Motorhome Makers: Stop Doing This!

[carolyn]

We love our big sliding door. Perhaps in the winter we might lose a bit more heat when we hop in and out but we don’t exactly stand there with it open.

The overhead cab is essential storage, would not consider a van without it. We were used to the door on our 2 IHs to keep it tidy so did wonder how it would work on our Consort Oslo. On our first big trip we mainly used it for bulky stuff like jackets and rainwear which didn’t seem the light of day much.
It will be home to our Silver Screens I would imagine for our big Iceland tour next year.
Nothing fell out.

We mainly sit in the U-shaped lounge or Conservatory as Nick calls it.

Eye level fridge is definitely the best as it’s used so often especially in confined spaces.

We do have a shower curtain but it’s just across the door, it doesn’t end up clinging. Also being less bulky it dries more quickly. Hated the wraparound IH one. It also took ages to dry especially in cold and damp.

Roof heki should be an essential in a bathroom, not an optional extra like it is or was in an IH.

 

[Swamp]

Think the globe travellers floors are all one level

Think the globe travellers floors are all one level .

They are

 

[pandas]

Surely this would cost conversion company a fortune?
Vans come with sliding doors .
Electric sliding doors might be the answer

Electric ones are really noisy.

 

[JimmE]

Not that I’ve any intention of changing our PVC, but any time I look at alternatives (especially from EU rather than UK manufacturers) I always note how small the kitchen workspace is - often just a hob and sink top, no additional prep space.

Don’t get me wrong - we like a PVC as we like to actually ‘be camping’ i.e. be outside a lot of the time, but there are colder/wetter days when that’s not ideal, and so as we enjoy cooking properly on the days we’re not eating out, that little extra countertop space is valuable for us.

It’s the one thing which put us off lots of other models we looked at, despite them being otherwise well suited. Even the newer version of our van has a much smaller kitchen top.

We’re only in a 6m van, and have a decent size kitchen, eye level fridge and fixed bed with oodles of storage beneath. No current model I can find seems to offer the same.

 

[Jim]

We love our big sliding door.

It's one of the best things about a panel van.

For years, no matter what the weather, hot sun, pouring rain, I loved sitting under my awning, whether it's that first cup of tea in the morning, a beer in the afternoon, or tapping away on a laptop or chatting with friends in the evening, that under-the-awning feeling is fantastic, we are camping after all (remember!)

Except now, I don't have to put the awning out, just slide open that big door and it's like you are outside. If it's raining, I will push out the awning just a foot or two to stop rain coming in.

Woosh Bangs - just like being under the awning but in comfy seats.

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[Geistguy]

IH do this but it will cost....

And in my opinion looks really ugly.

 

[L' Hobo]

Not that I’ve any intention of changing our PVC, but any time I look at alternatives (especially from EU rather than UK manufacturers) I always note how small the kitchen workspace is - often just a hob and sink top, no additional prep space.

Don’t get me wrong - we like a PVC as we like to actually ‘be camping’ i.e. be outside a lot of the time, but there are colder/wetter days when that’s not ideal, and so as we enjoy cooking properly on the days we’re not eating out, that little extra countertop space is valuable for us.

It’s the one thing which put us off lots of other models we looked at, despite them being otherwise well suited. Even the newer version of our van has a much smaller kitchen top.

We’re only in a 6m van, and have a decent size kitchen, eye level fridge and fixed bed with oodles of storage beneath. No current model I can find seems to offer the same.

As your from South Devon, I can only presume you have a MURVI, if not, have a ride up to Ivybridge and have a look at some.

 

[poppycamper]

Not that I’ve any intention of changing our PVC, but any time I look at alternatives (especially from EU rather than UK manufacturers) I always note how small the kitchen workspace is - often just a hob and sink top, no additional prep space.

Don’t get me wrong - we like a PVC as we like to actually ‘be camping’ i.e. be outside a lot of the time, but there are colder/wetter days when that’s not ideal, and so as we enjoy cooking properly on the days we’re not eating out, that little extra countertop space is valuable for us.

It’s the one thing which put us off lots of other models we looked at, despite them being otherwise well suited. Even the newer version of our van has a much smaller kitchen top.

We’re only in a 6m van, and have a decent size kitchen, eye level fridge and fixed bed with oodles of storage beneath. No current model I can find seems to offer the same.

The exact reason we had our van professionally built to our own design and specs.... we looked and looked but could not find a suitable mainstream converter that had everything we wanted.... oh and it was cheaper as well!!

 

[tonyidle]

Drop down beds in the cab area of A Class motorhomes.

I'd have nowhere to sleep!!

 

[pandas]

I love the panoramic roof light on my car - seems like I am driving a convertible without the risk of my rug blowing off.
Isn’t the generic for most of what’s been described here a ‘campervan’ rather than a ‘motorhome’ and I think they are defined by their name.
We used to love family holidays setting off in our ancient VW campervan when the kids were young, always a brilliant adventure.

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[hja]

One of the “ must haves” when changing to this van was adequate work surface, which we have to the side of the hob and the side of the sink. Couldn’t do without it.
We are quite happy with our swing wall shower. Yes it would be lovely to have the sort of washroom we had in the last caravan we had, but there is always a compromise.
We like the sliding door, I think it is electric, but it isn’t noisy, really!
I also like that the step autoretracts when you turn the engine on. Ours went wrong and we couldn’t get it fixed before we went away, it was a real pain having to remember to bring it in ourselves before leaving, despite a note on the dashboard. It was a loose wire in the engine somewhere.

 

[Joethejoiner]

Electric ones are really noisy.

Didn't realise that . Only experienced the ones on taxis/ people carriers which I don't remember being noisy at all

 

[Dart]

I wouldn't want one of those small cooker tops with three burners placed so close together that you couldn't fit three normal sized pans on it. And on a similar subject why are manufacturers still fitting two burner hobs in vans where there is room for something more practical.

 

[Brains]

One of the “ must haves” when changing to this van was adequate work surface, which we have to the side of the hob and the side of the sink. Couldn’t do without it.
We are quite happy with our swing wall shower. Yes it would be lovely to have the sort of washroom we had in the last caravan we had, but there is always a compromise.
We like the sliding door, I think it is electric, but it isn’t noisy, really!
I also like that the step autoretracts when you turn the engine on. Ours went wrong and we couldn’t get it fixed before we went away, it was a real pain having to remember to bring it in ourselves before leaving, despite a note on the dashboard. It was a loose wire in the engine somewhere.

I like swing wall showers.

When you consider the total number of minutes use the shower gets in a year (which I'm sure with the two of us is under an hour per year) I'm perfectly happy with the slightly cramped, but very clever, swing wall shower.

But I appreciate, if either of us were taller or wider it would be an issue.

 

[PeterCarole29]

I think, on a sliding door, the handle would be better on the other end of the door, where it pops open.
When opening, it's more 'natural' to pull it open, and on closing, easier to push it closed.

As it is, on opening, I rely on the door to spring out, before I can slide it open. And closing requires the skill of a ten pin bowler.

Also on the inside a handle on the latch part would make it a lot easier to pull shut.

Craig

We have fitted this on the inside really helps shutting it also wife likes it for hanging tea towel on

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[PeterCarole29]

Our door has two uses.
One as a toilet door.
The other is to close off the sleeping quarters from the
hab area, (and stop old men trying to work out where
the toilet door is in the middle of the night.)

We decided to fit a sliding door it works well and that way getting out of bed you can still get into toilet down the small ladder

 

[PeterCarole29]

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 .

That used to trouble us too we now have much more access to fridge on the end next to dinning and Oposite swivel seat so can even sit down and get stuff out also from outside

 

[Folkranger]

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.

My Hymer DL has the worst of both. It's built flimsy (very) to sell at 4.5t but there was no way I could sensibly get it to that so I went for 3850.
Adding insult to injury is going very flimsy, yet still needing a C1 licence.

 

[Folkranger]

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.

Probably the cheap plastic floor pan

 

[L' Hobo]

We have fitted this on the inside really helps shutting it also wife likes it for hanging tea towel on



View attachment 977176

I have something similar but not so long, yours seems a good idea especially if one leaves the window ajar!

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[L' Hobo]

We decided to fit a sliding door it works well and that way getting out of bed you can still get into toilet down the small ladder



View attachment 977178

Down a ladder to the toilet? That sounds like a case for Kannon Fodda to investigate?

 

[PeterCarole29]

Down a ladder to the toilet? That sounds like a case for Kannon Fodda to investigate?

lol not quite raised fixed bed small ladder down 3 steps and then turn into the tiolet

 

[L' Hobo]

lol not quite raised fixed bed small ladder down 3 steps and then turn into the tiolet

I realise that but Rob (Kannon Fodda) loves a toilet thread especially one that is slightly different.,

 

[Southend]

We love our 6m PVC. Completely agree with Jim, we would hate to lose the over cab storage and wouldn't want a skylight over the cab. On a similar theme, I'm surprised at the number of small vans that are still built with an internal gas locker. We couldn't be with out the additional internal storage that the underslung gas tank makes available.

 

[poppycamper]

We couldn't be with out the additional internal storage that the underslung gas tank makes available.

Maybe, just maybe if this was to become more normal then LPG pumps would start to reappear, Yes I know we don't use as much as gas powered cars did.. but it maybe a start...

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[rosalan]

I think now many campsites offer Autogas, the focus on garages supplying it may diminish even more sadly. It cannot be a frontline earner.

 

[Reallyretired]

Can someone explain why, on a two berth van, they
fit a lock to the toilet door.

I mean, do they expect you to invite the Mother Superior on holiday?

My last van 4 berth had a lock on the washroom though we never used it. Current is 2 berth and no lock.

 

[Reallyretired]

Down a ladder to the toilet? That sounds like a case for Kannon Fodda to investigate?

The toilets in the basement

 

[Nikwilko]

Overcast skylight, gives real healing of space when viewing. Reality they all leak, suffer wind noise and aren't practical in summer or winter
Showers in the aisle without a roof vent, completely useless design if you go outdoors in winter, no drying room and no ability to vent humidity.
Gas heating in the UK- way too expensive and availability concerns.
Uk rear lounge layouts - no storage.
Uk vans from supposed established convertor with glass single pane windows wtaf useless in summer and winter.
Pull out tray style fridge just don't work.
Comedy payloads.
All claimed 3rd bed options - joke.
Poptops just stop, all the negatives of a vw camper (17yrs experience of) added to your panel van.. Just no.
Flat/compressed rear springs stop the stupidity and fit suspension upto the job.

 

[Nikwilko]

Even worse that daft manufacturer designs and definitely worthy of a thread of its own surely.
Glowing reviews ignoring stupid design.
Both youtube and mainstream industry media,
1. campervans with beds blocking access to cupboards winning design awards.
2. Reviewer squashed in bathroom praising the space available, when clearly they don't fit.

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