Motorhome Makers: Stop Doing This!

[McLouis]

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.

I have now solved the suspension issues at least.... Bilstein B6 camper advanced dampers.... No electric connection

 

[Jim]

Definitely, like this one

A 4 berth campervan of the year. How did they get that award with just, 400kg of payload!

 

[AvenirOnTour]

Definitely, like this one What illustrates this is how much easier they are to shut from outside. I've done this and clambered in via the cab when arriving back late on site, to avoid those embarrassing multiple 'whoosh BANGS' to get the thing locked.

I've thought about adding a handle like L'Hobo, but hesitated at dismantling to locate where is safe to screw.

And brown wood effect cupboards!!!

 

[brushdw]

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?

Delicate fly screens mounted in a position where a slamming door (extra deep) crashes into them. Problem seems to be the thickness of the door. Fly/mosquito screens are one of the most valuable pieces of kit on many sites.

 

[Don Campbell]

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?

Spot on. The aft skylight does not have to be "exactly in the middle". Give a bit more consideration to the size of decent capacity solar panels.

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[gwyntaxi]

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?

Great Rant Jim, couldn’t have put it better myself, however, what also seems to have been trending for the last couple of years is the drop down electric bed in a van that already got an island or fixed bed, they are battery greedy, and seeing as the majority of Motorhomers are couples, some of us retired and heading off South. for the winter, why would we need a spare heavy electric bed, it robs you of a massive amount of payload and eye level storage cupboards and adds unnecessary cost to the van prices, why not offer it as an option, one that I will most certainly never want.....just my view. Oh and speaking to some owners of the opening panoramic overcab sunroof many have complained of water getting in in driving rain.

 

[Gaston aires]

I totally agree with both of these points. We have a panoramic skylight on our van which was there when we bought it. Talk about boil your head in the summer, we always keep the shade cover on. As for the raised roof, I’ve never had one and wouldn’t want one.
The designers should ask MHF for advice on what’s needed and what’s not needed.
Phil

 

[dunnah01]

The designers should ask MHF for advice on what’s needed and what’s not needed.

you said that out loud

 

[treblid]

The designers should ask MHF for advice on what’s needed and what’s not needed

Except we don't all agree. I don't want features removed just because someone else doesn't like them.
We should have the choice.

 

[Pausim]

Except we don't all agree. I don't want features removed just because someone else doesn't like them.
We should have the choice.

Yes. Choice makes sense, basic fit out and lots of options.

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[TrudeandDall]

I totally agree with both of these points. We have a panoramic skylight on our van which was there when we bought it. Talk about boil your head in the summer, we always keep the shade cover on. As for the raised roof, I’ve never had one and wouldn’t want one.
The designers should ask MHF for advice on what’s needed and what’s not needed.
Phil

We like our skylight, it was one of the deciding factors when we chose the Vantana. Also, when it comes to the shade on the panoramic skylight, you have a choice, you can and we do close ours in strong light and/or heat. On the other hand the light and openness (no head banging over cab shelf) that it provides on a typical British summers day, or when the cab blinds are shut for privacy, far outweighs the odd day when it is too hot and the blind is shut. As for being cold, we are discussing a tin box PVC, everything cools down in winter. That's what our Truma heating is for.