Double lounge with drop down beds; Ideas
Discussion
Chaps currently have a CV40 Auto Campervan which for what it is is a good van being a 6m Ducato PVC, but making up the rear bed and the pinch point in the middle is beginning to irk. There’s only my wife and myself and dog but we like our space and comfort!
So I am after ideas and thinking about a ‘proper’ van, I don’t like the idea of giving over half the van to a permanent bed(s). Therefore I’m considering drop down beds, ideally with front and rear seating. I’ve researched and can see the following vans fit the profile;
McLouis Fusion 330
Benimar 282 & 482
Bailey Adamo 75-4DL
Burstner 744
Mobilvetta K Yacht 80
The current van at 6m is handy for getting about and parking (most of the time!). None of the above are bigger than 7.5m although my immediate thought is the McLouis as it’s only 6.5m….
Any thoughts, comments and experiences of the above. Also any that I’ve missed?
So I am after ideas and thinking about a ‘proper’ van, I don’t like the idea of giving over half the van to a permanent bed(s). Therefore I’m considering drop down beds, ideally with front and rear seating. I’ve researched and can see the following vans fit the profile;
McLouis Fusion 330
Benimar 282 & 482
Bailey Adamo 75-4DL
Burstner 744
Mobilvetta K Yacht 80
The current van at 6m is handy for getting about and parking (most of the time!). None of the above are bigger than 7.5m although my immediate thought is the McLouis as it’s only 6.5m….
Any thoughts, comments and experiences of the above. Also any that I’ve missed?
Edited by HarryW on Friday 22 October 13:10
Have you thought about the pop top version of what you have, or similar?
Makes a big difference getting a bed upstairs.
What you will find if you move to a coachbuilt is you will miss so much of the van style size, not just physical size, the performance, but also just the NVH aspect, they are so much more solid that a coachbuilt.
Makes a big difference getting a bed upstairs.
What you will find if you move to a coachbuilt is you will miss so much of the van style size, not just physical size, the performance, but also just the NVH aspect, they are so much more solid that a coachbuilt.
Yes I’ve considered the CV80 version of mine, nice van, but doubt I’d get the wife up the ladder! it also still has the pinch point between cooker and wash room, so didn’t make the short list.
We’ve had and hired up to 7.9m full fat MH’s before, yes they are a bit noisier but not that bad if you systematically hunt out and eliminate the sources.
The reason for shortlisting the McLouis 330 is the fact it is less than 0.5m longer and a little wider. I remain open to views and reviews of the above list and any others not included.
TIA
We’ve had and hired up to 7.9m full fat MH’s before, yes they are a bit noisier but not that bad if you systematically hunt out and eliminate the sources.
The reason for shortlisting the McLouis 330 is the fact it is less than 0.5m longer and a little wider. I remain open to views and reviews of the above list and any others not included.
TIA
That's an unusual shortlist though it's an unusual layout.
I often wonder Bout the need for 2 drop downs as the rear lounges are so easy to convert plus the rear drop down robs light and headroom.
Those are mainly trigano group fayre so build quality is much of a muchness.
The Burstner will be by far the standout winner on quality tho the Mclouis is usefully smaller and Europe's full of them.
If looking used you cN throw in the funky chausspn 711 traveline and smaller 611 too.
Personally I'd have a rapido 9084df but no second dropdown
I often wonder Bout the need for 2 drop downs as the rear lounges are so easy to convert plus the rear drop down robs light and headroom.
Those are mainly trigano group fayre so build quality is much of a muchness.
The Burstner will be by far the standout winner on quality tho the Mclouis is usefully smaller and Europe's full of them.
If looking used you cN throw in the funky chausspn 711 traveline and smaller 611 too.
Personally I'd have a rapido 9084df but no second dropdown
nagsheadwarrior said:
That's an unusual shortlist though it's an unusual layout.
I often wonder Bout the need for 2 drop downs as the rear lounges are so easy to convert plus the rear drop down robs light and headroom.
Those are mainly trigano group fayre so build quality is much of a muchness.
The Burstner will be by far the standout winner on quality tho the Mclouis is usefully smaller and Europe's full of them.
If looking used you cN throw in the funky chausspn 711 traveline and smaller 611 too.
Personally I'd have a rapido 9084df but no second dropdown
Yes, the list fits my desire borne from experience. I often wonder Bout the need for 2 drop downs as the rear lounges are so easy to convert plus the rear drop down robs light and headroom.
Those are mainly trigano group fayre so build quality is much of a muchness.
The Burstner will be by far the standout winner on quality tho the Mclouis is usefully smaller and Europe's full of them.
If looking used you cN throw in the funky chausspn 711 traveline and smaller 611 too.
Personally I'd have a rapido 9084df but no second dropdown
If 7.5m was the main driver then the Burstner 744 wins, although I’m not totally convinced the quality is as great a differentiator it was say 5 years ago.
I did look at the Chassoun 611 a few years ago, now they do a 711, which I have walked around the front area is a bit cold with effectively 4 x drivers seats.
Re the 8094 DF Rapido, love them too, if only they put a drop down over the rear it would be perfect on most levels.
nagsheadwarrior said:
True the build quality gap has closed, what we're the budget brands are quite decent now.
Apart from the K Yacht, its a tarted up Rollerteam that Marquis have hoooooge profit margins in as they kept putting the price up and people kept buying them lol
Nagsheadwarrior respect your views, so keep them coming.Apart from the K Yacht, its a tarted up Rollerteam that Marquis have hoooooge profit margins in as they kept putting the price up and people kept buying them lol
The only reason I mention the K Yacht 80 was that was a version that had a rear drop down bed, no other. The Roller Team Pegaso 740 A class has a rear lounge and could suit as could the lower spec coach built Team Roller 747.
Both are like the Rapido 8094 layout(ish) with made up rear beds, but at a much lower price point (also not double floored or actual quality, not that they are poor etc).
Reputation alone of M*****s makes me swerve the K Yatch and sadly the Benimars ( they stuck yet another 10% on those!).
The Bailey comes with its leaky reputation, rightly or wrongly. It also sits on a Ford cab and chassis, which I’m undecided on…. Thoughts on those points and Bailey generally, although the Adamos were completely new for 2021?
I don’t think I’d have this issue if there was stock to view, as in years gone by I could have sighted everyone of these first hand over a weekend….
944 Man said:
CAPP0 said:
That must be unwieldy and pretty horrible to manoeuvre with such an overhang. I was a Bailey dealer from when they started in 2012 to 2017 and they weren't very good in 2017 they may be better now, we sell Bailey Caravans and they have improved over the last 18 months .
The Bailey Alutech isn't bad it's just the floors that get damp now.
All the Trigabo group stuff is much of a muchness , we are a Chausson dealer and they are much of a muchness with Benimar,McCoy's theoretically are below below but probably not much different along with Rollerteam that have improved since their super budget damp days, rarely see a damp one now.
It's hard this year with no NEC and all the builds delayed by the chassis factory closures, by the time demos arrive a lot of vans will be sold out, our best sellers from Chausson are nearly sold out already.
Then if ypu order something god knows when it will arrive lol we won't take an order if someone us stressy about a collection date.
I short buy the one with the size and layout ypu prefer as there's not enough to split them on anything else
The Bailey Alutech isn't bad it's just the floors that get damp now.
All the Trigabo group stuff is much of a muchness , we are a Chausson dealer and they are much of a muchness with Benimar,McCoy's theoretically are below below but probably not much different along with Rollerteam that have improved since their super budget damp days, rarely see a damp one now.
It's hard this year with no NEC and all the builds delayed by the chassis factory closures, by the time demos arrive a lot of vans will be sold out, our best sellers from Chausson are nearly sold out already.
Then if ypu order something god knows when it will arrive lol we won't take an order if someone us stressy about a collection date.
I short buy the one with the size and layout ypu prefer as there's not enough to split them on anything else
Whatever I get it will be an Auto, Ford is an old 6 speed slush box whereas the Fiat runs the (more modern?) 9 speed ZF fitted to many cars.
As dealer with experience of both Ford and Fiat version of the same vans what are the pros and cons of them in your experience.
I am aware Fords had major engine injector issues recently.
Your thoughts on how the different cabs and chassis feel would be appreciate too.
As dealer with experience of both Ford and Fiat version of the same vans what are the pros and cons of them in your experience.
I am aware Fords had major engine injector issues recently.
Your thoughts on how the different cabs and chassis feel would be appreciate too.
We sell both and in the case if Chausson have sold identical vans on either chassis.
They ate genuinely within 2% of each other so go for the conversion that suits, that's far more important.
However-
From 2017 the Transit edged the Fiat with its quieter smoother and in 170 guise more potent engine plus its proper torque converter auto when it arrived in 2018.
However it ballsed it up in breaking down all over the place due to the injectors and the seats aren't as good as the Fiat.
From 2020 with the ZF arriving the Fiat got the box it always needed and started edging it again, it handles slightly better than the Ford but is a bit crashier as a trade off.
The new X8 Ducato modernises the dash to catch up or I think overtake the Ford too or will do if they ever blooming build any grr!
Controversial but I love the old school 6 speed Ford slush box, reminds me of the 6 speed GM box in my old Saab, ZF is amazing but too modern for me lol
British buyers do and always will take the Ford over the Fiat given a choice though, so we and almost everyone orders all our stock on the Ford not Fiat where available.
So Fiat wins on- Handling, Gearbox, Reliability, looks tho that's arguable, choice of conversions, security , interior tech and dash , lock/turning circle
Ford wins- Engine , Dealer network, ride quality
They ate genuinely within 2% of each other so go for the conversion that suits, that's far more important.
However-
From 2017 the Transit edged the Fiat with its quieter smoother and in 170 guise more potent engine plus its proper torque converter auto when it arrived in 2018.
However it ballsed it up in breaking down all over the place due to the injectors and the seats aren't as good as the Fiat.
From 2020 with the ZF arriving the Fiat got the box it always needed and started edging it again, it handles slightly better than the Ford but is a bit crashier as a trade off.
The new X8 Ducato modernises the dash to catch up or I think overtake the Ford too or will do if they ever blooming build any grr!
Controversial but I love the old school 6 speed Ford slush box, reminds me of the 6 speed GM box in my old Saab, ZF is amazing but too modern for me lol
British buyers do and always will take the Ford over the Fiat given a choice though, so we and almost everyone orders all our stock on the Ford not Fiat where available.
So Fiat wins on- Handling, Gearbox, Reliability, looks tho that's arguable, choice of conversions, security , interior tech and dash , lock/turning circle
Ford wins- Engine , Dealer network, ride quality
I doubt you'll find one in RHD, or even a LHD one in this country, but I came across this on youtube
I've never heard of them before, Ahorn Canada TE Plus, 7 metres long, dropdown bed over rear lounge, and another over the dinette.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXUH0Wl-N6Q&ab...
I've never heard of them before, Ahorn Canada TE Plus, 7 metres long, dropdown bed over rear lounge, and another over the dinette.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXUH0Wl-N6Q&ab...
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