What are your thoughts on Motorhome vs Campers?

[Davej0355]

The question is, what would I get next? The answer is, its my decision and it is down to personal choice. So what am I looking for - I would like to get further info based on other peoples experiences/recommendations

We have a near new 8.4M MH (previous MH was a 7.4) which is a fantastic MH but we are starting to feel that it may be too big for US! We haven't got to any final decision as yet but, we are considering if we should downsize to something around 7M. We have only been MH'ing for 3 years and have spent a lot of our travels on sites near bus stops etc rather than taking the MH to places and potentially missing out on driving to attractions etc. We now think that having a smaller van might be a better option and possibly tow a car

Do people with 7m vans get out and about readily eg happy to take them to normal car parks/supermarkets/attractions .... (except height) - obviously they do but what do they consider before setting off - obviously need to pack things away/levelling etc
MH vs Camper - we like single beds (we only need 2 berths) and I think that a MH will offer better storage rather than campers and their beds are more comfortable???

Vehicle recommendations - I would ideally like a MB or VW chassis - only as our first MH was a Fiat A class which was rather noisy. Any recommendations on models that you particularly like? There are lots of places to look at reviews but the models/combinations arent always obvious

Like I said we only want shared experiences/knowledge so that we can work out our next steps - Thanks in advance - Happy travels

 

[Ridgeway]

What about a bicycle once you arrive ? E-bike is a common solution to your problem if you’re comfortable with that

 

[Grianan]

The question is, what would I get next? The answer is, its my decision and it is down to personal choice. So what am I looking for - I would like to get further info based on other peoples experiences/recommendations

We have a near new 8.4M MH (previous MH was a 7.4) which is a fantastic MH but we are starting to feel that it may be too big for US! We haven't got to any final decision as yet but, we are considering if we should downsize to something around 7M. We have only been MH'ing for 3 years and have spent a lot of our travels on sites near bus stops etc rather than taking the MH to places and potentially missing out on driving to attractions etc. We now think that having a smaller van might be a better option and possibly tow a car

Do people with 7m vans get out and about readily eg happy to take them to normal car parks/supermarkets/attractions .... (except height) - obviously they do but what do they consider before setting off - obviously need to pack things away/levelling etc
MH vs Camper - we like single beds (we only need 2 berths) and I think that a MH will offer better storage rather than campers and their beds are more comfortable???

Vehicle recommendations - I would ideally like a MB or VW chassis - only as our first MH was a Fiat A class which was rather noisy. Any recommendations on models that you particularly like? There are lots of places to look at reviews but the models/combinations arent always obvious

Like I said we only want shared experiences/knowledge so that we can work out our next steps - Thanks in advance - Happy travels

We have a 6.3m Fiat PVC. Loads of storage under twin singles though e-bikes are on back rather than in garage.
What I would say is living space up front is limited - you need to go wider and longer to change this. We’re making a new smaller table to aid with moving round - see how they goes.
I like that we are totally self contained with shower etc.
Beds ok though I’d rather be able to sit up - don’t think I could do this in an A class with beds over garage either though.
You could look at Wildax Elara on MB chassis.

Real camper as in T6 I think you need to be super organised. Most people I see are constantly reorganising their boxes of ‘stuff’ .

 

[Davej0355]

Thanks. Yes we have those but often the roads are too busy. We love the bikes but not the confidence (all the gear and no idea ) lol

 

[Davej0355]

We have a 6.3m Fiat PVC. Loads of storage under twin singles though bikes are on back rather than in garage.
What I would say is living space up front is limited - you need to go wider and longer to change this. We’re making a new smaller table to aid with moving round - see how they goes.
I like that we are totally self contained with shower etc.
Beds ok though I’d rather be able to sit up - don’t think I could do this in an A class with beds over garage either though.
You could look at Wildax Elara on MB chassis.

Excellent feedback. Thanks

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[Kirsten]

Depends how you holiday… we mainly self cater, use Aires in France - go to festivals- camp in forests so self sufficiency is key. Wouldn’t be without fridge with freezer, shower and loo, comfy drop down bed etc We tour about and walk or bike when we are abroad . Most places welcome motorhome, plenty parking in cities for a day of sightseeing.Not so much biking in uk roads too busy Scotland too hilly - daughter and s-i-l had a camper and trendy and lovely it was but not for us. I think if you downsize to campervan you will feel very squished .. try hiring one ?

 

[Davej0355]

Depends how you holiday… we mainly self cater, use Aires in France - go to festivals- camp in forests so self sufficiency is key. Wouldn’t be without fridge with freezer, shower and loo, comfy drop down bed etc We tour about and walk or bike when we are abroad . Most places welcome motorhome, plenty parking in cities for a day of sightseeing.Not so much biking in uk roads too busy Scotland too hilly - daughter and s-i-l had a camper and trendy and lovely it was but not for us. I think if you downsize to campervan you will feel very squished .. try hiring one ?

Thanks. Much appreciated

 

[Alsatian]

We swapped our 6m Bailey approach motorhome for a 6m autosleeper Sussex duo van Conversion.

We much prefer the autosleeper, so much more manouveurable and easier to park


The only downside for us is that it's a small washroom, whereas the Bailey was a separate shower.

 

[Davej0355]

Thanks. Much appreciated

Broken Link Removed Broken Link Removed

 

[Howard B]

We had a 6.4m Adria Twin PVC with fixed beds at the rear. Lots of storage under the beds and a doddle to drive and reasonably easy to park. Last October we changed it for a Burstner Travel Van which is pretty much the same dimensions externally ( extra 200mm in length and 100mm higher). However we now have a much larger garage under the fixed beds so we can lock the e bikes away and the van is acually about 1m shorter as we dont need the towbar and bike rack. Internally it also feels larger. The only thing I miss is the sliding door which opens up the van and annoyed the old crustys when I slammed it a few times to shut it .

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[Lenny HB]

We are going down from a 7.5m to 6.7m but still an A Class couldn't live without a big garages and tons of payload.

Looked at PVC's but lack of storage space and no garage for the bikes puts us off.

Even in our 7.5m it's never stopped us going anywhere but we hardly use it in the UK.

 

[hja]

We downsized from a 6.4m coachbuilt (Autosleeper Broadway) to a 6.4m PVC (Globecar Summit Prime) We wanted less height (more stable OH felt) and narrower (easier to park). We believe we have made the correct decision, this is our third summer with it. Our essentials were two single beds with space underneath for folding mobility scooters, useable shower, loo etc, kitchen with appropriate worksurface as we cook meals from scratch and rarely go out for full meals. This van has all that and plenty of storage for the two of us. We really thought hard about no oven, no grill, no microwave and analysed what we mostly cook - two burners absolutely fine + a Remoska when on hook up. True we cant sit up in bed - always there is a compromise.
Parking - well always a bit of a gamble in this country. We can fit on roadside parking provided the bays are not marked out for length. In car parks can often find a spot with a rear overhang. The side door (woosh bang) makes exit/entry easy in tighter spots. But it is no panacea. EG we are hoping to go to Market Harborough, where we want to stay has no bus route. Council web site says motorhome parking is available in longstay car parks, but when you look on satellite view the signs restrict vehicles to 5.5m (and width and height, although no height barrier) which would prohibit virtually all motohomes. I've yet to email the council. So a smaller van doesnt necessarily solve the parking problem.

 

[ontheroadagain]

In my experience width makes more difference than length.
Have a look at some of the narrow motorhomes now available.
Carthago, Adria, Rapido, Hymer etc all have narrow motorhomes in their range.
Our Adria compact is only 70mm wider than a standard Ducato panel van but is much bigger inside due to the square shape.
It also has short arm mirrors so actually including the mirrors, it is the same width as a Ducato van.

 

[TheMachMan]

That new Chausson X650 looks interesting as it’s slim like a PVC.

 

[Pappy]

Have a look at the Carthago Compactline range. Narrow, loads of storage and quality.
Electric bikes will go in the garage and are wonderful to use on the continent.

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[Neckender]

In 19 years we’ve gone from coach builts down to 6.4 PVCs and now down to a VW T6.1 Transporter with pop top roof and still enjoying camper life.

John.

 

[andyelbac]

We have a 7m Burstner LyseoTD680G. We put a Honda SH Mode 125cc in the rear garage for getting out and about once at site. We didn't want the hassle and expense of towing a car and my partner really doesn't like riding a push bike on UK roads (or any roads!) but is more comfortable on the back of our Scooter, mainly because we can keep up with traffic instead of being constantly passed by it. I never had a bike licence before getting our first MH last year but passed my test quickly (only needed a test to ride a 125cc with passenger, nothing bigger). It's not a perfect solution as we don't use it when it's raining but it does give us options if we feel the MH is too big to get into places.

 

[Jane And Rog]

We’ve got an Adria Twin SGX, 6.4m long. The bed is a raising one at the back - in the up position you could get a motorbike in the back, and in the down one, a couple of bikes, especially if folding. We actually store barbecues, two sets of extra drawers and the dog bed, and have a van swing if we do take the bikes (rare, we prefer to hike while we have the dog.)
I am sitting up in bed typing this now.
We’ve got the supreme model, which means the front is light and airy, more like a A class.
Downsides - the squeeze point between shower and kitchen. Smaller sitting area than a coachbuilt. Just two burners for cooking.
Other advantages - we drive it everywhere. No need for bikes r towing a car, we can park pretty much anywhere. It’s not white.

 

[robnchris]

Why would you tow a car, just hire one when you need it and then send it back when you don't, save the purchase cost, the running costs, having a tow bar fitted, plus the trailer or toad. All that and the hassle of towing, what's not to like.

 

[royandsharont]

No need to repeat many of the things already said above but we went from a 8m 4t coach built to a 6.36m 3.5t PVC. It has lots of storage and an under twin bed garage but like all PVC‘s space in the middle is tight and we struggled during our first 6 week tour of Scotland coming to terms with the change .

By our second 8 week tour to Spain we were much more settled with the compromises. But throughout we have been overwhelmed by the additional benefit of its drive ability and being able to get to places we would never have gone before. This has made it by far the best choice, although we do miss the luxury of the space and capacity we no longer have

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[555 FRY]

We have had a 7.5m Roller Team with an over cab bed ( as dynamic as a brick) bike rack on the rear. A Vantage Neo 6.36m on a Ducato base, very nice vehicle but having to make the rear lounge up into the bed at night was a pain and not enough storage. We then upgraded to a Homer Exsis A class on a Ford base 6.75m with a large garage and 2 single beds plus a large drop down bed at the front. Great vehicle apart from the Ford base which was a nightmare maintenance wise. Ou current van is McLaren Shadow on 7m Mercedes Sprinter, it’s fab and the perfect compromise. Two single or a large double at the rear over a large garage which holds everything we ever need including 2 electric Bromptons, no more bike racks! A 24inch tv at the rear and another in the lounge area at the front, a combined shower and toilet and a more than adequate kitchen area including a microwave. We love it, especially the economy at 33mpg+ and the Mercedes build quality.

 

[Roby2008]

We had a 6.96m Miller Toronto on a Ducato 150 with Comformatic, fixed twin beds at rear, standard German layout, did 98k in it over 9 yrs, up into Norway and Sweden, South of Spain and down to Athens, only got refused on sites due to size a couple of times, treated it like a car and there were not many places I would not take it.
Swapping out the Miller for a Pilote 696D at 6.99m, this is the sweet spot in size for us, not too long and wide enough for a wheelchair to move around inside.
The slim models trim 20 or so cm off the width and this could be beneficial in some places without sacrificing internal room.

 

[Ernesto]

I reckon you need to go down to 5.4m to be full-on accessible …at that point, you can fit in almost all car parking bays, but thats way too short for more than weekends - just my view.

We are 6.3m PVC and I would never go any larger. The extra 0.3m over 6m vans allows full size bikes in the garage (I don’t like bike racks on the rear doors) and longitudinal beds - which are a deal beaker for me.

Not sure a 7m will transform your access to places - be interesting to see if owners of 7m vans agree or not

 

[tinkertaylor]

I have a 6m pvc and can park in most car parks, ones that aren't height restricted. The woosh bang means I can get in and out as well. I tend to pick spaces that back onto an overhang or end spaces. On road parking is straight forward.

I have a shower cubicle and a double fixed bed above a garage that can fit bikes in with both wheels off. I can sit up in the bed but require steps to get onto it and have to climb over the Mrs to get down to the toilet, you have to be agile.

Tbh is depends what you plan to do with it. If your touring towns and villages then a 6-6.5m van is the sweet spot, if your going to stay on a site for more than a few days then big is best, although tbh (don't shoot me) i would be tempted to go to a caravan at that point, luxury at a low cost and a car to travel around in.

 

[Peavy]

In my experience width makes more difference than length.
Have a look at some of the narrow motorhomes now available.
Carthago, Adria, Rapido, Hymer etc all have narrow motorhomes in their range.
Our Adria compact is only 70mm wider than a standard Ducato panel van but is much bigger inside due to the square shape.
It also has short arm mirrors so actually including the mirrors, it is the same width as a Ducato van.

Yours is a very interesting option, I like that contained size. Best of both worlds, I gess

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[Billy192]

What about a bicycle once you arrive ? E-bike is a common solution to your problem if you’re comfortable with that

my van is 7m
we bike (e bike) around the what ever area we have pitched up . can travel 20 miles no trouble. 3 - 4 nights then move on unless the boss likes it.
Billy

 

[Davej0355]

We are going down from a 7.5m to 6.7m but still an A Class couldn't live without a big garages and tons of payload.

Looked at PVC's but lack of storage space and no garage for the bikes puts us off.

Even in our 7.5m it's never stopped us going anywhere but we hardly use it in the UK.

That is where my thoughts' are - what mh are you going for now?

In my experience width makes more difference than length.
Have a look at some of the narrow motorhomes now available.
Carthago, Adria, Rapido, Hymer etc all have narrow motorhomes in their range.
Our Adria compact is only 70mm wider than a standard Ducato panel van but is much bigger inside due to the square shape.
It also has short arm mirrors so actually including the mirrors, it is the same width as a Ducato van.

Thanks - I agree our current van is 2.47 and last one was 2.35 - the difference feels very noticeable

 

[Lenny HB]

That is where my thoughts' are - what mh are you going for now?

Cathago Compactline i141, 6.67m,

Thanks - I agree our current van is 2.47 and last one was 2.35 - the difference feels very noticeable

Our first van was 2.35m, the last two 2.21m, the Compactline is only 2.12m only a couple of inches wider than a PVC.

 

[Davej0355]

We have had a 7.5m Roller Team with an over cab bed ( as dynamic as a brick) bike rack on the rear. A Vantage Neo 6.36m on a Ducato base, very nice vehicle but having to make the rear lounge up into the bed at night was a pain and not enough storage. We then upgraded to a Homer Exsis A class on a Ford base 6.75m with a large garage and 2 single beds plus a large drop down bed at the front. Great vehicle apart from the Ford base which was a nightmare maintenance wise. Ou current van is McLaren Shadow on 7m Mercedes Sprinter, it’s fab and the perfect compromise. Two single or a large double at the rear over a large garage which holds everything we ever need including 2 electric Bromptons, no more bike racks! A 24inch tv at the rear and another in the lounge area at the front, a combined shower and toilet and a more than adequate kitchen area including a microwave. We love it, especially the economy at 33mpg+ and the Mercedes build quality.View attachment 787638View attachment 787639View attachment 787640View attachment 787638

Wow that looks lovely and definitely will be on the list

 

[GMLS]

We were looking to down size from 8.5m and 7.5m coachbuilts to something optimised for an active couple for off griddng ,rallys and European touring.We initially looked at luxury pvc's like IH and Vantage etc and really like a rear lounge but need storage for kayaks, emtbs and all that go with them.We came to the conclusion that the pvc's (even a DIY conversion I considered) would not quite tick all the boxes and then found the Rapido 854f A class (still awaiting delivery!). For a similar length to the xlwb pvc's we were looking at and a bit more width you get a massive amount of extra space and for similar or less money.It has a fairly narrow but full height garage behind the u shaped lounge we wanted which with a tow bar will give us plenty of storage and carrying options.We've never really had a single issue with the longer vehicles and don't expect the width to be a concern where we do most of our traveling.We dont stay sites for a week or 2 but if we are staying for 3 or 4 days very happy to use the bikes or public transport. Good luck with finding a compromise that works for the type of touring you do.