MH layout question.

[JRT]

What MH's are folk aware of that has the same or similar fixed bed layout to this Autoquest 150.

Also needs to be car licence friendly.
Around 7 meters.
Same or similar folding travel seats and similar bed/lounge
Able to tow around 2000k braked
Doesn't have to be 'compact'.

Many thanks

 

[PP Bear]

Autotrail Imala springs to mind.

Auto-Trail Imala 730 - Practical Motorhome

Read Editor Niall Hampton's 2016 Auto-Trail Imala 730 review if you need a stylish low-profile coachbuilt motorhome with an island bed, at a cheaper price

www.practicalmotorhome.com

 

[Guigsy]

7m vans are often really tight on payload when they're plated at 3.5t. I suspect that Autotrail would have to be pretty much empty if you travelled with 4 people.

 

[Lenny HB]

Autotrail Imala springs to mind.

Auto-Trail Imala 730 - Practical Motorhome

Read Editor Niall Hampton's 2016 Auto-Trail Imala 730 review if you need a stylish low-profile coachbuilt motorhome with an island bed, at a cheaper price

www.practicalmotorhome.com

View attachment 870693

Have you seen the payload?
Totally unuseable at 3500kg.

Realistically if you want to run at 3500kg you need to be looking at vans quite a bit under 7m and you won't find an island bed in them.

 

[Jonno1103]

Roller Team Zefiro 696.

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[Lenny HB]

Roller Team Zefiro 696.

Another one that doesn't have much payload.

 

[Jonno1103]

Another one that doesn't have much payload.

Dunno about you Lenny but I can't think of any at 3500kg which has a payload to carry 4. I went with the RT as it's a bit more than many of them, certainly not any of the higher quality brands.

 

[JRT]

We will be two up 90% of the time if we take the granddaughter on the other 10% we will need three belted seats.

 

[scotzsue]

Not a fixed bed, but our 2009 Escape was a light weight chassis with over 600kg payload, wasn't plated for towing though.

Dunno about you Lenny but I can't think of any at 3500kg which has a payload to carry 4. I went with the RT as it's a bit more than many of them, certainly not any of the higher quality brands.

Wishing OP good luck in finding what he wants and needs. so many 3.5 vans not for for purpose weight wise.
JRT make sure you get a current weighbridge certificate before buying.

 

[rod_vw]

What MH's are folk aware of that has the same or similar fixed bed layout to this Autoquest 150.

Also needs to be car licence friendly.
Around 7 meters.
Same or similar folding travel seats and similar bed/lounge
Able to tow around 2000k braked
Doesn't have to be 'compact'.

Many thanks



View attachment 870689

Also needs to be car licence friendly.
Do you not have C1 licence or are you not able to regain it? Apologies for asking if there are personal reasons.

I'm 75 and didn't retain my C1 when I passed 70 but have just passed the medical without problems and regained it.

We're now looking forward to up-plating this and using it fully kitted out.

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[Lenny HB]

Dunno about you Lenny but I can't think of any at 3500kg which has a payload to carry 4. I went with the RT as it's a bit more than many of them, certainly not any of the higher quality brands.

I've got a 6.6um van on order I know couldn't run it at 3500kg but it is a Carthago A Class.

OP wants to run with 3 so just about doable with a budget van at 6.5 to 6.7m needs to be looking at vans with at least 600kg of payload preferably more.
Absolutely no chance of an island bed.

 

[JRT]

Also needs to be car licence friendly.
Do you not have C1 licence or are you not able to regain it? Apologies for asking if there are personal reasons.

I'm 75 and didn't retain my C1 when I passed 70 but have just passed the medical without problems and regained it.

We're now looking forward to up-plating this and using it fully kitted out.

View attachment 870713

I do have C1 entitlement and will have for another five years. But another driver will lose their C1 within our projected ownership and will possibly struggle to retain it for health reasons.

 

[Lenny HB]

I do have C1 entitlement and will have for another five years. But another driver will lose their C1 within our projected ownership and will possibly struggle to retain it for health reasons.

You will need to ditch the idea of and island bed and look at much smaller vans.

You also need to take into account that most manufacturers take advantage of the 5% weight tolerance and most vans are over a 100 kg over so a 500 kg payload is really 400 kg. Also payload is given on the basic van, options & extras reduce the payload.

 

[JRT]

It all begs the question why such MH's are built and sold, I'm guessing the makers hope buyers don't check or don't care?

 

[JRT]

You will need to ditch the idea of and island bed and look at much smaller vans.

You also need to take into account that most manufacturers take advantage of the 5% weight tolerance and most vans are over a 100 kg over so a 500 kg payload is really 400 kg. Also payload is given on the basic van, options & extras reduce the payload.

We will consider the other driver not driving as we may be able to work around that and remove the requirement for it to be car licence friendly and repost another question.

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[Lenny HB]

We will consider the other driver not driving as we may be able to work around that and remove the requirement for it to be car licence friendly and repost another question.

Not a bad idea nothing worse that having to worry about every item you load in the van.

At 67 I bought a 4.5t van taking the view if I lost my C1 at 70 it would be a good excuse for a new van. Now 73 and have a 4t van on order.

 

[EuroTrotters]

with that towing capacity, probably looking at >3.5t RWD

Or a Compact PVC like a Sprinter Hymer

 

[Guigsy]

with that towing capacity, probably looking at >3.5t RWD

Or a Compact PVC like a Sprinter Hymer

Isn't the gross train weight of a Ducato 5.5t? Which covers most bases. But yeah, if you're hauling big stuff, then it'll have to be a Merc or Iveco RWD. But then they weigh even more.

 

[rod_vw]

I do have C1 entitlement and will have for another five years. But another driver will lose their C1 within our projected ownership and will possibly struggle to retain it for health reasons.

Hi JRT we are in exactly the same position of having potentially only one driver with a C1 but discussions between us have concluded that it's worth the inconvenience to be able to enjoy the larger vehicle for a few more years. As I posted above and having done my sums I am ten years or so older than you and we wish to have the bigger vehicle and its facilities as long as possible.
My wife can drive the MAN TGE and has done quite happily as it's not yet been up-plated so if an emergency occurred she can at least move it without a problem.