HELP - New to motorhomes, advice required purchasing a new motorhome

Mollymops113 said:
Hi everyone, I have read a number of threads on here and the amount of experience of motor-homing is amazing and who better to ask for help and advice when looking to buy our first motorhome.
We have had caravans for many years and have enjoyed our time very much. Unfortunately in 2019 my husband was diagnosed with a serious illness which resulted in major surgery and since then we have struggled with the caravan, hitching etc. I also don’t like to tow the caravan but feel that I could help with driving the motorhome, I have done this some years ago in Canada.
The problem is when looking for a new motorhome there is so many to choose from, we have narrowed it down to three.
1. PILOTE 626d - 6.2m - spacious lounge, good kitchen - 2 gas rings , wet room with swing door. Over lounge electric drop down bed.
2. PILOTE 696d - 6.99m - same lounge as 626, good kitchen with 3 gas rings, full rear bathroom With separate shower and large wardrobe.
3. BAILEY 69-4 -6.99m similar layout to the PILOTE 696 But with 4 rings and separate grill and oven.
all 3 have decent garage.

I prefer the layout of both the PILOTE 696 and Bailey 69-4 but they are longer motorhomes and have concerns that this may be more difficult to manoeuvre and take into towns, villages, Devon and Cornwall.
Those of you with much larger motorhomes will probably think I am crazy but we need to get this right as we want to enjoy our time out in the motorhome and reduce the stress of driving as much as possible.

Any advice on the manufacturer and experience of build quality as well as length of motorhome would be very much appreciate.
sorry It’s long winded.
thank you
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Hi and welcome, we have health issues also and that's why we got rid of caravan.weve got a benimar 122 2019 and its magic! Check the layout, it's a van conversion so very manoeuvrable. Good luck and happy days.☆☆☆
 
We are edging towards the Bailey 79-4t mainly because of the layout and value for money combined. Like the twin bed as someone mentioned if one wants a nap in the day no faffing about.
Reliability and build is pot luck with any vehicle. If we have issues i have identified a local business to take care of it.
Good luck with your search.
 
bobnick said:
We are edging towards the Bailey 79-4t mainly because of the layout and value for money combined. Like the twin bed as someone mentioned if one wants a nap in the day no faffing about.
Reliability and build is pot luck with any vehicle. If we have issues i have identified a local business to take care of it.
Good luck with your search.
Click to expand...
Good van, I wish they did it without the dinette ( ie 2 seat belts with parallel lounge) like the 76-2T in the Alliance (lower spec) range
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
Good van, I wish they did it without the dinette ( ie 2 seat belts with parallel lounge) like the 76-2T in the Alliance (lower spec) range
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I think they do do it without the dinette, or at least a L shape and a double on tuther side, no fixed table.
Gonna double check as you got my cells going. One of our criteria is NO dinette, prefer table one can store away when done with.........like our Imala we have now.
 
bobnick said:
I think they do do it without the dinette, or at least a L shape and a double on tuther side, no fixed table.
Gonna double check as you got my cells going. One of our criteria is NO dinette, prefer table one can store away when done with.........like our Imala we have now.
Click to expand...
We've got a 79-4I on order. We've asked for a few extras Inc cab blinds. It's got a fixed table which folds to allow easy access and has two bench seats, which convert to provide 2 additional travelling seats

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I'm thinking one can order without the fixed table. Highly unlikely we will need the 2 additional seats or the additional bed but nice to know they are there. I thought it came with the concertina blinds? Learning every day.
Hope you get yours on due date
 
bobnick said:
I think they do do it without the dinette, or at least a L shape and a double on tuther side, no fixed table.
Gonna double check as you got my cells going. One of our criteria is NO dinette, prefer table one can store away when done with.........like our Imala we have now.
Click to expand...
Mine has 4 belted seats and option of utilising as a dinette,but it would be tight for 4 adults.however, the 2 long seats at back make ample dining space.l think you've got to go with your own needs . Just be glad when we can take it out again haha!
 
MisterB said:
We've got a 79-4I on order. We've asked for a few extras Inc cab blinds. It's got a fixed table which folds to allow easy access and has two bench seats, which convert to provide 2 additional travelling seats
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I asked the dealer if we could have the cab blinds as an extra on the Bailey Adamo 69-4 but he said it isn’t possible due to the rain sensors. They are unable to fit on this model. They offered me a silver blind instead. The curtain in the habitation area cuts the captains chair off from the lounge so at night if curtain is closed can’t use captains chairs.

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We take our quilt and pollows off no biggy, you can have it lower but we love the headroom x
 
We have the cab blinds. Only been out with this van three times. First time we used the cab blinds. The other two we used the external silver screens. Great for insulation bot hot and cold
 
For me it doesn't matter how it looks or who it is made by, it's how it works - FOR ME!

So I sit in a van and 'role play' like;

I've just returned fom a bike ride, I want to have a shower, pepare food, cook food, eat it and clear away before getting into bed.

So how will that work?

How much furniture do I have to move about to complete those tasks?

The van I found enabled me do do all of the above without moving anything, save beer to glass, to table.
 
bobnick said:
I'm thinking one can order without the fixed table. Highly unlikely we will need the 2 additional seats or the additional bed but nice to know they are there. I thought it came with the concertina blinds? Learning every day.
Hope you get yours on due date
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Mine has got the concertina blinds as standard,but marquis has also mentioned some other blinds they forgot to put in when they delivered,so I'm waiting to see what they are.

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Mollymops113 said:
I asked the dealer if we could have the cab blinds as an extra on the Bailey Adamo 69-4 but he said it isn’t possible due to the rain sensors. They are unable to fit on this model. They offered me a silver blind instead. The curtain in the habitation area cuts the captains chair off from the lounge so at night if curtain is closed can’t use captains chairs.
Click to expand...
Nice to see you’ve subscribed. Welcome!

Are you absolutely sure that the curtain goes in front of the captain’s chair? Ive only ever seen them run behind. Cab blinds are OK, but the curtains are somehow cosier and more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, as well as more thermally efficient in my opinion.
 
8ECFB005-DBFD-49F7-95CD-27EA1E019DF3.png
 
bobnick said:
I think they do do it without the dinette, or at least a L shape and a double on tuther side, no fixed table.
Gonna double check as you got my cells going. One of our criteria is NO dinette, prefer table one can store away when done with.........like our Imala we have now.
Click to expand...
Sorry, its not a permanent dinette, but an L shape with 2x belted seats
We found these very uncomfortable when we were in ‘lounging’ mode
Also the o/s washroom which is mid-ships was too small to get dressed in and I found it’s bulkhead made the front of the van claustraphobic considering it’s OAL.
Elddis 285 ????
 
Of your worried about driving it why not go to your your local van hire co and rent a Luton van for a day and just drive around all the local country roads and villages although its not a motorhome its similar in size and and will handle a bit like 1 and if your OK with that I would go then rent a moho for a week because as people have already said its a bit expensive but a lot cheaper then buying something you don't like and have to sell again
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
Sorry, its not a permanent dinette, but an L shape with 2x belted seats
We found these very uncomfortable when we were in ‘lounging’ mode
Also the o/s washroom which is mid-ships was too small to get dressed in and I found it’s bulkhead made the front of the van claustraphobic considering it’s OAL.
Elddis 285 ????
Click to expand...
All good points to look at when we can go to look. What does OAL mean?

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Just an update after a lot of thought and hours of research we finally decided on the PILOTE P696D. For our requirements this motorhome is perfect and we feel very very lucky in all aspects. The same afternoon we purchased the motorhome my husband had some good news from his specialist advising there had been a slight improvement in his health. Although that may not seem a lot, it is amazing news for us. He is slowly moving in the right direction and we are very grateful. So we are going from old caravaners to newbie motorhomers and we can’t wait to collect the motorhome and start enjoying everyday.
Thank you for all your help and assistance HAPPY TRAVELLING.
 
Don't think you will regret your choice. Our first van was a Pilote 716 and we have stuck with the brand for our second van which we collected last week.
Good luck with everything and enjoy your travels! (y):giggle:
 
Mollymops113 said:
Hi everyone, I have read a number of threads on here and the amount of experience of motor-homing is amazing and who better to ask for help and advice when looking to buy our first motorhome.
We have had caravans for many years and have enjoyed our time very much. Unfortunately in 2019 my husband was diagnosed with a serious illness which resulted in major surgery and since then we have struggled with the caravan, hitching etc. I also don’t like to tow the caravan but feel that I could help with driving the motorhome, I have done this some years ago in Canada.
The problem is when looking for a new motorhome there is so many to choose from, we have narrowed it down to three.
1. PILOTE 626d - 6.2m - spacious lounge, good kitchen - 2 gas rings , wet room with swing door. Over lounge electric drop down bed.
2. PILOTE 696d - 6.99m - same lounge as 626, good kitchen with 3 gas rings, full rear bathroom With separate shower and large wardrobe.
3. BAILEY 69-4 -6.99m similar layout to the PILOTE 696 But with 4 rings and separate grill and oven.
all 3 have decent garage.

I prefer the layout of both the PILOTE 696 and Bailey 69-4 but they are longer motorhomes and have concerns that this may be more difficult to manoeuvre and take into towns, villages, Devon and Cornwall.
Those of you with much larger motorhomes will probably think I am crazy but we need to get this right as we want to enjoy our time out in the motorhome and reduce the stress of driving as much as possible.

Any advice on the manufacturer and experience of build quality as well as length of motorhome would be very much appreciate.
sorry It’s long winded.
thank you
Click to expand...
Just got a new Pilote evidence one thing I didn't check was the grey waste outlet as far as I know they do not have taps /valves just a lever which makes it hard to put any waste tanks under the main tank as the tanks are mostly in the middle of the van which would mean you struggle to locate the outlet.

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Unless someone can put me right or knows how to solve the problem
 
Like this on my P650GJ, the second picture with the bend on was prior to shortening the main pipe.
 

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This might be classed as a minor point but check how easy it is to get in and out of ,take into account you may be parked on a slope and that steps might be higher off the ground

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