We have been looking at a lot of motorhomes - there are four of us (2 adults, 2 children), and we seem to like the space of a six berth because it will give us two sitting areas and the children won't have to sleep together (thinking of when they are a bit older) BUT concerned that the extra size van will stop us using it for days out and short trips. Do you think this is true? The other option is the five berth, but this means we all have to go to bed at the same time.....?
Hi Chris, It's purely a personal thing whatever you choose. I't's to suit your own requirements and you " seem to like the space of a six berth". It appears to be high on your priority list and with four of you I think it should. You can never have enough space, in my opinion, even if only two of you used it. Do you really want to go to bed at the same time because of 1 sleeping berth? I doubt whether the larger van will prevent you using it for short trips or days out. The difference in fuel consumption isn't worth considering. Good luck whchever you choose.
The size of van only really effects parking and access to narrow lanes, doesn't it? is there really that much difference in size between the 2 vans you are looking at?
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But it´s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can´t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Ricky Nelson
My concenr really stemd from other threads on here about larger motorhomes in France - they report finding it difficult to get around easily? The size difference is about 5/6ft - quite a bit really (plus the price!!).
Initially, we wanted a 7 berth, although most of the vans we saw came out at 23ft or so. We then had worries with parking (both at home and finding bays to park in, so we decided to opt for a 5 berth and put the older kids out in pup tents in the awning. Our 5 berth consists of a double over cab, double dinette plus a side sofa. Have to say now that I really wish we'd gone for a shorter van but still one that had bunks, as we are finding it difficult getting my mobility scooter in for one thing, plus it would have been better to have the kids in their own beds. I think we jumped in too quick and became pre-occupied with the hassles of being able to park it on our drive and what the neighbours would think. Now I wish we'd held off and found one with bunks that would have given us the storage we needed. Still - too late now .
I still think shorter vans are better when it comes to parking, especially if you are into day trips or just pulling up on the seafront in a bay. In a 23ft van you might be considered to be pushing your luck.
Hope this helps.
Sara
------------- Why live for tomorrow, when you can live for today and tomorrow is yet to come?
Thank you Sara for your helpful comments - have you see any with bunks that are shorter? I haven't come across any yet - do they have the bunks across the back or down one side?
We have gone the other way from having two separate living areas to one and with a young child (9) it means everyone to bed early because a curtain doesn't keep much light or noise out. It's ok at weekends for her to stay up late but over time on longer holidays the tired tantrums are just not worth it. Hold out for one that you like rather than just getting anything and if it doesn't fit on your drive then how about storage yards?
Yes, the Elddis Autoquest is 20' 5" long, so less than a foot longer than ours. The only thing we would have to consider is the number of people you can carry in the back. We often use our van for day trips, so sleeping isn't an issue, so much as how many people we can carry with us. If we'd gone for the Autoquest, then six of us could have travelled in it. Anymore and we'd have had to take the car along as well. It depends on how many of you there are travelling in it regularly.
There are some others. Kentucky Camp do one (Corral 1) that has bunks and that's 21' so again not much bigger than ours. The beauty of it is that you get a huge storage area, although again only 4 seats in the back. http://www.kentuckycamp.co.uk/k_line/corral1_spec.html
There are others, but can't remember them off the top of my head.
Something else you need to consider is the use of the van. Our main use at the moment is pulling up at seaside resorts on the seafront. If your door is on the UK Drivers side, you will be exiting into the road which might not be ideal. If on the other hand you don't do that kind of trip that often but are more likely to use sites and leave the van there, then it's not so much of a worry.
Hope this helps
Sara
Post last edited on 21/09/2005 13:52:40
Post last edited on 21/09/2005 13:54:46
------------- Why live for tomorrow, when you can live for today and tomorrow is yet to come?
Another thing you might consider if you went with the 5 berth, is (like we do sometimes), have an awning, either a safari room (which we have) or a stand alone awning. You could then put either the children or yourselves in pup tents in the awning. We can get two, two person tents in our awning with ease. The tents are easy to erect and the kids use inflatable air beds in them or if they are more seasoned campers, then they have roll mats and sleeping bags. If the weather was really bad, and you were dubious about wether an awning would stay safe in high winds, you still have the five berths inside your van.
Sara
------------- Why live for tomorrow, when you can live for today and tomorrow is yet to come?
We have a 28 foot motorhome. To be honest i have never had a problem with narrow lanes, or parking. If you are on a narrow road a car will always back up !! Specially if you keep moving forwards ! Never had a problem in France either, and we have been down some very small roads. I think you should always get the van that suits you, whatever the length. The budget is probably the main thing.
------------- we are where we are - where are we ?
My uncle has a 5 berth motor home and when he takes the kids away put them in pup tents kids love it also what you have to think about is when kids grow up they will want to stay at home and you are left with a massive motorhome think how much extra fuel with a larger van and at the end of the day its down to personal preference you will make the right choice all the best
------------- eden camp
hadrians wall
national meet 2006
hooray!!!!
We first owned a Bedford Pioneer and as the children were small they could sleep on the u shape lounge without any cushion shuffling. We realised that we loved the life so took the plunge and bought a seven berth autotrail pullman. The beauty of this was that we slept in the overcap bed and the children and a bed each in the bunk beds at the back. This left the lounge area completely untouched. However, once they got older (17 and 15!!!!) they are not so keen to come camping and in fact the last few trips they have slept in tents outside of the camper. Basically the bunks were then surplus to requirements. Rather than keep a camper bigger than was required we very very reluctantly traded it in on our current motorhome that is just over 20 foot in length but can sleep 4 inside (if the kids did come) but still leaves us with plently of lounge room. One point we especially was concerned about when the children were younger that the kitchen area was not right next to the door where children can run past hot ovens etc. and our autotrail was perfect as it was set back out of the way. We have taken our motorhome out for small trips and often take it to the local Asda superstore to do our shopping. Granted it isn't going to be a doddle, but we think anywhere a hopper bus can go, we can go too! All the best in your search.
We also travel with 3 children (9 & 13) and after a lot of looking around we decided to buy a 6-berth van with bunk beds for the kids. It's only got one sitting area (with 4 places) but we don't need the double berth it converts into so it's always available. We've had the motorhome for a bit over a year and it's been great so far. It's a 6.5 metre van so it's not too massive and I've driven it all round the north of Scotland including lots of single-track roads and high passes.
Our priorities were:
1) All beds could be left made up (2 bunks for the kids and the overcab for us) as that means that kids can go to bed (and curtain off their bunks) while we stay up later.
2) Decent washroom & shower (we don't always stay at campsites, especially on hillwalking trips)
3) Plenty of storage (the lower bunk in our van converts into a large garage but even with both bunks in use it gives loads of storage)
4) Good sized kitchen
We had problems finding a decent used bunk-bed van so ended up buying a new CI Carioca 656
I just wrote a really detailed reply and it's vanished so here we go again!
Our first van was a McLouis 432 - five berth - double dinette and side sofa. We have two kids - a boy and a girl who are now 8 and 10. Invariably someone fell off the sofa at night!
So we now own a Granduca 67 which we imported from Ostend last year - absolute bargain. It's 7 berth - biggest bunks along the back - you could get a six foot plus adult in there. It's great we are in the overcab bed and there is a double and a single dinette so loads of sitting room. It's airy as the lounge is just that! It's 26 foot long and my husband drives it! We go everywhere in it and round lots of small lanes and there doesn't seem to be a problem!
We love this van - we'll have it a long time I am sure. There is so much room in it and I would definitely recommed you get the bigger van. We wanted a seven berth with bunks along the back - it's a garage if you don't use the bottom bunk.
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Topic: 5 or 6 berth? Advice please?
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