Just fancy some imput on this as I don't wanna regret changing....
Have an Autotrail imala 4 birth 2017 overcab bed. Nothing at all wrong with it love the layout mid diner end kitchen and washroom.
Only downside is the length it comes in at 6.34 metres which is ok but we use the MH a lot when we're away ie: parking in town supermarkets out and about etc.
My thoughts are for a 6 metre fixed bed simply for ease of access...but the ones we have seen do tend to be a little 'crammed' inside, as I say I love the layout of the imala it suits us fine.
Have been looking at Benimar MILEO's
Thoughts please especially if you have downsized 🙂
Hi, We have the Imala 620.
I know exactly what you mean, but need to say we would not swap ours with that being the only reason to do so.
When you weigh up what you have and begin your look for a shorter one I don't think you will find it easy.
Parking is a problem on most pay and display if you overhang into the next bay. We seek out (free at supermarkets etc) Somewhere that we can overhang where possible.
We do travel in our van a lot. We ask at pubs, who often have non marked spots. They say yes mostly, as we offer to have lunch, dinner or just a pint.
I think that this year and those that follow will be tough for MH buyers/users as the diesel problem is not going to go away in the near future. It is a problem for all of us and the next couple of years may be best 'accounted' for by using that which you/we have to the full and see just where diesel will lead us.
Enjoy your van, we love ours. We have a bike rack and use that quite a lot.
Deep thinking needed by not just you, but quite a few of us. Happy travels.
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes it's perfect for us we have everything just how we like it and its a great van, do you have the hi-line version?
looking back id have bought a smaller van, but hindsight is a wonderful thing I guess so yes a lot of thinking to be done.
We are off to the motorhome show in a few weeks so will have a look at some shorter vans and hopefully come away with a different perspective.
Yes the diesel problem won't go away so imo just enjoy the here and now.
Reading forums over the years, many folk have said how taking the plunge and downsizing (and in doing so,ditching the "must take, just in case" clobber that we've all carted around for mile after mile!),has been the best thing they've done...
Less stressful, more enjoyable driving, easier parking etc..
However, it will obviously be a personal thing..and some are just as likely to hate it.
I've always tended to view motorhomes as tools to do a task...and if/when they, for what ever reason, start to make that task less enjoyable or in some cases even start to dictate which tasks we can do?(eg due to a MH's large size),then they may no longer be the tool for the job?
Before committing yourself, I'd be looking at hiring something smaller for a long weekend...
It's worth keeping in mind that at 6.34M your current van isn't that much longer than the current crop of panel van conversions anyway (and if parking considerately, some of those can be still too big for many carparks). So to feel any "benefit" from a decrease in overall size, the "downsize" would probably have to quite major?...
Yea this is our 3rd van 1st was a trusty Peugeot boxer van conversion very small at 5.60 metres second was about the same, I think I was just used to the length of the smaller vans. In saying that the Autotrail is a great van and plenty of room if I was to downsize it would only be to 6 metres anyway as the 5.60 vans on the market these days really are tiny inside
Yes Dave, it is the highline.
We possibly don't have the same 'lounge' as you though. We have the lounge dinette. With this arrangement we get a wider through passage if you can imagine that / this, it gives us an 'L' shape lounge with the one side dinette. It gives the appearance of a bigger lounge, and we don't have to 'jiggle' by each other. We still get exactly the same measurements, and still can make a double bed easily...but we don't. We always use as 2 singles. We have 4 travel seat belts, the table is the same size etc, but does not fix onto the offside wall.
The over cab bed, sleeps one adult for half the season, no kids allowed in our 'house'.
We also are on our 3rd van, all of them from new. Elddis first in 2008, Autosleeper in 2011, and this autotrail in 2016. Our camping, we always say camping, may be getting to its end of life. We are getting older, and think the next thing after this will possibly be a (said with tight lips) Seasonal van somewhere very quiet. That way, we can just drive to it, and drive away from it, as often as we like to do.
we shall be going to show at NEC I am sure. Old as we are I don't want to miss anything LOL.
Happy camping to you, and rein in the wallet!
Hi, we thought we were downsizing when we bought our current fairford but in reality it is bigger than our old coach.....at least in terms of length. It still feels smaller inside but still has everything we need and is ok on storage too. I wanted a van to sit in drive , use as a car and didn’t feel like I was driving a tank. Though our fairford is 6.36m it ticks all the boxes. With a 160 bph engine it’s smooth, nippy and great hills. Though it’s longer , I actually find it easier to park.
I use overhangs or take up 2 spaces....in supermarkets. I’ve never yet been anywhere I couldn’t find a space . Maybe Because I use it very frequently I no longer feel I’m driving a van.
Yes it’s a bit tighter inside, but our particular model has 2 distinct separate living areas. The shower area is smaller but still adequate with surprisingly good pressure.
It’s so much better on fuel too, and superb on small highland roads.
Have no regrets ‘downsizing’ oh and it’s great to swing open the rear doors through 180 degrees on a good day too !
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Thinking of a change....
