Hello!

[Astro_Clarky]

Hello all, I’m a keen astrophotographer and looking at getting a motor home for comfort and convenience in reaching remote dark sky sites - sleeping in the car while the scope and camera does its work is not so attractive long term in North Yorkshire in Winter.
My wife and I visited the Harrogate show yesterday and fell in love with a Swift Escape 640 and I came across this site while trying to find a similar model that would be suitable for winter off-grid use in Scotland.
The Chausson 640 and Adria Matrix Axess 600 DT seem like they may be better for winter use, but it’s really tough to find out which MH’s are best suited eg with internal water tanks. Any help and advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[Gingernuts]

Hello from Scotland
Sorry no easy way, you just have to do your homework to fit the van to your hobby!

 

[Mzracer]

Hello all, I’m a keen astrophotographer and looking at getting a motor home for comfort and convenience in reaching remote dark sky sites - sleeping in the car while the scope and camera does its work is not so attractive long term in North Yorkshire in Winter.
My wife and I visited the Harrogate show yesterday and fell in love with a Swift Escape 640 and I came across this site while trying to find a similar model that would be suitable for winter off-grid use in Scotland.
The Chausson 640 and Adria Matrix Axess 600 DT seem like they may be better for winter use, but it’s really tough to find out which MH’s are best suited eg with internal water tanks. Any help and advice would be very much appreciated.

Are you looking at new or SH? If SH is age of the MH important to you?

 

[Janine]

Welcome to the Fun

 

[David and Sally]

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[Phill D]

Hi and welcome

Very few uk builds have internal tanks and a level of insulation that I would want for Scotland in winter.

You also want to look at the heating system. Particularly if you are going to be out for a long weekend when it’s well into the minus ‘c

 

[Astro_Clarky]

Are you looking at new or SH? If SH is age of the MH important to you?

New I guess, though I’ve nothing against second hand for the right spec

 

[Astro_Clarky]

Hello from Scotland
Sorry no easy way, you just have to do your homework to fit the van to your hobby!

Thanks. That’s actually useful advice. Much better to get advice from actual owners than salesmen who think they’re smooth telling you every will be fine. I’m well underway with the research - expensive decision to get wrong!

 

[Astro_Clarky]

Hello from Scotland
Sorry no easy way, you just have to do your homework to fit the van to your hobby!

 

[Mzracer]

New I guess, though I’ve nothing against second hand for the right spec

Firstly I am biased but I have had three Hymers (well two Hymers and a Niesmann which is part of Hymer), I buy these seriously second hand one at 15 years old, one at 7 years old and the Niesmann again at 15 years. I would take any of these MH's into much colder climates than you would generally see in Scotland.

These things are as dry (tinder dry) as a bone and there is next to no wood in the construction apart from the internal furniture

The Niesmann we have only had since March but the heater system is very good.

I would take all three into central Europe with no worries.

We never use EHU, don't need to, I think my hobby application makes very similar demands to what you are talking about.

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[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[Norfolk Nige]

Have you hired and tried out a couple of different layouts, so you get an idea of what works for you. Better than buying and then finding you have the wrong van.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[Jo662]

 

[PP Bear]

Welcome to our world of Fun

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[Mohawk Mo]

 

[Astro_Clarky]

It’s just so tough finding out where the water tanks are fitted and what heating options they have for the tanks - seems to never be listed in the specification and need to check the owners manual.
Seems that diesel (plus gas/lecci) main heating and internal water tank is workable, with a tank heater as a useful option to leaving the valve open on the waste water

Have you hired and tried out a couple of different layouts, so you get an idea of what works for you. Better than buying and then finding you have the wrong van.

Not yet but very sensible idea. That’s the plan once I can work out what make/model I think will do the job.

 

[Mzracer]

Those MH's that I mentioned all have the water tanks inside the heated area, no tank heaters needed.

 

[Astro_Clarky]

Hi and welcome

Very few uk builds have internal tanks and a level of insulation that I would want for Scotland in winter.

You also want to look at the heating system. Particularly if you are going to be out for a long weekend when it’s well into the minus ‘c

Thanks. A diesel heating option seems to be the most flexible for off grid, then it’s not using the gas/electricity for the main heating, I think.

 

[Mzracer]

You got to keep yourself warm as well !! Gas LPG heating does that and stops the water tanks freezing.

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[Astro_Clarky]

Those MH's that I mentioned all have the water tanks inside the heated area, no tank heaters needed.

Wow, those Niesmanns look nice!

 

[Mzracer]

Too much money for me new I cannot justify £150K for a new MH. I am in the £45K market.

 

[ambulancekidd]