Garages. Why so few from British Motorhome builders? (1 Viewer)

[rosalan]

I am sitting on a campsite in Spain, full of motorhomes from all over Europe. As far as I can see, they all have garages. When I asked one UK builder they told me they do not include ‘garages’ in their range. Searching UK sales there are very few available at all.
Without a garage I would be stuck with a sun-bed, 2chairs, 2 beach chairs, a spare wheel, a drying rack, sun brolly, 2 bikes, a ground mat, ramps, two tables and a long list of necessities too long to list, so why are garages considered a luxury or not considered at all?

 

[The Wino]

Are there any making A class motorhomes?

 

[VXman]

Just had a quick look at Bailey and Auto trail and they both have models with garages in. Not seen any A classes though.

My impression of of British motorhomes generally from wandering though a few at NEC shows they feel very caravan like so perhaps have been slow in adapting to more modern designs as found in European vans.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Thought you meant brikies

 

[Millcourt]

Most British builders seem to have a caravan mindset and think a rear u-shaped lounge, with make-up beds, together with a gas oven with 4 ring hob are what UK buyers want. Probably not that daft with the British summer weather we have seen this year, which means more time inside. Most look to me as if the converter has taken a caravan body and grafted it onto a van cab/chassis. Wonder if they sell (m)any outside the UK?

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[bigtree]

Most British builders seem to have a caravan mindset and think a rear u-shaped lounge, with make-up beds, together with a gas oven with 4 ring hob are what UK buyers want. Probably not that daft with the British summer weather we have seen this year, which means more time inside. Most look to me as if the converter has taken a caravan body and grafted it onto a van cab/chassis. Wonder if they sell (m)any outside the UK?

The rear U shape lounge is very popular with Carthago and Frankia buyers.

 

[Aireworth]

I think its the British weather. More time spent inside MHs in the UK because of it, therefore a greater emphasis on a good lounge area. That doesn't go naturally with a garage under a bed, unless you've got a very long MH.

 

[Jim]

Designed for large, but light, items like cycles, they have become ubiquitous. But I’ve never been a fan of the garage. Even the most organised ones are a mess. You start off packing them nice, but everything then has to be junked on top, you are forever removing this, to reach that. It always means your bed is too high, and all that weight behind the rear axle is not clever. Especially in those models when the garage is really the only locker.

These days they put a garage on even the smallest vans, meaning that the already tiny payload is reduced further by overloading rear axle weights. I much prefer a traditional proper double floor with plenty of outside lockers on both sides of the van. Weight distribution and a sense of order.

 

[funflair]

Designed for large, but light, items like cycles, they have become ubiquitous. But I’ve never been a fan of the garage. Even the most organised ones are a mess. You start off packing them nice, but everything then has to be junked on top, you are forever removing this, to reach that. It always means your bed it too high, and all that weight behind the rear axle is not clever. Especially in those models when the garage is really the only locker.

These days they put a garage on even the smallest vans, meaning that the already tiny payload is reduced further by overloading rear axle weights. I much prefer a traditional proper double floor with plenty of outside lockers on both sides of the van. Weight distribution and a sense of order.

Proper double floor and a garage best of both worlds Jim, yes possibly that means that the garage can be neat and tidy and used for things with wheels as it should be the double floor means that the bed can be lower and still get a good garage space, some vans need more weight at the back to balance high front axle weight (ours does) I would really struggle to use a van without a garage

 

[bigtree]

Proper double floor and a garage best of both worlds Jim, yes possibly that means that the garage can be neat and tidy and used for things with wheels as it should be the double floor means that the bed can be lower and still get a good garage space, some vans need more weight at the back to balance high front axle weight (ours does) I would really struggle to use a van without a garage

The garage was a priority for me.

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[Lenny HB]

Wonder if they sell (m)any outside the UK?

Very few.

 

[DangerMousy]

Wonder if they sell (m)any outside the UK?

Very few.

We saw a LHD Belgian-registered Autotrail earlier this year (about 10ish years old looking at the shape of the overcab)....we remarked on it because I think its the first time we'd seen a UK brand built for the continental market. Think its the only one we've ever seen.

 

[PP Bear]

The garage was a priority for me. View attachment 926724

Should have got a “proper” bike

 

[Jim]

Proper double floor and a garage

I agree, having things like the barbecue locker, boot locker and booze locker is so much better than one large hole. Having both is perfect.

 

[bigtwin]

Because they still think that they’re building caravans.

Ian

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[bigtree]

Should have got a “proper” bike

This is its replacement.

 

[Barryh]

Wonder if they sell (m)any outside the UK?

Very few.

New Zealand and Australia is a good market for Autotrail apparently.

 

[bigtree]

The garage was a priority for me. View attachment 926724

The Frankia with the rear door is an excellent design, this van was a special order with a higher opening. I bought the Carthago as it has a large enough opening but is more of a challenge due to the step section that protrudes into the garage, I have to load the bike from the near side.

 

[PP Bear]

This is its replacement.
View attachment 926728

Proper motorbikes, wiv mud guards and stuff

Bet it’s not even 2 stroke is it

 

[bigtree]

Proper motorbikes, wiv mud guards and stuff

Bet it’s not even 2 stroke is it
View attachment 926740

View attachment 926741

Ah the nostalgia, have only been riding for 25 years so missed out on all the old leaky smelly stuff.

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[nicholsong]

Designed for large, but light, items like cycles, they have become ubiquitous. But I’ve never been a fan of the garage. Even the most organised ones are a mess. You start off packing them nice, but everything then has to be junked on top, you are forever removing this, to reach that. It always means your bed is too high, and all that weight behind the rear axle is not clever. Especially in those models when the garage is really the only locker.

These days they put a garage on even the smallest vans, meaning that the already tiny payload is reduced further by overloading rear axle weights. I much prefer a traditional proper double floor with plenty of outside lockers on both sides of the van. Weight distribution and a sense of order.

....and British?

Even when I was looking for first MH I did not consider British. For markets divided by only a 22-mile channel it is surprising that the manufacturers' designs are in general so different.

 

[Jim]

....and British?

The Brit makers have always loved the U shaped rear lounge. For good reason, If you have 3 or 4 kids, having a front dinette and a rear lounge is a perfect layout. Especially when rain confines you all to the van!

But when the kids are gone, I would not choose it. Even the best u-shaped lounges are essentially uncomfortable, sit up and beg, bench seats. To be comfortable, you need to put your feet up and use the bench seats as two sofas. I hate that. Then, very often, that lounge is the bed as well, so you have to make it up every night and sleeping on a jigsaw I never found to be comfy; and, all your useful storage holds pillows and quilts! No, for me, sans kids, the front lounge and fixed bed, as favoured by most Europeans, is IMO so much better.

 

[Northernraider]

I am sitting on a campsite in Spain, full of motorhomes from all over Europe. As far as I can see, they all have garages. When I asked one UK builder they told me they do not include ‘garages’ in their range. Searching UK sales there are very few available at all.
Without a garage I would be stuck with a sun-bed, 2chairs, 2 beach chairs, a spare wheel, a drying rack, sun brolly, 2 bikes, a ground mat, ramps, two tables and a long list of necessities too long to list, so why are garages considered a luxury or not considered at all?

Most have very small payload so no point having a garage.

 

[Northernraider]

Just had a quick look at Bailey and Auto trail and they both have models with garages in. Not seen any A classes though.

My impression of of British motorhomes generally from wandering though a few at NEC shows they feel very caravan like so perhaps have been slow in adapting to more modern designs as found in European vans.

Yes 40 years too slow

 

[Northernraider]

....and British?

Even when I was looking for first MH I did not consider British. For markets divided by only a 22-mile channel it is surprising that the manufacturers' designs are in general so different.

But their attitude to motorhoming is also different.. UK =campsites. Europe =aires, carparks, campsites
Half the British vans can't even travel with a full water tank . Be aswell carrying an aquaroll


I'd never consider buying a British built motorhome.

My parents did and all had issues. And my sister has an autocruise. It's in getting leaks fixed again

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[busbuddy]

Didnt brownhills have a batch of lhd motorhomes probably about 4 years ago, maybe swifts
Seem to recall big advertising about them

 

[Brains]

New Zealand and Australia is a good market for Autotrail apparently.

As an FYI, part of the reason for that is that it is relatively cheap to ship large new vehicles from Europe to the far east.
As the autoliners are mostly heading east part loaded to fully load in Japan and China for the European market.

 

[Brains]

When we were looking at buying our first motorhome (having had several Land Rovers and VW Camper vans).
Having decided on the basic spec (Twin beds, large garage, max 7m)

We started looking country by country.
We decided early on that it should be matching collar and cuffs where possible, so an Italian van on a Fiat, a French van on a Citroen or Peugeot, a British van on a Ford, and a German van on a Mercedes.

The Italian vans were fitted out like a yacht, beautiful, all set up for the full coffee machine, but no place for an oven, minimal heating.
The French vans were nice and airy, tended to be a bit boxy, style over function, and again most lacked decent heating.
The British vans were still built with wood frames! and designed like a caravan of 20 years ago. (And had a reputation for leaking)
The German vans, of which there was a vast range, were properly constructed, fully winterised, had all the fittings, multiple ones of our spec,
it was just a case of matching our budget.

We therefore changed our spec to be:
Twin beds, large garage, max 7m, German built, C Class!

But each to their own, otherwise there would be no point is nosing around campsites comparing makes and models!

 

[The Wino]

When we were looking at buying our first motorhome (having had several Land Rovers and VW Camper vans).
Having decided on the basic spec (Twin beds, large garage, max 7m)

We started looking country by country.
We decided early on that it should be matching collar and cuffs where possible, so an Italian van on a Fiat, a French van on a Citroen or Peugeot, a British van on a Ford, and a German van on a Mercedes.

The Italian vans were fitted out like a yacht, beautiful, all set up for the full coffee machine, but no place for an oven, minimal heating.
The French vans were nice and airy, tended to be a bit boxy, style over function, and again most lacked decent heating.
The British vans were still built with wood frames! and designed like a caravan of 20 years ago. (And had a reputation for leaking)
The German vans, of which there was a vast range, were properly constructed, fully winterised, had all the fittings, multiple ones of our spec,
it was just a case of matching our budget.

We therefore changed our spec to be:
Twin beds, large garage, max 7m, German built, C Class!

But each to their own, otherwise there would be no point is nosing around campsites comparing makes and models!

What difference does it make if the base vehicle and coachbuilt part are from different countries I can't see any logic at all in that.

 

[funflair]

As an FYI, part of the reason for that is that it is relatively cheap to ship large new vehicles from Europe to the far east.
As the autoliners are mostly heading east part loaded to fully load in Japan and China for the European market.

I believe that all vehicles imported in NZ and possibly Australia as well have to be RHD and door on the proper side ie left.

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