A class Vs coachbuilt motorhome
Discussion
If you are interested in an A class, why don't you rent one to try it out?
glamperrv.com and motorhomeholidaycompany.com have both got A classes they rent out.
Advantages: They often have better payload and are better appointed than a coachbuilt as well has having more storage. Underfloor heating is very nice!
Disadvantages: can be more expensive. different driving experience due to windscreen and cab, doors as mentioned above.
glamperrv.com and motorhomeholidaycompany.com have both got A classes they rent out.
Advantages: They often have better payload and are better appointed than a coachbuilt as well has having more storage. Underfloor heating is very nice!
Disadvantages: can be more expensive. different driving experience due to windscreen and cab, doors as mentioned above.
A class. very hard to get parts on a lot of the older US stuff. If you go for a coachbuilt then you are just buying truck parts from off the shelf. I owned an old fleetwood RV took nearly two months to source supply and fit the brake servo. If time is no issue then the A-class is a better option. If you want to be able to repair something fast then go for coach built as most chassis used are common place vehicles.
oblio said:
Check that your insurance will cover the windscreen replacement in full as well, if you go with an A Class as they are expensive pieces of kit (c.2k!) and can also be difficult to source.
snigger - yup, currently a 12 week lead time on an Adria Sonic windscreen (at ~£2k, as you point out) and don't you dare bang one of the wing mirrors: 800 sheets each and a similar delay for delivery...Yet you can get a Ducato wing mirror same day or next day delivery and a Ducato windscreen is a stock item.
We went from coachbuilt to a-class.
The move was made for two reasons: 1. Increased payload and 2. Separate shower.
We sought out a van that had a drivers door but was not a tag axle, in an effort to keep the length down.
The other benefit is the larger front view. Feels like the difference of watching a film at the cinema vs a television. There is also more room in the lounge / front end. Ours has a double floor, so the amount of storage has increased massively.
The move was made for two reasons: 1. Increased payload and 2. Separate shower.
We sought out a van that had a drivers door but was not a tag axle, in an effort to keep the length down.
The other benefit is the larger front view. Feels like the difference of watching a film at the cinema vs a television. There is also more room in the lounge / front end. Ours has a double floor, so the amount of storage has increased massively.
Sidecar Man said:
Got 8m A class absolutely love it Massive pay load. Really good all round vision. Double floor really warm. 15 years old and still solid and everything works like it should. But likes been said Windscreen is 5k
Wow 5K for a windscreen, I've heard of 2K mentioned before but not 5K.What motorhome is it? I'd love some pictures.
I just bought my first A class, burstner viseo i720. I don't know how to work anything yet lol.
benny 61 said:
Wow 5K for a windscreen, I've heard of 2K mentioned before but not 5K.
What motorhome is it? I'd love some pictures.
I just bought my first A class, burstner viseo i720. I don't know how to work anything yet lol.
Mine has a split screen which is maybe why its approx double the original figures. Given the screen size the cost doesn't seem too bad but I know my insurer only covers the first £1k a it was one of my questions to ask when getting quotes. What motorhome is it? I'd love some pictures.
I just bought my first A class, burstner viseo i720. I don't know how to work anything yet lol.
FFG
Disadvantages or advantages of one between the other are all down to how its used. Simple as that.
I have a coachbuilt for the simple reason that so far, I've not been able to find an A-class that will beat it on all points. This year, I've got 7 trips planned. All of them are in Europe. Therefore, I prefer the length to be under 6 metres. That makes ferries and bridges cheaper. I've no doubt that there are A-class motorhomes under this length, its just that I've never seen one!
I dont really need a lot of space either. When I'm out, I rarely spend time in it, other than when I am driving or sleeping of course. I can understand though if someone is travelling with a family, they will need extra space.
Having said that, if I never went out of the country, and stayed longer in one place, things would change and I might just go for an A-class. As I said, its all down to the use. Advantages for one might be disadvantages for another.
I have a coachbuilt for the simple reason that so far, I've not been able to find an A-class that will beat it on all points. This year, I've got 7 trips planned. All of them are in Europe. Therefore, I prefer the length to be under 6 metres. That makes ferries and bridges cheaper. I've no doubt that there are A-class motorhomes under this length, its just that I've never seen one!
I dont really need a lot of space either. When I'm out, I rarely spend time in it, other than when I am driving or sleeping of course. I can understand though if someone is travelling with a family, they will need extra space.
Having said that, if I never went out of the country, and stayed longer in one place, things would change and I might just go for an A-class. As I said, its all down to the use. Advantages for one might be disadvantages for another.
I have an A-class under 6m! An early '90s Hymer. LHD with a drivers cab door, but the passenger's side is the habitation door behind their seat. Older German-built A-class motorhomes can be good value, under £10k can get you something well specified although the interior style may be somewhat dated.
Continental A-class motorhomes can have a variety of door layouts. Frequently only one door from the cab area and the habitation door could be forward, midway or to the rear of the habitation area. I've even seen one layout with only one door (habitation, on the right-hand side).
Specialist brokers can provide unlimited windscreen cover, it's often recommended given the nature of the screens.
The drop-down bed over the driving seats is a great space-saver and gives a lot of usable space in a short footprint. It also keeps things shorter than an over-bed coachbuilt, I've had at least one night where the price varied according to vehicle height (<3.1m and 3.1m+) and some tolls will assess by vehicle height (is it French tolls default by height but if you know to ask you can get re-categorised correctly?).
Continental A-class motorhomes can have a variety of door layouts. Frequently only one door from the cab area and the habitation door could be forward, midway or to the rear of the habitation area. I've even seen one layout with only one door (habitation, on the right-hand side).
Specialist brokers can provide unlimited windscreen cover, it's often recommended given the nature of the screens.
The drop-down bed over the driving seats is a great space-saver and gives a lot of usable space in a short footprint. It also keeps things shorter than an over-bed coachbuilt, I've had at least one night where the price varied according to vehicle height (<3.1m and 3.1m+) and some tolls will assess by vehicle height (is it French tolls default by height but if you know to ask you can get re-categorised correctly?).
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