Layout importance

[Ebbo]

Having been let off the leash with the end of our lockdown we decided to venture out and look at some motorhomes.

Nearly all the motorhomes we looked at were fab, but......

when we applied some of the advice on here we soon realised some were better than others and what the importance of the layout actually means.

central bed, so you dont have to climb over each other in the night when you go to the loo, size of the loo, size of the shower, how much prep room you have to cook, can you get by each other easily , where is the fridge in relation to the prep area etc,

we still have no idea what MH we want, but we do know what we dont want and thats half the battle

I never dreamed that there were so many different motorhomes out there at so many different prices

we did have fun though

on with the search

 

[138go]

We have a central bed and a large garage. We keep two bikes in the garage. Our first motorhome had twin single beds and they were way too small, especially for my six feet tall husband.

 

[Podney]

Lots of good advice on here. Ebbo .

There is no such thing as the perfect motorhome.

The key word is.......
..................
....................

Compromise.

Enjoy the search,don’t believe half what you’re told,forget payload at your peril.

 

[Rapidoman 2011]

Well don’t go down my road, had about 12 Motorhomes in the last 25 years and when we were coming back from Greece in 2013 in our Rapido 9009 the wife said it was time to give it a rest. We sold the 9009 and l regretted so much, especially when she says let’s get a Motorhome 2 years later. The last three have been, Autotrail. Hymer exsis and a Cathago 150, but l was lucky enough to see a 2009 Rapido 9009 at Camper UK and quickly got a good trade in deal. Yes it’s 10 years old but it’s the best ever layout to suit our needs. Big rear bathroom with nice square shower, off set island bed, good size kitchen and big dining area. 8mts long and here to stay. Completely mondenised now with cream wrap on the doors, and other stuff. Take your time. And get the one that really suits you both. And remember they don’t have to be new.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

I'd agree with this wholeheartedly, I'd done a lot of research before we parted with any money and our major factor in purchase was that it would be a van conversion and had to be 5.4m to fit on the drive. We decided (I decided) that a front lounge which converted into a bed would be perfect for our needs as 2 adults and 2 dogs, and it was the first couple of times we went out, but those niggles started and got progressively worse.

I'm the one who gets up to go to the loo at night, except Mark was between me and the edge of the bed, so he had to wake up as well, we had to get the dogs onto the bed, move the dog beds out of the gangway so I could go to the loo and then reverse it coming back again. If one wanted to go to bed and the other didn't the one in bed had the light shining in their eyes.

3 months later we traded it in for the one we have now, same length and a van conversion, slightly smaller bathroom - but we spend least time there so it doesn't matter, no oven in the kitchen, small double fixed bed at the rear (I'm on the edge this time), small dinette where the dogs travel with harnesses on the dinette seat clipped to the seat belts, masses of storage under the bed - you won't get everything you want but you have to be able to live with the compromises.

Cough...

Do as she says and 3 months later do as she says again. Simples ?

Mark

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[Burgo]

By Central bed I take it you mean island problem with those is it reduces the garage space make a lot of vans difficult or impossible to get bikes in.

Not all. We can get push bikes in with it in its normal height position. If we wanted to we could wind it up much higher as well.

 

[joan smith]

Having been let off the leash with the end of our lockdown we decided to venture out and look at some motorhomes.

Nearly all the motorhomes we looked at were fab, but......

when we applied some of the advice on here we soon realised some were better than others and what the importance of the layout actually means.

central bed, so you dont have to climb over each other in the night when you go to the loo, size of the loo, size of the shower, how much prep room you have to cook, can you get by each other easily , where is the fridge in relation to the prep area etc,

we still have no idea what MH we want, but we do know what we dont want and thats half the battle

I never dreamed that there were so many different motorhomes out there at so many different prices

we did have fun though

on with the search

Hi. Our first moho in 1984 was an Autotrail.
We climbed up to bed above the cab. Never liked using the lounge couches. Next 3 all had fixed bed. Now got a Bailey Autograph with island bed. The compromise was fridge instead of fridge freezer and no separate shower room but we don't shower in the van and the ice box in the fridge is enough for ice cream and that all important ice for my v.a.t lol Good luck and have fun shopping.

 

[Stuart]

Well, as a few others have said hiring before buying worked for us. We hired MHs with several different layouts over a couple of years and discovered what DIDN'T work for us and what we really hated. We settled finally on a fixed island bed (Chausson Welcome), and were really happy with it for seven years. We've changed to a smaller Elddis since but that's another story. I think the golden rule is, try before you buy, once you've parted with the cash it's a bit late to discover things you can't live with. Good luck.