IH or Hillside
I have been looking at IH and Hillside PVC's as both these companies offer a 2 berth built on the new VW Crafter. Does anyone have experience of either of these makes?
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You need to look at both really, Q. Some years ago we looked at both and weren’t overly impressed by the build quality of either but things might have changed.
See my post earlier in the other thread as it doesn’t appear that the new Crafter is related to the Sprinter.
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Apologies Tinwheeler. Just found your comments re Sprinter on the other thread. I am very dubious about the Fiat or Peugeot. We are both far too fussy about cars and like good engineering.
The Lunar offering looks quite good if you can accept the length. The downside is that it comes with an oven and microwave and they won't build to customer spec so it means a dealer modification. Both Hillside and IH are happy to omit ovens and microwaves which are a waste of space to us.
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I'm fussy as well, Q, but there comes a time when we need to accept that perfection probably doesn’t exist. Then we open our minds to all possibilities and consider which of the available compromises suits us best. To get out there and test drive a few is the way to decide what we can and can’t live with. Don’t dismiss anything until it’s been tried.
Thousands and thousands of people are reasonably happy to drive the PSA variants and, while the vans will never match the Sprinter in my opinion, they do what it says on the tin.
Having read about the new Crafter, I’m not sure I would necessarily tip my hat in that direction.
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On the other hand I have just read two separate reeves of the Crafter both of which say that it is better than the Sprinter. However, a review is only the opinion of he or she who wrote it.
Hillside Leisure are doing a sub 6 metre on the Crafter called the Hopton. It is much less money than the offerings from IH.
Ultimately we have to look carefully and test drive various models.
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we don't 'do' rear lounge vans (for a number of reasons) but we did look (and priced up) an IH FL front lounge van a couple of years ago...
the lead in price was OK-ish....but after I'd specced up a few things it was totally off the scale....around £80k I seem to remember for a panel van for goodness sake.....it really was silly...
when i suggested I could get a proper van for that sort of money......
well, you can guess the rest....
Q, just be aware that the sidewalls on PVCs curve inwards as they reach the roof, whereas a similar sized coachbuilt won't be 'squeezed' as much in the headroom dept....
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Thanks for that. Yes I had thought about side walls and storage loss. The more we think the more we move away from a PVC. 1. Loss of storage. 2. Too narrow. 3 Possibly small fridge. 4. Almost impossible to sleep sideways across the van making it difficult for my wife to get in and out of bed with her (brilliant) ceramic hip. The list goes on and, I agree with you, the IH prices are crazy once you start adding in the extras.
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i realise that this wouldn't suit you but if I had to go for a panel van I'd be looking at three...
LaStrada with drop down bed and rear kitchen washroom (for space, build quality, storage and innovation)
Malibu (Carthago) rear transverse bed (for large bed, innovative washroom, huge underbed storage, build quality)
Adria Twin SPX, extended version of the SP (transverse rear bed) to give 'coachbuilt' type washroom (loo one side, shower the other) across the full width of the van ahead of the bed....
front lounged PVC vans don't tend to have the parallel seating you desire as the sliding door makes this tricky....IH 'may' produce an FL (front lounge) van in the new Crafter, with the Hartal door which 'might' be pretty close as will have washroom and kitchen aft.....
having said that, their N-630FL makes a pretty good fist of the layout you seek, with the quality of conversion too...
i realise it's on a Ducato (this may have been the one we looked at...) but if this were made on the Crafter (surely a possibility) you'd be nearly there.....
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Interesting and many thanks. TheN-630FL is not going to work for us as it does not have the parallel lounge/bed arrangement we want. We are just back form the show at Broadlands and now know, for sure, that a PVC is never going to work for us. Too narrow, too awkward, tiny fridge, cramped overhead lockers; the list goes on and on. We are back to an Auto-Sleeper Stanton. The Marquis salesman took the words out of my mouth with his description of the Stanton, "A traditional 2 berth caravan with parallel seating/double bed, rear end kitchen and bathroom but with a cab and a steering wheel on the front." That is exactly what we want. We are going to be patient as Auto-Sleeper will not be using the 2018 Sprinter until 2019. There are revisions in the Sprinter we are keen to have so plan to order in the autumn for delivery early next year.
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So many things to consider. Did your wife think the bed would be too hard? We have an excellent topper for we used in the caravan called Zonesleep, costly but it works very well. My wife made a cover for it using sheets so that it works like a duvet cover. We simply make up the bed, roll out the topper and add the duvet; job done.
With beds in mind I am intrigues by the drop down type. However, probably not good for those of us nearer 80 than 70.
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Hi
Some interesting posts here, even BB suggesting we don't have "proper" vans?! I looked at an IH van with a slide out, great concept but questionable quality. We've had an Autocruise Rhythm for four years now. It's a bit budget built but has been perfect for us and the Peugeot base has been totally reliable. On that, we were reluctant at first on a PSA built van, but having had a ducato and two boxers we've had minimal issues. I used to be white van man years ago and I still tend to drive in a similar fashion on the motorway but still have a sweet running van, not the best but.
JK
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Haha, JK...
I actually like some PVCs as I've mentioned earlier....have looked several times at Adria Twin (new SPX is a nice layout), LaStrada, Malibu and even the original AT V-line with the GRP roof and double floor....really nice design...and innovative....but the bean counters soon put a stop to that....no more extra height, large skylight or double floors and back to mediocrity to compete with everyone else..a shame....
ive also seen some pretty appalling stuff at WCM last week, from all the 'leading' brands...
however, £80k for a delivery van, irrespectively of how highly polished it is, is pushing things, IMHO.....I don't think Mr Ian Hartley liked me mentioning that....
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Qashqai66 - yes, wife found the bed too hard overall but not supportive enough at the shoulders and waist. There was a definite twist in her spine.
We've had an Arto and are on our second Hymer. The difference between the beds and AS's offerings is noticeable with the Arto/Hymers having dedicated sprung mattresses. New ones also have the froli system [or something similar] with plastic caps on the slats. With a thin mattress topper. she feels supported and comfy.
I've always liked IH vans except for his preoccupation with covering every surface with his initials. Compared to the stunning Niesmann & Bischoff Smove, the price is a snip!
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I like the look of the quality of the Hymer but they do not offer the layout we want. This will be our final leisure vehicle so we think it best to have what we actually want and, if the seating/mattress quality is not up to scratch, then we will pay a bit more from a specialist to get it right. There is a competent looking company in Bristol - not too far - who supply a huge variety of solutions.
Similarly there are no PVC models I can find which offer the layout which would suit. We did look inside an IH one on Saturday at the Boradlands show but we found that the overhead lockers were almost useless, the fridge far too small, and insufficient other storage. We also thought it would be very cramped for meal preparation and washing up. The list of negatives continues.
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Qashqai66. If you like the AS Stanton maybe the AS Bourton could be of interest. Approx 6 1/2 mt with longer seats that can be used as singles as well as a double. Don't remember swivel seats though. As it is some time since we looked at both the one thing that sticks in my mind was the water filling system differed. Both had a Whale or Truma water inlet and the Bourton also had an extra point where you could fill with a hose. Don't know if this is still the same Whatever you choose I'm sure you'll both enjoy it.
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I suggested the Bourton some time back, JO, but Q wants to make a double bed and doesn’t want the longer bunks.
I think the water system you describe is common now. We have both on our Warwick.
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if you're happy with the transverse double then I think you've just about nailed it, Q...if you want a Merc with pull together bed then it looks like the AS Stanton....
again, unless the width is going to be a particular issue, I dodnt see you getting what you want in any PVC I can think of...
The Stanton is a nice van of its type, with the Merc being a USP you can't find almost in any other UK brand.....and it'll have to be a UK brand for the layout you're keen on....
wouldnt do for us....for many reasons, but that's of no interest to you as our requirements are different to yours
good luck.
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Thanks again Bolero Boy. We think we have nailed it too and a transverse double works for us. We made the mistake of trying a caravan with a transverse fixed bed and we couldn't part with it soon enough. The possible permutations are a veritable minefield but what works for some does not work for others. There is quite a divide between UK and continental offerings. We have been intrigued by the delightful number of Dutch people we meet on our travels. They generally seem to have a caravan with a large fixed bed at the front and a small living, sitting and cooking area at the back. It works for them but wouldn't for us. I know the continental argument is that they spend more time out of doors but we do the same when in South West France, our favourite haunt.
A near by dealer has suggested that we meet up with him at the A-S factory when they have a Stanton built so that we can see it. We like the idea of a factory visit so plan to take up his offer.
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After looking at just about all pvc’s we have purchased a hillside hopton. Love it. Can’t see how anyone can get as much living space inside as Hillside have done on a 6m van. Lovely comfy 6ft+ double bed and kitchen big enough for two to work in, plus lovely bathroom, and on a vw van. Had fiats, this crafter van is sooooo much better. If looking for a 6m pvc, check out hillside Hopton before you buy.
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