Motorhome recommendations for 5

[SeanfromClon]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone would have any recommendations for a family of 5 with three kids under twelve. We are in Ireland and aren’t located all that close to dealers so any brands/model advice that have a solid reputation (mechanically and leakage) would be appreciated. Hope everyone gets some much needed August sunshine, thanks.

 

[Riverbankannie]

When putting 5 berth into search filters, always next check the number of belted seats. Not all have 5 of those but you will need them.
Next check the weight. To be honest it will be very difficult if not impossible to run a MH for 5 within a standard driving licence. Do you have a licence which covers you over 3500kg? Within GB and NI that would be category C1.

 

[SeanfromClon]

Thanks for the reply, I don’t have the licence for c1 so I am thinking of aiming for 7m instead of 7.3 to try to help keep the weight down in any way possible, it’s a good point as I can see us creeping very close to 3500kg very quickly. We were talking earlier of taking measures like hiring bikes instead of bringing them with us if we travel to the continent.

 

[Just smiffy]

Welcome….

It may be worth doing your C1 as it will give you a lot more choice of vans and that all important weight limit.
Cheeper on tax too….

I believe it’s around £1000 to take the test in the uk and you could save that on a van with more choice…

 

[Just smiffy]

Plus you’ll find it very hard to find a proper 5 seatbelt van under 3500kg…

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[Ridgeway]

3.5t with 5 isn’t realistically possible and hence why we used a 3.5t van with a light weight trailer for several years. It was the cheapest solution for us to manage the weight and space, might be worth thinking about.

Good luck with the search and your children will love the holidays in a MoHo

 

[Landy Andy]

My Adria coral is a 5 birth. With 5 belted seats. 7.2m long. Well built and we are very happy with it.

 

[Guigsy]

Don't Dreamer do a van for 5?

 

[SeanfromClon]

Thanks for the advice. We were looking at some Rimor models and they look good spec wise but a bit uncertain about how they might perform if we decide to do an overnight trip to the beach during the winter. Based on the advise I’m wondering if we are being too optimistic with the idea of assuming 500kg load weight would be sufficient for 5. Would anyone have a rough figure for the weight allowance that a family of 5 travelling relatively light would come to?

 

[SeanfromClon]

Don't Dreamer do a van for 5?

We were looking at one but we’re thinking that based on how expensive they are we might end up regretting it given there would be some fairly big compromises on space.

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[SeanfromClon]

My Adria coral is a 5 birth. With 5 belted seats. 7.2m long. Well built and we are very happy with it.

Have ye always been ok with the 3500kg weight? Thanks.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

You will have to find a van that seats and sleeps five under 3.5t, that's going to be difficult. Then you need to think about adding a trailer but the weight of the tow bar and brackets may well put you over the 3.5t. A fitted tow bar will cost you £750 ish.plus the cost of a trailer So a C1 test is probably your best option to then obtain a bigger van.

 

[daventess]

3.5t with 5 isn’t realistically possible and hence why we used a 3.5t van with a light weight trailer for several years.

Did you put the kids in the trailer?

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

What sort of budget roughly are you thinking of.
I am asking because maybe, just maybe, a caravan might be a better option to get you all comfortably bedded in, with rear bunks for 2 and a 3rd single at the rear and a make up double at the front for mum and dad.
Plus, proper seatbelts in the tow car and probably a much better payload overall.
This is providing your licence covers you for towing.
Not sure if a non c1 category licence covers you for towing though.
Pricing might also be more bang for your buck with a caravan, but you will need to factor in the cost of a tow car.
Overall, might work out better in the long run as the kids grow and awnings can be utilised.
Just a thought.

 

[SeanfromClon]

What sort of budget roughly are you thinking of.
I am asking because maybe, just maybe, a caravan might be a better option to get you all comfortably bedded in, with rear bunks for 2 and a 3rd single at the rear and a make up double at the front for mum and dad.
Plus, proper seatbelts in the tow car and probably a much better payload overall.
This is providing your licence covers you for towing.
Not sure if a non c1 category licence covers you for towing though.
Pricing might also be more bang for your buck with a caravan, but you will need to factor in the cost of a tow car.
Overall, might work out better in the long run as the kids grow and awnings can be utilised.
Just a thought.

Hi, thanks for replying, we thought about getting a caravan for a while but we were hoping having a van/motorhome would give us the freedom to do trips during winter and spring when the vast majority of caravan parks would be closed. Then we thought about the dreamer camper 5 as we might save money on the cost by substituting it for a car (no idea if this approach would work!) but given they are very expensive and also possibly cramped for 5 we are unsure of it. Finally (hopefully) we decided maybe on a 7m motorhome as it would have a good combination of space and not be excessively heavy. Based on the helpful posts I have seen it looks like 5 people in a motorhome will more than likely go over 3500. Great advice and plenty to consider.

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[Landy Andy]

Have ye always been ok with the 3500kg weight? Thanks.

Yes. But it’s only two of us, and we are used to camping light. We don’t carry loads of crap like lots of others do.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Hi, thanks for replying, we thought about getting a caravan for a while but we were hoping having a van/motorhome would give us the freedom to do trips during winter and spring when the vast majority of caravan parks would be closed. Then we thought about the dreamer camper 5 as we might save money on the cost by substituting it for a car (no idea if this approach would work!) but given they are very expensive and also possibly cramped for 5 we are unsure of it. Finally (hopefully) we decided maybe on a 7m motorhome as it would have a good combination of space and not be excessively heavy. Based on the helpful posts I have seen it looks like 5 people in a motorhome will more than likely go over 3500. Great advice and plenty to consider.

Think you might need to reconsider about sites being closed in the winter.
A fair amount will still be open.
I assume you are thinking, if getting away in the winter and spring, that a motorhome would be better for wild camping/ stay overs rather than a caravan, which would need a site?
A fair few of the Camping and Caravan club District Associations have organised rallies in the winter and spring, often on areas that will have minimal facilities, other than perhaps water and waste disposal, but a site non the less.
Providing you have a good winterised caravan, with your own facilities on board, you might find that suits your needs.
If you are only talking about Ireland though, I have no knowledge of how their district associations operate, only of the ones in England, according to my camping and caravanning handbook.
Food for thought.

 

[Guigsy]

We were looking at one but we’re thinking that based on how expensive they are we might end up regretting it given there would be some fairly big compromises on space.

Yes, it's small. But that also means you've got more of a chance of staying under 3.5t.

 

[Guigsy]

Not sure, but I believe the payload quoted assumes what's left when the van is totally empty except for a 75kg driver and half a tank of fuel.

35kg for the rest of the fuel tank. 30kg for a pair of gas bottles. Other half and 3 kids might be 150kg.

Food, water, bedding, clothes... quickly adds up.

Plus any options like awning, the bigger engine or auto gearbox, the winter pack and solar panels eat into the payload.

That's before you start adding toys like bikes, outside furniture, etc.

 

[Lenny HB]

I’m wondering if we are being too optimistic with the idea of assuming 500kg load weight would be sufficient for 5.

That would be very tight for two let alone 5. There are not many vans at 7m you can run legally at 3500 with two people.

Most converters make use of the 5% weight tolerance so that's lost 150 kg off the payload.
Then factory & dealer fitted extras will lose another 100-200kg, E g. For winter use you will need a second battery 30kg an awning is around 45kg, spare wheel 30kg etc.

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[scotzsue]

When putting 5 berth into search filters, always next check the number of belted seats. Not all have 5 of those but you will need them.
Next check the weight. To be honest it will be very difficult if not impossible to run a MH for 5 within a standard driving licence. Do you have a licence which covers you over 3500kg? Within GB and NI that would be category C1.

Look for models with a lightweight alko chassis, our 686 escape was one 6berth 6 belted seats and a healthy 600ish k payload, that was after, solar, second battery and bike rack. Was a 2009 model. We happily took 3 grandchildren away in it.

 

[SeanfromClon]

Think you might need to reconsider about sites being closed in the winter.
A fair amount will still be open.
I assume you are thinking, if getting away in the winter and spring, that a motorhome would be better for wild camping/ stay overs rather than a caravan, which would need a site?
A fair few of the Camping and Caravan club District Associations have organised rallies in the winter and spring, often on areas that will have minimal facilities, other than perhaps water and waste disposal, but a site non the less.
Providing you have a good winterised caravan, with your own facilities on board, you might find that suits your needs.
If you are only talking about Ireland though, I have no knowledge of how their district associations operate, only of the ones in England, according to my camping and caravanning handbook.
Food for thought.

Thanks again for the feedback. To the best of my knowledge (relatively minimal knowledge at this point) I’d say there would be little open over here during the winter as the numbers of people passing through the west in particular would be quite low. Having a motorhome would allow us to pull in anywhere we feel would be suitable so we wouldn’t be dependent on places being open. I have to say the biggest wake up call for me has been how almost all the replies in relation to the weight issue have been quite confident it will be a big problem making 3500 with 5 on board. I wonder is anyone is aware of a website that objectively lists the unloaded weights of most motorhomes and camper vans and caravans etc.

 

[68c]

You need to know how much you and your family weigh, clothed. Then remember children have a habit of growing and getting heavier. I think you will see just how quickly you can eat into that payload. Bicycles, spare clothing, bedding, food , water, fuel and toys mean you are not likely to fit into that 500kg payload.

Twenty years ago few bothered about payload or even knew if they were over so quite a few happily drove around with two kids in the back with no seatbelts. Nowadays we are more safety concious so want full seatbelts, the extra seatbelt supports have a steel frame which also takes away from that payload.

 

[Lenny HB]

Quite a few converters offer the option of a 5th belted seat that that folds out of the seat base but there won't be many about on the 2nd hand market.

 

[SeanfromClon]

That would be very tight for two let alone 5. There are not many vans at 7m you can run legally at 3500 with two people.

Most converters make use of the 5% weight tolerance so that's lost 150 kg off the payload.
Then factory & dealer fitted extras will lose another 100-200kg, E g. For winter use you will need a second battery 30kg an awning is around 45kg, spare wheel 30kg etc.

Great info thanks and it makes me even more confident now that it will be virtually impossible to make it with 5 and we would end up short of a lot of things we would need probably. I’m guessing there would be big consequences legally if a motorhome is found to be over the limit?

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[SeanfromClon]

You need to know how much you and your family weigh, clothed. Then remember children have a habit of growing and getting heavier. I think you will see just how quickly you can eat into that payload. Bicycles, spare clothing, bedding, food , water, fuel and toys mean you are not likely to fit into that 500kg payload.

Twenty years ago few bothered about payload or even knew if they were over so quite a few happily drove around with two kids in the back with no seatbelts. Nowadays we are more safety concious so want full seatbelts, the extra seatbelt supports have a steel frame which also takes away from that payload.

Not the sort of thing you’d want hanging over you each trip either so may as well get it right at the start.

 

[Lenny HB]

consequences legally if a motorhome is found to be over the limit?

Depends what side they got out of bed on, 100kg probably get away with it in France there is no leaway.
If over by a lot you are likely to get 3 fines one for each axle and one for gross weight and you might have to unload until you are below the limit before you can proceed

 

[Kirsten]

Hiya. Our first Moho was a 2006 Hymer -under 3.5 tons , with 6 belted seats a drop down bed and the table folded down into a good double, it was under 6 m long and we took the 3 grandkids away in it many times until the oldest was 13. Depends if you are ok with a bit of a squeeze, don’t load van up with Tv/ microwave etc , and accept an older van will have quirks and not be ’ posh ‘ Loved our old van, main issue was underpowered engine . Have fun on your holibobs, if on campsites an awning or small tent is a great extra space

 

[EuroTrotters]

Used Motorhomes for Sale - Auto Trader UK

www.autotrader.co.uk

Quite a few Hymers with 5 and 6 seat belts
Laika Kreos range

Watch payloads mind !

 

[SeanfromClon]

Hiya. Our first Moho was a 2006 Hymer -under 3.5 tons , with 6 belted seats a drop down bed and the table folded down into a good double, it was under 6 m long and we took the 3 grandkids away in it many times until the oldest was 13. Depends if you are ok with a bit of a squeeze, don’t load van up with Tv/ microwave etc , and accept an older van will have quirks and not be ’ posh ‘ Loved our old van, main issue was underpowered engine . Have fun on your holibobs, if on campsites an awning or small tent is a great extra space

Thanks for the advice, looking forward to some adventures!