Motorhome layout
Hi
We have a Coachman Vision caravan with 2 long seats at the front, with a side dinette and kitchen opposite, with a rear bathroom.
We are looking to change to a motorhome. We had one previously that had the front long seats, but had no dinette. Does anyone know if we can recreate our caravan layout in a motorhome (do not mind if the dinette/kitchen,bathroom is a different configuration)?
we just want: 2 long beds, kitchen, small dinette and bathroom
Thank you
Jane
Comments
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If you aim to recreate your caravan as a MH, I fear it will be huge and probably unwieldy
. The cab/bonnet will add over a metre to the length of the habitation unit. How long is the body of your caravan? I’d guess it’s over 7m so, with a cab on the front, it would put the overall length at close on 9m.I suggest you have a look around some dealers' forecourts and see what's out there that might suit you. Bear in mind any weight restrictions you might have on your driving licence such as the 3500kg limit normally applying to the over 70 age group.
Good luck with your search.
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agree with the comments that you should be wary of length (and therefore, weight) of any new van...
...but would add that finding a MH with a small two seater side dinette will be very tricky....this is definitely a caravan 'thing' and I've not seen a van with this in it (apart from a family based one which had a small dinette in the rear for the kids next to a pair of stacked bunks....)
MHs tend to have multi use areas to save that precious space that gets lost with the cab/dash area, as TW says, so a dedicated separate dinette isn't likely...
instead, cab seat rotate to help form lounges (on front lounge vans) and lounges (at either end) become dining areas when a table (fixed or freestanding) is deployed.
that being said, there are oodles of smallish, mainly UK, vans that have a front lounge/bed and rear kitchen and washroom....think AS, Swift, Bailey etc....
however, if you like the idea of a fixed table for dining, then look at continental brands....it's also likely that you'll be able to have a drop down bed in the cab or over the lounge that will negate the need to make up the bed and to find a place to store the bedding (it lives on the bed when retracted)....you might also find it to be more comfortable with its one piece mattress than a bed made from lounge seating..
good hunting.
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We also wanted a caravan lookalike and ended up with an Autosleeper’s Broadway. It has two parallel bench seats which we use as single beds which saves an enormous amount of space. No dinette though but AS provide a small round pedestal table which fits behind the driving seats which swivel. We never use it and prefer to erect the main table between the bench seats on the rare occasions that we eat inside. The Broadway has a number of variants: we have end kitchen but you can have end bathroom.
Once you start adding dinettes the layout changes drastically and generally the Motorhome gets bigger and heavier. You need to decide whether you want or need a “garage” because if you do it will steer you more to continental vans.
Best to go to one of the shows and look around BUT based on my extensive experience of caravans then Motorhome one of the most important things is to find a dealer who is local and you can trust. In two years I have been back five times to get my reversing camera fixed - twice to the factory and three times to the dealer. I now need to go back once more for what will hopefully be the final visit. If the dealer had been 100 miles away that would be 1200 miles.
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As said above depends on how long you are willing to go to.
Our last caravan was twin singles at the rear with Galley and shower in the middle and front lounge @ 7.4 mtrs we didn't find it easy for touring.
Nowadays we have a MH @ 6.6m with rear twin couches that make up into beds, not everyone likes this layout as the beds have to be made up each night, we don't mind it. However if we were to change our MH we would be looking at either Pilote or Bursner as both these makes have rear single beds or island bed over a garage, with bathroom and kitchen forward of that and then the lounge/dinette area with turn around cab seats and fixed table. As BB says they also come with the option of a drop down bed as well. All this can be had in a MH under 7 mtrs, either A class or coachbuilt.
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...in fact, Pilote (and, I think, Rapido) have managed to squeeze fixed island bed layouts into 6.5m....but there has to be more of a compromise in other areas (smaller lounge/kitchens) as, just a few years ago, the 'default' length for a twin singles (like our first Carthago) or island bedded van was pushing 7.5m...
roomy lounges, at either end, combined with one piece beds are now quite common...some rear lounge vans now don't need to made into beds, you can have a drop down over the rear lounge or one over the cab.....or even both for four 'fixed' berths...
many, many new and innovative layouts but not yet seen the side dinnete (in addition to a lounge) in a modern MH that the OP desires..
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We are making the switch to a motorhome after 40 years of caravans. We are yet to choose between the Auto-Sleepers Broadway or the Bourton. They are identical but the latter is built on a Mercedes rather than a Peugeot. I am veering towards the Mercedes option as it has a proper auto rather than the Fiat electronic system fitted to the Peugeot.
Auto-Sleepers seem to be the only manufacturer offering the layout we want, i.e. similar to our caravans of past years.
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The alternative is to look out for the side dinette/extra passenger seating with a bench seat area opposite, this will mean a bit of re-jigging at night time but both sides will convert to singles or a double. We would have liked this version as we could have taken our grandson along too or his parents could have borrowed the van. We didn't hunt around for long as our secondhand Mercedes came on the market at a good price, ours is smaller than most but is fine for us, but it's worth looking at the various configurations.
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stacks of manufacturers produce a front lounge, pull together bed, rear kitchen/washroom design....its been a staple in uk brochures for years....our first Bolero was one such instance.
AFAIR, what was a difficult 'ask' was to get this layout on a Merc...., hence the 'only choice' was the AS Bourton...
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....which seems to have won out over the Stanton. I vaguely remember suggesting the Bourton when Q first started his quest and now it’s gone full circle
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The Stanton and Nuevo are very compact but if you want single beds then it’s feet on the driving seats. We like the Bourton and may go for that next time but be aware that the under bed locker space is reduced due to the supplementary water tank and the fresh water and waste capacity is much lower than the Broadway. Against that you have the highly regarded Mercedes base plus auto box.
Not sure what the OP wants exactly but most continental “garage” motorhomes have a table and seating behind the cab. Isn’t this a dinette?
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Jane
When moving to a motorhome from a caravan (we did it five years ago) you may need to think outside the box a bit. A caravan is made up of just accommodation but a motorhome, as has been pointed out also has the cab area which takes up a fair bit of the overall length. A lot of the continental designs are quite clever in the use of space but if you have a decent garage it will mean that beds are quite high up. The same is true of drop down beds. If you are happy with this you will get more choice. However anyone with mobility issues, or concerned about getting out in the dark, might find these more difficult to handle and prefer low level beds. Is a dinette really essential? If you have a design with two long paralell bunks there is plenty of room for a table between.
David
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Seem to remember seeing a M’home @ Davan M’home & C’vans with front dinette & 2 singles to rear above garage. Pilote low profile I think. Good luck with your search.
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there are some MHs (mainly long German overcab family vans) that have double dinettes in the front, to seat four (or more) for opposed dining...
this layout usually closes off the cab area.....in a large van as I described, this loss of space can be absorbed, but for the majority of vans, having a totally separate dinette (when one can be easily made from almost any front or rear lounged van) will add unnecessary length.
WRT the 'high bed' issue that often gets raised, longitudinal singles (or an island bed) placed over a garage will (almost certainly) have two easy steps placed either between the beds (singles) or to each side of the bed if an island.
access is no more difficult than just walking up two easy stair treads..it's easy as there is room for the steps, either central or to the side.....
however, where it can get a bit more tricky is when the bed is transverse, and the access steps have to be infront of the bed where space may be more compromised.
we have this latter layout (after raised singles in the previous van) and the former was certainly not difficult at all, whereas this layout requires slightly more 'agility' but OH and I don't have an issue.....and we are able to sit up in bed to read or for morning cuppa.
the previous van (twin single) had rising bed heads which swung you up and away from any rear mounted lockers, so again, not an issue.
good luck.
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The Roller Team 746 and 747, both have a rear u-shaped lounge with a dinette at the front and a bathroom opposite the kitchen. Bathroom is a bit on the small side and the motorhomes are quite long at 7.4 metres. Swift and Elddis also do similar layouts but then that brings in an all new ball game do you buy British
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The motorhome section of Out & About's website showsshow most common layouts.
To meet your needs you are looking at one vey long motorhome. You may have to compromise.
https
/www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/buyers-guide/motorhomes/0 -
Thanks for all your comments. We have found Autotrail Apache 700 has the sort of layout that gives us everything we want. We need as you all suggest, to go and have a look and actually see in the flesh how big a 7.38m motorhome. Maybe the dinette will have to go...or not. Hmmmm a dilemma and lots still to look at to make the right decision. When you are spending £35k it needs to be right!
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Good luck, Bosha.
Personally, I’d find 7.38m too cumbersome unless you are going to have secondary transport of some sort but we're all different.
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Thank you, we are still not sure and will definitely do our research before plumping on a certain model. Off out tomorrow to a couple of dealers to have a look with ‘open minds’. Maybe a completely different layout might catch our eye, who knows.....
my husband also does not want a huge motorhome, so we may have to compromise.....
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the Apache 700 has grown slightly in the current catalog and is now over 7.5m and comes on a 4.25 tomme chassis...
its MIRO (mass in running order.....roughtly the unladen weight plus driver) I'd a shade over 3500kg...
so, a slightly older, shorter van is still going to be a heavy one, and if the older van was in a 3.5t chassis (I don't know if it was...) then it's likely the payload (the difference between the MIRO and the maximum weight) is likely to be small....
you are now moving into a couple of dilemmas...
large vans plated at the lower 3500kg level wil be tight for payload and therefore easy to overload....
upplating to 3650kg (or 3850kg) doesn't increase axle weight capacity so, despite an apparent increase in payload) the rear axle might not have much spare capacity.
upplated weights also mean lower speed limits, restricted access to some towns, B+C1 on your license, although (perversely) the VED is cheaper....
this is certainly a van that I would want weighed (ignore the salesman and any brochures) with you two, a tank of water, gas....get both axle weights (it's the rear limit that will be the issue) and then have good look (and weigh) ALL the stuff you could possibly take with you on a trip..
dont forget to allow for the weight of a full fuel tank...
if a salesman can't/won't accommodate this request, find another van, it is important that you know your weights re license etc, but most importantly, overloading especially the rear axle.
if 'your' van is already on a 4250 chassis, payload won't be an issue, but any plating of 3500, 3650 or 3850 needs thought.
perhaps post back the details of the weight plate Angel any weighbridge figures.
good luck.
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Hi guys ,for many years Jo and I had set our hearts on owning a high end German brand Motorhome ,that was our goal.We finally decided on the Niesmann Bischoff.The only thing we did wrong was not taking enough time to decide which layout and it turned out to be an expensive learning curve.We are now awaiting delivery of the N+B which we should ordered the first time 😳.Im sure it will be very exciting for you changing from caravan to Motorhome and also quite expensive so take the advice which has been given by other members and take that time to do your home work and get it right before you make the move .
Good Luck ,hope you finally find what you are looking for.
Brian & Jo
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No, it is the fully laden weight. That is why many vans rated at 3500kg have pathetic payloads.
Do some research regarding your driving entitlement and the options open to you.
Here’s a good place to start -
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/advice-for-beginners/driving-licences/
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when did you pass your driving test....was it before Jan 1997?
if so, you will have B +C1 groups on your license and can drive upto 7.5t., however, if you don't have these groups you are restricted to a 3.5t max unless you take an additional test.
also, vehicles over 3050kg 'unladen weight' (probably an unenforceable measurement in a MH.....) have restricted road speed limits compared to those under this weight.
my point re: the 'light' 3500kg chassis is that, despite being able to uprate the MTPLM (gross vehicle weight) to 3650kg or even 3850kg, there are no physical changes to the chassis and the existing axle weights remain...1850 front, 2000 rear...
larger vans, say over 7.3 mtr are likely to struggle with the constraints of that rear axle, especially if the ban has a large rear overhang...
hence my point about weighing the van, especially if it's on the 'light' (3.5t) chassis....
good luck.
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Saw an Elddis Majestic 195 today with the layout we are after. Seem to get quite new vans in the high £30k - wondered if the build quality is any good. Besseca do one as well, but the vans in the same price bracket are much older. It’s a minefield.
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