Downsizing from coachbuilt to PVC

[denisejoe]

Check out Danbury they have some good features

 

[Andy MacD]

Ok, for those with recent Adria’s did you get the 140bhp or 160bhp. Don’t think the 160 is worth the extra cost?

 

[Sapper520]

Took delivery of our Sunlight Cliff 600 10 days ago. Taking our time to personalise it and getting to grips with how everything works. Will be spending a few days near Cromer this week as our shake down trip.

Not one of the biggest names, but owned by Hymer.

 

[Blue Knight]

Ok, for those with recent Adria’s did you get the 140bhp or 160bhp. Don’t think the 160 is worth the extra cost?

I can only talk about our Fiat 150BHP manual PVC Andy but we run ours at 3,850kg fully loaded on a 4,500Kg chassis. That includes 134-litres of water. If we want more water then I can go to 300-liters and take it up to 4T total. (No bikes or tow bars either in that weight).

@ 3,850Kg I would always be keen for an extra few BHP/torque but I certainly wouldn't want 10BHP less.

 

[denisejoe]

Just found out some Danbury models are made by Pilote

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[mikeandmary]

We leave bed made up in our Accent and use storage boxes that slide under it. Works for us.

 

[Ernesto]

We had the (technical) choice of 130 or 150bhp back in 2019.... but almost all the dealers seemed to bring their stock into the UK as 150bhp versions. We went for the bigger hp - there's no question you can get away without it, but I think it adds a lot to making the drive far more pleasant

 

[Minxy]

We leave bed made up in our Accent and use storage boxes that slide under it. Works for us.

When we had an accent the bottom storage section housed our inflatable canoes etc and the bit directly below the made-up-bed base housed 2 folding bikes. We found getting into the side storage under the bed a pain though and one of the reasons we changed it for a fixed bed version.

 

[TM59]

Downsized from a Swift Bolero to a Rapido V55 just over a year ago. Here are my thoughts. Firstly build quality of the Rapido is much better. In relation to storage we have all we need. Shower and toilet facilities on the V55 groundbreaking technology and excellent. Amazing the places you take your PVC that you would be reluctant to take larger motorhome. More like a car to drive. Downsides, requires more organisation when moving about inside, and on occasions not being able to entertain inside. Overall a good move for us the pros outweigh the negatives.

 

[FrankL0]

So are we!

We pick up our new PVC - an Auto Sleeper Warwick XL next Monday.
We are downsizing from a Benimar 264, which we only had for a year from new.
An expensive mistake but ‘you can always get out of trouble by paying’! F

At Marquis Northants today picking up our lovely Warwick XL. It’s great!

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[2x2camper]

At Marquis Northants today picking up our lovely Warwick XL. It’s great!View attachment 428576

Congratulations

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Looks great, but wonder why its on a Preston number.?
must register them all from up there

 

[FrankL0]

Looks great, but wonder why its on a Preston number.?
must register them all from up there

I think you are right there. That’s what I was told when I questioned it. F

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Life in a PVC is a trade off on space against most of the bigger coachbuilts although I have seen some really awful layouts in coachbuilts.
We went from 6mt pvc traverse bed to 6.4mt longitudinal rear couches so we now have front dinnet and vehicle seats and another lounge at the back to stretch out and relax. Ideal in our opinion and if you want a really massive bed that's an option as well.
Unfortunately theres also a very clever bunk arrangement that fits in the back so you can take the grandkids.
I refused to have a bigger vehicle so its easy to parkup at home and when out and about touring although the slightly longer length is a bit more of a challenge.

Sounds nice, but what make please?
Thanks

 

[dodfloss]

Ok, for those with recent Adria’s did you get the 140bhp or 160bhp. Don’t think the 160 is worth the extra cost?

I talked to fiat engineer I know, he said it would be a lot better drive than the 140hp for a camper van, he said it gives that extra, up hills. Also read a funster who recommended going up , he stated 140hp was good but could do with the extra hp

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[Langtoftlad]

My 2017 2.0l Citroen Relay based PVC is a 130 horses apparently.
Seems powerful enough... but then I'm not an ageing boy racer.

 

[berni109]

Captain Yoghurtpot it a sunliving made by adria. Its built to a price point in the marketplace but does everything we want without all the expensive bells and whistles.

 

[Markman]

You mentioned Scotland, I think. Have you thought about Westfalia? Agent near Edinburgh. We have a Westfalia Columbus 640 and love it. Our first so can't comment on downsizing. The kitchen is open to the back so makes it airy (but do need to squat to get to the back of the fridge). Has a compressor fridge so we added 150W solar. We wanted a longitudinal, not transverse, bed, so now have two singles, with a filler for a massive double. Storage for us includes two sets of gold clubs and two trolleys, and not full. But bouncing up against the 3,500 limit.

 

[CazPaul]

You mentioned Scotland, I think. Have you thought about Westfalia? Agent near Edinburgh. We have a Westfalia Columbus 640 and love it. Our first so can't comment on downsizing. The kitchen is open to the back so makes it airy (but do need to squat to get to the back of the fridge). Has a compressor fridge so we added 150W solar. We wanted a longitudinal, not transverse, bed, so now have two singles, with a filler for a massive double. Storage for us includes two sets of gold clubs and two trolleys, and not full. But bouncing up against the 3,500 limit.

Thats certainly impressive storage for a PVC, any photos of your van and the storage please.

 

[jezport]

We were in our Globecar in the galeforce wind at the weekend and can say that there was no wind getting in and we sleep by the rear doors. Well impressed! Also dou to having leveling jacks there was no rocking, and we were side on to the wind in our extra high top.

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[Fidge]

No one has mentioned the Autotrail V line vans! As we are looking to downsize too I would be interested to know peoples experiences / views on them.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

V line, Tribute, Toleno ( roller team), Chausson Uk Van, Benivan, and the new AT Expedition
All built by the same hands in the same (Grimsby) factory using the same components

Down to taste and price if you are picking one of those

 

[Hippy]

No one has mentioned the Autotrail V line vans! As we are looking to downsize too I would be interested to know peoples experiences / views on them.

I bought a new V line 634 SE in June 2019 and so far it’s excellent. Apart from one drawer catch needing adjustment it’s been faultless. I bought it for it’s huge longitudinal bed, good kitchen with plenty of worktop space and large fridge. Love it.

 

[TUCANO]

At Marquis Northants today picking up our lovely Warwick XL. It’s great!View attachment 428576

May the EMF be with you,

 

[SpeedyDux]

I talked to fiat engineer I know, he said it would be a lot better drive than the 140hp for a camper van, he said it gives that extra, up hills. Also read a funster who recommended going up , he stated 140hp was good but could do with the extra hp

The Multijet 2 150 certainly certainly does haul it up hills in 6th without needing to change down. Very relaxing to drive.

I assume that the 160 is a tad more torquey although I haven't seen the figures.

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[Markman]

Thats certainly impressive storage for a PVC, any photos of your van and the storage please.

Outside just a standard Fiat Ducato and a couple of the inside/storage. We've found that large plastic boxes fit well, stack and help organisation. So 4 x 65 litre boxes and two 35l boxes, then our golf clubs on the right (with the drivers taken it and carried sideways on top of the boxes).

 

[mikeandmary]

When we had an accent the bottom storage section housed our inflatable canoes etc and the bit directly below the made-up-bed base housed 2 folding bikes. We found getting into the side storage under the bed a pain though and one of the reasons we changed it for a fixed bed version.

I agree, both side storage areas are virtually redundant. We only use ours for rarely used items.

 

[Wikky]

Very interesting Gary. We owned a Benimar Mileo 264 from new for only 10 months before we sold it.
We collect our Auto Sleeper Warwick XL PVC tomorrow from Marquis Northants.

Have previously been caravaners, the mistake that we made was trying to find a caravan with an engine!
The 264 came with twin fixed beds. And therein lay the problem. The fixed beds took up nearly half the MH and so during the day, we only had the other half of the MH for the kitchen and living area. So the resultant cramped living area was a disaster through lack of space and the inability to get comfortable.
I took out the over engineered table to try to find a few extra inches of space but to no avail.

The crunch came when my wife declared that a week was the maximum amount of time she was prepared to 'put up' with our Beni.

So we made an expensive mistake. But in switching to a PVC, and the Warwick XL in particular, we hope that our mistake will be recitified.

There are always compromises of course. One thing I'm wondering about is how a water tank that holds 69 litres instead of the previous 120 litres will work out. We shall see. And we are super excited to collect our AS Warwick XL tomorrow.

Water capacity really depends on what you want to do. We use all the facilities on the van so water is for shower, washing up and flushing the honey pot. We had an Autotrail Cheyenne with around 65l fresh water and it didn't work for us. The Rapido we now have has 120l and lasts for 4 days.
If you use site facilities then the smaller tank capacity should be ok. We are 2 people btw.

 

[Briskdub]

We downsized from a Chausson 610 Coachbuilt to a Burstner City Car (same layout as the 6m Adria Twin) last year. We have no regrets. Car parks and narrow lanes are far easier but the unexpected bonus is the large side door. When it’s open you feel connected to the outside and with the back doors open you can lounge on the bed in the sunshine! Storage is fine for two of us. I’ve had six coachbuilts over the last Twenty five years but I currently have no intention of going back.

 

[Langtoftlad]

My Wildax Aurora has underslung 100l water & grey waste tanks... and lpg
Leaves an impressive load space

[I don't think I have the parquet floor though - perhaps an added cost option]

...but of course, it's a transverse bed so wouldn't suit.

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