not suitable for purpose, on the chassis advertised.
running it on the 4250kg 'heavy' chassis WILL increase axle weights so might make the van more viable......but, as it is, its an expensive lemon.
dont get me wrong, its a nice van....but IMHO unusable in its present form.
FWIW, i reckon a touring couple needs a working payload of at least 500kg AFTER water and passengers are allowed for.....
also think VERY carefully before diving in for a van of this size, unless you are confident about how you want to tour....you wont have your car with you and touring in a 'linear mode' rather tjan popping out and back from site repeatedly might present problems with such a large van.
it will be very comfortable, roomy, drive like a dream, have all mod cons, etc.....
however, everything ypu currently carry shared between your caravan and your car has to fit in the MH......
i posted this, not to pit you off MHing.....the contrary......to help you avaoid the classic 'first MH trap'.....
despite what caravanners will try and tell you, MHing ISNT caravanning
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ps....you didnt mention 'where' you might do the majority of your touring...
if it were France/Spain/Germany dont worry about size....infrastructure is built to cope...larger, quieter roads, generour sites to accommodate larger vans, oodles of large free car parks without height barriers, an aires system that means you dont have to book 'night halts' or even day halts to visit (and sleep in) towns/cities/villages.....etc, etc....
however, if it were to be predominantly in the uk with not a lot of the above benefits, than size really does matter....
we're on our 4th van and reckon we have now nailed it.....lol...
first, a swift bolero with rear kitchen, 6.5m....really nice van for a first effort, but long trips in france (think youre retirement) meant making up the beds for weeks/months on end started to grate...
so, second, a longer Bolero ((7.04m) with rear french bed, facing sofas lounge, had it for just over 5 years, again a nice van but when it came to change we hankered after a bit more robust build quality...
so, after much NEC and other research, we went for a 7.4m Carthago with a similar layout to the swift you are looking at, though a little shorter. huge garage for ebikes (a must) and twin singles with wardrobes under, large fridge/freezer, all the toys, lovely, lovely van.
however, OH had always had a hankering for a smaller (quality) van so after a couple of years we started looking at Carthago Compactline (still A-class but only 2.12m wide) range and plumped for the smallest of these at 6.4m.
so, we have a short van with short wheelbase for easy parking and superb turning circle, slim width to make it (virtually) the same footprint as a Panel Van Conversion but with non tapering sides to maintain interior width and height. two huge double beds (one in the cab) similar large garage for the bikes and it runs on 3500kg with a great payload, so no specific speed restrictions and can be taken into any town as under 3.5t....
took a while but, for us, is does everything we want without the speed/weight/width/length issues of our previous van....and with the same bullet proof build.
many say it takes four vans to get it right for them.....we had no caravanning background to influence our choice, just be careful if you think you are going to be able to recreate what you do now.....
your OP says 'you might try a motorhome'......have a think about what it is about caravanning that is influencing this line of thought, something you dont like or because MH ar cooler, look good at shows etc?
theyre blooming expensive things and ypu will curse it if it gives you less than you have now....for plenty more bucks....
we use ours for around 30 weeks a year, but our style of touring might not suit you, but we feel we can do it best in a MH .........but if all ypu do is park the van and then drive out and back every day, over similar roads, for a fortnight, id suggest keeping what you have.....
however, if you are going to be doing extended tours, stopping impromtu somewhere for a night or three to check out the local town and then move on and repeat, then perhaps a MH might appeal.
but if this seems a pain (all that packing up etc) then it might not be for you.....
however, most MHers, incl us, tend to travel a lot lighter than those who prefer to pitch up in one spot for a few weeks.......we dont do large awnings or the trappings of an encampment, so upping sticks is really quick.....
again, so many different aspects to consider rather than just a finger in a brochure......and BTW, dont believe anything in a brochure or what a salesman tells you....
good luck.
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I get annoyed sometimes with forums because I or someone else posts a question and they are inundated with useless non specific replies that are obviously just the ramblings of people that have too much time on their hands.
And then sometimes forums prove their worth, and questions are responded to with attention to detail and with hugely beneficial information from people who have taken a lot of time and care to construct helpful well formulated responses that are of enormous help to the OP......this is one of those times!
A big thank you to all who have taken time to respond to date and if anyone else has some thoughts please feel free to add them to the already much appreciated responses
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S2SAP, its really nice to read a genuine response like this, i hoped the contributions do assist and that my particular ramblings havent bored you too much.
ps, i do have some time on my hands as i am sitting in the sun waiting to pop round to our pals' pitch for 'afternoon tea (red/white)', lol....
take care.
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Thanks for coming back with the acknowledgement, S2. I'll be interested to hear your decision in due course.
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BB has posted probably the most comprehensive reply in internet history................
It may be possible to summarise it in a sentence, which i have posted before.....
"Buy the smallest motorhome you can comfortably manage with".
That will pay dividends when touring....
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We had an Alde system in our Bailey and swore we would never go back to blown air BUT Autosleeper's don't fit this as standard so we have a Truma blown air system. Guess what? It's absolutely fine for the Motorhome and heats up very quickly. Maybe it's because our MH is quite small (6.3m) but also fewer acrylic windows. Maybe better insulation? Perfectly OK for our needs so I wouldn't get too hung up on it.
I would suggest that with parallel bench seating (which we have) you wouldnt normally get a garage. The storage is under the bed. Continental vans have raised beds to leave space for the garage underneath. Also, the living accommodation is small as a result. I think the reason is - better weather=living outdoors=small living area.
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TT, lol, yes you're probably right, in summary....
we, like many, have gone smaller, though im not saying our previous van was an error, huge payload, terrifically comfortable, and, in the OP's ballpark, short at 7.4m....
however, although miles away (well, kilometres) from any significant birthday
, i wanted to be totally confident that we could tour away from home for many, many months, with all our gear and run 'easily' at 3.5t.a shorter (by a metre), slimmer, lighter version of the same van has convinced me that we (for us) have it right....
in my back pocket, i had the option to go back up to 3650kg or 3850kg without any vehicle changes, but so far (in 8 mths and 6000 miles) there appears to be no need....
just another aspect for the OP to consider as we dont know his current license entitlements nor any impending age restrictions.
BTW, the 'tea' was lovely
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Dave, just for the 'interested' (me....) what would tempt a caravanner over to the 'dark side' as some would have it?
we always see responses in threads like this espousing the virtue (necessity) of the tow car to 'go everywhere' for sightseeing, morning paper, shopping, delivering pizza, giving lifts to 'poor' motorhomers, etc...
so whats your 'near furure interest'?
perhaps some replies could be specifically relevant?
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As one who is currently downsizing from an already modestly sized MH, I would reiterate what I've said many times, go for something as small as you feel you can manage with. A point that was also made earlier by TT.
As the years encroach, our ability and confidence lessens so I think we can all reasonably expect to need to make changes along the way.
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I'm thinking £80,000,BB. Am I miles away?
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BB
I hope no one takes this the wrong way but I suspect there are four categories of caravanners when it comes to considering a motorhome.
1) Those that are actively thinking of changing and end up buying a motorhome as several of us have done on this forum.
2) Those that seriously think about changing but after a lot of consideration decide to stay with the caravan, afterall it is a big decision and can be a costly mistake which will worry a lot of people.
3) Those that have either started with a motorhome or have changed to a motorhome but decided it was not right for them and changed/gone back to a caravan.
4) Those that enjoy caravanning and see no advantage in a motorhome and often don't always understand why anyone would prefer a motorhome over a caravan.
There will of course be many variations in between all these categories but I suspect that generally sums up the situation? At the end of the day everyone must make a decision that suits them.
David
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