I'm looking for a campervan... Any recommendations?

[Elsie2010]

The size is for our drive and flexibility of getting about... I wouldn't mind driving it for 90% of our usage but I rarely see them in the kind of places we end up... I am not sure if that is because they can't get there or the occupants don't do the things we like.

Our current van is 5.3m by 2m and we can park in most carpark spaces... We would struggle if the van was wider or much longer I think.

I will go and measure the drive again... I'm not ruling out any info though.

Auto-Sleepers Fairford - For Sale | Oaktree Motorhomes

This lovely Auto-Sleepers features a 4 berth sleeping space, the rear side facing settees and the front double dinette. A full appliance..

omcmotorhomes.co.uk

No garage but poss use a back box?

 

[Dutch 68]

Happy to help

 

[MattR]

Auto-Sleepers Fairford - For Sale | Oaktree Motorhomes

This lovely Auto-Sleepers features a 4 berth sleeping space, the rear side facing settees and the front double dinette. A full appliance..

omcmotorhomes.co.uk

No garage but poss use a back box?

Nice van but I'd be paranoid about getting the sofas dirty etc. It seems we're now looking at similar vans with double beds at the rear so we can put our bikes where the bottom bunk would be when we need to.

 

[MattR]

Happy to helpView attachment 798565

Did you think I'd miss the extra zero on our budget

 

[Dutch 68]

Did you think I'd miss the extra zero on our budget

It’s only money lol

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[MattR]

It’s only money lol

I'm happy to accept donations

 

[bigtree]

I'm happy to accept donations

I’m happy to donate.

 

[Elsie2010]

Nice van but I'd be paranoid about getting the sofas dirty etc. It seems we're now looking at similar vans with double beds at the rear so we can put our bikes where the bottom bunk would be when we need to.

We use fitted Teddy fleece sheets on ours which is great for keeping them clean and stays on easy being fitted rather than throws for if we use it as a sofa.
However, we now use our sofa as a fitted bed as we can use it as a sofa to sit on with our backs against the barn doors and no faff to sort the bed....and also means in turn, we have a 'garage' as the underneath....granted, not big enough for a bike but spacious enough for bbq, awning carpet, EHU, hose pipe and other paraphernalia

 

[Minxy]

We use fitted Teddy fleece sheets on ours which is great for keeping them clean and stays on easy being fitted rather than throws for if we use it as a sofa.
However, we now use our sofa as a fitted bed as we can use it as a sofa to sit on with our backs against the barn doors and no faff to sort the bed....and also means in turn, we have a 'garage' as the underneath....granted, not big enough for a bike but spacious enough for bbq, awning carpet, EHU, hose pipe and other paraphernalia

View attachment 798581

Ooooooo .... a bonkette!

 

[MattR]

Auto-Sleepers Fairford - For Sale | Oaktree Motorhomes

This lovely Auto-Sleepers features a 4 berth sleeping space, the rear side facing settees and the front double dinette. A full appliance..

omcmotorhomes.co.uk

No garage but poss use a back box?

I don't know about the security of back boxes... Out bikes would be a tempting target and the box would have to be quite deep to accommodate the handles so the box would add quite length to the van.

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[MattR]

On our first ever outing we were parked next to a Swift Rio 340. He had two bikes in the back.

Unfortunately that model has a transverse bed and requires more flexibility than we have to get in and out.

 

[MattR]

Replacing these with Bromptons will open up more options.

I hadn't looked into folding bikes until your post... Now I'm getting very distracted. Folding racing bikes, Bromptons with 25% off at Halfords if I can find an eligible bike to trade in ... Ummm... Could be a good solution

 

[MattR]

Pilote 633m possibly worth a look.
Electric bed put to top position when bikes aboard and lower position when without.
Oops only 2 berth but 4 travelling.

This looks good too and they can be 4 berth. Thanks

 

[MattR]

Globecar Campscout Revolution may be worth a look … hens teeth and discontinued.

It also looks very good... Do you know if the bed can be positioned at different heights or does it have to come down to the cupboard heights?

 

[Grianan]

It also looks very good... Do you know if the bed can be positioned at different heights or does it have to come down to the cupboard heights?

I’m not sure. It was sold as height adjustable.

This old thread may be of interest to you …

hight adjustble rear beds over garage

hight adjustble rear beds over garage? does such a thing exist something electric or manual ? any make of van with a tag axle and garage. There seems to one on autotrader I will ring about later...but has anybody got one. Our reason is sometimes my wife cant climb up hight due to her helth...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[MisterB]

Hymer Grand Canyon - For Sale | Oaktree Motorhomes

The Hymer Grand Canyon is a premium camper van that embodies the essence of freedom and adventure. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and..

omcmotorhomes.co.uk

That's an even better one .....

Also has a tow bar, so on the odd occasion you could tow a small folding caravan or even a non folding small caravan for your 'guests'?

 

[MattR]

Hymer Grand Canyon - For Sale | Oaktree Motorhomes

The Hymer Grand Canyon is a premium camper van that embodies the essence of freedom and adventure. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and..

omcmotorhomes.co.uk

That's an even better one .....

Also has a tow bar, so on the odd occasion you could tow a small folding caravan or even a non folding small caravan for your 'guests'?

It is very nice but unfortunately we need a longitudinal bed rather than transverse.

 

[Elsie2010]

It is very nice but unfortunately we need a longitudinal bed rather than transverse.

I will assume you'll need to 6m min then to get that. Ours is similar size to yours, 5.5m and Mr Elsie at 5'11 can just squish in transversely

It's exciting though the shopping around
What do you have at present?

 

[MisterB]

It is very nice but unfortunately we need a longitudinal bed rather than transverse.

Need or want? Is it a length issue in terms of height of you both, so you can actually sleep, or is it an issue with climbing in and of bed?
A longitudinal bed is going to be 2.1m I would have thought, then add the bathroom of 1.5m, then the rear seats then the cab area and finally the engine space plus bumpers etc and you will see that 6m for a four berth soon eats up your 6m target length ...

 

[Nanniemate]

I hadn't looked into folding bikes until your post... Now I'm getting very distracted. Folding racing bikes, Bromptons with 25% off at Halfords if I can find an eligible bike to trade in ... Ummm... Could be a good solution

I've got 2 bikes in the garage you could use to trade in but have a look at this bit don't get carried away

There also a bike box in classified uou turn the handle bars to load them

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[Otter Spotter]

Build your own or get a convertor to do it for you. Some will find a base vehicle for you or search yourself on Car Guru or Autotrader, then you can spec it up and see what designs they come up with. That’s what we did and it worked for us.

 

[Ernesto]

It’s an interesting challenge this, as MattR is describing my perfect van spec as well. In all my searches, one of the key specs has had to be ditched.

Most recently I’ve seen a 6m PVC, self build, longitudinal beds, with bike storage ….but only 2 berth. It always seems to come down to one of these features needing to be compromised.

Swapping to foldable bikes and bikes on outside of van are dealbreakers for me …(too tempting for thieves)…and 4 berths meant a pop-top which sacrificed valuable payload. So in the end I went for an extra 300mm on the van (6.3m Ducato) and got all the other features, but have to accept I will pay a bit more on ferries and eurotunnel and won’t fit in some small parking spaces as well.

I shall be watching thread to see if Matt solves this one !

 

[Minxy]

It also looks very good... Do you know if the bed can be positioned at different heights or does it have to come down to the cupboard heights?

AFAIK varying heights, jezport will know.

 

[Minxy]

How about a nice slimline a-class, front and rear double beds and a garage for the bikes ...

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I might be a bit biased!

 

[MattR]

Need or want? Is it a length issue in terms of height of you both, so you can actually sleep, or is it an issue with climbing in and of bed?
A longitudinal bed is going to be 2.1m I would have thought, then add the bathroom of 1.5m, then the rear seats then the cab area and finally the engine space plus bumpers etc and you will see that 6m for a four berth soon eats up your 6m target length ...

Both height for me (6 ft 2 ish) and getting into and out of bed...

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[MattR]

I will assume you'll need to 6m min then to get that. Ours is similar size to yours, 5.5m and Mr Elsie at 5'11 can just squish in transversely

It's exciting though the shopping around
What do you have at present?

We have a La Strada 4 berth and it is really well designed etc. The drop down bed is longitudinal and could sleep someone taller than me, possibly comfortable for someone 6ft 6 or so.

However, we can't get our bikes inside and move around and I want to be sourcing a newer vehicle that will take me comfortably into the next 10 years or so as we move into retirement and cycling around Europe.

 

[VXman]

No. But it seems though that coach-built vans don't have the option of putting bikes inside AFAIK.

There are plenty of coachbuilt with a good size garage under rear fixed beds. The beds are higher but aren't difficult to get in and out. Then get one with front drop down bed or front lounge convert to bed.

Getting one at 6m is probably impossible though. Maybe 7.

something along these lines? https://www.motorhomedepot.com/vehicle/burstner-travel-van-t620

 

[MattR]

There are plenty of coachbuilt with a good size garage under rear fixed beds. The beds are higher but aren't difficult to get in and out. Then get one with front drop down bed or front lounge convert to bed.

Getting one at 6m is probably impossible though. Maybe 7.

something along these lines? https://www.motorhomedepot.com/vehicle/burstner-travel-van-t620

It is the size issue of coachbuilt vans that's drawing us to another PVC

 

[VXman]

You can get coachbuilts in the dimensions you state but they will not meet your requirements - but neither will a PVC. Basically what you want will not fit in 6 X 2 metres

Here's a 5.99 metre coachbuilt that covers most of what you want but it has a transverse/climbover bed that may not suit and the lounge area makes up to a single only. Not sure the garage height is good enough for bikes???

Used Burstner Travel Van 570 for sale | Timberland Motorhomes

We are one of the Country’s fastest growing dealerships; stockists of Timberland, Swift, Burstner and Hobby, along with a super range of used motorhomes

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P.S. For info only. Don't ever buy anything from Timberland if you value your sanity.

 

[nicholsong]

It is the size issue of coachbuilt vans that's drawing us to another PVC

I asked before, but what is the need for 6m x 2m?

Is it a parking problem or a driving problem, perceived or otherwise?

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