I need your help please! (1 Viewer)

[Blaise]

Hi everyone

I want to buy my first motorhome and hope you nice people will give me some good advice. I need something in which two people can sleep, plus one large dog! I have to have an automatic due to a gammy leg, and I will be using it as my main vehicle too, so it needs to be small. I like the look of the Romahome, but apparently the two-berth comes only with manual transmission. The old-style VW camper also appeals, but they are SO expensive. (I have a maximum budget of 8k.). I know it's a big ask, but I'd be so grateful for your wisdom. It's all because my job requires me to be away overnight from time to time and I have an elderly dog who needs to come with me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Blaise]

Hmm.... I had a proper look, with the bed both up and down, and think I can make it work. It would be for just the occasional overnight stay.....

 

[calion]

They really are small, even for one person!

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[movan]

... you could use the dog as a big duvet .. that would save space

 

[Minxy]

To save restricting your search to automatics, have you considered an autoclutch instead? A button is installed on the gear lever knob which you press that works the clutch so you don't need to use your left leg ... don't know exactly how they work but they do!

 

[Blaise]

That would be great . Can any manual be fitted with one?

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[Minxy]

That would be great . Can any manual be fitted with one?

Not sure but I can't think why not - I've not got one, its just that it was being discussed not that long ago so I had a shuftie as hubby has a gammy left hip but at present he's okay with still using the clutch pedal. This is one of the companies that do these, I beleive there are others:

http://www.carfi.co.uk/html/autoclutch.html?gclid=CNOD_9uA6sMCFe7MtAod7SYA2Q

The other benefit is that the road tax will probably be cheaper than an automatic car.

 

[Judge Mental]

The westfalia has to be the one...bomb proof build quality! As others said IF its genuine...

 

[pappajohn]

Still think an Astro day van, take the centre seats out for a portable loo.

Astro van would be good.....and quite a few around £6000.

But can the o/p accept a 4.3ltr V6 petrol engine returning 15mpg to 18mpg average mileage.

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[pappajohn]

Well if he really hasn't sold it in something like 18 months, I'm sure he would be open to offers.

Im sure if it hasnt sold it will be because the description doesnt match the item.
you can put butter on mouldy bread and try to sell it as a sandwich.

 

[TheBig1]

To save restricting your search to automatics, have you considered an autoclutch instead? A button is installed on the gear lever knob which you press that works the clutch so you don't need to use your left leg ... don't know exactly how they work but they do!

if the driver has an automatic only licence, an autoclutch wont qualify

if its a full manual licence though, no problem as they can be fitted to nearly any vehicle that has a cable operated clutch. not cheap though at over £1000 fitted

 

[TheCaller]

The font of all knowledge as far as Romahomes is concerned is Ant at Avon Motor Caravans.

The Small Motorhome forum is also essential reading for anyone with or contemplating a Romahome.

I know very little about the R10, but Romahomes in general are phenomenally good at the efficient use of small spaces. They are a bit of a specialist market, but if they do your job, then nothing else will come close. Their owners generally love them with a passion.

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[Blaise]

Again, thanks for all the help . I do have a full license so a manual with the button adjustment would be fine, although not cheap at around 1500 according to my research.

 

[Blaise]

I've been contacted by someone called Shaun who says that he can offer a Kangoo conversion, automatic, within budget. Thoughts on that, versus a Romahome R10, would be very helpful.

 

[Blaise]

Anyone? Please

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[movan]

bumping.

 

[TheBig1]

if you think for one minute that a tiny kangoo conversion would fit you and a dog in overnight, then you must be very slightly built. i saw one person with a kangoo conversion on a site open the door and stand outside to make the bed

 

[movan]

Yes, Blaise, please don't underestimate how much space you will need for two adults and a large dog... it could spoil your experience of motorhoming and you would be wasting money that could be best spent on a larger vehicle.

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[Blaise]

Most of the time it would be just me plus dog . So is a Kangoo smaller than an R10 please?

 

[Minxy]

There's not much to choose between them size wise, the Kangoo is a bit longer, but the R10 is a bit wider:

Romahome R10: Kangoo:
L: 3959 L: 4035
H: 1721 H: 1855
W: 1816 W: 1672

A lot will depend on the exact layout and how well it works in practice ... the R10 is a pure one berth, where as the Kangoo (the one I saw anyway) was a 2 berth so long as the occupants weren't too wide!

I've actually seen both in the flesh though and I must say that the Kangoo I saw was very, very well fitted out with a VW style layout (ie rock & roll bed). There are quite a few different camper layouts for the Kangoo so it really depends what it is.

 

[Minxy]

There's also a Doblo which has just been converted:

Broken Link Removed

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[Blaise]

Oh dear....... I had no idea this was going to be so complicated! Some lovely vehicles linked to; thank you. They are generally manual though....

 

[joncris]

And this Broken Link Removed

 

[Blaise]

Would be great if an automatic - thanks I've compiled a list of 13 dealers to call tomorrow, just in case anything comes their way. I appreciate that anything from a business will cost more, but they generally offer more than a private sale too.

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[joncris]

Have you seen this guy in Addelstone

 

[joncris]

This guy Broken Link Removed

 

[Blaise]

Thanks; will call them tomorrow

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[Blaise]

Update I'm going over to Poole this afternoon, to Imperial, to look at Mazda Bongos. Now, looking at pictures of these, they look way bigger than the R10, but on reading the dimensions of the two, the only measurement which is bigger is the length of the Bongo. Am I missing something please?

 

[TheCaller]

It's a few years since I last looked inside a Bongo, but from what I remember, the usable interior space is a bit disappointing given the external dimensions. The original vehicle fittings are quite luxurious, but take up quite a lot of room in contrast to the more van-like base vehicles.

They were designed (surprise, surprise) to fit people of typical Japanese stature, so very cramped for anyone on the tall side.

 

[Baldeagle7470]

Update I'm going over to Poole this afternoon, to Imperial, to look at Mazda Bongos. Now, looking at pictures of these, they look way bigger than the R10, but on reading the dimensions of the two, the only measurement which is bigger is the length of the Bongo. Am I missing something please?

I had a Bongo when I lived in Bournemouth many moons ago.I didn't buy from Imperial but have been there and they have a good reputation on the Bongo forum,all their vans looked clean and up together but that was some years ago!.

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[Blaise]

Me again! Still looking for that elusive Romahome....