Now we HAVE to downsize...

G-RMPS said:
Did they take the doors apart (no, not blow the doors off!), or fit some sort of thermal curtain?
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Just took the panels off the doors and insulated them properly rather than Malibu's half hearted attempt.
 
G-RMPS said:
Did they take the doors apart (no, not blow the doors off!), or fit some sort of thermal curtain?
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There already is a sort of thermal curtain when the heating is on. There is a heating vent on the head end of the bed that blows warm air out sideways across the doors.
IMG_0612.webp
 
I had a Concord 890 two single beds over the garage it was a great van but because of eye problems had to down grade bought Hymer 588DL brillant great move same layout as the concord but smaller and able to do all I did in my old van but without my BMW 750 in the garage

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Pausim said:
Difficult but not impossible.
View attachment 990769View attachment 990770
Insulation is covered in this video between 2 and 3 minutes in.
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I would agree that there is more than many PVC converters put ( or even some coachbuilders), but its just not thick enough to make a significant difference and I couldnt see any going under the floor and whatsmore a lot of scope for cold bridging, its not really Cathargos fault because its very difficult to retrofit to a panel van.
 
jongood said:
I would agree that there is more than many PVC converters put ( or even some coachbuilders), but its just not thick enough to make a significant difference and I couldnt see any going under the floor and whatsmore a lot of scope for cold bridging, its not really Cathargos fault because its very difficult to retrofit to a panel van.
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I agree some A Class motorhomes will be better insulated but I think there is enough insulation in the Malibu Van to make a significant difference. The floor panel is a sandwich which includes 20mm of insulation, the type used in refrigerated trucks. I did a fair bit of research about the construction before buying. They claim to have prevented cold bridges and I think this is largely true of the vans now coming out of their new bespoke van plant in Slovenia. I am probably being a bit over defensive about my choice of van but what I am trying to say is that if someone has to downsize there are properly built van conversions out there.
IMG_0649.webp
 
And now for the bizarre bed arrangement in the Malibu. It's halfway between a double bed and two singles. The two "halves" are neither the same length, nor the same width. Further the bedding is arranged in four mattress sections. It's arranged this way to provide easy access to under-bed storage. However it appears to only be easy if each of the four mattress sections have their own fitted sheets and, if required, mattress protectors/toppers.

The expensive, £360, Malibu bedding option seems to have four fitted sheets to match the mattress sections, and some cushions etc. Options seem to be:

  • accept this price per set of sheets
  • find someone to make bespoke bedding (there are internet companies offering to do so)
  • compromise by just using single bedding stuff which won't be tidy nor convenient for accessing under-bed storage
  • use sleeping bags

There's an even more expensive option. For a further £405 you can get an infill cushion (and presumably supporting infrastructure) to make it into a more traditional double bed shape, though two metres wide so standard sheet sizes won't fit will they? And this would make under-bed storage even more inaccessible.

Anyone got any views on all this?

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1734722974619.webp
 
G-RMPS said:
And now for the bizarre bed arrangement in the Malibu. It's halfway between a double bed and two singles. The two "halves" are neither the same length, nor the same width. Further the bedding is arranged in four mattress sections. It's arranged this way to provide easy access to under-bed storage. However it appears to only be easy if each of the four mattress sections have their own fitted sheets and, if required, mattress protectors/toppers.

The expensive, £360, Malibu bedding option seems to have four fitted sheets to match the mattress sections, and some cushions etc. Options seem to be:

  • accept this price per set of sheets
  • find someone to make bespoke bedding (there are internet companies offering to do so)
  • compromise by just using single bedding stuff which won't be tidy nor convenient for accessing under-bed storage
  • use sleeping bags

There's an even more expensive option. For a further £405 you can get an infill cushion (and presumably supporting infrastructure) to make it into a more traditional double bed shape, though two metres wide so standard sheet sizes won't fit will they? And this would make under-bed storage even more inaccessible.

Anyone got any views on all this?

View attachment 991022

View attachment 991023
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Our single beds did have a separate middle bit. Our underbed had doors on side. Also beds were slightly different lengths but only a few CMS. I bought single jersey sheets which worked okay, and the middle bit I bought a cot Jersey sheet. All from LaRedoute.

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Two companies have quoted prices for bespoke stuff to match each of the four mattress sections.

If anyone has, or is considering, a Malibu, I have the details. Basically mattress covers are £100+ depending on quality. Fitted sheets, too, are £100+ depending on quality. Still a lot cheaper than Malibu stuff, unless you particularly want sausage cushions or a blanket/throw with a Carthago logo.
 
G-RMPS said:
And now for the bizarre bed arrangement in the Malibu. It's halfway between a double bed and two singles. The two "halves" are neither the same length, nor the same width. Further the bedding is arranged in four mattress sections. It's arranged this way to provide easy access to under-bed storage. However it appears to only be easy if each of the four mattress sections have their own fitted sheets and, if required, mattress protectors/toppers.

The expensive, £360, Malibu bedding option seems to have four fitted sheets to match the mattress sections, and some cushions etc. Options seem to be:

  • accept this price per set of sheets
  • find someone to make bespoke bedding (there are internet companies offering to do so)
  • compromise by just using single bedding stuff which won't be tidy nor convenient for accessing under-bed storage
  • use sleeping bags

There's an even more expensive option. For a further £405 you can get an infill cushion (and presumably supporting infrastructure) to make it into a more traditional double bed shape, though two metres wide so standard sheet sizes won't fit will they? And this would make under-bed storage even more inaccessible.

Anyone got any views on all this?

View attachment 991022

View attachment 991023
Click to expand...
Love the ping-pong bats under the bed. Where is the wif-waf table stored? 🙂
 
9Etype We also have a B588DL, but plated at 3850.
We're happy with the van and would hope to be able to down plate it, should the need arise.
I'd be interested to know whether you've taken yours to the weighbridge.
Ours was recently weighed at 3620kg and I'm just wondering how easy or difficult it would be to get it down to 3500.
 
I've weighed my Hymer multiple times - B698. Not a chance of downsizing it to 3500kg.

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G-RMPS said:
I've weighed my Hymer multiple times - B698. Not a chance of downsizing it to 3500kg.
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Same here, on our 3850kg Arto, partly because we do not use campsites so run with full fuel and water. I cannot imagine trying to shed 350kg, even though Basia keeps suggesting it because she does not want to take her C1 test. My medical is due next year so fingers crossed then I am OK on Polish licence for another 5 years.

When I bought it the N&B plate showed 3500(maybe the dealer ordered it like that) but the V5c read 3850, so I wrote to N&B and they sent me a new plate at 3850 FOC.
 
Empty weight of my B698 was 3317kg. Pilot and navigatrice are 170kg leaving 13kg for everything else with a 3500kg limit. That's 16 litres of diesel. No water, no LPG, no nothing :)

Apologies, Bellabee. Your comment on weights probably does not relate to my Hymer.
 
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Back to the Malibu I have seen. I insisted on having the van weighed. I was told the actual weight was 2920kg, leaving 580kg available. That compares with a calculated 2931kg based on the figure on the CoC less the notional weights included to arrive at a mass in running order. Given a +/-20kg leeway on the scales it seems correct. So maybe Malibu weights can be believed after all.
 
Sorry to hear about the loss of your C1.

Just an observation if you are concerned about managing with sufficient weight carrying capacity and staying under 3,500kg.

We had a 6-metre coachbuilt (Chausson Flash S2) and empty it weighed circa 2,750 kg, so about 750 kg capacity.

When we changed to a similar length but much narrower PVC, I was initially surprised it weighed circa 3,100 kg empty.

In other words, although PVCs have lots of benefits, a steel van comes with a weight premium compared with a fibreglass-body coachbuilt of similar size. :unsure:

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Based on the known weights of stuff I think I will be able to transfer to a Malibu, I reckon it will weight 3500kg loaded for a trip, with full fuel, full gas, and 20kg of water, once it has an awning and solar etc.
 
G-RMPS said:
Back to the Malibu I have seen. I insisted on having the van weighed. I was told the actual weight was 2920kg, leaving 580kg available. That compares with a calculated 2931kg based on the figure on the CoC less the notional weights included to arrive at a mass in running order. Given a +/-20kg leeway on the scales it seems correct. So maybe Malibu weights can be believed after all.
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My Malibu Van was pretty much on the advertised and given weights. The new EU minimum payloads rules mean they can’t really play around with the 5% allowance like they used too.
 
G-RMPS said:
And now for the bizarre bed arrangement in the Malibu. It's halfway between a double bed and two singles. The two "halves" are neither the same length, nor the same width. Further the bedding is arranged in four mattress sections. It's arranged this way to provide easy access to under-bed storage. However it appears to only be easy if each of the four mattress sections have their own fitted sheets and, if required, mattress protectors/toppers.

The expensive, £360, Malibu bedding option seems to have four fitted sheets to match the mattress sections, and some cushions etc. Options seem to be:

  • accept this price per set of sheets
  • find someone to make bespoke bedding (there are internet companies offering to do so)
  • compromise by just using single bedding stuff which won't be tidy nor convenient for accessing under-bed storage
  • use sleeping bags

There's an even more expensive option. For a further £405 you can get an infill cushion (and presumably supporting infrastructure) to make it into a more traditional double bed shape, though two metres wide so standard sheet sizes won't fit will they? And this would make under-bed storage even more inaccessible.

Anyone got any views on all this?

View attachment 991022

View attachment 991023
Click to expand...
We have a Malibu 640 as in the picture but we have a pop top roof so all our stuff from the boot area goes up there or outside if in the summer. In the morning we put both beds up and move the steps to the boot as a seat when putting on our walking boots. We use the back doors to save mess up front with boots . We also have the winter pack and no problem with insulation/ heating.
We also use the kitchen table on the outside and I have made a small coffee table to give us more room up front during the day. As it has a Pop top there is a big hole there so I get head clearance!
Also put our 27inch tv where the 24 should go after making an adapter plate. We downsized from a 7.6m Burstner 746. Bit of a shock at first but we soon got used to it. The advantages FAR outweigh the disadvantages IMO .
 
Paulg525 said:
We have a Malibu 640 as in the picture but we have a pop top roof so all our stuff from the boot area goes up there or outside if in the summer.
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We were parked on an aire in France in June next to a couple with a toddler, they had a pop top and used it during the day to put a small airer up there to dry the washed kiddies etc clothes.

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G-RMPS said:
Last week, all set for 3 month's in Spain. Van loaded and almost ready to go. Ferry, campsite, hire car all booked months ago. Just one problem. Driving licence renewal, which I applied for at the beginning of September. It finally arrived, two days before we were due to set off. With the C1 missing :-( Next day, I got a letter saying the C1 had been revoked "have not met the required standard", whatever that means. I had been required to take an exercise stress test weeks ago which, as far as I knew, had gone OK. Certainly I had had no qualms about undertaking it, and it didn't seem particularly "stressful" at the time.

So, the van is in storage and I cannot drive it.

Step one. Cancel the campsite, hire car. Reschedule the ferry to November. Cost £12, but the £600 now re-invested in a club cabin for the future.

Step two. Decide what to do with the van. One option was to try to sell it for cash with a dealer. Dealers forecourts are stuffed with unsold vans. So doesn't sound like a practical proposition. Another option was to try to sell it privately. In min-December? When I cannot even demonstrate the van without a valid driving license. So part-exchange maybe? What replacement could carry a Hymer's load of possessions and remain below 3500kg, and at what incremental cost? Lennie says it's impossible. He may be right.

Episode two to follow!
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bobnick said:
I won't be renewing my C licence.
Highly probable our 3850 will be sold early next year..........if anyone will buy it.
Too much hassle.
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What are / will you be selling ?
 

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