Looking for a van based MH (1 Viewer)

[drg68]

We have been looking around for a few months for our first motorhome having recently sold our 2 berth caravan. We want a van based vehicle for easy access to anywhere and have been mainly looking at Autosleeper Duettos & Symbols.
With a budget of around £20k we are looking for a vehicle from 2002-2006 approx.
...or possibly a little more if we wait a bit.
We enjoy various outdoor activities (Hill Walking, Climbing, Mountain Biking etc), so though storage may be a bit tight on these, but still undecided.
We just looked at an Adria Twin based on the Fiat Ducatto, which had heaps more storage for only a slightly bigger vehicle. Do any of you have any experience with this model of a similar age and your thoughts good and bad?

Are there any common problems with any of the 3 base vehicles mentioned for the age range we are looking at?

I did post this in the Intro section, but had a suggestion to try here...

Thanks All.

 

[Murphy]

Good luck in your search, I would check out Autotrader on line, normally plenty of vans depending on your requirements!

 

[Puddleduck]

Have you looked in the classified ads on this site?

@Terry had a van conversion (or four) for sale!

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[Terry]

Thanks PD yes I have a couple for sale Pauls Boxer 2009 2.8 ltr forward lounge @ funster price £ 16500 and my own Relay 2012 2.2 ltr 44,000 mls rear lounge offers 25 k ish both are our own vans which are both very high spec with stuff not normally found in panel vans /// Pauls has only been used for less than 2 weeks since we converted it ,he simply does not use it hence it's for sale.Mine is for sale because that also is not getting used because I bought @Munchie A class van and using this more
Terry

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

@Terry, re your signature.....

"REMEMBER NOTHING CAN BE SAID THAT CANNOT BE WRITTEN"

How about - A farmer was in the fields sowing his seeds while his wife was at home sewing his socks - so they were both s?wing.

Don't know why I remember that - first heard it at primary school and never forgotten.

 

[drg68]

Thanks all.
Yes we have been looking in all the usual places and seen several possibles.
...we were interested in feedback from owners of the models we were looking at - good points, bad points, any problems etc.
Cheers,
Dave

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[busby]

Trigano,,good spec but poor insulation and trim,,,Much moor storage in a Symbol than you think,,We have two drawers under side sofa with space below for jump leads tools etc and a single draw under n/s seat with again loads of storage underneath. I also have fitted two chequer plate storage boxes on rear doors below cycle rack..We manage for 2 and 3 months away at a time..BUSBY..

 

[Stroppy Bird]

Hi Dave

We have an Adria Twin, albeit a 2010 model.

The rear fixed bed has advantages
- a massive underbed storage area which we've got a selection of storage boxes in to make best use of the space and to keep stuff fairly easily accessible, 1 tub for cycling gear (bikes on a rack that fits on the rear doors), 1 for general outdoor gear, 1 for footwear etc etc
- you can grab a quick nap at anytime without having to make the bed up
- you basically get 2 lounging areas, the bed and front dinette

It also has it's disadvantages
- it means the rest of the van is compact, we tend to use the swivelled round front seats as they are more comfy than the dinette seat.

The kitchen area is lacking in usable worktop space - later models come with a flip up bit at the end of the kitchen unit and some people with earlier models have retro fitted this.

The toilet shower room is compact - ok for washing in the basin and using the loo, but using the shower is a bit tight and for some reason they don't fit a shower holder so we got a suction one to stick on the mirror.

Size wise, a 6m PVC is easily manageable, and the load evenly spread with the long wheelbase (though this gives a bigger turning circle in comparison to 6m coachbuilts with a shorter wheelbase).

We do most of our touring in Autumn, Winter and Spring and the heating (Truma Combi 4) copes well. We do use a thin self inflating camping mat across the back doors in winter as Mr Stroppy complained it was a bit colder next to the doors, this seems to have solved that issue.

Hope that's of some help

 

[drg68]

Thanks Busby and SB, all really useful feedback.
Any issues with the base vehicles mechanically or have they been pretty sound?

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[drg68]

SB, we do like the general layout of the Adria - lots more storage than the symbol/duetto.
However, the 2006 Adria Twin we looked at the other day had the fridge/wardrobe right behind the passenger seat, so limited legroom for the passenger and the seat would only rotate 90 degrees so not much use for "lounging".
We thought this may become irksome and also make it harder to sell when we eventually upgrade. The rest of the layout looked fine though.
...so maybe save a bit more and go for the 2007 (or later) Adria with the better layout!
...unless we still go for a Symbol or Duetto and upgrade to an Adria in a year or two!
Decisions, decisions

 

[berni109]

Hi, agree with @Stroppy Bird - ours is a 2007 twin.
Comfy bed always sleep well in the van.
A 100w soler panel will support u off grid provided u don't need 240v.
Consider the payload when making your decision. Full tanks and gear for a month does not leave much leeway and we don't have bikes.
IMHO the 2.2 is the best engine because you need to work it and that hopefully keeps the egr valve clean and its a Ford engine with a chain cam.
People have had problems with fuel filter housing leaks - just carry a spare.
Do a search and read up about the water feature on the X250 base vehicle - rainwater leaking into the engine compartment.
Otherwise pretty sound vehicle provided its serviced regularly.
HTH

 

[busby]

Thanks Busby and SB, all really useful feedback.
Any issues with the base vehicles mechanically or have they been pretty sound?

Had hardly any bother with either Sevel or Ford base vehicles,,,BUSBY,,,