Big Adam
Free Member
- Feb 22, 2018
- 22
- 8
- Funster No
- 52,529
Hello all, new on the forums and been finding some fantastic guidance but thought I'd get my situation typed out and see if anyone has some tailored tips.
Me, Mrs BA and the two kids (8yr and 5yr) are currently tuggers of a 6 berth folding camper (Pennine Pathfinder). Absolutely massive once set up with two separate bedrooms, lounge, kitchenette and WC but all packs down to a manageable size that fits in the garage. It's been great for us for the past 4 years but we're now at a stage where we want to go away further, much more often and for shorter periods of time. While we love the folding camper, to get it all fully pitched with the full awning and sun canopy can be a 4hr job for two of us while trying to keep half an eye on the kids. Packing up takes as long and can be miserable if it's damp with the hassle of unfolding and drying out once home. We'd love to have the option to decide on the Friday lunchtime to just pick the kids up from school and head off. Kids fall asleep and when they wake up, we're somewhere new and exciting for the weekend.
We'd also love to do a few european tours including over to Zurich/Interlaken in Switzerland where Mrs BA has family. Right now, that just sounds like a recipe for divorce with our current setup.
So, a motorhome/camper is on the cards and the wish list is as follows:
1) Compact - We avoid big commercial sites and prefer rallies and small certified sites off the beaten track. Relative comfort on small lanes is a must. (Note: Not too compact. When we were newlyweds, we did Melbourne to Brisbane in a clapped out rented Nissan Vanette. Truly fantastic memories but we're now much older and want to enjoy, not just exist!)
2) All seasons - We're not talking arctic conditions but want to be relatively functional and comfortable if it's a cold snap or the sea fog rolls in (which we seemed to attract like a magnet last year!)
3) Up to 3500kg - While we both passed our tests back in 1991, after some health issues, I lost my C1 entitlement so I'm now payload limited.
4) Flexibility - This may be a 'crunch' item but if we're going away for 48hrs and not putting up an awning, we need to have somewhere in the van where me and Mrs BA can share a bottle of Rioja once the kids are asleep. Ideally, this shouldn't be either in bed or in the cab facing out the windscreen!
5) Creature Comforts - We need a WC. Shower good but not essential. Basic hob/sink kitchen facilities only (we've not used the oven/grill in our Pennine ever!)
6) Four belts and four internal berths (as kids too young for pup tents)
Based on the above, I've been focusing on PVCs and have so far narrowed my shortlist to the following:
- Hymercar Grand Canyon (6.0m) or Ayers Rock (5.4m) - Funky roof bed option although some concerns over suitability of this in winter?
- Knaus Boxlife 540 (5.4m) - Rear bunks perfect for kids with over-dinette drop down bed for adults. Big compromise on storage though.
- Globecar/Possl Vario 545 (5.4m) - Rear bunks and, if you can ignore the 'Tefal' looks (hope you all get that reference), possibly the best compromise on size vs. function/storage? However, clearly going to be a little less fuel efficient due to massive 'quiff' styling.
I'm sure every new potential motorhome/campervan owner expects to buy a model that perfectly suits his/her requirements but reading this forum suggests the reality is somewhat different! I think my 'perfect' solution is a 6.0m PVC but fitted with the rear bunks from a 5.4m PVC so I can have the extra 0.6m filled with floor to roof storage!
Anyhoo, on Saturday we're doing the sensible thing and heading up to the CCM show at the Birmingham NEC. We'll drop the kids off in the creche facility for a few hours and clamber over as many vans / interrogate as many PVC suppliers as we can.
What I'd like to understand is whether I should be focusing on the mainstream manufacturers and finding the best solution/compromise to my requirements........or sitting with a couple of good conversion specialists and seeing if they can build me a winterised Boxlife 540 layout on a 6.0m platform?
All thoughts/criticisms/suggestions/abuse/donations VERY welcome!
Me, Mrs BA and the two kids (8yr and 5yr) are currently tuggers of a 6 berth folding camper (Pennine Pathfinder). Absolutely massive once set up with two separate bedrooms, lounge, kitchenette and WC but all packs down to a manageable size that fits in the garage. It's been great for us for the past 4 years but we're now at a stage where we want to go away further, much more often and for shorter periods of time. While we love the folding camper, to get it all fully pitched with the full awning and sun canopy can be a 4hr job for two of us while trying to keep half an eye on the kids. Packing up takes as long and can be miserable if it's damp with the hassle of unfolding and drying out once home. We'd love to have the option to decide on the Friday lunchtime to just pick the kids up from school and head off. Kids fall asleep and when they wake up, we're somewhere new and exciting for the weekend.
We'd also love to do a few european tours including over to Zurich/Interlaken in Switzerland where Mrs BA has family. Right now, that just sounds like a recipe for divorce with our current setup.
So, a motorhome/camper is on the cards and the wish list is as follows:
1) Compact - We avoid big commercial sites and prefer rallies and small certified sites off the beaten track. Relative comfort on small lanes is a must. (Note: Not too compact. When we were newlyweds, we did Melbourne to Brisbane in a clapped out rented Nissan Vanette. Truly fantastic memories but we're now much older and want to enjoy, not just exist!)
2) All seasons - We're not talking arctic conditions but want to be relatively functional and comfortable if it's a cold snap or the sea fog rolls in (which we seemed to attract like a magnet last year!)
3) Up to 3500kg - While we both passed our tests back in 1991, after some health issues, I lost my C1 entitlement so I'm now payload limited.
4) Flexibility - This may be a 'crunch' item but if we're going away for 48hrs and not putting up an awning, we need to have somewhere in the van where me and Mrs BA can share a bottle of Rioja once the kids are asleep. Ideally, this shouldn't be either in bed or in the cab facing out the windscreen!
5) Creature Comforts - We need a WC. Shower good but not essential. Basic hob/sink kitchen facilities only (we've not used the oven/grill in our Pennine ever!)
6) Four belts and four internal berths (as kids too young for pup tents)
Based on the above, I've been focusing on PVCs and have so far narrowed my shortlist to the following:
- Hymercar Grand Canyon (6.0m) or Ayers Rock (5.4m) - Funky roof bed option although some concerns over suitability of this in winter?
- Knaus Boxlife 540 (5.4m) - Rear bunks perfect for kids with over-dinette drop down bed for adults. Big compromise on storage though.
- Globecar/Possl Vario 545 (5.4m) - Rear bunks and, if you can ignore the 'Tefal' looks (hope you all get that reference), possibly the best compromise on size vs. function/storage? However, clearly going to be a little less fuel efficient due to massive 'quiff' styling.
I'm sure every new potential motorhome/campervan owner expects to buy a model that perfectly suits his/her requirements but reading this forum suggests the reality is somewhat different! I think my 'perfect' solution is a 6.0m PVC but fitted with the rear bunks from a 5.4m PVC so I can have the extra 0.6m filled with floor to roof storage!
Anyhoo, on Saturday we're doing the sensible thing and heading up to the CCM show at the Birmingham NEC. We'll drop the kids off in the creche facility for a few hours and clamber over as many vans / interrogate as many PVC suppliers as we can.
What I'd like to understand is whether I should be focusing on the mainstream manufacturers and finding the best solution/compromise to my requirements........or sitting with a couple of good conversion specialists and seeing if they can build me a winterised Boxlife 540 layout on a 6.0m platform?
All thoughts/criticisms/suggestions/abuse/donations VERY welcome!
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