Seeking Motorhome Recommendations

[Hol47]

Hi all

New here so forgive me if this has been asked before. We are looking for our first motorhome and have decided on the layout we like.

3500kg maximum
2 twin beds above a large garage
Seperate toilet and shower that has doors between back and front
Double drop down bed above kitchen
Ideally option for 3rd bed from lounge.



Currently looking at a Chausson 777 and Dethleffs Trend as possible good options with this layout.

Does anyone have advice or recommendations between these 2 or any others we should look at?

Budget around £65-70k

Kind regards
Andy

 

[hja]

Keep an eye on payload. That looks a lot in a 3500kg van.

 

[Lenny HB]

You will struggle to get a van with that layout with enough useable payload to run at 3500 kg.
You need to be looking at vans under 7m probably around 6.5 - 6.7m.

 

[Pausim]

Don’t believe the published payload figures, they are usually works of fiction. Factory fitted options and all extras have to be deducted from the payload. Get the vehicle weighed.

 

[Phill D]

hi welcome, unfortunately you will struggle to get all of your requirements and a useable payload within 3500kgs.

if you are looking at 2 births above a garage plus double dropdown and a single in lounge; does that mean you are looking for 5 berths?
also dont forget to look at the number of belted seats!

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[Hol47]

Thanks guys

4 berth really with an option to have one more if possible by converting the lounge. 4 belted seats.

The weight looks OK on these models. Payload of around 400-500kg. That should be OK right?

 

[DerryW]

Do you have C1 category on your licence, this will allow you to consider vans up to 3850kgs.

Having said that, if you looking for 5 berths I think you might even struggle with 3850kgs.

The key thing to remember before parting with your hard earned, is to insist the vehicle is weighed, normally half a tank of water and fuel, along with driver. you can then very easily work out if you have enough payload.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Phill D]

Thanks guys

4 berth really with an option to have one more if possible by converting the lounge. 4 belted seats.

The weight looks OK on these models. Payload of around 400-500kg. That should be OK right?

after a bit of jigging and removing / replacing a few bits like a stupid really heavy dropdown table ( we have 550kgs confirmed on weigh bridge ) that 550kgs is ok for 2 of us and our Cockerpoo.

it depends on what you intend carrying, 3 bikes for instance will hit you for 45kgs ish.

 

[Orion]

Do you have C1 category on your licence, this will allow you to consider vans up to 3850kgs.

Up to 7500kg surely?

 

[LithiumConvert]

Payload of around 400-500kg. That should be OK right?

We have a 3500Kg motorhome with 4 seat belts and the same double bed and two singles that you are looking at.

But it is totally impossible to run with more than two people and stay inside the legal weight limit.

We knew that when we bought it and we are happy to run it for just the two of us. (even then the weight limit is tight).

I suggest that you have some serious decisions to make about how many of the seat belts and beds you want to use.

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[Hol47]

This is really confusing. If you look at the Chausson 777 for example it states on the website around 400kg payload.

Surely that's enough for 4 people?

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks guys

4 berth really with an option to have one more if possible by converting the lounge. 4 belted seats.

The weight looks OK on these models. Payload of around 400-500kg. That should be OK right?

With only two people travelling light you would just get away with it if very few options and extras are fitted providing it came out of the factory at the correct wait which is most unlikely more likely to be 100 kg over.
With 4 people impossible.

 

[LithiumConvert]

Surely that's enough for 4 people?

No chance.

4 people weigh about 320 KG
assume airline luggage of 20Kg person

You are already over and you need food and drink, water, dishes (4 place settings), diesel etc and the large garage is still empty, so pointless.

 

[Pausim]

This is really confusing. If you look at the Chausson 777 for example it states on the website around 400kg payload.

Surely that's enough for 4 people?

Yes but the figures on the websites and in the brochures are usually wrong and make no allowance for factory fitted options and any extra kit that many have been fitted. Also they are allowed 5% variation which could mean that 400kg was really only 250kg in the first place.

 

[Lenny HB]

For example our van is 4500kg payload given as 1350kg, with factory fitted options payload down to 1200kg, then I have fitted another 200kg of extras.

With two of us and full tanks we run at 4300kg.

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[LithiumConvert]

New here

Sorry, we should have said

Stay with us and you will not be short of help. This is a brilliant place to be even if the half dozen of us sounded really negative.

 

[Hol47]

Really helpful guys. I will look to get my c class license.

 

[CazPaul]

Ours is 6.48 metre A class, GVW 4900kg, empty 3750, rear axle 3100kg, weight of rear axle when weighed 2200kg.

It’s runs when in use for 2 people with water/diesel/gear etc at about 4350kg.

 

[Badknee]

Surely that's enough for 4 people?

Sorry, not a chance. You’re new to this so listen to the voices of experience.
Get four chairs and weigh them, dig out pots and pans with crockery and cutlery for four and weigh them, clothes, food. Oh and don’t forget to weigh the four people you’re wanting to take as they have to come off your payload, oh did I mention fuel, lpg and fresh water?

 

[Hol47]

Sorry, not a chance. You’re new to this so listen to the voices of experience.
Get four chairs and weigh them, dig out pots and pans with crockery and cutlery for four and weigh them, clothes, food. Oh and don’t forget to weigh the four people you’re wanting to take as they have to come off your payload, oh did I mention fuel, lpg and fresh water?

You're probably right although the driver, fuel and water is accounted for already in the calculations.

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[LithiumConvert]

You're probably right although the driver, fuel and water is accounted for already in the calculations.

Hmmm.

Now you're clutching at straws. (and even the weight of those can add up.)

By the way, you need to sign up to keep posting. We look forward to continuing to hear from you.

 

[Jez1966]

This is really confusing. If you look at the Chausson 777 for example it states on the website around 400kg payload.

Surely that's enough for 4 people?

4 people but nothing else.
I believe payload allows for 50% full fuel, water, LPG but zero equipment/luggage.
Full diesel 90kgs that's a person.

 

[Pausim]

The Malibu Van brochure states:
“The weight in running order corresponds to the (unladen) weight of the vehicle with the factory-installed standard equipment (including lubricant, tools, tyre repair kit) in accordance with EU Implementing Regulation No. 2021/535 plus driver (75 kg), 90% full fuel tank, fresh water tank when driving (20 l), 100% full aluminium gas bottle.”
Many European motorhomes have a driving position for fresh water which is much less than a full tank. Factory options, people other than the driver, equipment and luggage all have to come out of the payload. You also need to pay regard to axle weights not just the overall limit.


There is also a more recent EU regulation concerning minimum payload which is based on the length of the van and the number of travel seats. I have no idea whether the EU regulations apply here but European manufacturers like Carthago/Malibu seem to be applying it.

 

[Miggs]

Our Benimar 463 was the exact same layout with 4 belted seats.
When I had it weighed with just the two of us and minimal equipment it was exactly 3500kg on the nose.
Useless!

 

[cyberyacht]

Not a lot of point in having 100L water tank if you can't fill it. Your destination may not have water.

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[nicholsong]

Really helpful guys. I will look to get my c class license.

You probably mean C1 licence up to 7.5t. 'C' licence is for HGV up to 44t. Terminology is a bit confusing because one would think C1 is higher than C.

 

[Pausim]

Not a lot of point in having 100L water tank if you can't fill it. Your destination may not have water.

You can fill it, it is just a device to add 80kg to the payload. No doubt your Compactline is exactly the same, mine is.

 

[cyberyacht]

Yes, I have the same setup. My point was having the payload to carry full water.

 

[Pausim]

Yes, I have the same setup. My point was having the payload to carry full water.

Yes, water can be a big chunk out of the payload and it is all on the back axle.

 

[starquake]

Also should consider food/drink. We have ~ 400kg free with us, dog, water full, diesel full etc on a normal weekend away on a 2 berth.

Christmas trip, ie, shops due to be shut, we did weighbridge again, and we found we had ~ 100kg of alcoholic beverages, plus around 50kg of food. We were still under 3500 but only "just (346x)" and we didn't take above 40% water on that trip. This was in part due to taking heavier winter clothes, blankets etc.

ie, don't think 100kg per person is enough if you going somewhere off-beaten-track with limited shop opening hours and therefore need food/alcohol potentially.

Top tip, gin and wine weigh less per unit than beer