Motorhome help required please!

[LordHaveMurci]

We had a Swift 590RS 5 Berth motorhome a few years ago, loved it but due to it not getting used enough it was sadly sold

Fast forward several years & all 4 of us badly miss it so we are thinking about getting another. The thing is, we have a girl, 14, and a boy, 11. Our daughter in all probability won't be coming away with us for more than another year or two so we have to allow for a van that will suit us as a couple in the future as well as allowing for the kids now.

We are completely sold on a fixed bed. Two facing benches make a lot of sense BUT they don't have seat belts so the kids would not be belted on journeys (is this even legal, I guess it must be?).
If we go dinette type layout then we have belts but the kids will end up sharing a bed - not ideal.

We'd like to go low profile if possible, or A Class possibly. The ideal solution would be to purchase a child friendly van now then change it for a smaller one later on, we'd rather buy one & keep it long term if possible though.

We have even considered a caravan & leaving it permanently on site somewhere but this idea is not so appealing, definitely don't want to tow one.

What have others done in this situation?

[Foliage]

Get ya lad a tent, he'd probably prefer that anyway surely.

[LordHaveMurci]

Foliage said:

Get ya lad a tent, he'd probably prefer that anyway surely.

We have 4 tents! Part of the reason for a MH is that it will be used all year round, we used our last one in December when temps dropped to -9, not sure he'd want to be in a tent lol!

[Ali2202]

We just bought one of these -

http://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/motorhom...

Overcab double bed. Midcab seating (2 front-facing seat with belts) can be made into double and rear can be both double or dining area. The rear dining option was the deal-breaker for us as I liked the option to be away from the steering wheel area after a long drive.

The only downside is no big garage for stuff but we have a bike rack and there are only 2 of us. Loads of head-hight storage cabinets though.

Drives good (a la Transit). It's long but I'm getting used to it.

Edited by Ali2202 on Monday 9th March 12:26

[GAjon]

Don't Adria or Bailey do a low profile coachbuilt with a rear low fixed bed, a dinnete at the front with passenger seat belts.
The dinnete turns into a bed but then the cieling also drops down to make a bed above it.
I could have imagined it, and if they don't they should!

[Foliage]

I was curious so googled best motorhome of 2014 and that came back with Rapido 640,

Looks ideal for what your after, but ive no idea on of your budget.

http://www.rapido-motorhome.co.uk/prod.php?ref=640...
Permanent double bed, bunk beds, seatbelts for the kids etc.

[GAjon]

Did'nt imagine it, its a Bailey hope the link works.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-kwPa39_Lg

But its a rear loung not bed as I thought.

http://www.baileyofbristol.co.uk/motorhomes/approa...

Edited by GAjon on Monday 9th March 19:34

[nagsheadwarrior]

Gajon has hit the answer.

There are a whole host of vans with drop down beds to the front and fixed beds yo the rear if you don't want the Baileys rear lounge.

Adria to the Matrix range, Burstner the Ixeo, I sell Hymers and they offer it in the larger T class models.
If you like gallic style and rattles then Chausson do loads.

German quality at a lower price then the larger low profile Carado all offer it as an option with a variety of rear fixed bed layouts, these would be my weapon of choice.

Just make sure the lounge below the drop down bed also makes a bed and you then have a low profile with 3 separate beds and 4 seatbelts that is still great for two later on as when the front beds up you don't really notice it.

Feel free to pm me if you want a steer on anything or if you're Midlands ish or passing by whack in and have a look at some.

[GAjon]

Hello Nags, Ive been lusting after that Rapido 996 you've got on your website, just a bit to rich for my blood (wallet)

[Bill]

A sunlight T67 or 68 sounds good (no idea of their reputation mind). A drop down bed and twins to the rear. They also do a conversion IIRC that turns the twins into a big double, for when the kids aren't interested.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Sunlights are a rebadged Carado, very well screwed together.
I drove a Carado to Lincoln show last year, no stereo, the thing was silent, not a squeak ir a rattle, I was very impressed.

Hi Jon, it is a lively thing that Rapido and ultra rare on the heavy chassis, it's mint too.

Should have sold really by now but we'vwe've not had a sniff on it hence the price drop.

[LordHaveMurci]

Thanks for all the replies, we have seen these which we quite like, what do you think?:

http://www.chelstononline.co.uk/used-motorhome-bur...

http://www.alankerrltd.co.uk/used-motorhome-home-c...

http://www.alankerrltd.co.uk/used-motorhome-lunar-...

The last two only about 15mls away so we'll probably go & have a look tomorrow if they're any good?

We've also seen a smaller one with the kitchen next to the dinette, then fixed bed & bathroom at the rear. Be a bit tight for space but nice to have a smaller van when on the road, certainly down here in the SW! http://www.highbridgecaravans.co.uk/products/motor...

Edited by LordHaveMurci on Friday 13th March 09:31

Edited by LordHaveMurci on Friday 13th March 13:02

[chopper602]

We have a 'TEC' Rotec (no longer available), which has the fixed double over a large garage and the double that drops down from the ceiling over the dining area. Our two kids (12 & 15) share the drop down bed in the winter, but in the summer, we stick a tent up for the boy. It certainly works for us and the couple of times we've been away without the kids we can leave the bed in the ceiling and forget it's there. Continental vans, in our limited experience, seem to be much better built and have better ideas than the English alternative (sorry!)

I'd not consider bunk beds as they're not very popular and you'd be limiting the market for resale. You have to sacrifice half of your garage if you use the lower bunk too.

[LordHaveMurci]

chopper602 said:

We have a 'TEC' Rotec (no longer available), which has the fixed double over a large garage and the double that drops down from the ceiling over the dining area. Our two kids (12 & 15) share the drop down bed in the winter, but in the summer, we stick a tent up for the boy. It certainly works for us and the couple of times we've been away without the kids we can leave the bed in the ceiling and forget it's there. Continental vans, in our limited experience, seem to be much better built and have better ideas than the English alternative (sorry!)

I'd not consider bunk beds as they're not very popular and you'd be limiting the market for resale. You have to sacrifice half of your garage if you use the lower bunk too.

We'll mainly only be using it for weekends so a garage would not be much use to us, we'd rather have the fixed bed at low level. Bunk beds are not an option.
Are your two kids the same sex, I'm guessing not?
Yes, in summer one or both of ours would probably rather be in a tent, especially if they have friends come along. The right layout gives us the option to extend the use though.

[chopper602]

LordHaveMurci said:

We'll mainly only be using it for weekends so a garage would not be much use to us, we'd rather have the fixed bed at low level. Bunk beds are not an option.
Are your two kids the same sex, I'm guessing not?
Yes, in summer one or both of ours would probably rather be in a tent, especially if they have friends come along. The right layout gives us the option to extend the use though.

Bring friends along? Does that mean you're looking at 6 belted seats ? That will narrow the search even further . . .

Garage is VERY useful, chairs, couple of bikes, barbecues, extra tents etc etc. We have a three bike rack on the back too, but normally put two on there and two in the garage.

Kids are 15 (son) and 12 (daughter), they sleep head to toe and in sleeping bags.

[LordHaveMurci]

chopper602 said:

Bring friends along? Does that mean you're looking at 6 belted seats ? That will narrow the search even further . . .

Garage is VERY useful, chairs, couple of bikes, barbecues, extra tents etc etc. We have a three bike rack on the back too, but normally put two on there and two in the garage.

Kids are 15 (son) and 12 (daughter), they sleep head to toe and in sleeping bags.

Crap, forgot about belts!
If it came to it my OH would go unbelted, can't be me as she isn't licensed to drive a MH, she is keen to so must investigate what she needs to do.
Good to know i works Ok with your kids, thanks for the replies.

[nagsheadwarrior]

The Homecar and Lunar Champ were both built in the same factory by Homecar in Belgium when they owned Lunar in Lancashire.
Homecar went bust in 09 so you can get parts for the generic bits like fridge, heating etc but need any body parts and you're screwed.
They're also both a tad overpriced (Pr62 we were selling new reduced to 30k in 06) Alan Kerr have an "interesting" reputation on the after sales front.
Sadly if you're Devon based your not spoilt for dealer choice and they are pricey due to lack of competition.
I used to work for Marquis in Lee Mill, they're mad expensive for used vans, Martins if Exeter were n nay still be very well priced and not a bad bunch.

[LordHaveMurci]

Thanks, we bought our 1st two vans from Martins & found them very good, they are about 2mls away too but having nothing suitable at the moment.

There are a few dealers within an hour or so, Highbridge have one we interested in too.

[GlenMH]

LordHaveMurci said:

Crap, forgot about belts!
If it came to it my OH would go unbelted,

Is that legal??

And having 6 pax on board is going to chomp up an awful lot of payload....

[donaircooleone]

You could always pop a long to the Motorhome Show at Westpoint this weekend as its only down the road, Chelston and Kerrs are exhibiting as are a few others (a decent selection in & out).

I'm there all weekend albeit not as a mh dealer.