Help needed....motorhome models
Hi
I am looking to buy a used motorhome but struggling to find a model that fits my requirements and would very much welcome your input.
Spec...
2012..2015
U shaped rear lounge
3500kg max
Tower fridge
Alde rad heating
Proably max 7m
So far I have found Bolero 630pr and Autograph 625.(no tower fridge tho!.) Any other ideas please?
Comments
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I suspect if you find all that in a 3500kg van you’ll have such a small payload it’ll be almost unusable but perhaps somebody else knows more than I do.
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I wouldn’t get too hung up about the Alde system. We had it on our caravan and it was excellent but a 7m motorhome is well insulated and has a much smaller interior area. Blown air will heat up much quicker and still give an even temperature.
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eiflow
You didn't specify what berths you need. 2,3,4,5,or 6. Though the models you have looked at are both two berth so I assume that's your need .....
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One thing to bear in mind with fridges in MHs as opposed to caravans, eiflow, is that you will likely spend time out and about in your MH which will mean more time with the fridge running on 12v, or gas if you're parked up. It's therefore likely that your fridge will be subject to more temperature fluctuation than one in a caravan left on EHU for several days at a time.
I agree with the comment about not getting hung up about Alde as the blown air heating is very effective in the smaller space of a MH and, likewise, I’d say don’t get hung up on the idea of a big fridge/freezer. Both the Alde and the large fridge are likely to eat into the payload of a 3500kg van.
Have you checked out Caravanfinder where you can select MHs by layout as well as by other criteria?
http://www.caravanfinder.co.uk/motorhomes.html
Good hunting!
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one issue might be the need (or not) for the rear lounge to be configured to sleep as two singles...this will undoubtedly require a longer lounge than some vans have....where transverse sleeping is the only option.
storage (and poor/small external access) is another Bain of many coachbuilt rear lounge vans.
think where all those wet/muddy boots, levellers, leads, mats etc are going to travel and where will you put dripping wet outdoor coats...
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to overcome the 'external storage issue' I mentioned above, some converters have become very innovative and now you can have your cake (rear lounge) and eat it (full size bike garage underneath)....à la Hymer in this picture of the Duo Mobil 534.
..also drop down bed (transverse or longitudinal for easy exit) in cab remains in place during stay so no bed making required...
a few used examples about which should keep the price down...a bit..
however, likely to be a 'last a lifetime' van....
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We find that now we have a van conversion rather than our previous caravan and car, our touring style has changed. Where we previously stayed for a week on one site we now rarely stay more than 4 days then move on a few hours further away. Also visiting supermarkets between sites every 4 days or so in the van is possible / easy where it wasn't easy or even an option with a caravan. We also find that food for 4 days fits in the smallish fridge quite easily.
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Sound advice so far.
U-shaped loungers are perceived to be a British motorhome quirk. A good bet, therefore, is to focus on UK manufacturers including Elddis, AutoTrail, and Auto Sleeper. Few Continental manufacturers built rear lounge motorhomes in the past. Like caravans, layouts change regularly
MMM's website has guides to motorhomes which may help. Tower fridges and Alde heating are fairly recent accessories.
Do the requirements reflect the way the motorhome is to be used? Weight and length are important requirements and focusing on them will help you identify options.
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Hi
Thank you all for your comments. I have been through all the thinking about layouts, equipment,use etc over the last 3 months + and hence arrived at the above spec.
It seems there is actually only a small percentage of MHs that are designed around U lounge (and 7m) so my search will just have to continue. (Front parallel lounge might just work but nothing else!!).
Thank you again for your comments.
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I can see your desire to 'replicate' what you have in your caravan (nice open parallel seating) but this is often where issues lie ahead....
mainly to do with the fact that you don't have a tow car to put all your stuff, so decent storage and access is important, as is the fact that all this stuff (along with th OH and water supply) weighs plenty and has to be carried aboard a single vehicle.
MHs aren't caravans with engines....that engine and cab area take up room (when compared to a caravan) and this means either a compromise on how the inside works or on extra length (and weight).
while I agree UK rear lounge vans will be fairly plentiful on the second hand market, they don't excell in storage or (when you get to 7m or more) payload....
then the smaller you go, the less options you have for lengthways single beds, if this is another 'must' on the list....and you won't have a car to zip about in...
PVCs can give long rear beds and reasonable payloads but space wise will likely be a step too far coming from a caravan...
what are the specific reasons to change?
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The best way to find a Motorhome that gets anywhere near your wish list is to go to Motorhome shows and see if any of the hundreds of different layouts and fittings in the Shows come anywhere near your requirements.
Whatever you get will be a compromise as the 'perfect' Motorhome does not exist.
We bought from Lincoln Show six years ago and after getting in and out of numerous Motorhomes, and a headache and weary limbs, settled on second hand one that suited us and our budget – and we still have it.
No-one on a forum knows exactly what suits you and only you can make the decision about spending a considerable sum – get out there and do a lot of viewing.
If you buy second hand make sure you know the payload - don't take the sellers word for it but get it weighed – a small payload will severely restrict what you can carry.
If the Motorhome you buy has a refillable Gas system, a Solar panel, a second leisure battery and a B2B it will mean you can go anywhere without restrictions and the World is quite literally your lobster.
Best of luck in your quest.
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Sorry eiflow I know this isn't related to your question but I just had to ask Justus2 why "visiting supermarkets between sites" wasn't possible with a caravan?! Surely you could use your towcar......?!
Ps in relation to your original post I agree with everyone who stresses the importance of storage in whichever MH you choose, especially if you tour all year round; you definitely need somewhere for muddy boots and soaking wet outerwear😊
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I think the key words are 'between sites'. It’s my reading of it that J2 means en route while towing the caravan.
Incidentally, we have no storage accessible from outside but manage to dry footwear and waterproofs successfully. It’s largely a matter of having quick drying items and using a little ingenuity.👍🏻
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I would suggest going the the NEC later this month, you will be able to survey most options in one hit. You may even come away with a modified spec of what you want.
I am considering the same transition and as we have as dog am looking to a van conversion that suits, I have some ideas of what would work but trying to keep an open mind until I have been to the show.
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Thank you for clearing that up, although when we are on a big tour we generally stock up before setting off to the next site, so I still don't find a caravan restrictive in that sense but I take the point.
Could you expand on what you mean by using "ingenuity" to dry your footwear and waterproofs? I'm intrigued 😊
Apologies again for digressing from the original post but I'm really curious now.
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There are various things you can to to dry wet gear, TB.
To start with, a good umbrellla will prevent you getting too wet in the first place if you’re only nipping around the site and it can live under the van or in the shower when not in use.
You can use a spring loaded hanger bar for coats in the shower area. Close the hab area heating vents while opening the shower room vent and open the shower roof vent slightly or, if fitted, run the shower fan to provide ventilation. An alternative to using the van heater could be to use a low powered wardrobe bar heater in the shower area as the gap under the door will be enough for the wire to pass through. (Exercising due care, obviously.)
Our personal favourite is to choose items that will wipe or shake fairly dry when possible, ie synthetic materials, Regatta warerproofs in a bag (fold up), for example. If they remain damp, a few minutes hung over the back of the cab seats will soon have them ready to go away. Warm layers can be worn underneath if the weather is cold. The outerwear in bags is especially useful for us in view of the storage space saved as our wardrobe is the smallest ever created.
Footwear can be placed on the cab floor or shower tray, on a plastic bag or mat.
If you get exceptionally wet or dirty, hill walking for instance, the above may not be suitable. In that case it might be possible to pick sites that have drying rooms. These are not uncommon on commercial sites in some outdoor pursuit areas and I think some club sites have them.
Some people hang wet items under the roll out canopy to dry if the weather is suitable for using the canopy.
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Many thanks Tinwheeler; I'm sure that this is useful advice for motorhomers. I've often thought of switching to a motorhome so I am genuinely interested in issues and solutions regarding them. Storage and space have always been factors putting me off but obviously other people manage well enough. However, I also hate the thought of unpacking and getting comfy and then having to pack it all away and move off pitch to go anywhere not in walking distance...
We have a caravan and Mitsubishi L200 so have a tenancy to put muddy boots in the back of the car. (It's also useful space for awnings, water barrels and the wastemaster if we're packing up in the rain). We go away mainly to climb mountains and hills so we're used to being soaked through quite a lot: we only ever stay on CL type sites and have never even seen a drying room! I'm certainly going to look into the spring loaded hanger bars for the shower cubicle though: Definitely an ingenious idea 😊
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You’re welcome, TB.
As ex-tuggers we did the same as you but it is surprising how quickly we adapted to new and smaller living spaces.
We have no outside storage at all, being a PVC, but things like wedges travel under a bunk easily enough. The likes of Aquarolls, Wastemasters and awnings don’t feature in our lives so that saves space.
Most MHs have some overcab storage space and the roof lockers are generally bigger than those in a caravan. All told, we manage well.
It's always possible to tow a small trailer behind a MH if necessary but, to my mind, that negates many of the advantages of a MH.
What is there to unpack and pack when setting up or leaving the pitch? For us it’s the kettle and cups and the EHU lead and nothing more. Nothing is left lying around as, if it’s not in use, it’s away in it’s dedicated cupboard. No corner steadies to wind either👍🏻
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Okay TW you've almost convinced me I could manage with a motorhome ,(like you I wouldn't tow anything at all with, it as it does seem to totally defeat the purpose; I've never understood people who tow little cars behind them)...I think I'm still a caravanner at heart but maybe one day!
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Who knows?😃
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From a practical point of view I would have thought the L200 would be ideal for carrying all the climbing equipment i.e. ropes, harnesses etc. etc.. I would also imaging that driving a MH around a lot of narrow lanes and then trying to park could be a bit hit or miss
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Think of it another way. Being able to tow a car just adds to the versatility of a motorhome. I currently don't but if I did I could see a situation where by if I was say going to the IOW then having a car available might be a bonus but if I was going to a site like Abbey Wood or York it would be unnecessary. The important thing is I have a choice should I wish.
David
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I agree that choice is good, David, and each of us does it our own way. However, the cost of kitting a car up to tow legally, either by A-frame or trailer, is not inconsiderable and your example of IoW is probably a classic case of when not to tow a car. Think of the extra ferry fares.
We hired a small car from a local company on IoW for £100 - much cheaper than the club’s ‘partner’ - and a spot in the ocean compared to a permanent towing arrangement and no additional ferry costs. It’s the only time we’ve needed a car and that was with the bigger coachbuilt van. I can’t see us needing one at all with the PVC.
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It totally depends on the people using a Motorhome, one of them could be disabled , may have started using a Motorhome and there disabilities have increased, they either splash out on a small car too tow or change back to Car and Caravan.
In our case it was more economical to buy small car and have it adapted.
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Yes I never thought of that and it obviously works for you. Actually though it has always been non disabled people I've noticed on sites with brand new motorhome and car combos...to me it just seems expensive (insurance x2, tax x2, MOT x2) and at odds with the idea of a motorhome. However, in complete self-contradiction I have found the idea of using a vw camper van or similar as a tow car appealing😀!
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