New Lunar fixed end Bedroom van issues?
Hi all.
Just looking to see if anyone has purchased a newish either a lunar Clubman (S R) or lexon (590) with the mid Bathroom & end fixed double Bed. We fancy this layout & have seen a few good deals on 2018 models. I have noticed quite a few 2018 Van's second hand already on the market so I'm just wandering if there is an issue with this particular layout! These models have a storage unit that goes right across the van under the bed with access from both sides of the van. With this loaded and clothes in the wardrobes on the back wall for 2 weeks I'm wondering if this makes for an unstable van to tow when loaded with this layout.?
Any advice / feedback much appreciated..
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I can’t answer your specific question and it may well depend what you're towing it with. However, there are numerous non-favourable threads on here about Lunars.
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There are numerous non favourable threads here and elsewhere about every UK caravan. There are less non favourable threads about European vans but this is hardly surprising as there are less of them.
In 2012 I was looking to buy a Bailey. I had had bad experience of Swift. At the end of the day I bought a Lunar Clubman as the seating was infinitely more comfortable with sprung cushions. We had it for 6 years and 9 months and were well please and in fact bought a new version of the same model 12 months ago as I could not find a 'van offering the same comfort
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We had the single bed version of the van you are looking at, same as the bathroom was in the middle of the van. Our layout was single beds at the rear with two large over head lockers across the rear wall a 4 drawer chest between the beds and 3 overhead lockers running length way above the side walls above the beds.
The van was very easy to overload if you were not careful, as all the storage was at the rear of the van.
We loved the van, very comfy with lots of space for everything you needed on a long trip.
We had an ATC fitted to the van after a nasty incident with it on one trip with a bad wobble. After that we always made sure that we had it loaded right. Even after 30+ years towing you can still get caught out.
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If they are second hand vans, one can only wonder.
Could they be new vans being sold at reduced prices to clear the previous year's stock?
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I cannot speak for Lunar but I know a Coachman owner with this layout and he called it the marmite layout.You either love it or hate it.I know he did not like having to carry chairs through the van from under the storage area rather than a hatch from the outside.
It is one of the layouts that you only find out if its suits you after a couple of times away in the van.
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not everybody likes that layout as with bed lengthways it takes up a bit of the lounge as everything gets moved forward to make room for the bathroom and kitchen hence smaller lounge. don't load anything in the back of any van unless very light in weight. keep as much in the car as poss. and load the rest on the axle and always check your nose weight.
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Which is why I advised caution in my earlier post, we had this version 7 years ago.
After we had a bit of an incident we were very cautious about where things went. There is so much storage space under the bed/beds and with (in our model) the centre chest of draws + overhead lockers it was very easy to overload the rear end of the van.
As there is only the two of us, we didn't in the beginning need to put anything 'up front' but we soon learnt that we needed to, to balance out the weight of the rear of the van. Even with 30+ years experience we found that with, that van it was all to easy to become unstable due to the very long overhang.
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Thanks Tammygirl.
We liked the layout because if you have others staying with you they can use the bathroom in the night without having to squeeze past the bed. It's only when I saw quite a few 2018 models already back on the market got me thinking what maybe the problem. ATC comes as standard on the Van but maybe that's because lunar became aware of the problem?
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just because you have lots of storage space in the back doesn't mean you have to use it while travelling. all our stuff, cloths and food goes in storage boxes in the car and load the caravan when onsite and do the same for the return journey. if heavy stuff still left to take we put un caravan on floor above the axle.
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notwithstanding the potential loading issues, if you have guests in the van, a central washroom/toilet is really useful compared to having your guests walk past your bed
to the loo or to have them use external facilities
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We have this layout in our Elddis Affinity 550 and would have gone with the Clubman SR as this was our first choice. We went with the Elddis because it has no bulkhead at the end of the bed. The Clubman’s bed wasn’t long enough for me.
We have had the 550 since May 2017 and have enjoyed the van and it’s layout and have not regretted the decision. It’s perfect as a couples van or when having guests. Yes you sacrifice living space but that’s to be expected on a single axle.
The van has always towed well behind initially our VW Passat estate and more lately a Ford Kuga without issue.
We always load carefully and ensure the outfit is safe as you would do with any van.
As with any van it comes down to personal preference and compromise. We will look to stay with this layout when we come to change the van if it’s still available in a few years!
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Cant see the point of having all that storage in the van if you have lug it all in the Car!!
Looks like I'll be looking at a different layout! Like the interior of the Lunars but having trawled the forums people seem to be having having very early issues. Warped front windows causing water ingress. Delamination of floors at the kitchen etc.
Think I may stick to Swift as only had a few minor issues with my current van. Had it from new for 13 years.
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Hi Steve, we have a Lunar SR that we bought new open May 2018. We have not had any issues with the towing behaviour.
When we first looked at the van I was concerned at the small size of the locker space that can be accessed from the outside and, as you said, goes across the back of the van.
However this also means that you are not going to be putting too much in there which counters the disadvantage of its position right at the back. We store 4 Crespo chairs and a table in there as well as a windbreak , all our stock food is in the front as is the bedding and usually everything else is in the car. This is due to the van being in storage so all our clothing and fresh food etc for a trip is packed in the car at home. This is the norm when it’s just the two of us but if taking Grandchildren then the awning is placed in the van and a roof box used on the car.
Having often had ‘light’ towcars I have habitually loaded heavy items in the car ever since attempting to leave home with a new van for the first time many years ago and failing to make the first, very steep, hill and whilst I can see that it may seem odd not using the vans space it has served us well and we have not had any issues whilst towing.
We chose the layout having had three other fixed bed vans one on the offside, one on the near side and one transverse. This layout allows privacy for both us and our Grandchildren and means that occupants of eithe end can use the facilities without disturbing the others.
As said the bed could be longer but we have never had a van that did not compromise in one area or another.
As with most things it’s down to personal taste and this was a van that we instantly liked when we first stepped inside.
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Hi Steve, the Alde heating is, in our opinion, a big improvement on blown air with the whole van getting the benefit and not just ‘hot spots’ where the outlets are.
We find that the front of the van usually feels warmer, due to that being where the people and activities are, but that suits us as we don’t like a warm bedroom anyway.
One comment heard is that it takes longer to warm up when not used for a long period but we have a back up fan heater that we place in the bedroom area, when we first set up, and keep the door open till it’s how we like it.
Not sure where you are but we got ours at a better price than it was available at the NEC simply by asking. Please come back with any more questions if I can help.
Edit-just realised that you are in Lancashire and recall comments re vans for sale at Campbells. One thing we do is get our vans serviced by an independent service centre, NCC and Club Approved, which is service and warranty approved by most manufacturers . This means that we can be more flexible re the location of the supplying dealer.
Our last van was from Campbell’s but it was serviced and had some minor warranty work done there which saved on a 700 mile plus round trip.
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Hi Allan.
Campbells is 1/2 hour up the road from me.
We keep our van on the drive so apart from the any heavy stuff (beer) we like to load up the van midweek then just hook up & shoot off Friday's straight from work. The layout in our swift is ideal as the wardrobe is over the axle & large lockers either end if the van. We have the Dog cage in the boot so limits us a bit to l8ading the Car.
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