5-berth motorhome/campervan options
Discussion
Collective wisdom of PH - please help me!
Just coming up on a year ago, I bought a brand new Knaus BoxDrive 600XL which is a fabulous 5-berth, 4-belt PVC at 6m long. We absolutely love it - 7k miles later and lord knows how many overnights already, it's a firm favourite with Wife & kids. It's compact for sure and certainly takes some getting used to after the 9m Concorde, but I love the fact it can sit on the drive, be deployed as a daily driver when needed (school runs make for Daddy cool!) and I can use it at the drop of a hat.
BUT......
Within 3m of buying it, we found out the Missus was expecting and we're now 3wks away from the impending arrival of the 3rd little Spuffington!
So I'm in a bit of a pickle. Part of me wants to keep it, potentially use it as a posh caravan and drive both van & Disco to sites within 1.5hrs of the house so that we can belt up 3 kids in the car and use the van to overnight/live in. But at £100k it's an expensive caravan. I could and probably will use it for mini-escapes either solo or with the older two kids on my own once the newborn is less newborn and wife is ok on her own for a night or two. Or, I could acknowledge it's imperfect for what it is and sell it.
- I don't want a caravan. Campsites don't do it for me at all and although I mentioned the above, it's really only the odd overnight or two I'd do each year for the kids benefit. I prefer offgrid and European Stellplaetze and Aires;
- I like the campervan but can't find anything in the PVC which seats 5 and sleeps 5 without going pop-top (I hated the pop-top in the California T6 I had);
- Where are all the premium vans with 5-berth? I can't stand Fiat chassis (sorry owners), I want another TGE/Crafter or Sprinter base. Any of the Dealers able to point me in the direction of something I've missed?;
- Anyone got the dual cab/passenger seat on a swivel plate in the Crafter/TGE? That's the only real option for keeping the van; getting that installed aftermarket and retrimming all the seats to match. Only problem is the 11yr old is unwilling to share a double with the 3yr old and she's too long for the small single the 3yr old currently sleeps on. That said, I'm wondering how long she'll want to come away with us for - perhaps only 4yrs. Maybe I should suck it up for 4yrs then it'll be perfect for the two younger boys and myself & Mrs Spuff?
Otherwise, the only option I keep coming back to is a Hymer Masterclass I B880 (single rear beds, factory fitted 5th seat, bed over the lounge table & drop-down) or Dethleff's Globetrotter XXXL (6-berth on an Iveco, coachbuilt/luton which I don't really like). Both of them are mega-bucks (£150-170k lightly used), not exactly stealthy off gridding and I'd need storage and a second car, so look even more expensive.
I thought I'd dropped on the Adria Matrix 670SL (Mercedes Benz) but from what I can see, that's only 4-berth, 4-belts too.
Is there anything I could retrofit one of those collapsing seatbelted seats to? When I was looking at the Concorde, there were a few seats which had nothing below them that I thought I could retrofit into. Dealers, anything you're aware of?
Let's say theoretical budget up to £150k.
Just coming up on a year ago, I bought a brand new Knaus BoxDrive 600XL which is a fabulous 5-berth, 4-belt PVC at 6m long. We absolutely love it - 7k miles later and lord knows how many overnights already, it's a firm favourite with Wife & kids. It's compact for sure and certainly takes some getting used to after the 9m Concorde, but I love the fact it can sit on the drive, be deployed as a daily driver when needed (school runs make for Daddy cool!) and I can use it at the drop of a hat.
BUT......
Within 3m of buying it, we found out the Missus was expecting and we're now 3wks away from the impending arrival of the 3rd little Spuffington!
So I'm in a bit of a pickle. Part of me wants to keep it, potentially use it as a posh caravan and drive both van & Disco to sites within 1.5hrs of the house so that we can belt up 3 kids in the car and use the van to overnight/live in. But at £100k it's an expensive caravan. I could and probably will use it for mini-escapes either solo or with the older two kids on my own once the newborn is less newborn and wife is ok on her own for a night or two. Or, I could acknowledge it's imperfect for what it is and sell it.
- I don't want a caravan. Campsites don't do it for me at all and although I mentioned the above, it's really only the odd overnight or two I'd do each year for the kids benefit. I prefer offgrid and European Stellplaetze and Aires;
- I like the campervan but can't find anything in the PVC which seats 5 and sleeps 5 without going pop-top (I hated the pop-top in the California T6 I had);
- Where are all the premium vans with 5-berth? I can't stand Fiat chassis (sorry owners), I want another TGE/Crafter or Sprinter base. Any of the Dealers able to point me in the direction of something I've missed?;
- Anyone got the dual cab/passenger seat on a swivel plate in the Crafter/TGE? That's the only real option for keeping the van; getting that installed aftermarket and retrimming all the seats to match. Only problem is the 11yr old is unwilling to share a double with the 3yr old and she's too long for the small single the 3yr old currently sleeps on. That said, I'm wondering how long she'll want to come away with us for - perhaps only 4yrs. Maybe I should suck it up for 4yrs then it'll be perfect for the two younger boys and myself & Mrs Spuff?
Otherwise, the only option I keep coming back to is a Hymer Masterclass I B880 (single rear beds, factory fitted 5th seat, bed over the lounge table & drop-down) or Dethleff's Globetrotter XXXL (6-berth on an Iveco, coachbuilt/luton which I don't really like). Both of them are mega-bucks (£150-170k lightly used), not exactly stealthy off gridding and I'd need storage and a second car, so look even more expensive.
I thought I'd dropped on the Adria Matrix 670SL (Mercedes Benz) but from what I can see, that's only 4-berth, 4-belts too.
Is there anything I could retrofit one of those collapsing seatbelted seats to? When I was looking at the Concorde, there were a few seats which had nothing below them that I thought I could retrofit into. Dealers, anything you're aware of?
Let's say theoretical budget up to £150k.
This may suit your requirements
https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/product/53...
Its a coach built on a Transit chassis but has 6 births and 6 seat belts, 7.55m long, 3500kg ,so would meet your needs.
Might not tick all your requirements, but it would do a job, (not premium but most family vans are built to a budget)
I think a 5 berth Panel van with 5 seats would be very compromised and you may need to get it special converted for you.
The cost could be ££, also anything too bespoke might be difficult to resell.
As you say if the eldest may only have 4yrs left then you can always buy what you really want at that time.
Andy
https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/product/53...
Its a coach built on a Transit chassis but has 6 births and 6 seat belts, 7.55m long, 3500kg ,so would meet your needs.
Might not tick all your requirements, but it would do a job, (not premium but most family vans are built to a budget)
I think a 5 berth Panel van with 5 seats would be very compromised and you may need to get it special converted for you.
The cost could be ££, also anything too bespoke might be difficult to resell.
As you say if the eldest may only have 4yrs left then you can always buy what you really want at that time.
Andy
Edited by Meltham Terrier on Monday 11th March 11:28
Thanks for the input, chaps.
On the Swift - I'm not sure what it is, but they leave me a bit cold. That said, I did have a good nosey through the brochure and some vids and I'm impressed at the appearance of quality from the interior. Wasn't expecting that. I used to be a bit of Transit fan, but have heard a lot recently about them lunching injectors on a regular basis. Still a thing?
In terms of the double-seat - I think I'm coming down on the side of this. In the absence of any other options which excite me, this might be the one to go for. Accelerate the repayment of the finance on it and then see about getting the double cab seat fitted. I know there are firms which do it and also some reputable ones who make a swivel system for it. I think the awning is a good idea - either us in there or the young lady.
The fact that I've owned the van from new (which I've loved as an experience & achievement) and the fact I wouldn't be able to afford a more expensive one new does focus the mind on making the best out of it.
I have thought about resale value, but then I flip it around the other way and reckon there must also be people such as myself who have 3 kids who want a compact motorhome and there's a current gap in the market. So if the conversion is done well and reupholstered for all the seats to match, then it surely would appeal to someone in a similar situation down the line.
Let's see.
Unless anyone can come up with any other suggestions, I'll use that as my base case and maybe if we have second thoughts in a year or two, head to the NEC and see if there's anything out there which suits us better. Thanks chaps.
On the Swift - I'm not sure what it is, but they leave me a bit cold. That said, I did have a good nosey through the brochure and some vids and I'm impressed at the appearance of quality from the interior. Wasn't expecting that. I used to be a bit of Transit fan, but have heard a lot recently about them lunching injectors on a regular basis. Still a thing?
In terms of the double-seat - I think I'm coming down on the side of this. In the absence of any other options which excite me, this might be the one to go for. Accelerate the repayment of the finance on it and then see about getting the double cab seat fitted. I know there are firms which do it and also some reputable ones who make a swivel system for it. I think the awning is a good idea - either us in there or the young lady.
The fact that I've owned the van from new (which I've loved as an experience & achievement) and the fact I wouldn't be able to afford a more expensive one new does focus the mind on making the best out of it.
I have thought about resale value, but then I flip it around the other way and reckon there must also be people such as myself who have 3 kids who want a compact motorhome and there's a current gap in the market. So if the conversion is done well and reupholstered for all the seats to match, then it surely would appeal to someone in a similar situation down the line.
Let's see.
Unless anyone can come up with any other suggestions, I'll use that as my base case and maybe if we have second thoughts in a year or two, head to the NEC and see if there's anything out there which suits us better. Thanks chaps.
You're right with the Adria the mwrc ones lost the 5th belt the Fiat ones have for some reason.
Way to find more options is to look for 6 berths not 5, the issue is your dislike of fiat rules out many options .
Only premium stuff on merc abs smaller coachbuilts on Man and there's no demand or too small a demand for premium family friendly vans on the UK for dealers to imports enough z been tried in the past and didn't work.
We always wanted the dethleffs and I sell them and they're fine but for the money they don't feel as premium as a similarly specced Hymer or Carthago or even an Adria to my eyes.
Do carthago do anything in their merc based vans?
Tricky, easier to get shot of a kid sadly
Way to find more options is to look for 6 berths not 5, the issue is your dislike of fiat rules out many options .
Only premium stuff on merc abs smaller coachbuilts on Man and there's no demand or too small a demand for premium family friendly vans on the UK for dealers to imports enough z been tried in the past and didn't work.
We always wanted the dethleffs and I sell them and they're fine but for the money they don't feel as premium as a similarly specced Hymer or Carthago or even an Adria to my eyes.
Do carthago do anything in their merc based vans?
Tricky, easier to get shot of a kid sadly
nagsheadwarrior said:
Tricky, easier to get shot of a kid sadly
I've felt the pain. Converted a T4 Synchro and used it for a few years for every holiday and as a race tow car, including Glasto with our then 18 month old. Happy days. Then child no2 turned out to be 2&3... That put paid to the van, the race car and ultimately the ZTT400.
Have you thought about a VW Crafter/MAN TGE with a custom designed conversion? Have a pop top for a double bed and there is plenty room inside for a double and single along with kitchen and bathroom.
We used to have a bed for our VW Transporter that fitted between the front doors for our youngest so made it a 5 berth and it had 6 belted seats. Though I suspect you want a bathroom, which is tricky with a Transporter.
We used to have a bed for our VW Transporter that fitted between the front doors for our youngest so made it a 5 berth and it had 6 belted seats. Though I suspect you want a bathroom, which is tricky with a Transporter.
We run a California beach and had a Ocean prior to child 3.
I've looked many times for something bigger with 5 'PROPER' seats and it's not possible(unless you want 3 upfront). Everything I've come across the 5th seat is always a compromise and looks lethal should the worst happen.
On motorhomes the rear seats always look made for anorexic people, so would be a struggle with a child seat.
I'd like to do a conversion, based on a tge/crafter, but can't justify the expense at the moment. I'll keep the beach with an awning and porta potty.
Good luck on your search, congrats on #3
I've looked many times for something bigger with 5 'PROPER' seats and it's not possible(unless you want 3 upfront). Everything I've come across the 5th seat is always a compromise and looks lethal should the worst happen.
On motorhomes the rear seats always look made for anorexic people, so would be a struggle with a child seat.
I'd like to do a conversion, based on a tge/crafter, but can't justify the expense at the moment. I'll keep the beach with an awning and porta potty.
Good luck on your search, congrats on #3
Ya want one of these ... !
Frankia Yucon K-Peak 7 -
https://www.yucon.de/en/mercedes-models/yucon-k-pe...
Vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp8oyRcuOek
Extra bed made up across the front seats and then it sleeps 5.
The pop-top on these are good quality but if you are using it solo no need to put it up.
I'm seriously considering one after looking at all similar van conversions. It is well put together compared to my old Hymer Sprinter Grand Canyon S, and comes fully equipped with diesel heating, solar and Lithium as standard. Plus you take off the beaten track until you run out of ground clearance.
There is one at SMC in Newark but it's the show demo vehicle - it's been on display at all the shows in the UK and Europe for the last 12 months.
But !. .. they are also £20k cheaper to buy on the mainland and self import.
Edit ... just realised you need 5 seat belts so no good!
Frankia Yucon K-Peak 7 -
https://www.yucon.de/en/mercedes-models/yucon-k-pe...
Vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp8oyRcuOek
Extra bed made up across the front seats and then it sleeps 5.
The pop-top on these are good quality but if you are using it solo no need to put it up.
I'm seriously considering one after looking at all similar van conversions. It is well put together compared to my old Hymer Sprinter Grand Canyon S, and comes fully equipped with diesel heating, solar and Lithium as standard. Plus you take off the beaten track until you run out of ground clearance.
There is one at SMC in Newark but it's the show demo vehicle - it's been on display at all the shows in the UK and Europe for the last 12 months.
But !. .. they are also £20k cheaper to buy on the mainland and self import.
Edit ... just realised you need 5 seat belts so no good!
Came across this today, it might be of use. Not seen one in the flesh so can't comment on quality etc
https://www.venturacampers.co.uk/browse/peugeot-vr...
https://www.venturacampers.co.uk/browse/peugeot-vr...
Oldybaldy17 said:
Came across this today, it might be of use. Not seen one in the flesh so can't comment on quality etc
https://www.venturacampers.co.uk/browse/peugeot-vr...
Built literally the other side of the road from my dealership. https://www.venturacampers.co.uk/browse/peugeot-vr...
Build quality is actually pretty decent for the price point and being a full sized van eith a camper layout they're a bit different from the hordes of VW
Don't sleep the 5 OP is accommodating tho sadly
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