Access Doors and dogs

[Giles123]

Hi, Newbie here, first post and looking for peoples thoughts on this quandary.

We are looking to get our first van/motorhome that will be used primarily by me, my wife and our adult child as well as our 2 dogs Dougal (a springer) and Hattie a collie/lab cross.

Whilst a coach built has more room (which is attractive for 3 adults and 2 dogs!) they only have one main door where as a van conversion has a sliding side door and rear doors and my wife thinks that having more than one entrance is a good idea especially with the dogs.

What are peoples thoughts or are we overthinking things? Just trying to narrow down our choices.

Thanks

Giles

 

[Phill D]

Hi there and welcome.

We only have the one dog, but I think you are focusing on the wrong priority. Space is what you will need not exits imho.

Layout is everything strongly followed by payload.

You will be pushed for space for you all in most pvc’s.

Do you have a C1 license as you are likely to get a better choice in your search for a motorhome.

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[Lenny HB]

With 3 adults and 2 dogs I would forget about a PVC. You are also going to need a decent payload so you need to be looking at vans over 3.5t which will need a C1 licence to drive.

 

[scotjimland]

Agree with all said above..

we had coachbuilts when we had kids with us,

All kids fledged, we now have a PVC , it's cozy. for two, .. and wouldn't consider having another adult and two med sized dogs with us. .. just not practical..

PVCs are great for many types of traveling.. but not for more than two adults ..

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[Reallyretired]

We have had several motorhomes and have always had dog(s). Having one habitation door has never been a problem, after all how many front doors do most houses have

 

[JRT]

Number of exits never even occurred to us when we were looking.

We have one dog and our granddaughter would have been a regular travelling companion.

Space as others have suggested is the main thing really.

 

[bigwood]

We had a German Shepherd Collie cross when we had our first van. He kept to the front seat during the day and under the bed at night.
We have had a coach build since we adopted the current Labrador size rescue dog. He is in the way no matter were we put his bed. He won’t sit on the front seats or crawl under the bed. If we still had the van it would be a challenge stepping over him but we have just a bit more room now to get past him.
For his size and age he still bounces through the door without the step out.

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[DJIT]

If you went for a big van conversion with the right layout, you'd probably make it work - there are 2 of us and a labrador, and our works fine for us - but I wouldn't eliminate a coachbuilt because of having only one door.

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[Spriddler]

3 adults and two dogs will be constantly getting in each others' way in a PVC, especially on wet days.

 

[TerryL]

Agree that a coachbuilt will be far better for you. Try and go for one that you can fit a dog gate across the hab door, to stop them getting out without your knowledge/permission!

 

[Cookieboy68]

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

 

[Hedgewitch]

We used to have a 6m PVC and a collie-sized dog. Definitely not big enough.
If she lay on the floor we were constantly having to disturb her to move around.

At night she took up as much room as I did, and before anyone moans about having a dog on your bed - she was a badly abused rescue whom we brought back to good health and as far as I was concerned, she could sleep anywhere she damn well pleased as long as she felt secure and happy (but she was not a dog to curl up into a small ball when sleeping )

As Phill D says, you need space, not exits. Coachbuilt, perhaps with a drop down bed at the front for one adult and the pups, and the other two sleep at the back? Good luck.

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