Why all the hate for overcab coachbuilts?

[Jon and Shell]

Ever since the dawn of time, the overcab/Luton/alcove motorhome has been a staple of most manufacturers' ranges. The overcab concept adds much-needed interior volume without increasing overall vehicle length.

Then, in 2008, along came the Burstner Quaddro. It came in a few different layouts, but all replaced the over cab bed with a drop down bed over the lounge.

Since then, manufacturers have forced the drop-down bed onto the buyer, even using it in 6 or seven berth family motorhome layouts, sacrificing practical space for a more appealing exterior design.

The Radfords changed their Swift Kontiki low profile for an overcab Dethleffs tag axle recently. The comments on YouTube were extremely negative, with many criticising the exterior looks without a thought for the practicality of the family-friendly design.

So, have we got to a point where we have Stockholm syndrome where buyers have sub-optimal designs pushed onto them and are thankful for it, or am I missing something about the concept of a family van without any space in it?

 

[Gone south]

I've found my overcab bed handy when I've wanted I quick power nap on a long journey leaving the below space undisturbed. So the rest of the family can carry on don't do that so much these days as more flexible with time but was a god send when I had limited holidays and need to get somewhere.

 

[Jon and Shell]

Yeah my kid is 23 now lol and flown the nest but I am tight and sticking with my old hymer over cab lol

I'm taking my 25 year-old to Normandy in June.
He has left home, but I can't get him out of the van.
We took our two nieces skiing recently. The bunks were great for that too! We used the king-size overcab.

 

[Gone south]

I'm taking my 25 year-old to Normandy in June.
He has left home, but I can't get him out of the van.
We took our two nieces skiing recently. The bunks were great for that too! We used the king-size overcab.

Very flexible arnt they I find them good if I wanna stop up a bit longer watching TV ect. If I don't wanna disturb my other half I just crash out in the long sofa

 

[scotjimland]

We had a Karmann Missouri .. overhead cab bed .. top quality van on a VW LT35 base

wouldn't call it ugly .. overcab had limited headroom but a great bed ..

 

[Hawkstone]

We have two young children and the overcab bed suits us fine. We have rear bunks for the kids and then the overcab bed for us and can't see us ever wanting to change it.

I can see why going up and down the ladder might be a bit of a pain for those with mobility issues however me and my wife are thankfully in good health and so it's not an issue for us. I have read a few things suggesting overcab beds tend to be small but ours in absolutely enormous.

We quite like the separation of the overcab bed and it means if one of us wants to go to bed early and the other stay up we can still use the lounge space without any issue.

We've never had any issues with height and although we are about 3.1m we get away with Class 2 on the French toll roads.

Granted the aerodynamics probably aren't great but we happen to think our motorhome is aesthetically pleasing from the outside even with the overcab, although naturally we are bias.

I have to agree. We have a 13 plate Rollerteam 707. It’s probably a bit to big now our children are grown up but the rear bunks make great storage at motocross or when we go skiing. The bottom one folds up to give us a bigger garage for the pushbikes. Our overhead cab bed is a super king size with a great mattress. As you say, the day we can’t use the ladder is the day we change it. We rarely use tolls but often get it lowered if we press the button and say “je suis camping car” very politely

 

[Gone south]

We had a Karmann Missouri .. overhead cab bed .. top quality van on a VW LT35 base

wouldn't call it ugly .. overcab had limited headroom but a great bed ..
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Looks a nice van similar to my hymer on a 312d chassis

 

[Gone south]

I have to agree. We have a 13 plate Rollerteam 707. It’s probably a bit to big now our children are grown up but the rear bunks make great storage at motocross or when we go skiing. The bottom one folds up to give us a bigger garage for the pushbikes. Our overhead cab bed is a super king size with a great mattress. As you say, the day we can’t use the ladder is the day we change it. We rarely use tolls but often get it lowered if we press the button and say “je suis camping car” very politely

I don't use tolls either just potter along in motorways the fuel gauge goes from right to left quicker than the windscreen wiper blade lol

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[Gone south]

On

 

[Jon and Shell]

If I was to show an example of where I believe it has all gone wrong as regards family vans, it would be this one-

Don't get me wrong, this will suit someone down to the ground, for carrying no more than four, but where is all the storage?
There is a single wardrobe, all the seats boxes contain services, the lounge lockers are small due to the drop down bed, and the garage space is largely taken up with bed cushions.

This van needs an overcab bed!

 

[PP Bear]

Love my overcab area, it’s my man cave for snoozing, mass storage area, cat lookout, spare bedding place and much more. I personally, love it

 

[Minxy]

The only van that I would swap mine for is exactly the same year and model but with the overcab for sleeping.

That way, I wouldn’t wake up spooning with the dog every morning

The first MH we ever used was a hired one with an overcab and rear lounge. The first night the dogs settled on the lounge seats and we used the overcab ... never to be repeated. It was claustrophobic and pratty to get up/down the ladder so from then on the dogs were turfed up there and we made the used sofas into a bed.

 

[Minxy]

We owned 2 overcab coachbuilts, an Elddis Autoquest 320 and a Swift Suntor 59RS, both were the usual double dinette, side sofa, rear washroom and kitchen layouts. The overcabs were only used to store our folding bikes, bedding etc but when we discovered the likes of low profile fixed bed MHs that was it, no going back to an overcab ever again. The handling of the latter was much better, less wind and large passing vehicle buffering, better fuel consumption and better looking too.

When we were looking for our last (current) MH we wanted twin singles as that was what our existing PVC was which worked well. Unfortunately that would've meant getting one a fair bit longer than the extra long chassis PVC we had, something we didn't really want to do as we'd got used to what we had plus we'd just shortened the MH space on the drive by moving a fence! .

By considering a front cab bed, albeit a drop down one, we were able to keep nearly the same length but with 2 double beds. For us it's the best of not 'both' but 'all' worlds!

 

[Dannco75]

I find A Class with the drop down front bed fulfills the criteria for space.

I don't see why c class, especially with the bubble, is appealing at all. Fuel economy can't be great, and the narrow cab part at the front (with the bulkhead behind, when it's actually attached (!)) feels very constraining in space, on any I've sat in.

Regardless of over cab, driving a 3.5t cinderblock is never going to be good on fuel

 

[Jon and Shell]

We owned 2 overcab coachbuilts, an Elddis Autoquest 320 and a Swift Suntor 59RS, both were the usual double dinette, side sofa, rear washroom and kitchen layouts. The overcabs were only used to store our folding bikes, bedding etc but when we discovered the likes of low profile fixed bed MHs that was it, no going back to an overcab ever again. The handling of the latter was much better, less wind and large passing vehicle buffering, better fuel consumption and better looking too.

When we were looking for our last (current) MH we wanted twin singles as that was what our existing PVC was which worked well. Unfortunately that would've meant getting one a fair bit longer than the extra long chassis PVC we had, something we didn't really want to do as we'd got used to what we had plus we'd just shortened the MH space on the drive by moving a fence! .

By considering a front cab bed, albeit a drop down one, we were able to keep nearly the same length but with 2 double beds. For us it's the best of not 'both' but 'all' worlds!

The British manufacturers seem to make your decision for you as to where kids have to go. Their overcabs are tiny.

Conversely, both continental-built overcabs we have owned provided sitting room!

 

[Dannco75]

For us with 2 kids and a dog the overcab is excellent.
Overcab up upfront. Dining can be turned into a double if we want but we don't bother, and 2 bunks and a bathroom at the rear.

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[gus-lopez]

I'd take an overcab all day over one without. Not for the bed usage but solely for storage. My last coach built I'dpack the overcab front to back & floor to ceiling . turned 30mpg all day -

 

[Jon Stewart]

Regardless of over cab, driving a 3.5t cinderblock is never going to be good on fuel

Try a 5.4t cinder block for comparison!

(About 20-22 mpg depending on a following wind or not!)

 

[Dannco75]

Try a 5.4t cinder block for comparison!

(About 20-22 mpg depending on a following wind or not!)

Exactly. A little, erm... bulge at the front is the least of your worries

 

[herald_400rl]

The overcab bed is like sleeping in a coffin - if I cant stretch my arms out I get claustrophobic.

 

[Minxy]

Exactly. A little, erm... bulge at the front is the least of your worries

From now on I shall always think of overcab MHs as 'budgie smugglers'!

 

[Heebson]

The only van that I would swap mine for is exactly the same year and model but with the overcab for sleeping.

That way, I wouldn’t wake up spooning with the dog every morning

We have the Nuevo ES (over cab) and we absolutely love it! We are equally befuddled that there are not more around!

(Edit: from other comments - I’m 6’ and wife is 5’6’’. You can’t sit up in bed, but we were tenters for many years, so probs don’t notice!)

The van is 3m high, but always had Class 2 on tolls. That said, we are rarely in a hurry, so drive at lower speeds - fuel consumption is fine (for a brick on wheels).

We were actually looking at vans yesterday for fun. In a smaller van, the dropdown bed kills stone dead the idea that one of you might want to go to bed later or get up earlier. Similar issues when you have to do bed Tetris every night, so overcab solves that. You also lose a roof light with drop downs.

In daytime it’s where we keep spare blankets or big coats - and when off skiing, salopettes, etc - in ikea storage bags. They go in the footwells when we’re parked up.

We will only change it when the ladder becomes too much - or decide we really need a decent garage and/or double floor. And at that point we fancy a transverse rear bed - which seems even rarer!!

(Though we did see a nice Carado)

 

[Norfolk Nige]

Love my overcab area, it’s my man cave for snoozing, mass storage area, cat lookout, spare bedding place and much more. I personally, love it

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My first van was an Autotrail Dakota. I loved it, probably the most practical and comfortable one we had in terms of room and flexibility. Grandkids loved the overcab, I didn’t get a lookin.