New Motorhome - Must Haves and Must Nots

[peterc10]

Depends what you want to use it for and how you will use it. Always campsites or wilding all the time? Full time use or 4 weeks a year? Few long trips through Europe or weekends away in the UK? Just the two of you or take the kids or grandchildren?

Refillable gas tank or cylinders
Hydraulic levelling steadies
As much solar as you can fit on the roof
If you have a decent sized garage, a scooter
Lithium batteries
Decent corkscrew
SOG
Engine heat exchanger for the Alde heating

 

[Scotch mist]

It's a Dethleffs

Yeh but which model ?

 

[Wh05apk]

Yeh but which model ?

My guess is the alpa, with rear lounge and lengthwise drop down beds over the cab?
If so this is a bulky overcab coachbuilt, have you looked at an a class?

 

[obanvanman]

I think you are already looking at something too big to acess all areas (nc 500 etc)

Why? We spent 6 months touring Scotland, including the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys, and the so called NC500 in our 810 Euramobil without any problems.

 

[Scotch mist]

My guess is the alpa, with rear lounge and lengthwise drop down beds over the cab?
If so this is a bulky overcab coachbuilt, have you looked at an a class?

The alpha is 7.3m long (not tag ) , the grand alpha is 8.6mlong , there is now a new A class grand alpha coming out with drop down cab bed ,I’ll wait for BA to reply with the type rather than speculate

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[The Wino]

Why? We spent 6 months touring Scotland, including the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys, and the so called NC500 in our 810 Euramobil without any problems.

We are 6m each to their own but I think much longer would hinder acess to some areas and make it harder to park near town centres.

 

[Littlewheels]

Definitely don’t bother with the DropDown Bed, you state hopefully it won’t get used so you don’t really need it and definitely not for your friends to tag onto you, however,
The main reason not to have it is the space it affords you obviously you don’t get floor space the open space it does offer gives off an effect of greater open space plus you can get more cupboards around.

 

[Lenny HB]

It's a Dethleffs

In that case make sure it's a proper one - Left Hand Drive.

 

[Bustup15]

Thanks to all who replied.

In no particular order

It is the A class I 7820-2
Full winter insulation

Alde heat exchanger

Increased battery capacity and extra leisure battery

120w solar - waiting to see how that copes and what room is available on roof before looking to increase.

No air suspension, again want to run it first and see how it copes but as others have done could be retro fitted. It was an expensive option!

Left hand drive

As it has the rear lounge the garage isn't full height although the demo model had bike tracks fitted but I think showed with front wheel removed?

The front drop down is the main bed and will definitely be used as we don't want to be making up a bed in the huge rear lounge. Plus it means that other person can stay up while partner has an early one

Due to its size I think there will be ample storage for 2 - although seeing OH pack for a weekend it may be an education exercise!

SOG - not spec' but on my list

Refillable gas - likewise

Kitchen vent/extractor, air con to cab, automatic gearbox all included.

Size - was the biggest question mark in my mind, BUT, as far as I can see, the only consideration that everyone on the forum agrees with is, LAYOUT, LAYOUT, LAYOUT, is the single most importsnt factor in getting satisfaction. I'm pretty confident we have chosen correctly in this respect.

I have driven many types of vehicles over the years and size hasn't bothered me so far, hired a large motorhome last year to try out @ 7.5 metres around parts of NC500 and found no issues. I've read @Northernraider exploits and as he says there are very few places you can't take a larger MH.

Hopefully that will not come back and bite me on the backside once we start and travel. I take the attitude that the more remote places still get delivery vans, refuse wagons and the like, in Spain you see coaches up and down the mountain roads without any serious issues so fingers crossed

 

[Stephen Franklin]

As others have already said, another vote for the heat exchanger, which you have specced.

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[Scotch mist]

welcome to the Dethleffs club , I opted for a A7877-2 trend , I loved the alpha but the garage was to small for us to get a motorbike in , at 8.6m it is long (also own a 6m van) takes a bit more thought but so far no problems

 

[Lenny HB]

Increased battery capacity and extra leisure battery

Don't let them fob you off with crap AGM's

Left hand drive

Sensible boy.

hired a large motorhome last year to try out @ 7.5 metres

That's quite small.

 

[peterc10]

If you are often moving on rather than staying for a long time in one place and if you like to get your van level you will find that hydraulic levellers will make your life so much easier. Not cheap, but then nor is the motorhome you are buying I suspect.

 

[wasp]

A decent sized fridge freezer the rv had a brilliant one but the Buccaneer was tiny

 

[Basildog]

Black tank instead of a useless cassette toilet
Cassette toilet is for caravans

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[bigtwin]

What are the insulation standards? Do you need a winter pack?.

It’s a Dethleffs, there’s no such thing - they come winter capable. The only part of mine that isn’t in an Alde heated space is the water drain outlets (less than 2” length).

I think you are already looking at something too big to acess all areas (nc 500 etc)

We’ve done the NC500 a few times (Pass o Cattle excepted) in our 8.4 m tag.

Don’t need it on the tag Alko as they are probably the best handling Motorhome as standard unlike many others .

I’d agree with that statement. They sit so low that the handing is exceptional.

Ian

 

[Lanerboy]

Do not pay factory build price for levelling jacks go and get Mick at sap in Doncaster to fit them for you makes a very professional job and much cheaper

You will regret not having them once you had had them you will never go back imo

 

[jdk62]

Do not pay factory build price for levelling jacks go and get Mick at sap in Doncaster to fit them for you makes a very professional job and much cheaper

You will regret not having them once you had had them you will never go back imo

Ask Mick but he will probably advise to change front suspension to heavy duty... (although the OP's may already have)

 

[nicholsong]

It has been posted above, but if you want to be off-grid and you move every couple of days or so I would urge you to have a B2B - effective all year/all weathers unlike solar panels. We are always off-grid and the alternator when on the move whacks in enough charge in 30mins. to re-charge our leisure batteries. Anyway it can be used when static if parked away from others - to avoid irritation.

It also ensures tey batteries stay with a good charge which I think will prolong their life.

However, it is probably not a job that needs doing before delivery. Can be done DIY or by any auto-electrician. Our Sterling one came with good instructions and a friend who is a boat mechanic fitted ours. The cable runs might be easier to do at the factory.

Geoff

 

[River gypsys]

If you don't want to plug in the most important thing is your power, so an extra battery and a solar panel of AT Least 250 watt and an mppt charge controller and you should be fine for power, this is what we run and we very rarely have to plug in in fact we've been away for 2 months this time and 5 last year and never plugged in, don't let then fob you off with 100 watts it's not big enough,

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[Bustup15]

Ant see how.to edit previous post but there was a typo

2 * 100w solar not 120w

Neil

 

[Bustup15]

B2B - showing lack of experience here, is the below the same thing or not?

Electric package (2x 150 Ah battery instead 1x 95 Ah battery (A6820, A7820) or 1x 150 Ah battery (A9820) as per standard spec, Victron Energy MultiPlus charging/ inverter combination 3000/120, Victron PowerAssist and PowerControl, Victron operation panel over entrance door, EBL 111, Schaudt HighCurrent electro unit)

 

[Bustup15]

Don't let them fob you off with crap AGM's


Sensible boy.


That's quite small.

@Lenny HB - crap AGM, do you mean some age are crap or don't get AGM at all?

 

[gwyntaxi]

A Mercedes chassis would feature high up on my list along with reversing camera, tow bar ( you never know ,with 8.5 mts you might decide a toad may be useful for touring UK) 85 cm Oyster Satellite system, you’ve covered just about everything else, oh an the largest fridge/freezer you can have.

 

[Bustup15]

A Mercedes chassis would feature high up on my list along with reversing camera, tow bar ( you never know ,with 8.5 mts you might decide a toad may be useful for touring UK) 85 cm Oyster Satellite system, you’ve covered just about everything else, oh an the largest fridge/freezer you can have.

It's 190/15 litres I think, lots of beer and a cheese sandwich

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[Basildog]

It's 190/15 litres I think, lots of beer and a cheese sandwich

If it’s a Dometic it will be great for keeping your beer warm
And if it’s a thetford you can warm up ready meals in it

 

[Bustup15]

If it’s a Dometic it will be great for keeping your beer warm
And if it’s a thetford you can warm up ready meals in it

So do I just replace items with whiskey toddy and toasted cheese sandwich

 

[nicholsong]

B2B - showing lack of experience here, is the below the same thing or not?

Electric package (2x 150 Ah battery instead 1x 95 Ah battery (A6820, A7820) or 1x 150 Ah battery (A9820) as per standard spec, Victron Energy MultiPlus charging/ inverter combination 3000/120, Victron PowerAssist and PowerControl, Victron operation panel over entrance door, EBL 111, Schaudt HighCurrent electro unit)

I am not familiar with that set-up.

But what I am talking about are units, such as the Sterling battery-to battery unit( Victron do similar). Battery-to-battery is a bit of a misnomer, as it really is Alternator-to-Battery

What these systems do is basically overcome the deficiencies of a normal vehicle charging system when using it to charge leisure batteries. The deficiency is that after the engine is running and the alternator has charged the vehicle battery enough to top-it up to the level (14.5v) ? of a normal vehicle regulator, it lowers the charging rate so there is little going into the leisure batteries.

The B2B systems overcome this by bypassing the normal regulator and convincing the alternator to push out higher charging rates to top-up the batteries quicker.

It is a bit more sophisticated than that as it has sensors to prevent overcharging and boiling the batteries, but the basic idea is there.

If you want to know more I suggest you go Sterling's website where they have very good descriptions of what their products do. A company with a good reputation - not knocking Victron or any other company.

Geoff

 

[peterc10]

So do I just replace items with whiskey toddy and toasted cheese sandwich

We have a Dometic Tech Tower fridge and freezer and it works just fine. My beers are always nice and cold and I get ice cubes for my G&Ts. What more do I need? Only trouble is the wife insists on keeping food cold with it as well.

But, as with all other 3 way absorption fridges, it does not work as well when the rear element is allowed to get too hot or too cold. The answers are simple. Fit an automatic fan (cost about £50) to cool the rear in the summer. And fit a vent cover (about £25ish) over the bottom vent when it gets cold in winter.

 

[two]

Everyone’s essentials will differ, as will their opinions. Consider what you intend to do with your new outfit and that should start to define what will be most important for you.

Try to temper your enthusiasm to buy everything from the start. You may find that your expectations change after a while. Buying stuff as you go will extend the therapy as well as help to balance the finances.

The most important features to get right are those that cannot be changed later, such as base vehicle, layout (include number of berths), engine size, auto, driver’s side, payload. Many components can be added later, as you discover a need or are more able to afford them.

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