Which washroom
Having recently become semi retired and getting over a small health scare we have decided the time has come to make a move to a long awaited MH move from a caravan.
My big concern is what washroom we now use quite alot of CLs most without facilities.
We love the idea of a big end washroom but also we know a comprise maybe needed due to cost as we will be looking at second hand vans.
The Elddis 155 looks a perfect fit but I am wondering if people who have one find the shower set up as looking on you tube it's not a curtain but not a full separate shower, any other makes or models you care to share are welcome.
I know it's all personal preference and what each individual requires but any thoughts maybe useful and help our elimination process when looking.
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Washrooms are often small in MHs and something a lot of people are happy to compromise on in order to keep the overall size of the MH down to a manageable level. The 155 is a pretty big van which could hinder your getting out and about in it and is also big for a 3500kg van which might mean the payload is miniscule.
Many people try to replicate their caravan when moving across to a MH and then find it doesn't work because they end up with something too big and unwieldy for parking in towns, seafronts and so on. Big is not necessarily best in terms of MHs.
Sorry, that doesn't answer your question but might provide a few points to ponder.
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In our Unicorn Cadiz we had an end washroom with a separate shower. However, when we moved to a MH we realised to keep the size down and more importantly to have a usable payload in a 3500kg max van, we would have to compromise. In the end we opted for a Hymer with a mid bathroom. The entire floor area is a shower tray, with two drains, so it doesn’t matter which way it slopes and a screen that pulls across and magnetically seals to stop the basin and toilet area getting soaked. I actually prefer it to the separate one we had in the Cadiz as there is much more room. As it’s the first feed off the blown air, it also has the advantage of being lovely and warm in winter. For travelling two wooden duckboards line the tray to avoid any damage when using the facilities in transit.
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That's a good point about blown air Steve, ours is warm too. Our van has a swing wall but neither of us really like that design, worse if you are of a large stature. As you mentioned drain holes are important, we have three, two in the shower area and one outside. Previously our A/S van had an all in one shower but had a clever arrangement of folding doors outside the compartment which made up a changing area. Some vans allow very little room to manoeuvre
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TW you have made some very good points here as have other posts.
Our vans have all had end washroom side bench layouts and yes I think that is why I'm looking at these MH layouts.
Also your points about getting around unless you tow a car making it longer still, license wise I'm ok with weight.
Looks like the washroom is not the only thing we need to look at much more homework to be done and looking around.
As for not answering the question all feedback welcome.
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I'm happy to have provoked thought, PJMEG.
In our experience, the 6.4m Coachbuilt MH we had was as big as we'd ever want to go. We later downsized to a 6m PVC which was much more manoeuvrable. Each time we change we go smaller🙂.
Horses for courses but there are a lot of things to consider to avoid making a mistake.
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We know MHs are an expensive item so yes we need to get it right.
This will be a long term investment and being the wrong side of 55 we would like a fixed bed is this possible in a smaller MH without a drop down bed or should we consider missing this too and just make up a bed with the bench seats.
Sorry for all the questions but the more info I can get from MH owners the more knowledge we are armed with when looking.
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It's personal preference but our choice has always been to go for parallel bunks (as you get at the front of a caravan) or U shaped seating as we find fixed beds take up a lot of room. We used the two parallel seats as single beds, although they will make a double, and it was always a simple job to remove the back cushions, unroll sleeping bags and add pillows. I know it's not everyone's choice but it suited us.
I'm not suggesting you get one but take a look at the AutoSleeper Warwick Duo to see what, for us, was an ideal layout.
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Thanks again for the helpful replies.
Am I right in thinking that the Autosleeper is van conversion style again not thought about van conversions but they do seem very popular nowadays.
This is making it harder not easier 🤣, thought the hard bit was convincing her indoors still gives me more excuses to look round.
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AutoSleeper do coachbuilt and PVC models. The coachbuilt Nuevo is very popular as are the PVCs. They use Peugeot, Fiat, Merc and Ford base vehicles across the range. Although far from perfect, they do seem fairly well put together compared to some brands.
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PS. In older models AS also made the monocoques which are very sought after.
One main advantage of PVCs is their durability when coming into contact with hedges in narrow lanes. They are narrower than coachbuilt vans which is both an advantage and disadvantage depending on your point of view.
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Good luck. 👍🏻
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Fully endorse what Tinny is saying. You do need to do a lot of research to make sure your MH choice is going to allow you to do everything you want it to do for you, and that you also get the quality you are looking for, for the money you are going to spend.
Overall size is crucial, it will determine just how easy it will be to tour with, without having to resort to public transport, limiting your sites, or walking/cycling. Layout needs to be something you can cope with for longer tours, making sure you are comfortable and warm over your stay. Think about how much time you spend in a bathroom, 10 minutes a day for showering? Do you want to haul an extra metre around for a mere 20 minutes, if you are mobile enough to go with something a bit smaller? The rear lounge option is an excellent compromise if you just fancy throwing out some sleeping kit onto single beds, or a fairly easily put out double. Again, fixed beds, unless either drop down, or transverse across rear (small Hymers) , will need greater length in most cases. Go as small as you can, but think usability and comfort.👍 Good luck.
There are some great nearly new bargains around as well if you look carefully. We bought our Autosleeper from a small independent dealer who specialises in finding good examples and selling with a decent warranty. Customer care after buying is critical.
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Thanks again great advice we have been looking at the bigger MH dealers at the moment.
We live in Yorkshire and may have travel a bit to find what we might like not sure where you live but if anywhere near to Yorkshire perhaps you could let me know the dealership name.
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I think a mistake we often make is to try and replicated what we had in a caravan into a motorhome layout which usually means a larger vehicle. However that might not be an issue depending on how you intend to use the motorhome. If you intend only to use mainstream sites, maybe tow a car then size will not be so important. However if you want to use the motorhome to visit attractions and local towns and villages then size becomes more critical. The next consideration is what sort of sleeping arrangements do you want. If you want a rear double with additional seating at the front of the van that equates to a long van. If you are happy with converting front settess into either single beds or a large double that makes for a shorter van. Our first motorhome, which was 7.5 metres long, had a French bed, rather like the layout of the Elddis 155. However the toilet shower arrangement was slightly different in that the separate shower was at the back of the van with the toilet in front. It looks as if the 155 is the other way round which means the whole shower toilets is in fact a wet room, which would not be my choice. Our current van is 6.6 metres long. It has two front bench seats which convert to single beds at night, a five minute swapover, and we have a rear toilet/shower compartment across the back of the van which works for us. One tip I would suggest is to try and get to one of the NEC shows so that you can see a whole range of layouts and designs under one roof. Whilst initially it might be a bit overwhelming it will show you all the options from which to draw up a short list. Good Luck.
David
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Hi DK,
Again great advice and yes I think that maybe we are trying to replicate a caravan within a MH.
If you don't mind sharing would you be willing to tell me what van you have so I can have a look at this layout on the Internet or you tube.
My wife's car is a fiat 500 so would make an ideal tow car, unfortunately looks like I would have to downsize my lovely Kuga a sacrifice but hopefully worth it.
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Our last caravan was a two berth with a great end washroom. we always used that in preference to site facilities. Used lots of CLs.
We had a 6.4m AS Broadway with two long settees that converted into single beds. There were a few niggles but also a bit big for using to travel around, and a lack of storage.
We swapped to a 6.4m Globecar Summit Prime. Same length, but narrower and not as high - much easier to manoeuvre and park. Gives us two fixed single beds (so no climbing over each other) and lots of storage underneath.
Wash room is small but has a swing wall to provide shower. Not as good as the Broadway BUT worth the sacrifice. We do use the shower. Yes we have to step out into the van to dry - but we cope happily enough. We dont shower every day - shock, horror!!
Weight, payload both important. You have the license requirement - does your wife. I have quite "a thing" about both being able to drive the vehicle - you never know when you might need it. I assume your wife tows the caravan.
I think one of the biggest difficulties in selecting a first van (besides trying to replicate the caravan) is deciding how you will use it. Just UK? Long trips to Europe? How much walking do you want to do. Do you use bikes? How will you get to the type of attractions you like? You say you like CLs - will needing a tow car limit you accessibility (probably not in terms of length, but dont forget width).
You need to see as many different vans as you can, and as someone said go to one of the shows, but dont be persuaded to buy - just collect information.
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Our current van is a 2019 Bailey Alliance 66-2. Now not a current model as Bailey seemed to have moved towards Ford as a base vehicle so they can offer an automatic gearbox. Unfortunately the models on that base vehicle have terrible payload allowances whereas mine has a 750 kgs payload allowance!
David
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Thanks DK,
That is quite spooky as looking through other options this is one we have been looking at on line and also watched some demo videos on YouTube.
It looks a very spacious and airy van with what looks like everything we would need apart from the bed but as people have been saying it is an extra metre or so that you can potentially do with out on length, also looking at the fixed bed sizes they are not that wide compared to a bed made up at the front.
All we have to do now is find one, I notice there is alliance, advance and autograph guess this is just spec levels.
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Our Hymer has fixed singles over the rear garage, which can be a huge double the width of the van, although more difficult to use. It is longer than DK’s but only by 34 cm. However of course you don’t get the same amount of free space. The front seats both swivel though and are very comfortable for sitting and we have plenty of room, for us at least. It is a very personal choice and as others have mentioned worth visiting one of the shows, as well as dealers. We did that for several years before we finally decided on what we wanted. Working on the principle that we had a caravan, so there was no hurry and we could only afford to do it once, so had to get it right. 4 years in we are sure we have.
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The model range is a bit confusings. The Autograph range is the more full featured range from Bailey and apart from the 69-2 they are all over 7 metres long. The Alliance range grew out of the Advance range. The Advance was Baileys attempt at introducing a budget range but that gradually morphed into the Alliance which had more bells and whistles. Unfortunately when the pandemic hit and Peugeot base vehicles suffered supply issues the Alliance range was dropped. In its place they introduced the Adamo range based on the Ford which is styled on Continental offerings and is much more expensive. Although in fairness if they reintroduced the Alliance its difficult to imagine that the "new" price won't have gone through the roof? If its of any interest I keep a blog of my motorhome here http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/bailey_alliance_662.html It just details the equipment and layout and the things I have done upgrade some of the services in the van.
David
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If you widen your search to continental makes, there are some innovative layouts. A transverse fixed bed usually gives you a large garage area for bikes and the other stuff that we all find indispensable. You can't beat seeing things 'in the flesh' to get a real; idea of them rather than a webpage diagram.
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You are very welcome. We did a good bit of research on dealers, and didn’t want anything new, so dodged the likes of Yorkshire Caravans, Wandahome, Lowdhams.
We found our lovely little monocoque AS Gatcombe from this place….
https://www.used-motorhome.co.uk
We took it for a good test drive, made sure it suited what we needed, size and layout, and it was in fact the only MH we looked at, as we knew it would suit us perfectly for our needs. It was in excellent condition, bathroom hadn’t been used, neither had the oven. Paperwork showed it had spent time in Spain, indeed it had a Spanish fitted alarm system. This was the only component that ever gave us grief, once that was removed it’s been fine. We got a full service, timing belt change, valet and decent warranty, and the dealership owner actually picked my OH up from station when he collected it. The warranty covered both the vehicle and the living area, but we didn’t need it, nothing but that alarm has given us any problems. After eight years, all we do now is have vehicle serviced and MOT done each year. Everything works fine, it’s just general stuff to check like tyres, exhaust, etc… We use a local garage for everything, and they do timing belt when it needs it. My OH is fairly handy with the odd other repair, so it’s been a cheap own for us, very reliable, and we are out every month in it.
Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this place if you don’t want new. His partner used to work for AS, so he knows the older stuff inside and out. Ours is a VW by the way, great little tug.
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Only other option we have considered in the last eight years is one of the small compact Hymers. It’s a few years ago, and I think the ownership/partnership might have changed, but it did have a much better quality/feel about it than some of the UK and cheaper overseas marques. Mind, that quality was reflected in the price. We hummed and hawed a bit, and decided to stick rather than twist, mainly because our little tourer has all we need, is a perfect size for what we do and how we use it.
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With respect I think the size of the washroom is the least of the problems when choosing a motorhome.
We could buy one which is small enough and nimble enough to get out of a campsite every day - as some on here do - to get to shops, pubs, seaside, National Trust properties, and all the other places we want to visit- but for us that sort of vehicle would be impossible to live in and carry all our stuff. We ruled it out.
On the other hand we could buy a bigger one and leave it on site all the time - as some others on here do. It would be comfortable enough to live in and carry our gear, but we are too old to cycle or walk far so it would mean queuing at bus stops in order to go anywhere, and only going to places where the bus goes We ruled that out too.
It’s been interesting reading the comments - but we knew we could never make any sort of motorhome work for us - whatever the size of the washroom.
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Well, all I can say is, if you are still fairly mobile and in reasonable health, and can accept a few compromises here and there, don’t need to travel with a great deal of equipment, then it’s perfectly doable. Hundreds of thousands of happy folks are living proof. It’s just making the choice, small and go anywhere, travel light…..or go larger, use a bus pass, ride a bike, or tow a small car.
The key is the ability to compromise. You either do, or you don’t. There are other alternatives of course for a holiday.
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There is also of course the option of taking it over there, where there are thousands of Aires to utilise as well as fully equipped sites. There is almost always something suitable where you want to be. Often right in the middle of villages / towns, within walking distance of restaurants etc.
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