Caravanner planning to convert - how much does size matter? (1 Viewer)

[Sibsbibs]

Dear all,

We're planning to trade in the caravan for a motorhome now that the kiddies are older. The main advantages as I see it are that it's much easier to get ready for quick getaways, touring is easier and we're more likely to use it in winter. I've been following advice that suggests it's best to get the smallest MH we can bear to live in and we'll aim to hire something as close as possible to what we might buy, but may well not be identical. Anyway, I'm after advice, especially from any ex-caravanners who have lived through the transition having learnt a thing or two.

Our budget is up to 30k for a second hand MH, but there is flex - just don't want to spend more than that first time round, if possible.

Here's where my thinking is now:

1. Favouring a Luton style for the handy bed cum storage area over the cab
2. I'd like the space of a six berth with end lounge reminiscent of the lounging glory we have in the caravan, but these vans are very long and can't help thinking that's got to limit versatility when it comes to going places and finding somewhere to park. I'm fine with the driving, having towed for years - but arriving somewhere and not being able to park seems problematic when the point of the change is greater flexibility of use.
3. I'm therefore looking at four/five berths with a long side settee facing a dinette, with kitchen/bathroom in rear. Here's where the peculiarities of our family come in:

• my 16 year old daughter has high functioning autism and likes her own space sometimes, so I'm ideally looking for a Luton high enough that she can sit up in, with her laptop on her lap, while we watch tv etc in main lounge. Fortunately we're all absurdly short and we did see one such Luton on a visit to a nearby dealer, but not in the right layout.
• When travelling, she also objects to sitting right next to her 19 year older brother (yes, we can't rely on him not wanting to free-load holidays from us forever, even though he's now at university). So we're looking at a dinette that must have seat belts both sides so that they can sit opposite each other.

1. I've also seen some very compact 4 berths where there's a travel seat either side of a central aisle (so no cheek-by-jowel travelling to please my daughter) that convert to settees when not traveling. I really like the idea of these as we then get a really good lounging area and, although we like to be very active during the day, we love to slob in the evening in front of the tv, when optimum lounging/viewing facilities are high on my list of priorities.
2. But here's where I find it hard to tell which compromise will be most palatable - the lack of cupboards/storage/ separate sitting areas that inevitably accompanies a smaller van versus the limitations associated with a longer van when it comes to nipping into town for a curry/supermarket shop or accessing a parking space on a day out. This leads us to other thoughts:

• would one of those large storage boxes on the back of a smaller van be a good solution for longer getaway storage issues? I'd want to take bikes too - am I being optimistic about how much we could lash on the back/roof...?
• Conversely, for U.K. Holidays, it's not a ridiculous proposition that we'd take a car too and drive in convoy, so a bigger MH could happily be left on site. Or have people done this and found it more of a chore than they expected?
• For European holidays, it sounds like there's a world of opportunity not open to caravanners that I don't really know about - any advice on how far a longer van is less problematic when going places abroad, because of this? There's much talk of Aires and other MH facilities abounding abroad - this is all uncharted territory for us caravanners.

1. Type of holidays/breaks we favour: we go to the Lakes and Snowdonia a lot for the walking. Also like the Peaks, coast and would probably do more city breaks than we do now. As for Europe, we're likely to go anywhere/everywhere - outdoor activities, walking, cycling, kayaking - that sort of thing, seeing nature/wildlife hotspots and pandering to kiddie whims which revolve around roller coasters, trains/heritage railways and wildlife parks. We're likely to stay on campsites for the most part because my daughter doesn't like to be parted from reliable wifi. But like the idea of more flexibility of other stopover options en route to places - she can make do without wifi for a night or two...
2. I suppose the fundamental question: for the type of thing we want to do and the type of family we have (accepting we might eventually get the MH to ourselves most of the time), do you think we're better off with a MH in the 6m-6.5m range with associated space problems; or something in the 7-7.5m range with associated manoevrability problems? I'm just not sure if that extra meter or so makes a big difference to usability/manoevrability.
3. Finally, I've also noticed payloads quoted are wildly fluctuating but the larger the MH, the smaller the payload seems to be, at times. Why is that? Is it because larger MHs are on the same chassis, so part of your payload has been gobbled up by MH weight? And do people really insist on taking a MH to a local weighbridge before buying to check this out, as recommended in the buying guide I've purchased? I'm just wondering what kind of reaction I might get to such a suggestion from a dealer/private seller (as for the latter, I'd only buy with an indie vehicle/hab check anyway - as we've done in the past with caravans)?

All help, thoughts, ruminations, experiences of solving similar dilemmas are hugely welcome. Thanks very much

 

[Southdowners]

yes indeed... with the proviso, you don't care about having your van windows and panels scratched by trees and hedges, or having to ride up on a verge to get past an oncoming tractor or care about having a door mirror ripped off by the white van man. We live in such a place and every trip the first 8 miles are nerve wracking, same coming home.

We've just spent four months negotiating Norwegian roads, travelling over 8,500 miles during that time. Obviously care has to be taken but I can honestly say that we've not had any of the issues you describe. The roads and tunnels were very narrow and bordered by sheer drops one side and steep cliffs the other for most of the time.

Is your vehicle abnormally wide?

 

[scotjimland]

We've just spent four months negotiating Norwegian roads, travelling over 8,500 miles during that time. Obviously care has to be taken but I can honestly say that we've not had any of the issues you describe....

Is your vehicle abnormally wide?

no it is not abnormally wide.

I've never been to Norway so can't comment on the road conditions.

if you have never met the conditions I describe you obviously haven't been on any narrow roads in Suffolk, Cornwall, Devon etc. all of which have bin lorries, mad white van man charging along and coaches negotiating them.. and around here, farm machinery that takes up 3/4 of the road, even in a car you have to climb the verge to pass them.

there are also plenty of threads with tales of mirrors being ripped off when driving on narrow roads..

perhaps it's my lack of care or driving skills.

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[Lenny HB]

Sorry Lenny - also meant to ask: what kind of wifi alternatives do you favour? I know what you mean about campsite wifi - we tend to stay at club sites for week+ holidays and their pay options are good, but hit and miss elsewhere.

I don't bother with wifi much now, easier to either use my phone and tether it to other devices, I also have a with a roof mounted aerial. The aerial is not essential but a couple times on out last trip when up in the mountians we couldn't get any signal on our phones but the MiFi aerial picked up a 3G signal. Data is getting so cheap now not worth faffing about with wifi, even so I still carry a long range wifi aerial.

 

[Cat53]

We used to caravan many years ago. Now own our second motorh9me. Our issues are different to yours as my husband is disabled and in a wheelchair. Our first motorhome cost us £3,500...a leaky rust bucket but it showed us we can cope and we loved it. It was a micro mini Winnebago. Our current one is an A class Rapido which suits us perfectly. It has a garage that takes the wheelchair and once in Steve can just put his feet up and relax. We updated it from 3500kg as we were overweight when fully packed. We now have plenty of wiggle room.

 

[Sibsbibs]

Dear all, thanks again for all your advice - sorry about delay in saying as much - slight hiccup with having to rearrange daughter's schooling diverted us for a few weeks. Anyway, we're off to a second-hand dealer in Huntingdon on Sunday, which has all manner of layout/size to look at.

Can I just check - which are the German makes? I recently read an article that mentioned a brand I'd never heard of which turned out to be German - but with a very un-German sounding name. I know all the caravan ones - Hymer, Burstner, Dethleffs etc, but not all by any means. Any other makes you'd recommmend? We're on our second Bailey caravan and, whilst we haven't had any of the ghastly problems some of you have reported, I have read continental vans are often more robust and better winterised.

Also, any advice on what's easy to upgrade and what isn't? Research so far suggests additional seat-belt seats are very problematic, but what about adding solar panels, better lighting, microwaves etc? Or winterising efforts (heating elements for water tanks etc?). Any views on what's easily (albeit potentially costly) to add and what isn't, if it's not already fitted? And assuming we have the payload for additions.

As Lenny suggests, I'm thinking anything less than 7m might feel a bit cramped - but sounds like, once you're that big, an extra half meter or so won't make much difference?

Thanks again for all your great advice

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[MikeD]

After spending quite a lot of money buying upgrades for your first van that turned out as almost useless or unused.

I would not now do any upgrades until you have used the van for a bit and find out actually what you want.

Also I would not use a motorhome dealer to upgrade but use a specialist for the items you want.

 

[busby]

The minimum amount of interior space you would find acceptable is a very personal decision. Having traded up from a VW camper with pop top roof to a medium wheelbase PVC, what seems to us to be a somewhat cosy but functional living area I can imagine would seem very cramped for ex-caravanners used to ample lounging space.

There are narrow country lanes with branches sticking out where delivery drivers drive 7.5 tonners and bin lorries will go but I wouldn't risk it. Again, a personal preference.

Agree with you SpeedyDux,,there are lanes i would have gone down in my artic that i would not have risked in a large coach built,,Trucks don't have to worry about as you say stick out branches etc,,BUSBY,,