What would you buy?

[Sidders]

Morning Funsters,
After missing out on a couple of vans, I’m wondering if I should be widening my search, so thought I’d ask what you would buy (i realise this is a very personal thing but I’m curious and interested to hear what people have had that worked well or would recommend). We are a family of 4 with 2 toddlers. Have had vans previously before the kids joined the party, so know our way around one.
Our criteria is;

Twin bunks plus min 1 double/king
Larger fridge
Oven
Cab air con
Min 2 x 3 point seat belts in rear
Min 4 berth, with a preference for 6 just for the space
Size and weight doesn’t matter too much (have c1 entitlement, though we don’t want a bus)
Budget for buying privately is up to 25k

Also are Laika’s worth the extra? Fit and finish look up their with Hymer?

Many thanks

 

[trophychap]

Our first MH was 4 berth although it only had 2 seatbelts. Current one is approx. half a meter longer and is 6 berth. Frankly the two of us seem to have less space to live in in the existing one than we did in the first!

Don't discount a this berth or a that berth automatically until you've been in it and seen how it's configured.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Why two bunks.
Why not two singles and a drop down over the cab if an A Class.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

With 2 toddlers I would buy a caravan

 

[Rapido925M]

My daughter and SiL have just bought a VW camper for £22k. It almost fits your description!
Gordon

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[Hollyberry]

Just remember that every time you move the vehicle everything has to be packed away. If you’re based on a site and want to drive out for a day, every toy, cup, toddler bike etc.. has to be stored.
My daughter and family have had a caravan for about 8 or 9 years and find they can leave bikes, scooters, shoes, wellies, etc.. in the awning and drive off for a day. Friends with similar age children ( now 10 and 6) bought a motorhome and it stayed for a year, they found it too complicated to move with small children.
Maybe hire a motorhome for a week or two first and see how you get on ?

 

[Jim]

With 2 toddlers I would buy a caravan

I couldn't disagree more. Motorhomes are just perfect for kids of all ages, some of our most memorable moments have been the actual travelling. I've driven all day to the sound of laughter in the back as the rest of the family sit around a table having fun. I find kids travel in a motorhome much better than in a cramped car, MUCH less likely to throw up everywhere and when they do you have a loo and a sink right there. I remember long journeys in a car as a kid, hell, and I can only imagine what it was like for our parents with us lot in the back.

Motorhomes and kids a match made in heaven, kids love em.

 

[Jim]

Travelling with kids we found the classic Brit U-Shaped lounge hard to beat. A van with an overhead cab a dinette and a rear U shaped lounge give you great combinations. When old enough to use them, kids love overhead cab beds, at night they are over the cab and you can get some peace right at the back.

 

[grumps147]

With nearly ten years of motorhoming under our belts and taking grandchildren who were then toddlers with us, although it’s not impossible in a motorhome it’s much more restrictive primarily because of parking the motorhome in the day somewhere. It’s so much easier in a car. Now, if you could manage a towbar and a small car dare I suggest an A frame would make it much more practical for day time activity.

Looking back at the time when our own children were small we had a baby and toddler in a frame tent, then moved to trailer tent (though we enjoyed it, a mistake), then a caravan.

We were able to do so much more in the caravan when our children were small, than when we took our small grandchildren in the motorhome. We could go to any site, anywhere almost. We chose a different area of the UK each year and had a real good explore using the car.

So, I am probably in the not what you want to hear camp, do the next five years at least in a caravan - Fun has quite a few attending its gatherings, so you won’t be alone.

 

[grumps147]

Travelling with kids we found the classic Brit U-Shaped lounge hard to beat. A van with an overhead cab a dinette and a rear U shaped lounge give you great combinations. When old enough to use them, kids love overhead cab beds, at night they are over the cab and you can get some peace right at the back.

That’s very true, our layout was exactly that, and when they were old enough they did love the overcab bed, and it did give us some peace and quiet for a short time. Most dinettes make fine beds for two toddlers, but by 9 or 10 they are out growing them.

Our problem was getting out and visiting places in the daytime. You are unlikely to find a short and narrow layout like that you can park in many places as our friends responsible for getting height barriers erected gradually erode the few parking spots left.

Fortunately, all of ours were good travellers.

P.s. ours loved wrecked castles and places they could climb and have imaginary games running around, they hated NT venues where they had to ‘behave’, and they weren’t bad kids.

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[busby]

With 2 toddlers I would buy a caravan

With two toddlers i would stop at home,,

 

[MisterB]

I would keep an eye on the stocklist at Uber Leisure

Uber Leisure - The UK's No.1 Trade Supplier of Motorhomes & Caravans

We picked up a motorhome well below market price earlier this year and are more than pleased with it almost 6 months later and lots of use/testing etc.

I would go with the motorhome and not the caravan option. You may pick up one a bit cheaper after September ...

 

[Louis]

I couldn't disagree more. Motorhomes are just perfect for kids of all ages, some of our most memorable moments have been the actual travelling. I've driven all day to the sound of laughter in the back as the rest of the family sit around a table having fun. I find kids travel in a motorhome much better than in a cramped car, MUCH less likely to throw up everywhere and when they do you have a loo and a sink right there. I remember long journeys in a car as a kid, hell, and I can only imagine what it was like for our parents with us lot in the back.

Motorhomes and kids a match made in heaven, kids love em.

In total agreement ?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Laika Ecovip or better still

a Laika Kreos 3002

 

[EuroTrotters]

In total agreement ?

And when you get set up on site, you don't shove them back in the car to go out for the day.

Use legs, bikes, busses, trains and even Boats.

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[Louis]

And when you get set up on site, you don't shove them back in the car to go out for the day.

Use legs, bikes, busses, trains and even Boats.

Absolutely ???

 

[Wellington]

I also would get a caravan. Probably.

With two toddlers, you will be ok to stay in one place for a few days because they will be happy enough with small entertainments ducks and bus rides and running around the grass etc.

Once they are a bit older (or if the weather is poor) you will need to move every few days to be close enough to get to things to do by bike trailer (which will need to be stowed) or bus. THEN you will have to pack up and stow every damn thing they have pulled out and played with all day. It can take hours, because as you are putting away at one end of the van, they are pulling stuff out at the other. Then they need a snack and you have to wash up again.

You will also have to find somewhere to store their car seats for around ten years. We have a four berth van, and the two of us can manage around one car seat. Two adults and two car seats would be a real squash, because they are so bulky. Children have to have car seats until they 135cm tall (I think that’s 4’ 8”. My kid is nine, and only one or two of her friends are out of car seats. Ten seems to be average) or 12 years old, and backless boosters are no longer legal as I understand it (it’s a bit confusing, but I wouldn’t use them anyway, they are much less safe, do I didn’t persevere with understanding the guidelines. Hence I may be wrong)

 

[Sidders]

Wow, such great and mixed comments??
Now I’m more confused than before???

 

[EuroTrotters]

I also would get a caravan. Probably.

With two toddlers, you will be ok to stay in one place for a few days because they will be happy enough with small entertainments ducks and bus rides and running around the grass etc.

Once they are a bit older (or if the weather is poor) you will need to move every few days to be close enough to get to things to do by bike trailer (which will need to be stowed) or bus. THEN you will have to pack up and stow every damn thing they have pulled out and played with all day. It can take hours, because as you are putting away at one end of the van, they are pulling stuff out at the other. Then they need a snack and you have to wash up again.

You will also have to find somewhere to store their car seats for around ten years. We have a four berth van, and the two of us can manage around one car seat. Two adults and two car seats would be a real squash, because they are so bulky. Children have to have car seats until they 135cm tall (I think that’s 4’ 8”. My kid is nine, and only one or two of her friends are out of car seats. Ten seems to be average) or 12 years old, and backless boosters are no longer legal as I understand it (it’s a bit confusing, but I wouldn’t use them anyway, they are much less safe, do I didn’t persevere with understanding the guidelines. Hence I may be wrong)

I can never understand why parents make life so complicated for themselves when it comes to children.

I can recall me and my Wife taking our young Daughter, a 6 month old baby and my sister. In a Tiny Citroen, with a roofbox (a new thing back then) all the way to St. Tropez from Manchester.

We had a ball, no boredom, no tantrums, just a great time.

Now, we take our Grandchildren. No complicated parents to break the dynamic. Just a 2, 7 and 10 year old. They are spoiled as they come in the motorhome with us. We have taken them all from being just a year old.

Wherever they are they are happy. No iPad tantrums, no ill scream and scream, they just get on with it and we can sit on a beach, by the motorhome or at the pool for weeks.

 

[funflair]

I can never understand why parents make life so complicated for themselves when it comes to children.

I can recall me and my Wife taking our young Daughter, a 6 month old baby and my sister. In a Tiny Citroen, with a roofbox (a new thing back then) all the way to St. Tropez from Manchester.

We had a ball, no boredom, no tantrums, just a great time.

Now, we take our Grandchildren. No complicated parents to break the dynamic. Just a 2, 7 and 10 year old. They are spoiled as they come in the motorhome with us. We have taken them all from being just a year old.

Wherever they are they are happy. No iPad tantrums, no ill scream and scream, they just get on with it and we can sit on a beach, by the motorhome or at the pool for weeks.

View attachment 319265View attachment 319266

You got the "like" for the photo if nothing else.

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[Sidders]

I can never understand why parents make life so complicated for themselves when it comes to children.

I can recall me and my Wife taking our young Daughter, a 6 month old baby and my sister. In a Tiny Citroen, with a roofbox (a new thing back then) all the way to St. Tropez from Manchester.

We had a ball, no boredom, no tantrums, just a great time.

Now, we take our Grandchildren. No complicated parents to break the dynamic. Just a 2, 7 and 10 year old. They are spoiled as they come in the motorhome with us. We have taken them all from being just a year old.

Wherever they are they are happy. No iPad tantrums, no ill scream and scream, they just get on with it and we can sit on a beach, by the motorhome or at the pool for weeks.

View attachment 319265View attachment 319266

I can never understand why parents make life so complicated for themselves when it comes to children.

I can recall me and my Wife taking our young Daughter, a 6 month old baby and my sister. In a Tiny Citroen, with a roofbox (a new thing back then) all the way to St. Tropez from Manchester.

We had a ball, no boredom, no tantrums, just a great time.

Now, we take our Grandchildren. No complicated parents to break the dynamic. Just a 2, 7 and 10 year old. They are spoiled as they come in the motorhome with us. We have taken them all from being just a year old.

Wherever they are they are happy. No iPad tantrums, no ill scream and scream, they just get on with it and we can sit on a beach, by the motorhome or at the pool for weeks.

View attachment 319265View attachment 319266

That’s kind of fond and appreciative memories I have of 4 of us travelling (& sleeping) in my mums tiny Ford Fiesta enroute to our hol destination, with a roof rack up top and car stuffed to the gunnels. My dad would boil eggs and make tea n sandwiches in the morning for us on his little camping stove at the service station. Things have changed since those days - child car seats, no overnight stays at service stations....you get the picture. However, we’re determined to recreate that as best we can for our Iil ones, hence our hunt for a Motorhome.
Lucky grand kids and fab pics Tee??

 

[Feltwell]

My van pretty much exactly matches your description - Mclouis Tandy 640 - which we use with 3 kids. Big double over the cab, 2 large single bunks at the back, plus a single dinette and twin dinette that can become 3 more beds. The Tandy 620 is similar but with double bunks and no single dinette.

Mclouis are a budget brand but none the worse for it I think - I've had mine for 5 years now with no major problems. If the van is still plated at 3500kg then you'll need rear air assist to replate it at 4000kg - this is a must, at 3500kg you'll definitely be over by the time you're loaded up.

Here's a 620:-

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=323840999715

 

[Sidders]

My van pretty much exactly matches your description - Mclouis Tandy 640 - which we use with 3 kids. Big double over the cab, 2 large single bunks at the back, plus a single dinette and twin dinette that can become 3 more beds. The Tandy 620 is similar but with double bunks and no single dinette.

Mclouis are a budget brand but none the worse for it I think - I've had mine for 5 years now with no major problems. If the van is still plated at 3500kg then you'll need rear air assist to replate it at 4000kg - this is a must, at 3500kg you'll definitely be over by the time you're loaded up.

Here's a 620:-

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=323840999715

Thanks Feltwell,

These have been on the radar too??

Went to see a ci Mizar GTL last week, lovely van with a gorgeous finish inside (it was the newer one), but needed a quite few things doing that the owner seemed to be oblivious to - tyres, timing belt, clutch, blinds.

Was also eyeing up a Chausson 57 with super low mileage, but at the age obviously needed tyres and timing belt (it was on originals) which again the owner seemed oblivious to - infact there was no service history at all with that one even though everything else checked out. The more I look, the more it amazes me that some people buy these lovely MH’s and don’t really look for this stuff or understand it


The pick of the bunch so far has been this one, but just missed out as the chaps friend decided she wanted it, even though I’d arranged to go down and view