Which Van

bobnick

bobnick

Joined
Oct 25, 2016
Posts
6,128
Likes collected
36,311
Location
Hartford Cheshire
Funster No
73,061
MH
Bailey Autograph 79-
Exp
Lots but slow learner.
We have confirmed good secured parking, now to buy which van.

I have shortlisted 4 we are showing an interest in.
Basically the configuration we are looking for is 2 X sofa seating, central washroom, twin beds. We believe we could secure new or almost within our budget
I have only a standard licence i let my C1 go when i reached "that age".

1 Auto Trail Imala 734 HB (some pics show double island bed others twins???)
2 Elddis Autoquest 194 (ditto above)
3 Chaussen Welcome 767 (read some have issues with damp???)
4 Swift Escape 684

If anyone could come up with others we should consider i would be most grateful. Or indeed comment on the above.

I would ideally like a few options and upgrades within our budget if the van we choose allows.

PS. A big thank you to James for sorting the mess out i created on joining. (y) :glitter:
 
Hi James, welcome to the fun house. :giggle:

My concern is the lack of C1 licence and wanting a large MH ... the one thing you need to check on first is payload as I think you may struggle with the ones you've listed.
 
FYI - For two of you, you will need to add 400KG of payload.
That is NOT including the two people, the full tank of fuel and half a tank of water
(for calculation purposes fuel and water weigh 1kg per Liter)

You need a smaller van or a bigger licence !
 
Hello Minxy girl,
I'm Bob. I joined last week. You welcomed then. Thank you.

I must be reading it wrong. Two of the van's are on or just below 3000kgs giving me 500kgs loading, i think????
I will double check.
Thanks for the info

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Hi again,
Just checked one of them again, the Elddis Autoquest 194

I read
M.I.R.O 2914 Kgs
Max user payload 594 Kgs
M.T.P.L.M 3500 Kgs Towing up to 2000Kgs

So can i drive this MH on a normal licence??????
Ta
 
There is the Bailey 76-2t has end washroom not a centre one
 
With the Eldiss and the Chausson in particular I would be wanting to check the loading on the back axle. With both having garages you may be tempted to fill it with all sorts of equipemnt that may put them over the limit.
 
bobsnicholson@ said:
Hi again,
Just checked one of them again, the Elddis Autoquest 194

I read
M.I.R.O 2914 Kgs
Max user payload 594 Kgs
M.T.P.L.M 3500 Kgs Towing up to 2000Kgs

So can i drive this MH on a normal licence??????
Ta
Click to expand...
Manufacturer's and dealer's figures as to their MIRO are usually works of fiction. Bear in mind that they are allowed a 5% leeway on the quoted figure, so that takes it up to nearer 3,050kg probably. And then that does not include any of the tempting list of extras that everybody puts on. For example an awning can add 40kg or more depending upon size, auto transmission 17kg, spare wheel 25kg, second habitation battery and solar panels 40kg, and so it goes on.

The only way that you will know what actual payload you have is to insist that the dealer takes the actual motorhome you want to buy to a weighbridge and you see the ticket before parting with any cash.
 
Thanks, all great advice and taken on board.

We have rented these size MH many many times, some with all the extras you have mentioned before i load up the beer. I have never been queried on my licence entitlements. Strange

I am now thinking maybe i should get my C1 back

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bobsnicholson@ said:
Thanks, all great advice and taken on board.

We have rented these size MH many many times, some with all the extras you have mentioned before i load up the beer. I have never been queried on my licence entitlements. Strange

I am now thinking maybe i should get my C1 back
Click to expand...
There are two reasons for that. First, they want your money and are not going to put you off hiring. And second, it will be you, not them, that will be prosecuted if you do not have the proper licence for the plated weight or if you are over the plated weight.
 
bobsnicholson@ said:
Hi again,
Just checked one of them again, the Elddis Autoquest 194

I read
M.I.R.O 2914 Kgs
Max user payload 594 Kgs
M.T.P.L.M 3500 Kgs Towing up to 2000Kgs

So can i drive this MH on a normal licence??????
Ta
Click to expand...
I’m not a tall lad by any stretch of the imagination, but I looked at a 194 because I wanted a garage, (I had an Elddis Encore 255 with no garage) but my head was hitting the roof When I was going through the motions of pretending to get in and out of bed, I now have an Adria with a garage and I am very very happy with it. So check everything suits you before buying one👍👍

w2fBTW👍
 
We looked at the Encore 255 but really want the twin beds. The 255 i have seen have the double bed to one side which would be awkward for one of us getting in and out.

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Looked at the Vantage and Consort and see only Van Conversions. Not something we considered.
 
bobsnicholson@ said:
Hello Minxy girl,
I'm Bob. I joined last week. You welcomed then. Thank you.
Click to expand...
... you're unwelcomed then to cancel one of them out then... :rofl:

I must be reading it wrong. Two of the van's are on or just below 3000kgs giving me 500kgs loading, i think????
I will double check.
Thanks for the info
Click to expand...
As others have said what they brochures state and what the reality is can be totally different, I certainly wouldn't trust the stated weight especially with 3 large dogs to accommodate which weigh at a guess at least 90kg combined and that's before you put in their food, toys, beds, cage ... food ... did I mention food (you do have labs who love their food!). :giggle:

Realistically you've already lost 100kg for the dogs and a few tins of food so by the time you've put in fuel, water, your own food, kit, clothes etc and you and your wife you're gonna be getting close to the max, if not well over it.

The ONLY sure way to know what payload is left is to get it weighed, each axle individually, so you can see if it has sufficient for your needs.
 
Minxy, i am confused??? we do not have dogs.

My wife and i are both normal weight.

Based on what's been advised I will however be checking the weights of the MH before i buy.
 
bobsnicholson@ said:
Minxy, i am confused??? we do not have dogs.

My wife and i are both normal weight.

Based on what's been advised I will however be checking the weights of the MH before i buy.
Click to expand...
It's me who's totally confused 🤪 ... it's your saying you'd had a double welcome that did it :ROFLMAO: ... which is why I put the comment about dogs on the wrong ruddy thread! :rofl:
 
If all on here are as daft as you i think we are going to have lot's of laughs.
And i do hope (and i think they do) people have a sense of humour.

You have had a good selection of MHs, which of them do you miss most??

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bobsnicholson@ said:
If all on here are as daft as you i think we are going to have lot's of laughs.
And i do hope (and i think they do) people have a sense of humour.
Click to expand...
We're definitely all daft, in different ways, one bit of advice I'd give is never take comments seriously if you think they are being derogatory as they are likely to be pulling your leg ... we're all very skilled in doing that, some more than others but you'll soon work out the 'personalities' on here. I'm a bit 'weird' too so can come up with all sorts of silly things to make people giggle ... 🤪

You have had a good selection of MHs, which of them do you miss most??
Click to expand...
That's a difficult one ... probably the Rapido 709F, it was only 5.53m long but had a fixed French bed and was our first foray into that sort of layout (2003), it was only because we found the kitchen area too small for winter trips in the UK that we eventually changed it in (2007) but as we go abroad a lot (or did!) it wouldn't be such an issue ... however now we have the Carthago A-class which is brilliant I'd be hard pushed to go back to a low profile again but if I had to the 709 would be on my list again but unfortunately they don't make it anymore.
 
Hi Bob have you thought if the Dethleffs Trend?

carol
 
We have just got back from our first trip in our new Elddis Accordo 120. This has twin beds and a central washroom. It was great for us but neither of us is tall! Using the transverse double bed was also very comfortable.

Easily in your weight limits with good payload. Ours was 2740kg on the weigh bridge with 2 x people, 2 x gas, full diesel tank and two e-bikes - that leaves an additional 560kg of payload before the max 3300kg (under your C1)
 
bobsnicholson@ said:
We have confirmed good secured parking, now to buy which van.

I have shortlisted 4 we are showing an interest in.
Basically the configuration we are looking for is 2 X sofa seating, central washroom, twin beds. We believe we could secure new or almost within our budget
I have only a standard licence i let my C1 go when i reached "that age".

1 Auto Trail Imala 734 HB (some pics show double island bed others twins???)
2 Elddis Autoquest 194 (ditto above)
3 Chaussen Welcome 767 (read some have issues with damp???)
4 Swift Escape 684

If anyone could come up with others we should consider i would be most grateful. Or indeed comment on the above.

I would ideally like a few options and upgrades within our budget if the van we choose allows.

PS. A big thank you to James for sorting the mess out i created on joining. (y) :glitter:
Click to expand...
Our German friends who have a EuraMobil Profila said that for two people not needing to transport passengers then keep below 6metres in length (although ours is below that but 4 berth being based on an "alcove" type as ferry costs around Europe (not to Europe) can get steep. They also are such easier to park as my friend in England who has a 7.5 metre job found out when pitching on some camp sites. The other issue is if you insist n Europe going to France only then watch the height is below 3 metres as above you go up a class on the motorways. Obviously, the way around the latter id stick to the free motorways or avoid an keep on the old N roads. But is is down to horse for corses as to what you prefer. if you have been a caravnner you will know most of what you need but for the difference in "lifestyle" between the two.
 
Motorhomejeff,
Lovely MH. Really set our hearts on lounge/mid bathroom/bedroom configuration.

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BTW, as I found out some vans are low in internal height which put us off buying when we initially went looking for motorhomes. Ours has an internal height of at least 6 foot 4inches giving an impression of spaciousness. The continentals also are often without carpets but who wants them when on newly mown grass being brought in. So you can off what looks like wood laminate flooring or soft carpet.
 
Ian, all good valid points and noted.
We have rented many many times both in UK and several other country's including Australia.
One time in Nice we did hit the height barriers entering a tunnel. We were not the most popular Brit tourists in Europe when we had to reverse out. Was i bovvered???
 
Swift Bolero 714 sb has single beds, end washroom, you will need to upgrade license for payload
 
Tony, looked at that one and it's a really nice MH, however our habits dictate the bathroom should be midships.
 

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