My new Carthago 143

[dom_k]

Yes… another one to add to the forum now!

Absolutely love it but the first camping trip will probably be a month away. The merc auto is superb to drive and the aguti seats are awesome - perfect on the trip back from Germany.

A few jobs to do - garage flooring to sort out and I am going to put some solar on it too. Not sure how much yet and if to go lithium or stick with the gels… decisions decisions!

 

[Abgs]

I really like those ... I was seriously tempted by one and had a few 'parked' in my Mobile.de virtual garage. I had a Carthago 138 previously and was seriously impressed by the build quality.

I went with the Hymer MLt in the end as it came up at right spec and price - interior build quality not a patch on the Carthago but enjoying being back in a LHD Merc!

Enjoy it !

 

[dom_k]

Yes the quality is excellent. I am very impressed. Price was too good to pass up too so had to pull the trigger on it!

 

[Lenny HB]

After 3 Hymers well impressed with Carthago overall build quality.

 

[Sue and Rick]

Get some inside pics on please?

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[Brains]

Yes… another one to add to the forum now!

Absolutely love it but the first camping trip will probably be a month away. The merc auto is superb to drive and the aguti seats are awesome - perfect on the trip back from Germany.

A few jobs to do - garage flooring to sort out and I am going to put some solar on it too. Not sure how much yet and if to go lithium or stick with the gels… decisions decisions!

View attachment 951100

I'd be putting the alarm, the immobiliser and the tracker on the top of my 'to do' list.
Followed by Solar, GasLow and the tow bar.

(You could have it all done with one trip to the south west, at VanBitz and LNB)

 

[dom_k]

A few more pics

 

[Lenny HB]

A few more pics View attachment 951397View attachment 951398View attachment 951399View attachment 951400

Nice to see you have the steering wheel on the proper side. My original order for LHD got cancelled so ended up with RHD, it was either that or wait another year.

 

[dom_k]

I’ve not driven a LHD for years. It was all ok after the first 5 mins though. The layout works better to me in LHD format

 

[MichaelT]

Nice to see you have the steering wheel on the proper side. My original order for LHD got cancelled so ended up with RHD, it was either that or wait another year.

And no bed over the cab

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[Pausim]

The only naff thing I found on my Carthago was the net curtains and these are easily removed.

 

[MichaelT]

The only naff thing I found on my Carthago was the net curtains and these are easily removed.

Love ours

 

[Neilh]

Dom, looks fantastic, the kitchen next to the hab door, no drop bed makes for perfect set up for 2, you're swaying me away from the Hymer!
I'm interested in how you configure your garage for bikes, as the 123cm height of the Hymer was the driver for me, bikes in with wheels on v taking them off.

 

[MichaelT]

Dom, looks fantastic, the kitchen next to the hab door, no drop bed makes for perfect set up for 2, you're swaying me away from the Hymer!
I'm interested in how you configure your garage for bikes, as the 123cm height of the Hymer was the driver for me, bikes in with wheels on v taking them off.

I've got a 143 with an XL electric bike and Mrs T smaller one in. Both have wheels on

 

[Neilh]

Hi Michael, do you put them in rack, thinking Veloslide?

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[MichaelT]

Hi Michael, do you put them in rack, thinking Veloslide?

No just use straps as XL one bit tall but smaller ones would be ok

 

[dom_k]

I’m going to test fit some bikes weekend after next so will let you know!

 

[Lenny HB]

The only naff thing I found on my Carthago was the net curtains and these are easily removed.

Agree comarped to the rest of the van they are a bit cheap & nasty, looking at making some Roman blinds out of better material like the Hymer had.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm interested in how you configure your garage for bikes, as the 123cm height of the Hymer was the driver for me, bikes in with wheels on v taking them off.

Internal garage height is 120cm I can get my new bike in and I've put a stem riser on it. Most bikes with 29" wheels should go in. I was worried as our last Hymer was about 135cm.

 

[LostInSpace]

I went with the Hymer MLT in the end as it came up at right spec and price - interior build quality not a patch on the Carthago

The interior build quality on our new Hymer Exsis is a step up from the flat pack appearance of the previous Hymer.

looking at making some Roman blinds out of better material like the Hymer had.

Fitted as standard.

But, I think we are all happy with our German motorhomes.

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[Neilh]

Internal garage height is 120cm I can get my new bike in and I've put a stem riser on it. Most bikes with 29" wheels should go in. I was worried as our last Hymer was about 135cm.

Thanks, That's good to know. My bike, being the tallest is 110cm, if a velo-side is set up correctly the wheels will just clear the door with handle bars straight. The door width is wider than on a Hymer 600, which helps with the wide handlebars.

N

 

[BikerGraham]

Lovely looking van.

Hope you make some fabulous memories with her

 

[Broadway]

The build quality is impressive. I put a Veloslide in mine. Very easy to install and use.

Scott electric bikes on 29” wheels just squeez in.

 

[kimndon]

How did you get on with the paperwork? Especially this side of your import. I haven't brought a motorhome back from Germany since Brexit. Lovely van.

 

[Neilh]

The build quality is impressive. I put a Veloslide in mine. Very easy to install and use.

Scott electric bikes on 29” wheels just squeez in.

View attachment 951726

Nice one. What's the overall bike height, bottom of tyre to highest point on the bars?

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[Minxy]

The only naff thing I found on my Carthago was the net curtains and these are easily removed.

One of the first things that came out of ours, followed by the stupidly massive table top which I replaced with a smaller one. I also removed the small faux curtain strips in the rear and made a fully functioning thermal lined curtain to go on the rail instead as I sleep right next to the window so having the extra layer of 'insulation' keeps it a bit warmer in mid-winter. After 5 years I've finally had enough of the faux bits of curtain in the lounge so they've just come out too! Just got to remember where I stored all the removed bits 5 years ago!

 

[Roby2008]

Nice to see you have the steering wheel on the proper side. My original order for LHD got cancelled so ended up with RHD, it was either that or wait another year.

I was about to say the same thing

 

[dom_k]

How did you get on with the paperwork? Especially this side of your import. I haven't brought a motorhome back from Germany since Brexit. Lovely van.

It’s going ok so far. Import declaration done VAT paid and NOVA submitted. The IVA is done and paperwork in - hopefully come today as the wording on the garage report has been accepted when they emailed yesterday

 

[Broadway]

Nice one. What's the overall bike height, bottom of tyre to highest point on the bars?

Bottom of tyre to highest point on the handlebars is 1110mm. There’s about 10mm clearance.

 

[dom_k]

My CDS and NOVA are complete now which took a couple of days. Got my IVA cert in post today. Took a week as they return cert by 2nd class post! Registration to submit now then I’m on the road

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