A Class to 6M PVC

[WESTY66]

I know Jim has downsized to a 6m pvc, anyone else done it with success?

Anyone done it with regrets?

The Rationale in my thinking is that when I retire I’d like to go touring to the far east of Turkey and the far south of Morocco and my thinking is that ideally it should be done in something that’s fixable (manual as opposed to comfortmatic etc) something that’s easily recoverable (6M pvc van as opposed to 7.5+ A class) and should it get minor damage, worse case scenario get the hammer out and bang it out and weld if necessary to get home when the trip is up (if you bump an A Class you’re Gaffer taping up and turning round for home if you’re lucky) also there’s the benefit of under 3.5t which makes it easier to reverse europe once through Germany, does this make sense??
If that’s a yes can someone please convince Mrs Westy

 

[Ditcha]

Normal Cruise control is useful, but I can't see how the driver benefits from DPF, DMF, Stop Start, Adblue, etc - these go wrong a lot and I personally don't like robotic manuals, lane departure, ACC, or colission avoidance.

You can drive where you want that's the benefit of the emissions shit.

 

[Ditcha]

Funny thing when I dismantled the door on our 2017 B898 Hymer there was absolutely zero insulation in the door fully winterised my eye

Yeah Hartel door on many many A class Moho including mine superb insulation all 6mm off it

 

[jongood]

You can drive where you want that's the benefit of the emissions shit.

I drive where I want anyway, no problems so far

I don't find ULEZ zone's that good for holidays, and quite happy to take my other business elsewhere.

 

[Guigsy]

Yeah Hartel door on many many A class Moho including mine superb insulation all 6mm off it View attachment 820875

That's still a lot better than a door made of steel, which is the opposite of a good insulator.

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[jongood]

Yeah Hartel door on many many A class Moho including mine superb insulation all 6mm off it View attachment 820875

Shocking how standards have dropped as things get 'improved'.

 

[Ditcha]

I drive where I want anyway, no problems so far

I don't find ULEZ zone's that good for holidays, and quite happy to take my other business elsewhere.

So far being the operative word

 

[mikebeaches]

I know Jim has downsized to a 6m pvc, anyone else done it with success?

I wanted to change from our coachbuilt to a 6m pvc seven years ago. For one reason and another, it ended up being a 6.4m pvc - Rapido V68.

It is surprising how much more extra living space and storage the + 0.4m length provides. Obviously same width as 6m van.

Mrs mikebeaches was apprehensive about going for a pvc, but now she wouldn't want anything else.

We store ramps, relaxing chairs, foot rests, two tables, 4 grip mats, hook-up cable, watering can, parasol, windshield, outdoor carpet and countless other camping paraphernalia in the garage - all without encroaching on the habitation living accommodation.

Some of the other useful features:

135-litre 3-way fridge freezer

Fresh water capacity: 110 litres

Waste water capacity: 100 litres

2 x 13kg gas locker

Dedicated ski storage space

Full size spare wheel

 

[Steve and Denise]

Normal Cruise control is useful, but I can't see how the driver benefits from DPF, DMF, Stop Start, Adblue, etc - these go wrong a lot and I personally don't like robotic manuals, lane departure, ACC, or colission avoidance.

I can agree with the robotised gearbox that’s why we bought a Iveco 8 speed, but all of the other stuff is needed if you want to be able to drive where you want unfortunately and I believe older Motorhomes will be forced off the road with road tax the way things are going it won’t be to long before older vans are forced to become caravans ie static due to running costs

 

[Jackd]

I think youre confusing mine with Brian’s Jackd
His rattles worse than a mothercare delivery truck

Can’t hear any rattling in mine……… I keep the stereo turned up

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[Minxy]

We tried it an Adria that everyone appears to rave about,we lasted one night in it,too cramped and minimal storage.It just wasn’t for us.

Er ... tried what?

 

[iandsm]

I know Jim has downsized to a 6m pvc, anyone else done it with success?

Anyone done it with regrets?

The Rationale in my thinking is that when I retire I’d like to go touring to the far east of Turkey and the far south of Morocco and my thinking is that ideally it should be done in something that’s fixable (manual as opposed to comfortmatic etc) something that’s easily recoverable (6M pvc van as opposed to 7.5+ A class) and should it get minor damage, worse case scenario get the hammer out and bang it out and weld if necessary to get home when the trip is up (if you bump an A Class you’re Gaffer taping up and turning round for home if you’re lucky) also there’s the benefit of under 3.5t which makes it easier to reverse europe once through Germany, does this make sense??
If that’s a yes can someone please convince Mrs Westy

We downsized from an A Class Rapido to an Autosleeper Warwick XL after a lot of thought and several visits to look at one. Things have turned out better than expected and we have no issues with storage, in fact we have ample storage for everything. The XL part is the most important part as this gives us a separate toilet and shower and we both like to shower every day. The kitchen has more worktop than the Rapido had and there are two single settee's that are either single bunks or easily made into a double. Probably one of the best things we didn't really appreciate when viewing before we bought are the huge barn doors at the back, when these are fully open it's like inviting the outside inside. The vehicle is slightly narrower that the A class so easier driving in narrow lanes but its the same length. The only issue is that the fresh water tank is 75 ltrs so a little smaller and the grey tank if 45 ltrs so doesn't take long to fill. Not a deal breaker but needs a little thought. A three minute shower in instead of 6 and we can last two days before refilling. We do carry a 5 str fresh water container for drinking water which helps a bit. The Rapido was a brilliant piece of kit that took us 80k miles all over France. Germany, Poland Italy etc. having said that we would do the same trips without hesitation in the Autosleeper.

 

[Barchetta47]

I believe older Motorhomes will be forced off the road with road tax the way things are going it won’t be to long before older vans are forced to become caravans ie static due to running costs

You maybe right but I’m not so sure. I’m currently running a 20 year old A Class. However for those of us predominantly touring in Europe I can’t see the many owners with older MHs particularly the French taking it laying down. They have a much stronger representation nationally that we have in the UK.

 

[Minxy]

Original was but after the fiasco the only one I could get hold of is on a 3500kg chassis but it looks like it can be uprated to 4250 with the 9 speed auto has same wheels and hubs as the 4250 chassis.
At Carthago City at the mo can't see if they have any Compactline in the showroom. What to see the Al-Ko chassis plate to see what the rear axle max is.

Eh, when did this fiasco happen? I knew you weren't getting yours for a while longer but didn't know you'd had to change the chassis? What happened???

The existing rear axle max will be 2000kg same as ours with a front of 1850kg and overall max of either 3500kg or 3700kg* (*Carthago offer this 'upgrade' FOC but it doesn't really make it any more useful!). We were only able to go to 3850kg once we'd had the semi-air on the rear that increased it to 2240kg which is the absolute max, this means you won't be able to get to 2400kg on the rear as you can with a non-Alko heavy Fiat chassis, although I assume it is mirrored by Carthago/Alko to more or less this figure.

So with the light Alko/Fiat chassis the only way to get more payload is to also uprate the front too (springs or semi-air) which will allow that to be uprated to around 2000kg (going from memory here but summut like that!) however obviously that's not much use as it's difficult to load up the front.

You just might have to leave the washing machine at home so better buy some more knickers ... I have over 60 pairs just for MH holidays!

But can you get two full size bikes, twin tub washing machine, spare cassette, paddleboard, spare wheel, wind break, awning mat &loads of tools, table & chairs in it?

We can in our A Class plus loads of other stuff.

Not for much longer ... ... buy more knickers and/or get yourself a posser (a strong spud masher works just as well in a bucket!) and get back to building up your biceps by giving the washing a good bashing and wringing.

 

[treblid]

Thats the problem - the newer you get the more electronic shite is on them.

Electronics is not the problem. It's the poor design, poor application or poor instructions that causes problems.

Good applications are a positive.

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[Lenny HB]

Eh, when did this fiasco happen? I knew you weren't getting yours for a while longer but didn't know you'd had to change the chassis? What happened???

The existing rear axle max will be 2000kg same as ours with a front of 1850kg and overall max of either 3500kg or 3700kg* (*Carthago offer this 'upgrade' FOC but it doesn't really make it any more useful!). We were only able to go to 3850kg once we'd had the semi-air on the rear that increased it to 2240kg which is the absolute max, this means you won't be able to get to 2400kg on the rear as you can with a non-Alko heavy Fiat chassis, although I assume it is mirrored by Carthago/Alko to more or less this figure.

So with the light Alko/Fiat chassis the only way to get more payload is to also uprate the front too (springs or semi-air) which will allow that to be uprated to around 2000kg (going from memory here but summut like that!) however obviously that's not much use as it's difficult to load up the front.

You just might have to leave the washing machine at home so better buy some more knickers ... I have over 60 pairs just for MH holidays!


Not for much longer ... ... buy more knickers and/or get yourself a posser (a strong spud masher works just as well in a bucket!) and get back to building up your biceps by giving the washing a good bashing and wringing.

The saga is on the Ducato delay thread..
With the auto box on the light chassis the 16" wheels are the 130 pcd so you get the hubs and brakes of the heavy chassis, that explanes the extra 40kg weight.
So as standard max 3850, with uprated front springs 3960, but Al-Ko part is still the light chassis so limit in the rear is 2000kg. So with Air 2240kg so could go to 4200 gross

 

[Minxy]

We partake in the other sport of extreme chair folding. Due to our limited space (no garage, only lockers that are filled with Bromptons) we use backpacking chairs. They are pretty comfortable. But trying to keep the bits of elastic connected frame bundled while you shove it in the bag is like hog-tying a spider! Safety glasses are recommended.

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Spider wrestling!

Just get yourself a strap of some sort to put round the frame to keep it together, the double sided Velcro stuff (fluffy one side, hooky the other) would do a treat, eg:

VELCRO® ONE-WRAP Reusable Ties Double Sided Hook & Loop Strapping Tape | eBay

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[Littlewheels]

Er ... tried what?

Purchased an Adria Twin, personalised it,Towel Rails, Avtex TV, & Sound,Two Lithium Batteries,2x150 Solar, Victonic MPPT,Special cut off blind for back doors, need l go on. Went off to Craven Heifer at Skipton for a try out having eaten in the Pub,No EHU, and not enough room to swing a cat or put two peoples gear anywhere appropriate when stripping off for bed.
How much more trying do you need to know! As stated it was not for us,however,having spent £Thousands upgrading l actualy made a £1k profit on it and sold it within a day of putting on sale as everyone appeared to think (Adria Twins) were gold.

Thats it no further comment.

 

[Guigsy]

Purchased an Adria Twin, personalised it,Towel Rails, Avtex TV, & Sound,Two Lithium Batteries,2x150 Solar, Victonic MPPT,Special cut off blind for back doors, need l go on. Went off to Craven Heifer at Skipton for a try out having eaten in the Pub,No EHU, and not enough room to swing a cat or put two peoples gear anywhere appropriate when stripping off for bed.
How much more trying do you need to know! As stated it was not for us,however,having spent £Thousands upgrading l actualy made a £1k profit on it and sold it within a day of putting on sale as everyone appeared to think (Adria Twins) were gold.

Thats it no further comment.

We loved our 5.4m. We also referred to as the Crampervan. Especially with the cat too.

 

[Minxy]

How much more trying do you need to know!

Nowt, I just wasn't sure exactly what the IT was you'd tried! Just having a bit of fun, could've been snogging for all I knew.

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[carolyn]

Without trying to be too disrespectful I will never be coming back to eastern turkey again it makes Afghanistan look prettier

Howard I am a woman of my word so yes you are a grumpy old moaner and need to pull yourself together. The trip is absolutely fantastic, we have seen some incredible sights. Amasya where we were welcomed by the tourist minister, Cappadocia for a balloon ride(farting ,spitting men), loads of wonderful sights and nice people.

Surely you enjoyed the belly dancing and tonight's highlight of dinner with me?

 

[WESTY66]

Howard I am a woman of my word so yes you are a grumpy old moaner and need to pull yourself together. The trip is absolutely fantastic, we have seen some incredible sights. Amasya where we were welcomed by the tourist minister, Cappadocia for a balloon ride(farting ,spitting men), loads of wonderful sights and nice people.

Surely you enjoyed the belly dancing and tonight's highlight of dinner with me?

Ha ha, someone else who knows you Victor Meldrew aka Howard H

You’ve been to Cappadocia and you never said!!
It’s on my bucket list for christ’s sakes. Chill out man

 

[Minxy]

The saga is on the Ducato delay thread..

Gis a clue where ... it's 36 pages long!

 

[Lenny HB]

Gis a clue where ... it's 36 pages long!

Posts.
#944
#967
#992
#995

 

[Howard H]

Howard I am a woman of my word so yes you are a grumpy old moaner and need to pull yourself together. The trip is absolutely fantastic, we have seen some incredible sights. Amasya where we were welcomed by the tourist minister, Cappadocia for a balloon ride(farting ,spitting men), loads of wonderful sights and nice people.

Surely you enjoyed the belly dancing and tonight's highlight of dinner with me?

Well ok some of its ok but if you don’t behave it will be the last time you are allowed on the drinkers table and the belly dancing was pretty good to men of a certain age .

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[Howard H]

Ha ha, someone else who knows you Victor Meldrew aka Howard H

You’ve been to Cappadocia and you never said!!
It’s on my bucket list for christ’s sakes. Chill out man

You will have to start saving those pennies now it’s blooming expensive

 

[Minxy]

Posts.
#944
#967
#992
#995

Strewth ... I'd be trying to sue the pants off them for breach of contract! Just let me at 'em.

 

[WESTY66]

You will have to start saving those pennies now it’s blooming expensive

Can’t be that expensive, it’s about 30 to the £ isn’t it

 

[jongood]

Posts.
#944
#967
#992
#995

I honestly cant see why you're bothering, all the grief, the expense and inevitable delays and then you got something fairly similar to what you had before but you've got to rekit it to what you actually want and deal with any warranty hassle.

 

[Lenny HB]

I honestly cant see why you're bothering, all the grief, the expense and inevitable delays and then you got something fairly similar to what you had before but you've got to rekit it to what you actually want and deal with any warranty hassle.

I want a smaller van with more ground clearance, a proper auto box and better build quality. Also I want a new van as this one is over 6 years old.

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[Northernraider]

I would totally disagree with that if you buy a decent continental brand. Our Burstner Elisio is very well insulated.

I bet the cab doors aren't