End bathroom, garage, drop-down bed, 7M long or less. Help & experience

[goneoff]

We are looking to change to a motorhome no longer than 7M with end bathroom, garage and large electric drop-down over lounge area, ideally a bed you can climb in without requiring a ladder. There will only be two of us traveling. We have seen a Pilote P696 Evidence which we like very much but would like to compare it to similar models from other manufacturers, ideally recommend by you guys on here with experience who own them together with your views on build quality etc. Any help positive or negative would really be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[David and Sally]

We had a Burstner Harmony 745 that had a rear drop down bed over a seating area.
Very happy with the layout but at times another bunk up front would have been useful.

Not sure about a bathroom, we only had a shower, toilet and sink.

 

[Guigsy]

Normally if the bathroom is across the back, there's not much garage. I think Chausson have a model with a garage tacked on the back behind the bathroom.

I've got a Geist i585 with that layout... but it's 6m with no garage, just a few lockers.

 

[Devon Sue]

We had a 6.9 Burstner 680, bed drops down low enough, and is longitudinal as well so one occupant isn't clambering over the other to get out, lovely van, but needed to be over 3500 to get enough payload, OK if you have c1 on your licence. My OH decided he didn't want to jump through all the hoops again to renew so lost his c1 which would have left me as the only driver so we decided to change in 2019. Funnily enough I spotted our old van for sale at a local dealer with very little mileage added and priced more than we paid as a new van.

 

[Wh05apk]

We had a dethleffs a6767 which was brilliant for space, a drop down over cab bed (not electric but easy enough and more reliable) a large lounge, great rear bathroom, with a massage wardrobe over a large rear garage.
Would have been a perfect layout had the side not become detached.....

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[Simon Select]

Bailey Adamo 69-4
Swift Escape 640

 

[lunarman]

Benimar Mileo 286/287
Benimar Tessaro 486/487

 

[Bailey 15]

Benimar 486
Away in it now, great van, bathroom to the side as large garage, bed drops right down no need for ladder and sooo comfortable
Lovely kitchen workspace,170hp,
6,9 length and normal width (baileys are wider but that’s why we changed ours )
Great van - must see
4 berth but great for 2

 

[VXman]

We had a Burstner Harmony 745 that had a rear drop down bed over a seating area.
Very happy with the layout but at times another bunk up front would have been useful.

Not sure about a bathroom, we only had a shower, toilet and sink.

Quite a bitt longer than 7 metres though

 

[Simon Select]

Take a look at one of ours should have lots of photo's
Benimar

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[Bailey 15]

Just another thought on the benimar 486.
Although this is our 5th van, we can only find two things of fault with design on this model,
1) freezer door, only opens from pull down, top to bottom with no hinge so you have to hold it down, this makes it very awkward leaning over bottom floor draw to get anything out, should of opened from left to right.
2). Wardrobes over garage, very cold out of season.
Ideally , for 6th van, we would like 6,99, small lounge as in the two swivel seats and seat each side to put feet up, and twin full length beds over smaller garage.
Plenty to think about when purchasing, Jim has good article on this
Good luck

 

[goneoff]

Just another thought on the benimar 486.
Although this is our 5th van, we can only find two things of fault with design on this model,
1) freezer door, only opens from pull down, top to bottom with no hinge so you have to hold it down, this makes it very awkward leaning over bottom floor draw to get anything out, should of opened from left to right.
2). Wardrobes over garage, very cold out of season.
Ideally , for 6th van, we would like 6,99, small lounge as in the two swivel seats and seat each side to put feet up, and twin full length beds over smaller garage.
Plenty to think about when purchasing, Jim has good article on this
Good luck

Thank you for all the information which for us is important right now. What do you think of the Benimar build quality?

 

[Bailey 15]

Thank you for all the information which for us is important right now. What do you think of the Benimar build quality?

Very good, no issues at the quality , really think of how you’re going to use it.
We have purchased vans to accommodate parents, grandchildren etc, so get only what you need it for, I always think a 4 berth is a good 2 berth
Also go for mattress beds not made up ones of cushions
Happy hunting

 

[goneoff]

Very good, no issues at the quality , really think of how you’re going to use it.
We have purchased vans to accommodate parents, grandchildren etc, so get only what you need it for, I always think a 4 berth is a good 2 berth
Also go for mattress beds not made up ones of cushions
Happy hunting

Again many thanks for all your info it is appreciated.
Phil

 

[KD]

We are looking to change to a motorhome no longer than 7M with end bathroom, garage and large electric drop-down over lounge area, ideally a bed you can climb in without requiring a ladder.

You have just described our Swift Escape 614

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[Dryerview1]

I have a 2022 Polite696U Evidence yes the bed drops right down once you put 9 back cushions eather on the floor or in the cab how this won the award for this bed last year I don't know what the judges were thinking of and as for built quality and warranty it is the worse MH I have had I sold my Chausson 630 for it would take back my Chausson in a minute

 

[goneoff]

I have a 2022 Polite696U Evidence yes the bed drops right down once you put 9 back cushions eather on the floor or in the cab how this won the award for this bed last year I don't know what the judges were thinking of and as for built quality and warranty it is the worse MH I have had I sold my Chausson 630 for it would take back my Chausson in a minute

That’s interesting and not what I would have expected to hear, always thought Pilote were better put together than Chausson but that was me just assuming. Thanks for the info.

 

[Nedge68]

We are looking to change to a motorhome no longer than 7M with end bathroom, garage and large electric drop-down over lounge area, ideally a bed you can climb in without requiring a ladder. There will only be two of us traveling. We have seen a Pilote P696 Evidence which we like very much but would like to compare it to similar models from other manufacturers, ideally recommend by you guys on here with experience who own them together with your views on build quality etc. Any help positive or negative would really be appreciated. Thank you.

We have a Chausson 640 and really like it. Ticks all your boxes described above.

 

[Ch1pp3r7]

Had a Chausson 620 7m long with drop down bed for 4 years from new. Garage large enough to take my GSX-R 1000. ( just over the 150 kg payload!) Or Yamaha 125 scooter. Build quality was only medium and the wiring was frankly shoddy. The Ducato 150 multi jet is mildly underpowered and the gearbox awful. However overall despite these minor gripes we did enjoy it. We once managed an all day party for 11 at a rainy festival.

it is easy to do work on though when things need replacing or working on. fridges hobs, chargers water heaters etc

As a footnote…..

2 yrs ago we swapped for a for a 2012 Hymer B690 and the difference is stunning. Build quality fantastic, 3l Mercedes automatic for effortless cruising. 350 kg payload in garage. Although at 8m long it does cause me to plan and think about where to take it. It is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever owned

 

[nickq]

Personally I would avoid drop down beds. They are great when new, then they can start to clonk or squeak even when you just turn over, trying to cure this is almost impossible, so then you start jamming cusions in the sides when you drop them down... Nightmare. Also watch out for the weight limits, I owned a Chausson which had a limit of 150KG on the drop down bed, this was just enough for me and my wife but its not much.

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[The big slipper]

We have a Chausson 640 and really like it. Ticks all your boxes described above.

+1, we also have the 640, works well for the two of us plus the dog.

 

[Stoosal]

Benimar Tessoro 483. 6.7metres

large garage where we have a Honda Vision Scooter.

drop down bed which we can use without ladder etc.

large bathroom with separate shower and access to very large over garage wardrobe.

500ish kg weight available but we up rated to 4000kgs. Rear axle 2250kgs.

We have found build quality very good.

 

[Roby2008]

We are looking to change to a motorhome no longer than 7M with end bathroom, garage and large electric drop-down over lounge area, ideally a bed you can climb in without requiring a ladder. There will only be two of us traveling. We have seen a Pilote P696 Evidence which we like very much but would like to compare it to similar models from other manufacturers, ideally recommend by you guys on here with experience who own them together with your views on build quality etc. Any help positive or negative would really be appreciated. Thank you.

Have ordered a 696 which is due this month....

Compared it to the Chauson and Challenger (same thing I know) and found the 696 had a better layout for us in the minor details, position of the sink and hob, the size and shape of the sink in the bathroom and the general feel...
Madame is a wheelchair user and the access to these things is important, we spent a few hours crawling around our choices before we decided.
Important was the bed dropped low enough for her to get in and out alone and get into the bathroom alone.

 

[Roby2008]

.

 

[cyberyacht]

I'd have thought an end bathroom and garage would be mutually exclusive when it comes to layouts. BICBW

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[goneoff]

I'd have thought an end bathroom and garage would be mutually exclusive when it comes to layouts. BICBW

Looking at the number of people with them I would have thought your thought was incorrect

 

[Roby2008]

It´s a freedom of movement thing, so you will probably see more in Europe....

 

[Gambart]

We are looking to change to a motorhome no longer than 7M with end bathroom, garage and large electric drop-down over lounge area, ideally a bed you can climb in without requiring a ladder. There will only be two of us traveling. We have seen a Pilote P696 Evidence which we like very much but would like to compare it to similar models from other manufacturers, ideally recommend by you guys on here with experience who own them together with your views on build quality etc. Any help positive or negative would really be appreciated. Thank you.

We have a done 5000 miles during the past year in a new Chausson 640 that sounds like a match to your requirements. Our last van was a Hymer A class on the new front wheel drive mercedes sprinter with 9 speed automatic and I would say the Ford transit 6 speed auto on the Chausson is nearly as good to drive. We have had no faults over a very testing year for the van. We are able to get two full size Dutch style electric bikes in the garage. The drop down be is supremely comfortable.
To be truthful I miss the Hymer but my wife hated the cramped kitchen and circulation but loves the Chausson and a happy wife is a happy life|

 

[Ch1pp3r7]

Wife or Hymer? No contest! Take the Hymer

 

[MisterB]

Wife or Hymer? No contest! Take the Hymer

Or get rid of both and save a fortune in maintenance, repairs and running costs. You could also save some money, though probably not as much, by not having the motorhome ...