Newby advice

[Sean FSY]

Just about to purchase my first motorhome. Looking at a Autotrail Arapaho. 2007 with 19k miles on the clock.(It's the facelift model 3.0 multijet) Lots of extras with the van. Now this is my concern, really like the van but it can only carry 4 seated travellers. I thought the whole idea of getting a 6 berth would be to take 4,5 people away. I have tried searching for retrofit for the rear facing seats but this is a grey area and not something that can be done after the initial manufacture. Or does anyone know if it can be done. Is there any potential problems or things I need to be looking out for. The only things I noticed was the shelving in the fridge, freezer where rusting. Can new shelves be obtained. Any advice greatly received thank you.

 

[DBK]

Firstly, Welcome!
Sadly, adding seat belts to the rear is a non-starter if you want to be legal. The main technical problem is finding somewhere strong enough to attach the belt to given the plastic, thin metal and wooden construction of the typical MH.
If you want to carry more than four people you may have to look at a US RV.
Try leisureshopdirect for fridge shelving.

 

[WynandJean]

Hello and welcome from West Midlands.


Wyn

 

[Vanman]

Can't comment on your model but alot of the big ones don't really have the payload (carrying weight capacity) for the full use of the berths. Any that do almost certainly require a C1 category driving licence.

 

[Lofty1]

Our swift is a five birth with the rear faceing seat has the 5th belt a lap one fitted to a steel frame and bolted through to the chassis this was fitted by swift from new.

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[Sean FSY]

Definitely need the C1 to drive it, it's ok as it's on my licence. The other option I was looking at was buying a bessacar 496 as they have 4 belted seated passengers.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Payload will be your issue-

 

[ambulancekidd]

Autotrail fitted 5th belted seat in a Scout SE.

 

[Bridget]

I had a 2006 Arapaho and the payload was over 1000kg which was/is much more than many vans. In the dinette area the forward facing seats were 3 point belts whilst the rear facing were only lap belts. I loved this van for the space and comfort but the downside was that I "bottomed out" in the road when I had my drive done as it was too steep an angle for me to be able to park!

 

[webby1]

Just to emphasis the issue of payload in case you are new to it. It can be a really unbelievable con.

As you have found out berths does not mean belted seats seats..............belted seats does not mean berths and neither means you will actually have the payload to carry those people and their luggage