Motorhome Makers: Stop Doing This!

[Jim]

Another show season has come and gone! I've trudged around most of them, poked around hundreds of vans, and subjected my wallet to imaginary spending sprees. In the past I've owned it all; from behemoth RVs with two 12ft slide outs to dinky 6m A-Class Hymers. I know what I like.

A few years ago we transitioned, (as many of you will) to the panel van conversion. And it's these that I've been giving much of my attention too. And honestly, I love them. I'm about to write an article on why I think everyone should own one..

But before I start waxing lyrical, I've been looking at my photos and I need to address two design sins that motorhome manufacturers seem hell-bent on committing. Seriously, it's like they're copying each other's homework. badly. So, dear motorhome makers, stop this now.

Massive Skylights Over the Cab: Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?

Who are these designers who think a skylight above the cab seats in a PVC is a must-have? Have they ever spent time in a motorhome?

They turn your van into a sauna in the summer and a walk-in freezer in the winter. Enjoy those extremes, do you?
They can be noisy and Oh, you didn't want that perfect overcab cupboard, did you? Of course not! Who needs useful storage when you can have a sunroof trying 12 hours a day to give you cancer.

The cab area has a massive windscreen, with a skylight it's bright enough to double as a tanning salon! We don't need more light up there. And you lose that wide overcab man-locker that holds plenty of good gadgets, gaffa and string. Seriously, stop it.

Rising Roofs: Just... No!

Stop it with the rising roof. (Haven't you noticed they are not selling) People who own panel vans tour as singles or couples, and don't want to climb ladders to go to bed. Those beds up top are good for kids, but the van does not have payload or storage for kids. Sorry, kids, the bikes stay home. No Ball and I said just one pair of shoes! Panel vans are for adults, such as shame that these rising roof vans are not designed by them.

/Rant over


Anything you want them to stop?

 

[StillGoing]

Most of the time, we keep the blind closed on the front skylight - certainly all the time while driving. However, when parked up, we do sometimes open the front skylight to get a flow of air through the motorhome.

I want them to position the side door so it’s completely under the awning. On ours, the door opening is under the awning but the open door itself isn’t.

 

[StillGoing]

Have a proper mechanism to hold the side door open so I don’t have to use bungees when it’s windy.

 

[DBK]

Telling fibs about payload in order to fit under 3.5t. I can understand the commercial pressure to stay under 3.5t but the answer is weight-saving construction*, not fibs.

* Which costs more so I'm not holding my breath.

 

[rosalan]

There may be efficient door retainers but to date I have not had one. One or two small screws into bodywork and retainers that need annual replacement if you visit hot places do not seem to have evolved over the last 30 years. Garage and habitation doors that slamm onto walls is not good enough.
While I am at it, why do garages in most mid-range vans have a limit of 150kg? Many van chassis' are capable of upgrading with little more than a paper excercise.

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[Rob Hammond]

Cooker low down in the isle is it safe ?same as low fridge backs not what it used to be so eye level lot better .

 

[hja]

I’m with Jim all the way on this. We have a Sky Roof on our Summit Prime. When we chose it we did compare with another Globe Car which didn’t have the Sky Roof. There were other things that meant we preferred the Summit Prime but also the other van without sky roof seemed dark, but it was in a show room. It is perhaps the biggest down side of our van. There was a know noise issue with the vans which we had the fix for and it was better. It is however still noisy and in the real world we don’t need the light or ventilation. We have never opened it.
As for pop tops, if you raise the roof because you need the height I am sure the insulation must be poorer than a proper roof, and if you don’t raise them, why bother. I suppose with some vans they allow the van to go under height barriers, but mostly not the case.

 

[Badknee]

I want them to position the side door so it’s completely under the awning. On ours, the door opening is under the awning but the open door itself isn’t.

Good one

 

[Badknee]

Have a proper mechanism to hold the side door open so I don’t have to use bungees when it’s windy.

Tennis ball.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

My 5.4 pvc would be a real pain without the over front cab shelf. There would be nowhere else for bedding. I simply would not buy a van with the "panoramic" front window.

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[Stroppy Bird]

Have to admit that while I wouldn't mind not having the overcab skylight, I do not miss having the overcab locker, or rather I don't miss banging my head on it. On our old van it was a constant source of the exclamation of Oh Please! after one or other of us hit our head on it for the umpteenth time.

 

[Badknee]

Cooker low down in the isle is it safe ?same as low fridge backs not what it used to be so eye level lot better .

Our fridge is on the floor (Vantage Neo) under the wardrobe, put it higher and give us drawers low down.

 

[TheMachMan]

Agree with the skylight. Ours developed stress cracks, Carthago blamed us for using a cleaning product that must have removed the plasticisers from the Acrylic! We only use Autoglym on the bodywork, water on the plastic windows. Autoglym confirmed they have tested it on Acrylic and there was no damage. Cost us £1,400! New one is far more substantial so they clearly changed the design as it must have been flexing!

 

[Rob Hammond]

Our fridge is on the floor (Vantage Neo) under the wardrobe, put it higher and give us drawers low down.

I've noticed some pvc's have the higher fridge this is one of my must haves and no shower curtain

 

[Happy Jack]

Have a proper mechanism to hold the side door open so I don’t have to use bungees when it’s windy.

Hi stillgoing.
Search on E bay for campervan sliding door stop.
I fitted two so I could have differing opening positions.

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[Grianan]

Agree with skylight - our silver screens live up there.
Also agree re pop tops - bought a van cos we didn’t want a tent - or ladders (hence no interest in over cab beds).
2 to add

• flipping ubiquitous fly screen that breaks as soon as you look at it
• I’d really prefer floor all at one level

 

[ontheroadagain]

And why do the manufactures think that every one on the planet is under 6’- 0” tall when it comes to designing beds?

 

[Nanniemate]

Another show season has come and gone! I've trudged around most of them, poked around hundreds of vans, and subjected my wallet to imaginary spending sprees. In the past I've owned it all; from behemoth RVs with two 12ft slide outs to dinky 6m A-Class Hymers. I know what I like.

A few years ago we transitioned, (as many of you will) to the panel van conversion. And it's these that I've been giving much of my attention too. And honestly, I love them. I'm about to write an article on why I think everyone should own one..

But before I start waxing lyrical, I've been looking at my photos and I need to address two design sins that motorhome manufacturers seem hell-bent on committing. Seriously, it's like they're copying each other's homework. badly. So, dear motorhome makers, stop this now.

Massive Skylights Over the Cab: Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?

Who are these designers who think a skylight above the cab seats in a PVC is a must-have? Have they ever spent time in a motorhome?

They turn your van into a sauna in the summer and a walk-in freezer in the winter. Enjoy those extremes, do you?
They can be noisy and Oh, you didn't want that perfect overcab cupboard, did you? Of course not! Who needs useful storage when you can have a sunroof trying 12 hours a day to give you cancer.

The cab area has a massive windscreen, with a skylight it's bright enough to double as a tanning salon! We don't need more light up there. And you lose that wide overcab man-locker that holds plenty of good gadgets, gaffa and string. Seriously, stop it.

Rising Roofs: Just... No!

Stop it with the rising roof. (Haven't you noticed they are not selling) People who own panel vans tour as singles or couples, and don't want to climb ladders to go to bed. Those beds up top are good for kids, but the van does not have payload or storage for kids. Sorry, kids, the bikes stay home. No Ball and I said just one pair of shoes! Panel vans are for adults, such as shame that these rising roof vans are not designed by them.

/Rant over


Anything you want them to stop?

We seem to agree , my o ercab locker houses the screen covers internal and external , the folding chair, spare gas cooker cats tails for whooshbang, cycling helmet and a few other bits, forgot the folding coffee table.

As for a raising roof is that a pop top? I don't understand why you want/need a roof tent. Unless your 6'8" and can't stand up. Back to browsing van for sale sights now
Also with my fantasy funds

 

[maison]

The window over the cab in our motorhome “rattles”, (more like heavy thunks), when on bad road surfaces. We have fitted packing materials anywhere we can and cannot detect any movement in it when we try to move it by hand.

This is the first time we have had such a window and wouldn’t worry if we never had another.

My other pet hate is having popup rooflights on the roof rather than the tilting Heki style ones.

When in southern France this summer we envied those with the rooflights wide open while we had a one to two inch gap around the edges of ours..

 

[Pausim]

On our Malibu Van the over cab skylight was optional which seems a perfectly reasonable choice for the customer to have. We ordered one without it because we wanted the cupboard, despite both of us banging our heads on it when looking at one in the showroom. However the van we ordered was delayed and we eventually gave up waiting for it and took a cancelled order for one with the skylight instead of the cupboard. No real regrets, it doesn’t open and it doesn’t make a noise but it does make for a much brighter living space, particularly on the dull days. We thought we would miss the lost storage space but we still have plenty to spare below the twin beds at the back. I agree that putting one in as standard would be a mistake but as an option I have no real issues with it.

I agree that 4 berth pop top vans are unlikely to be useable at 3500kg and shouldn’t be sold at this weight

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[DT]

No more whoosh bang.

 

[Jewellbags]

I like the over cab window , it provides hours of entertainment when I can close it again because the arms don’t slide back and oh the joy when heavy rain finds its way through to drip in the back of your neck when driving .

 

[scotzsue]

Cooker low down in the isle is it safe ?same as low fridge backs not what it used to be so eye level lot better .

Ah but my eye level and yours may differ by a great deal, had to use a stool to see in the bathroom cabinet mirror that john and his almost 6' DIL fitted for me.

And why do the manufactures think that every one on the planet is under 6’- 0” tall when it comes to designing beds?

And at least that tall when fitting cupboards, I do love my folding stools.
We have a front, non opening sun roof on our coachbuilt, the blind is almost permanently closed due to glare when driving, it does however give a bit of extra light when we have the silver screens in place

 

[L' Hobo]

Agree with the skylight. Ours developed stress cracks, Carthago blamed us for using a cleaning product that must have removed the plasticisers from the Acrylic! We only use Autoglym on the bodywork, water on the plastic windows. Autoglym confirmed they have tested it on Acrylic and there was no damage. Cost us £1,400! New one is far more substantial so they clearly changed the design as it must have been flexing!

I have to say, this is the main reason why I would NEVER buy a PVC with a overcab skylight.

When travelling at any speed, it is the first thing that meets the elements at high speed/force, which makes it, after a few years, susceptible to leaks not to mention decreasing the van's structure slightly.

Whilst we are on the subject of skylights Jim , who thought it a good idea to install a LARGE skylight at the front of a Fiat with a fluted roof when that has a tendency to sit higher at the rear?

This traps rain water, in the flutes, near the skylight and in winter, this water freezes, expands into the sealant around the skylight and weakens it and, eventually, causes it to leak!

If one was being cynical, one might think it was so that more work could be made for the dealers repair department?

 

[Dart]

My gripe is vans being supplied with cream coloured carpets. It can only be for showroom appeal.

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[Nirvanauk]

Have to admit that while I wouldn't mind not having the overcab skylight, I do not miss having the overcab locker, or rather I don't miss banging my head on it. On our old van it was a constant source of the exclamation of Oh Please! after one or other of us hit our head on it for the umpteenth time.

I know from experience what, "Oh Please! " really means.

 

[Brains]

No more whoosh bang.

I was about to say this.

Why fit a sliding woosh bang door ?
especially when half the exit is blocked, usually by the cooker or sink unit.

I'd have thought it was actually cheaper for the manufacturers to replace the sliding door with a panel and a conventional low hab door.

 

[Rob Hammond]

Agree with skylight - our silver screens live up there.
Also agree re pop tops - bought a van cos we didn’t want a tent - or ladders (hence no interest in over cab beds).
2 to add

• flipping ubiquitous fly screen that breaks as soon as you look at it
• I’d really prefer floor all at one level

Think the globe travellers floors are all one level .

 

[Nirvanauk]

I was about to say this.

Why fit a sliding woosh bang door ?
especially when half the exit is blocked, usually by the cooker or sink unit.

I'd have thought it was actually cheaper for the manufacturers to replace the sliding door with a panel and a conventional low hab door.

IH do this but it will cost....

 

[Pausim]

No more whoosh bang.

Hab doors get slammed all the time you just don’t get the warning whoosh.

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