Coachbuilt to panel van...is it painful?

[Dorwyn]

We have a PVC, it's 5.99m with a front and rear lounge. Therefore the bathroom is opposite the kitchen with a very narrow galley between. For us it is perfect, but I do wonder how some of the more generously proportioned people that we see in some coachbuilts would cope. Of course there are different layouts that don't have this issue. Horses for courses. You couldn't fit a horse in ours, mind. A small dog maybe, but a larger dog wouldn't even be able to turn around in the gangway!

 

[Dorwyn]

Actually, we did have a large dog visit us. It simply couldn't understand why it couldn't turn around. Think dog with large stick in mouth. It sort of collapsed on its hind legs, twisted in the middle and struggled alot. It managed to turn around, but it was quite funny!

 

[Langtoftlad]

Actually, we did have a large dog visit us. It simply couldn't understand why it couldn't turn around. Think dog with large stick in mouth. It sort of collapsed on its hind legs, twisted in the middle and struggled alot. It managed to turn around, but it was quite funny!

Should have a Greyhound - Kerry prefers to walk backwards rather than turnaround, even where there's plenty of room .

 

[busby]

I’m intrigued where you want to go that’s coach built can’t?

Through many of the white towns in Andalusia,,had to fold mirrors in on many plus i can park where a car parks..Not saying a coach build cannot access some of these places but i find it so much easier..Not bothered by large vehicles as i was a Class 1 HGV driver 40 odd years ..Everyone to their own. Good job we are all different or it would be a sad old world. BUSBY

 

[busby]

Unfortunately due to having my mother in law who suffers from dimencia living with us most of the time,our trips have been severely restricted.We have a 7m coachbuilt Just sat deprecating in the back garden.My thinking is if we had something smaller I could escape for the odd weekend when my nerves are shredded.Anyone who has cared for someone with this horrible desease will know what I mean.We don’t know how long this situation will go on,and I don’t want to give up altogether.

Know what you mean,,had three in the family up to now with dementia. Luckily two were in care homes and the remaining one is not too bad and has carers come in three times a day so does not involve us full time,,just a day a week. Other family fill in when we are away..Still worry evert time the phone rings though.BUSBY.

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[Dorwyn]

Should have a Greyhound - Kerry prefers to walk backwards rather than turnaround, even where there's plenty of room .

I remember your dog (Upton Blues). Seemed to be working ok then!

 

[tuscancouple]

For us it is perfect, but I do wonder how some of the more generously proportioned people that we see in some coachbuilts would cope.

We have often wondered about this as we're also fairly slim and it can be quite sensuous for us passing each other, particularly on a naturist site.

 

[Dorwyn]

We have often wondered about this as we're also fairly slim and it can be quite sensuous for us passing each other, particularly on a naturist site.

No chance of passing in ours! Mind you, in your imagined situation, it certainly would be fun. As long as the oven isn't on. It gets quite hot.

 

[maison]

@funflair

Apart from the ease of driving in general we have found that, when on a journey, we are much more likely to detour to visit a French/Spanish/Italian hill village than we were with our Coachbuilts. Having got into one or two sticky situations in narrow streets with T-junctions in ancient villages we tended to avoid them.

However, our overwhelming reason for “downsizing” was health reasons. Although we are both fit and well normally, I have a recurring back problem following an accident some years ago. When problems strike I am unable to walk or drive for up to a week. When this happened to us a couple of years ago we were unable to move as my wife didn’t feel confident driving the Coachbuilt. She is very happy driving the PVC.

I was wary initially, because of the reduced internal space but it doesn’t pose any problem and I am now a convert to the PVC way of life.

 

[funflair]

@funflair

Apart from the ease of driving in general we have found that, when on a journey, we are much more likely to detour to visit a French/Spanish/Italian hill village than we were with our Coachbuilts. Having got into one or two sticky situations in narrow streets with T-junctions in ancient villages we tended to avoid them.

However, our overwhelming reason for “downsizing” was health reasons. Although we are both fit and well normally, I have a recurring back problem following an accident some years ago. When problems strike I am unable to walk or drive for up to a week. When this happened to us a couple of years ago we were unable to move as my wife didn’t feel confident driving the Coachbuilt. She is very happy driving the PVC.

I was wary initially, because of the reduced internal space but it doesn’t pose any problem and I am now a convert to the PVC way of life.

Seems like a valid argument to me.

I would just get the scooter out of the garage to visit the little hilltop villages, but the rest of your needs wind out for you.

And it just proves one size does not fit all.

Martin

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[mikebeaches]

@funflair

However, our overwhelming reason for “downsizing” was health reasons. Although we are both fit and well normally, I have a recurring back problem following an accident some years ago. When problems strike I am unable to walk or drive for up to a week. When this happened to us a couple of years ago we were unable to move as my wife didn’t feel confident driving the Coachbuilt. She is very happy driving the PVC.

Mrs mikebeaches would drive our coachbuilts, but she is much happier and more relaxed driving the PVC!

I'm lucky that she is perfectly comfortable sharing the driving, which significantly reduces any concern or stress if one of us were to be incapacitated or just not feeling up to being behind the wheel.

 

[nicholsong]

There are not many roads/streets where a 'C'/'A' Class cannot get through in single file - think rubbish vehicles.

I find that driving a van-size vehicle(as I used to do) there is often competition for two-way traffic, whereas with our 'A' Class with its big windscreen that makes it look like a small coach then even 'pushy' white vans seem to give way, and so do trucks(which I also drove), or one of us does.

Geoff

 

[Pekepal]

Unfortunately due to having my mother in law who suffers from dimencia living with us most of the time,our trips have been severely restricted.We have a 7m coachbuilt Just sat deprecating in the back garden.My thinking is if we had something smaller I could escape for the odd weekend when my nerves are shredded.
Anyone who has cared for someone with this horrible desease will know what I mean.We don’t know how long this situation will go on,and I don’t want to give up altogether.

Absolutely understand having been in a similar situation. Think it’s a wonderful and absolutely necessary solution to help with this really difficult time. Even just a run out for a few hours to calm down is an enormous help.

 

[Top Hat]

Another thing I don't think has been mentioned is a PVC can be used as a second car, when my wife needs to use the car I have no problem jumping in the van even to go into town which I never would have done with a my coachbuilt, I live in a village without a bus service and this removes any worry what to do if the car was off the road for a time.

Charlie

 

[CazPaul]

There are not many roads/streets where a 'C'/'A' Class cannot get through in single file - think rubbish vehicles.

I find that driving a van-size vehicle(as I used to do) there is often competition for two-way traffic, whereas with our 'A' Class with its big windscreen that makes it look like a small coach then even 'pushy' white vans seem to give way, and so do trucks(which I also drove), or one of us does.

Geoff

I fully agree with that, when driving our panel van Murvi there were a number of idiots who must have thought they can get through easily and caused hair raising moments, with the A class they seem to be not so stupid.

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[Blue Knight]

We have a 7m coachbuilt Just sat deprecating in the back garden.My thinking is if we had something smaller I could escape for the odd weekend.

That's a good point you make and we've found that with a PVC we can just drive off and get away for the weekend.

We have quite a complicated driveway arrangement and to get our previous 7.5m coachbuilt off the drive was a right PITA.

I think you'll find it quite refreshing if you can just jump in and run - I think you deserve it too .

All the best,

Andrew

 

[jezport]

There are not many roads/streets where a 'C'/'A' Class cannot get through in single file - think rubbish vehicles.

I find that driving a van-size vehicle(as I used to do) there is often competition for two-way traffic, whereas with our 'A' Class with its big windscreen that makes it look like a small coach then even 'pushy' white vans seem to give way, and so do trucks(which I also drove), or one of us does.

Geoff

In a perfect world with no double parking, No parking on corners, No wide tractors etc.

We passed through a couple of small villages in Cheshire last year. Outside the schools at home time we could only just get through in our PVC we would have had no chance in our old van.
We have also squeezed through entrances to car parks and other places with cars patched up to the entrance, again our old van would not have got through.

 

[Minxy]

In a perfect world with no double parking, No parking on corners, No wide tractors etc.

We passed through a couple of small villages in Cheshire last year. Outside the schools at home time we could only just get through in our PVC we would have had no chance in our old van.
We have also squeezed through entrances to car parks and other places with cars patched up to the entrance, again our old van would not have got through.

We've experienced the same thing, both here and abroad, on our last holiday we went down a few one way main roads which would have been too narrow for a coachbuilt due to the bad parking by others on either side, so it's not necessarily the road itself that's the problem but the pillocks who don't think about where/how they leave their cars especially the large/chunky 4x4 owners who haven't a clue and don't take account that where a normal car width won't cause a problem having a wider car sticking out another foot does!

If we ever DID go back to a coachbuilt if would only be one of the narrow ones, 2.2m at the most but that's still 15cm more than our PVC ... no way would we go back to 2.3m which our Chausson was or some of the even wider ones ... I seem to recall that one mainstream manufacturer is now doing 2.4m ones!

 

[Pekepal]

What about when it rains continuously day and night for a couple of days and you have to open the noisy sliding doors to do the cooking and to exit etc, confined to the narrow space for long periods of time, that is what puts us off. Appreciate the convenience of parking etc. But comfort comes first.

 

[maison]

What about when it rains continuously day and night for a couple of days and you have to open the noisy sliding doors to do the cooking and to exit etc, confined to the narrow space for long periods of time, that is what puts us off. Appreciate the convenience of parking etc. But comfort comes first.

Why would you have to open the sliding door to do the cooking? We certainly don’t, unless we actually want to!

We have also been away when there have been a few days of bad weather. The cab area is quite roomy, the captains swivel chairs are comfortable and there is a bed to stretch out on. Quite comfortable,thank you.

We are on our second year of PVC ownership after over thirty years of Coachbuilts.

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[Pekepal]

Why would you have to open the sliding door to do the cooking? We certainly don’t, unless we actually want to!

We have also been away when there have been a few days of bad weather. The cab area is quite roomy, the captains swivel chairs are comfortable and there is a bed to stretch out on. Quite comfortable,thank you.

We are on our second year of PVC ownership after over thirty years of Coachbuilts.

The cooking is what we have observed when on site. Just saying - everyone to their own way and feels cramped to us but no doubt will give it a try some time in future.

 

[maison]

The cooking is what we have observed when on site. Just saying - everyone to their own way and feels cramped to us but no doubt will give it a try some time in future.

I agree. PVC’s are not for everyone.

That’s why we had Coachbuilts for so long. Our reason for “downsizing “ is in my previous posts on this thread.

 

[Pekepal]

I agree. PVC’s are not for everyone.

That’s why we had Coachbuilts for so long. Our reason for “downsizing “ is in my previous posts on this thread.

Just reread your posts and can see your logic. We are still getting acclimatised to feeling confined in our 7 metre coachbuilt after touring with a 24ft caravan and car for many years!

 

[Minxy]

What about when it rains continuously day and night for a couple of days and you have to open the noisy sliding doors to do the cooking and to exit etc, confined to the narrow space for long periods of time, that is what puts us off. Appreciate the convenience of parking etc. But comfort comes first.

It is a narrower space but is that really a problem? The cab seats are the same size and so are the dinette seats usually, it's just the corridor bit that's narrower and you don't sit there ... unless of course you want to! To us it having it a bit narrower makes the van feel cosy as if we're being 'hugged' rather than rattling round in the wide space of some coachbuilts. It also means it is easier to keep warm and therefore use less gas/electric in the process. If its raining we just chill out, as you would in any MH, we can use the cab seats, dinette seat or slob out on the mahoooooooosive bed but one big benefit IS the sliding door ... we can partially wind out the awning and have the door fully open, can't do that in a coachbuilt with it's narrow door!

The cooking is what we have observed when on site.

That's probably because they like to do that, my husband loves having the sliding door wide open when he's cooking as he's a nosy sod!

 

[jezport]

What about when it rains continuously day and night for a couple of days and you have to open the noisy sliding doors to do the cooking and to exit etc, confined to the narrow space for long periods of time, that is what puts us off. Appreciate the convenience of parking etc. But comfort comes first.

Never open side door to cook. Have other doors if we don't want to open side door. Depends on layout on narrowness. A PVC is just a small version of an A class if it has a good layout.
Bare in mind there are hundreds of layouts and lots of bade vehicles. We felt less confined by buying an extra high roof van. In fact it's taller inside than some coach built.

If it's bad weather and we want to go out, its easy to just drive off to the pub pot the leisure centre for the day in a PVC.

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[Pekepal]

but one big benefit IS the sliding door ... we can partially wind out the awning and have the door fully open, can't do that in a coachbuilt with it's narrow

We are fortunate in that we do have a wider door on our van which we do have open when we wish but not to get more space. As I say, each to his own.

 

[Minxy]

We are fortunate in that we do have a wider door on our van which we do have open when we wish but not to get more space. As I say, each to his own.

... not as wide as a sliding door though ... we don't do it to get more space but to enjoy the scenery etc and to be nosy. Its no more difficult to cook, chill etc with the door closed than open.

 

[nicholsong]

... not as wide as a sliding door though ... we don't do it to get more space but to enjoy the scenery etc and to be nosy. Its no more difficult to cook, chill etc with the door closed than open.

In our 'A' Class we have an almost 270 degree view though the windows from our sofa and Captain's seats with little obstruction.

Do most PVCs have a window for when the door is closed? We do not see many.

Geoff

 

[Minxy]

In our 'A' Class we have an almost 270 degree view though the windows from our sofa and Captain's seats with little obstruction.

Do most PVCs have a window for when the door is closed? We do not see many.

Geoff

Yup, windows both sides (sliding door and next to dinette, plus windows all round the bed area.

 

[juwlz]

Every so often I wonder about a PVC, but the sliding door is the main thing that stops me wanting one. They are noisy things that take up a lot of space, and are less easy to close quickly to prevent canine escape when necessary. Having said that, I have seen a few PVC designs where the sliding door has been replaced with a hinged door.

On the other hand, having opening rear doors in a PVC does make it a more multipurpose vehicle (AND gives you a way to get in and out of it in narrow car parking spaces), as you can use it for transporting large / long / flat packed items of furniture which you'd never be able to get into a Coachbuilt.

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