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?

[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!

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[LordHaveMurci]

donaircooleone said:

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.

Great, many thanks - spent 2.5hrs looking around vans until none of us could take anymore!
Only ones we really liked are more than we want to spend typically, Autosleeper Cotswold, a Burstner & a Pilote A Class.

[LordHaveMurci]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Couple of cheap vans of the right layout here www.motorlands.co.uk

Long trek from you but he is cheap, buys a lot of our px's.

You don't get main dealer glitz but he's very honest and the prices are right.

Check out the 59 plate 664 at 26995, Knaus at £25995 for some German quality or the Carioca on an 08 at £22995, all right layout.

Thanks again NHW, sadly that Knaus is only 3 Berth

Saw a 664 today so quite interested in that, will speak to them about it I think.

[LordHaveMurci]

oblio said:

Our Bessacarr E795 has a double at the back (not fixed but I think the E465 has a fixed one); a double over cab (I know you aid that you preferred low profile but...); and also an L shaped front lounge which turns into a single.

It also has 4 seatbelts.

We have just bought a drive away inflatable awning and bout the separate bedroom pod for it as well just in case our lad wants to spend a night or two with us (unlikely now he's 17 but he has the option)

Its a compromise but may work for you

We love it btw

I like that, it would still work well when our daughter decides she no longer wants to come but our son does. Don't mind the shape of this, a lot of the high line ones are really 'blobby' & really not keen.