Do you really get that much more space in an integrated Motorhome?

[Louie25]

We have a Hymer B600 semi integrated motorhome, 2 berth, twin beds at rear with a large garage.

We have recently started to pay more attention to the A class motorhomes around us and wonder what the attraction is? Some are the same length as ours (7.1m) or not much longer. Surely they only provide a bit more headroom in the cab?

Give me reason to want to upgrade!

 

[HugoBNB]

But they don't stick out no where near as far.

Yes, and at a different height to all the various panel vans.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes, and at a different height to all the various panel vans.

Only problem is they are inline with HGV ones.

 

[Larrynwin]

Another advantage of my A class is the blown air heating vents into the cab area so no cold spot which I found in coachbuilt.

 

[HugoBNB]

Only problem is they are inline with HGV ones.

True, but it is rarer in my opinion to find them rattling along smaller country lanes.

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[EuroTrotters]

Mercedes EuraMobil, Alkove coachbuilt C Class.
Switched to A class Mercedes Frankia.
Then to La Strada Nova M which is in a class of its own.

Now Have A class again. Not the safest thing in a crash. But what motorhome is ?.

 

[Lenny HB]

True, but it is rarer in my opinion to find them rattling along smaller country lanes.

Until you take a wrong turning on a road that has a quarry on it, been there done that.

 

[peterc10]

We have an A class and it does provide more room. Lots of advantages. As for space the front end is wider so room to put more stuff, especially between the passenger's seat and the cab door. Also the windscreen and dashboard now take over the space where the external bonnet in the C class was. Plenty more room for putting cloths and other stuff when you are parked up.

Other advantages are that the roof, walls and door of the cab are much better insulated than that on the C class. And you get a much better view of the road and surroundings out of the windscreen when driving. It is like looking through a panoramic window rather than a letterbox

 

[CazPaul]

.

Disadvantage. The mirrors can not be folded in on an A Class

We’ve had 3 A class, mirrors folded in on every one, current A class the same.

 

[VXman]

Depends on the layout . I remember being in a members 8.5metre carthago with a fixed rear island bed and thinking you couldn't swing a cat in the front lounge. I had an 8.4metre frankia at the time with a huge front lounge.

Some vans are all bed n bathroom and nowhere to relax

Well in ours (only the two of us use it,) we sit in the Swivel chairs, legs resting on the side bench seats. No more room needed.

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[Guigsy]

Look at the Roller Team Pegaso 590 Vs T-Line 590. Same layouts, same rear, but Pegaso is fully integrated A-class and T-Line is semi integrated.

The A-class gains an extra outside locker where the cab door would be. Instead of the bed dropping through the lounge, it's over the cab. This means 4 additional overhead lockers and more headroom. And when the bed is down, you can still use the lounge. And the bed is just on gas struts instead of needing an electric pulley mechanism.

A-classes have some quite big practical benefits. For us with a 6m length limitation, it was well worth the price premium.

 

[tonyidle]

Another advantage of my A class is the blown air heating vents into the cab area so no cold spot which I found in coachbuilt.

Or, as in mine, 3 radiators

 

[VXman]

People are always amazed at how much actual living space there is in our Hymer B544 with the bed up. And only 6.5m

That's because it's a drop bed. Of course it's more spacious than something with a fixed bed. Nothing to do with coach-built or A class.

 

[VXman]

We found the coach built swift a shelf around the top of the windscreen and quite often bumped heads on it when the swivel seats were facing forward. On the a class with the windscreen being a lot further forward it's not a problem

I neede to be 7 feet tall to bump my head in ours. My wife can't even reach open the central skylight. Must have been a low coach-built?

 

[VXman]

The key to the traditional A class is the drop down bed over the cab. Admittedly that sleeping arrangement is not for everyone but if it is for you then the full length of the motorhome is available to use for anything but sleeping. So to answer your question in our case we have the full 6.8m whereas with your 7.5m owing to your rear beds you only have 5.5m.

The full length of the A class MH at its full width does give you a feeling of space. The interior ‘nip in’ between the cab and motorhome in the semi integrated creates a jarring to the eye in my view. It also as a consequence reduces available space.

I accept that the compromises placed by the drop down bed are not for everyone but in my ownership there have been no other drawbacks (servicing/windscreen cover etc). Try one you might be surprised!!

So this is a discussion about drop down Vs fixed bed. Not related to the original question. Personally fixed bed was a must for us.

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[Barchetta47]

Another advantage of my A class is the blown air heating vents into the cab area so no cold spot which I found in coachbuilt.

So this is a discussion about drop down Vs fixed bed. Not related to the original question. Personally fixed bed was a must for us.

Apologies quite right, I’ll leave it to you fixed bedders!

 

[Larrynwin]

Or, as in mine, 3 radiators

I would have liked the Alde system but in a 6.5 m van the blown air works well especially as it distributes to all double floor, cupboards and lockers.

 

[Lenny HB]

That's because it's a drop bed. Of course it's more spacious than something with a fixed bed. Nothing to do with coach-built or A class.

With an A Class you can still use the lounge with the bed down can't do that in a semi-integrated.

 

[Lenny HB]

.

We’ve had 3 A class, mirrors folded in on every one, current A class the same.

But you haven't got coach mirrors that most A Class's have now.

 

[Larrynwin]

That's because it's a drop bed. Of course it's more spacious than something with a fixed bed. Nothing to do with coach-built or A class.

The A class with the extra cab width the swivel captains seats have more space around plus the floor is level throughout .

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[Pausim]

I have had C Class/Semi Integrated in the past but but now on my second A Class/Integrated. There is no way I would go back to a C/Semi. Driving is so much nicer in the A/Integrated, particularly on narrow country roads and lanes.

 

[funflair]

But you haven't got coach mirrors that most A Class's have now.

The coach mirrors aren't bad width wise as about 1/3 of the width is actually inside the body line, or ouirs are anyway

 

[GMLS]

After 3 large coachbuilts (between 7.5m and 8.5m) we have just bought our 1st A class (Rapido 854f, rear lounge with a decent garage).As it's just the 2 of us we wanted a layout optimised for an active couple.I did give the large panel vans serious consideration and nearly placed an order with IH for a MAN based camper but there just wasn't enough space for things like EMTB's, kayaks, a SUP, BBQ etc and all that does with them.Having already been away for 7 nights, we are very happy with it and certain we've made the right choice for us.There is so much more circulation space inside than even our Burstner Ixeo 734 and loads of storage. I've got used to the extra width pretty quickly.

 

[jongood]

Well in ours (only the two of us use it,) we sit in the Swivel chairs, legs resting on the side bench seats. No more room needed.

View attachment 817444

Fair enough for the room you have but what if you want to sit looking forward through the windscreen? Thats been a big factor in all our A classes because we like a view.

 

[LithiumConvert]

with regard to the mirrors on an A Class,

But they don't stick out no where near as far.

The double negative confuses me.
No matter what the vehicle is, the mirrors stick out far enough to see past a 2.2meter wide body. So probably all the same.

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[VXman]

With an A Class you can still use the lounge with the bed down can't do that in a semi-integrated.

I don't imagine there is a massive amount of space left in a typical 7 metre MH iif you do that. Anyway, can't stand drop down beds. Only need space for 2 in a distinct bedroom.

 

[Larrynwin]

I don't imagine there is a massive amount of space left in a typical 7 metre MH iif you do that. Anyway, can't stand drop down beds. Only need space for 2 in a distinct bedroom.

With our 6.5 m A class with bed down there is room to seat 6 with full use of table and all facilities.

 

[Guigsy]

I don't imagine there is a massive amount of space left in a typical 7 metre MH iif you do that. Anyway, can't stand drop down beds. Only need space for 2 in a distinct bedroom.

On the lounge at the front, my 6m A-class has an L shaped sofa, another sofa to the side, and the two cab chairs that spin to face the large central table. If I drop the bed down, I lose just the cab chairs. Still tons of room. The bed is a bit bigger than a standard double and we can leave it made up all the time.

 

[Stonemags76]

On the lounge at the front, my 6m A-class has an L shaped sofa, another sofa to the side, and the two cab chairs that spin to face the large central table. If I drop the bed down, I lose just the cab chairs. Still tons of room. The bed is a bit bigger than a standard double and we can leave it made up all the time.

Which model do you have please? Can you put your feet up on the side sofas when sitting in the captains chairs?

 

[Pausim]

I don't imagine there is a massive amount of space left in a typical 7 metre MH iif you do that. Anyway, can't stand drop down beds. Only need space for 2 in a distinct bedroom.

We had the drop down bed replaced with cupboards. Really glad we ordered it this way.

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[tonyidle]

I would have liked the Alde system but in a 6.5 m van the blown air works well especially as it distributes to all double floor, cupboards and lockers.

I think you get what you get. In most cases layout trumps everything else that's desirable like base vehicle and stuff like Alde heating. I was lucky. I think that Alde might now just move up onto my essentials list though .