Quote: Originally posted by George-Mildred on 28/9/2022
We are used to the bed, neither of is overly tall or wide and we fit in ok (even room for the dog at times!) whoever is nearest the window can easily shuffle out the bottom of the bed if they need to get up in the night.
Making them with sheets and duvet can be a bit of a faff compared to an island bed as it's fiddly trying to lift the mattress to tuck in a duvet down the window side, but you cant have everything.
Just make sure anything you look at has all the relevant servicing history and hab checks for the dreaded damp.
I’m sure making the bed is going to be just as difficult as making the caravan bed. Can use a lot of calories doing that. I’m going to have a long list of stuff I’ll have to check. I still have a lot to learn. It will be a bit daunting for me as I am going by myself in late Jan in hopes to find a MH, and hubby will follow in Feb. So it will be on me to get it right. I presume if I have any doubts you can pay someone to check it out a do a report for me. Hopefully I will buy through a reputable dealer.
Our Autotrail Imala is 6.3mtrs. It does have an overcab bed that we use for storing bedding etc. I have slept up there for a max of 15 nights in the time we have had it.(2016) (we were 3 up at the those times) It was bought new. Offside bed is wider than the nearside. That off side bed converts to a double (never used it as such) It is a task and also a complicated re arrangement of the seating cushions. It is a four berth and has 2 passenger forward facing seats with belts you need. It is as far as I remember the only model (Imala 62O) with the 4 seat belts in Autotrail's smaller vans. UK does not allow unbelted passengers. The seating nearside is one long bench. (Remove long back cushion for that single) The offside is wider. It converts easily to dinette.
Fridge, I would like it to have been bigger, but it does have a large counter top. Weirdly, you can not boil a kettle from the electric point at that work space. That has to be done on the work surface between the sink and the cooker. (Pull up tower point) 3 gas 1 electric on cooker top, and gas only for oven and grill. (Good bit of kit)
The shower 'IS' in the same area as the loo and basin. But does have doors to access shower from toilet. It is a small cubical though.
We have never had any problem that has cost money. Just annoying stuff that our dealer corrected.
Re, the weight of vehicle ( 3500kgs) Do not forget the 'stuff' you put in it.
If you would like to look at vans that are on sale over here, you could look at Motorhome retailers and a magazine called (MMM) Motorhomers' Magazine Monthly. I guess the majority of EU vans will be in there also.
Good Luck.
P.S. Some vans have a 'jump seat' or even two. Forgot about this.
service engineers - Have a look on here for the area you will be based/looking whilst over here. For probably an £100 they will go over a van for you to make sure all ok regardless of what a dealer may tell you.
You may struggle to get an island bed model without going over the 7.5m as that is where the extra length comes from.
Quote: Originally posted by AUSTINS on 29/9/2022
Our Autotrail Imala is 6.3mtrs. It does have an overcab bed that we use for storing bedding etc. I have slept up there for a max of 15 nights in the time we have had it.(2016) (we were 3 up at the those times) It was bought new. Offside bed is wider than the nearside. That off side bed converts to a double (never used it as such) It is a task and also a complicated re arrangement of the seating cushions. It is a four berth and has 2 passenger forward facing seats with belts you need. It is as far as I remember the only model (Imala 62O) with the 4 seat belts in Autotrail's smaller vans. UK does not allow unbelted passengers. The seating nearside is one long bench. (Remove long back cushion for that single) The offside is wider. It converts easily to dinette.
Fridge, I would like it to have been bigger, but it does have a large counter top. Weirdly, you can not boil a kettle from the electric point at that work space. That has to be done on the work surface between the sink and the cooker. (Pull up tower point) 3 gas 1 electric on cooker top, and gas only for oven and grill. (Good bit of kit)
The shower 'IS' in the same area as the loo and basin. But does have doors to access shower from toilet. It is a small cubical though.
We have never had any problem that has cost money. Just annoying stuff that our dealer corrected.
Re, the weight of vehicle ( 3500kgs) Do not forget the 'stuff' you put in it.
If you would like to look at vans that are on sale over here, you could look at Motorhome retailers and a magazine called (MMM) Motorhomers' Magazine Monthly. I guess the majority of EU vans will be in there also.
Good Luck.
P.S. Some vans have a 'jump seat' or even two. Forgot about this.
Thanks Austins, I have looked at your model but definitely want a fixed bed so discounted that particular one. Fridge is the one thing we could maybe compromise on, but coming from a huge double fridge plus one more in Aust, it will be hard to go to a small fridge, although I realise we will have different shopping habits. I’ve looked at the motorhome mags and will sign up for an online subscription in Dec. Also watched lots of reviews from them too online. (We love those ones) We don’t mind if shower and toilet is in same room just as long as not a wet room. Same here for Aus re seatbelts. I see on YouTubers channels that travel or live in small motorhomes and they have bikes, loads of different appliances, all their camera gear, tables, chairs, bbq, kids and dogs and all that goes with that and I wonder how they can be in legal in weight. I know we struggle with our weight in Aus with our caravan and we put loads in the back of the land cruiser to lighten the caravan.
Quote: Originally posted by George-Mildred on 29/9/2022service engineers - Have a look on here for the area you will be based/looking whilst over here. For probably an £100 they will go over a van for you to make sure all ok regardless of what a dealer may tell you.
You may struggle to get an island bed model without going over the 7.5m as that is where the extra length comes from.
Thankyou for the link. I’ve found some just under the 7.5 mark - some of the the Auto-trails and a couple of Baileys. Maybe Elddis. I’ve got scribbled sheets of paper that I’ve scrawled on. I’ve really got to make up an excel sheet with all the pertinent info on it.
Not to be nosy...Where will you be landing in UK? and staying to do your searching. Just the county, not your route. We could all pass on our "customer relations" with dealers. Whether they are helpful etc.
Rather you than me alone doing the searching. I think he would leave me if I got it wrong. If you think of anything extra before you leave give us a shout again. It will be our winter of course. Good Luck, keep us all in the loop, and wish you every success.
Quote: Originally posted by AUSTINS on 30/9/2022
Not to be nosy...Where will you be landing in UK? and staying to do your searching. Just the county, not your route. We could all pass on our "customer relations" with dealers. Whether they are helpful etc.
Rather you than me alone doing the searching. I think he would leave me if I got it wrong. If you think of anything extra before you leave give us a shout again. It will be our winter of course. Good Luck, keep us all in the loop, and wish you every success.
Not at all nosy. Will be based in Birmingham. I’m imagining that I will be looking at 9am UK time which will be 6pm Aust time. Get hubby online to look with me. That way will be his decision too, so he can’t blame me. 😉. Thanks for all the advice.
Saw a short MH recently at a very big Scottish dealers (Perthshire Caravans - almost empty outside second hand lot, almost empty inside new display area). It was a drop down bed over the central lounge area. It’s an alternative to a fixed rear bed, and several models of MH offer this. Autotrail or Autocruise: UK habitation door.
Quote: Originally posted by debgow on 17/10/2022
Drop down bed would be acceptable. Just not over the cab type. Thankyou
It came down over the lounge / dining area, cab area not compromised at all. Does make the ceiling quite low - about 6’2” judging by OH standing underneath. I think it was Autocruise. Definitely not Autosleeper. So that’s a UK hab door.
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Topic: habitation doors on passenger side?
via mobile 29/9/2022 at 12:32am
