"A" Class vans - specific issues to be aware of? (1 Viewer)

[Mack100]

Are A class vans that much wider than coach builts?

 

[Robert Clark]

Are A class vans that much wider than coach builts?

Enough to make a difference inside, but ours was no wider outside ( mirror to mirror) than our Ducato based coach built

 

[Judge Mental]

Are A class vans that much wider than coach builts?

Some as narrow as a panel.van conversion....

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[Manic]

Are A class van much wider than coach builts?

No not wider, it's just the width is the same all the way and so you don't have to worry about the back being wider than the cab.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Are A class vans that much wider than coach builts?

The van itself is usually the same width - about 2.3 metres in my case. However, the "bus" mirrors don't fold all the way in. Not an issue but something to be aware of.....

 

[TheWM]

No, not that wide surprisingly. We're also 2.3m, but that's including mirrors, which won't be an issue through a width restriction, for example as they are up high.

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[DuxDeluxe]

No, not that wide surprisingly. We're also 2.3m, but that's including mirrors, which won't be an issue through a width restriction, for example as they are up high.

It was an issue when I didn't allow for it and realised that I had 3" each side spare reversing through the driveway gates........ Got used to it now, though

 

[Gorse Hill]

Are A class vans that much wider than coach builts?

No, and the same length, having looked at A class personally didn't see any more room than a low profile C/B with a drop down bed at the front which a lot are now

 

[TheWM]

It was an issue when I didn't allow for it and realised that I had 3" each side spare reversing through the driveway gates........ Got used to it now, though

Lol. We almost had a problem with length. Driveway = 7 metres. Van = 6.49 metres. No problems.

Not if you don't take into account the overhang on the garage, guttering and a tow bar. Tight squeeze!

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[Gorse Hill]

No not wider, it's just the width is the same all the way and so you don't have to worry about the back being wider than the cab.

Your mirrors are what determine what you can go through not the van width

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Your mirrors are what determine what you can go through not the van width

Exactly!! Coach built mirrors fold right in.....

 

[Gorse Hill]

Exactly!! Coach built mirrors fold right in.....

Yes, but if your having to fold the mirrors in the the gap probably to small unless your passing another car on a narrow road
Not sure DD if your indicating this is a bad or good thing when comparing C/B to A class, one thing I have noticed about A ckass M/H is when passing them they never acknowledge you unlike C/B, a little bit of snobbery I think but that's my experience so far travelling up and down the country

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[DuxDeluxe]

Yes, but if your having to fold the mirrors in the the gap probably to small unless your passing another car on a narrow road
Not sure DD if your indicating this is a bad or good thing when comparing C/B to A class, one thing I have noticed about A ckass M/H is when passing them they never acknowledge you unlike C/B, a little bit of snobbery I think but that's my experience so far travelling up and down the country

Yes - you are right; I was focussed on reversing into the driveway where the last van the mirrors folded in narrower than the van itself. Probably mirror to mirror it is about the same when open but A class mirrors are a bit expensive to replace and don't fold in too much.
As for waving, I haven't noticed much difference as we will wave at anybody; even Tootles. About half wave back; VW drivers never and some Hymer owners are otherwise concentrating........

 

[Gorse Hill]

Yes - you are right; I was focussed on reversing into the driveway where the last van the mirrors folded in narrower than the van itself. Probably mirror to mirror it is about the same when open but A class mirrors are a bit expensive to replace and don't fold in too much.
As for waving, I haven't noticed much difference as we will wave at anybody; even Tootles. About half wave back; VW drivers never and some Hymer owners are otherwise concentrating........

Well DD, I wave to everyone, in fact I make a point of waving to A ckass just to wind them up, if I ever get a wave back good chance it's the Dux on tour and your right about VW

 

[Wildman]

not all "A" class windscreens are expencive, mine is an amazon and there is another on ebay
Broken Link Removed
they use a very cheap ford cargo screen
http://www.motomobil.com/windscreen...-ford-cargo,3237,16310240-1.html?currency=GBP
£260 so do look around and see what you are buying.

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[Southdowners]

one thing I have noticed about A ckass M/H is when passing them they never acknowledge you unlike C/B, a little bit of snobbery I think but that's my experience so far travelling up and down the country

That's strange... we always wave (we have an A class). Often folk don't wave back from all types of MH's but I expect its because they're concentrating on something else.

 

[TheWM]

As a VW nut, it's not 'normal convention' to wave to anyone else unless they are in a VW. The scene can get pretty snobbish too, as some air cooled owners won't wave to water cooled owners and consider themselves somewhat superior. That said, we all wave to kids who love seeing beetles and campervans pass them, I don't know what it is but kids are drawn to them.

We wave/thumbs up to all MH owners, although being LHD some may not see us doing it.

 

[Gorse Hill]

That's strange... we always wave (we have an A class). Often folk don't wave back from all types of MH's but I expect its because they're concentrating on something else.

Strange it may be, but that's my experenice with A class M/H, I would say 90% of C/B do wave (excluding motorways) in fact I would go as far and say probably only had one A class acknowledge us in 18 months in which time done 12.000 miles
Would be interested to hear the thoughts from A class owners and if they get acknowledgment from other A class owners

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[DuxDeluxe]

Strange it may be, but that's my experenice with A class M/H, I would say 90% of C/B do wave (excluding motorways) in fact I would go as far and say probably only had one A class acknowledge us in 18 months in which time done 12.000 miles
Would be interested to hear the thoughts from A class owners and if they get acknowledgment from other A class owners

Well we are a lot posher than CB owners and waving depends very much on what the butler is doing at the time. If he is preparing the cucumber sandwich platter or pouring the earl grey then of course he isn't going to be able to wave back..........

Seriously, we will wave at anyone as previously posted but some of the big A classes do not tend to acknowledge back, so they get a second.......ahem........wave Also as a principle, we would like to never wave at Burstner owners, just in case one of them is @GJH but that doesn't work because we wouldn't want to miss waving hello to @movan

 

[GJH]

Also as a principle, we would like to never wave at Burstner owners, just in case one of them is @GJH but that doesn't work because we wouldn't want to miss waving hello to @movan

Orange sauce

 

[GJH]

Not having an A class I hadn't read this thread previously.

Personally, since buying our current coachbuilt 3 and a half years ago we haven't seen anything we would want to change it for. Fixed bed, comparatively large shower, comfortable to lounge about in and plenty of storage.

I would always recommend to anyone that they make a list of essentials/desirables and decide on that basis rather than having fixed ideas about A class, coachbuilt or PVC.

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[Deleted member 29692]

My main thing with most 'A' class vehicles is the amount of wasted space between the dash and the screen. Some of the ones I have seen have huge amounts.

The dead space is no different to a CB built on the same chassis. The driving position, steering wheel and front bumper are all in the same places. On a CB you have the windscreen close to you and the "wasted space" is taken up by the bonnet. That's the only difference.

Our dogs have appropriated the big shelf as their personal lounging area so it actually works better for us

one thing I have noticed about A ckass M/H is when passing them they never acknowledge

I always wave. Even at Welsh vans.

 

[Judge Mental]

Ah but the wider A class front compared to a van front, allows it to be better insulated for a start, more panoramic view, and room for front seats to be sightly of centre allowing for a larger gap between, giving a feeling of far more spaciousness compared to a coachbuilt or van

 

[Southdowners]

Strange it may be, but that's my experenice with A class M/H, I would say 90% of C/B do wave (excluding motorways) in fact I would go as far and say probably only had one A class acknowledge us in 18 months in which time done 12.000 miles
Would be interested to hear the thoughts from A class owners and if they get acknowledgment from other A class owners

Well, if I see you I'll give you a wave!

We wave at everyone - have never thought of the size/type of vehicle and didn't realise the situation existed that one type wouldn't wave at another. What a waste of thinking.... shall I wave or not - lets check the cut of your jib before deciding!

We usually but not always, get waves back. It doesn't bother us either way but its always nice if they do.

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[DuxDeluxe]

Orange sauce

Just to be ready for a roasting at the next rally, I'm going to follow @Wyaye wires advice and drink a lot of Cointreau......

......and I still won't wave at you. Not with all the fingers on one hand, anyway

 

[Manic]

We have an A class and wave at all, be they big or small.
Also the dash gets used as storage for the Ramoska and other stuff when on site, well as long as we leave enough room for our dog, that's her sun lounge.

 

[Tootles]

Our dogs have appropriated the big shelf as their personal lounging area so it actually works better for us

I bet its a bu**er overtaking when the dog decides to have a scratch.........

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[Speve]

Well we changed to A class this year and love it reasons were needed to be able to tow,better storeage and no draughts where the cab joins the coach built bit.Problem solved with Hymer Exsis i698
and we still wave at everyone even VWs

 

[GJH]

Just to be ready for a roasting at the next rally, I'm going to follow @Wyaye wires advice and drink a lot of Cointreau......

......and I still won't wave at you. Not with all the fingers on one hand, anyway

Orange pickle rather than sauce then

 

[funflair]

On IVECO based A class they now move the dash and steering so that you are only about 12 inches from the screen so no wasted space.

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