To Motorhome or not ?

Overall size, layout that suits you, and what you like to do will determine whether you will like a MH. Lots of things to consider, so read lots of the other threads about swapping from a van to a MH, or vice versa. Some things are the same, others are quite different. No right or wrong, it's entirely up to you. We are in lucky position of having both. For a short break, touring around, you can't beat a small MH. For staying on one or two sites for a good number of days, then caravan suits us better.

Good luck in your research

i'll wager the OP has a Bailey and at least in 'design' probably does mirror their caravan.....its exactly why Bailey make their MHs like their caravans...

the thing is, the Autograph range are large, heavy MHs and this one will be nigh on impossible to run (sensibly) at 3500kg...

also, the Autograph range is (just about) the widest MH on the market at 2.49m wide....thats 44cm wider than a Panel Van...and 15cm wider than most 'std' MHs...

ok, it gives them a roomy feeling (again, the easy swap from a caravan) but the bulk will be noticed immediately on the road, especially by a first timer...so, an extended test drive is recommended, as is a trip to a weighbrige to check that vulnerable rear axle loading .....

When we first thought about any type of van we looked at motorhomes and liked the feel of them, somehow, due to caravanning friends we ended up buying a series of caravans. Eventually we did what we originally planned and bought a van conversion followed by a small coachbuilt. We haven't needed anything bigger because we like touring in the UK and smaller vans are easier to use on narrow roads etc. We would probably go for something similar if travelling abroad too, others prefer large vans but we like small. Think about what you want to do, where you want to travel, how much time you'll actually be in the van etc etc. Really have a good look at all sorts of layouts and designs. Both our recent vans have been "nearly new," which has saved us quite a lot of money.

Certainly hire one and give it a try. I have the Autograph 75-4 and actually like the extra width. Yes I have to be careful because of the width, but you have to be careful when driving any large vehicle. 

I quickly got used to the width, watched a few videos on motorhome and RV driving from the UK & the US and picked up lots of driving tips. Eventually did the free half hour manoeuvring course when I visited a MH show.

i guess what I’m saying is, don’t let the width put you off.

"i guess what I’m saying is, don’t let the width put you off."

...and its true that you can get used to driving a larger van, but the choices of where you can go ('comfortably') might be restricted, depending on whether ypu want to use the van as daily transport....eg, do you have bikes, or will,be relying in public transport....

however, the weight is a different issue...

this van comes on a 3500kg chassis and has small 315kg spare 'payload' to start with....this doesnt include the passenger (75kg) or any water (93kg) which reduces this to 147kg BEFORE you put anything you wish to carry in the van.

so the van now effectively weighs 3353kg.....empty....

as this van has a large rear overhang, its likely the weight will be split roughly 40/60 front/rear...so this actually gives you a weight of 2011kg the rear axle.....

as the max capacity of this axle is 2000kg, i (and Plod) might see this as a problem....

yes, the overall weight plate can be raised to 3850kg (?), as i believe Apperley, above, may have done but this does not change the axle limits.

if you need to see this illustrated for real, get a salesman to take you to the nearest weighbridge and note the axle weights and the blood draining from his face....

do not believe anything the salesman says about weights, nor accept anything printed in the any glossy brochures, the only true measue (and the one used by VOSA if pulled in) will be a weighbridge...

i dont post this to put you (PJMEG) off motorhoming, but the 3500kg break point is a tricky one to 'manage' even in vans considerably less 'bulky' than the one you mention....

Apperley may have mentioned his weights in the past but i cant remember, perhaps he can reassure you that there isnt an issue. 

obviously Bailey doesnt think there is as they market the even larger/heavier 79 series on the same chassis....which must be close to illegal as it comes out of the factory.

if you have the B+C1 groups on your license and you really must have a large van then i strongly suggest you go for a van on the 'heavy' chassis which will remove most of the issues i have described above.

however, the heavy chassis isnt an option on the Autograph series.

I don't think holidaying without the younger member is a reason to change to a motorhome! Two people can enjoy both pursuits and so can a family.

Start from thinking about what you intend to do with your leisure time. Once you are clear in your own mind, you can decide whether caravanning or motorhoming is the best way to achieve this. Reading your opening post, you might have done this already.

We used our caravan for staying a week or so on a site and going out for the day in the car when it suited us. We enjoyed the lifestyle. We use our motorhome for short stays on sites, touring Britain and the continent, for days out such as Country Shows, Truck/Bus shows, air shows, and to pursue our hobbies such as walking. We buy the motorhome to fit what we want to do. We enjoy the lifestyle better because the motorhome gives us more flexibility.

A big difference is that motorhomes need to be used to keep the oily bits working so you shouldn't be putting a motorhome in storage for long periods, such as winter. Motorhomes need to be driven regularly.

I would visit the numerous dedicated motorhome websites and buy a magazine or two. Moving to motorhoming is a big learning curve. BB is spot on about the weight issue. And as you say, it's a big commitment if you get it wrong. If in doubt, don't change.

in weighing the van (already now 3500 without much of what has to termed essential....) what was the rear axle loading?

at 3500kg total weight, a 60% rear bias would have it at 2100kg, so 100kg over the limit and no wife, food, clothes on board...

the 'uprated' 3850kg figure 'pretends' to give you another 350kg yet you're quite possibly illegal already...

please come back and reassure me you've weighed each axle and I'm off beam....

Despite comments above, our Motorhome is laid up over winter apart from an occasional run to get the oil moving every 4-6 weeks. We are fair weather campers so most trips are to Europe where we chase the sun if the weather is bad. We go away with it for 7 weeks maximum during the year so it’s a big investment for little return but we are OK with that.

We went for a caravan style layout with two parallel seats which we use as singles. Autosleepers specialise in that type of layout. 6.3 meters long is the smallest AS van where you don’t  have to sleep with your feet on the cab seats and we find the space ample despite previously owning a Bailey Valencia with fixed bed. Our MH has a 500kg payload which allows us to carry 100 litres of water. I would be very cautious of smaller payloads as noted in the various comments above on that topic.

You haven’t said where you intend to travel but this is a significant part of the decision process. Two weeks in wet UK on a Club site = caravan, four weeks around hot Europe living mainly outdoors = small Motorhome. 

We couldn't make our minds up so we hired a motorhome for a months touring.

The experience convinced us that a motorhome had far too many disadvantages for our style of touring and comfort standards. We therefore brought a comfortable caravan and tow car to get the best of both worlds.

Try before you buy must be my advice.

thats good news.....but then theres the OH, clothes, food....water?

either way, its good ypu have access to a WB and use it, there are many who dont, and would rather 'not know'.....

good luck.

One point I have not seen on here under the weight issue, is the drivers weight!     Unless you are a skinny racing snake, it needs attention.   Swift vans MRO weight includes the driver, but only 75kgs.    I have to add a fair bit to that and yes, I am trying to lose some.     Maybe in Spain starting next week!

BillC

It just doesn't occur to some van owners that others wouldn't ever want a big van, nothing to do with costs, driving, weight or anything else. 

Yours truly

happily installed small van owner......

PS friends of ours have just gone off for a long visit to Portugal in their small van....the dog has gone too, everyone happy. 

Hi hg,

Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against small vans or those that drive them and there is nothing wrong with the case you have made above.    Which goes back to my statement about we are all different and do things in a different way.        What gets my goat is the number of critics of big van owners.     My point about confidence goes across the board, cars, caravans and MHs.    Some people have lost confidence and dont know when to give up, others never had that confidence and should never get into driving off their drive.     And I reiterate, I said "a lot" not "all".

What I would like to see in this thread is some useful comments about how those, like yourself, who have smaller vans, cope on a day to day basis, travellling around Europe, without much storage space.   And that is intended as a genuine request for someone who struggles to see how the other half manage.

BillC