4 belts good, 2 belts bad Forums

critch

I am currently looking for a van based hightop used motorhome with a budget of £15,000 ish. Why do many manufacturers of high top van based motorhomes insist on producing 2+2 conversions with less than 4 belted seats, are all moterhomers retired couples? The only standard van type conversion I can find which meets my requirements is the Autosleeper Harmony but this is too small a base vehicle, would prefer a LWB such as the Duetto.

Can anyone suggest any conversions to meet my requirements of double adult bed plus bunk/bed for 2 kids? Spec should include shower and heating. A small C class could be a better option, but I am concerned about size and reduced MPG as the camper would be used daily.

Would greatly appreciate any suggestions or info.

autostratus · Moderator

Hi Critch and a hearty welcome to this place.

I suppose the answer to your question on why only two belts is partly down to cost. I seem to remember seeing a six berth Koktiki when we were first looking round which only had the driver and front passenger seat belts.
When we queried this with the salesman he said it was an optional extra to have two more fitted in the dinette area. Daft if you ask me.

Anonymous

This is one I have drooled over - the Duetto L version.

If you hang about you may be able to pick up a used one. They seem a bit rare though.

overthehill

When I was looking for my motorhome, I came across the apparent paradox that a van could be 6 berth yet only have belted seats in the cab. As I anticipated carrying passengers occasionally, this was a problem and caused me to cross off some otherwise promising vans. I asked one manufacturer whether the four passengers in a 6 berther were expected to drive along behind me in their own car and come aboard once I was parked up Shocked

but had no reply Confused

Two things emerged from this. The first was, that you CAN legally carry passengers in the back without belts if they are not fitted, although your insurance company might have something to say about it.
Secondly, it is really only the dinette seats that can have proper belts, so if you have settees in a decent lounging area you could have lap straps fitted as an extra but not shoulder ones. If you had lap straps, your passengers would HAVE to wear them in transit.
Yet another aspect to the compromise that you have to make on layout. My ideal motorhome would probably need to be about 50 ft long to get everything in Sad

The current one has 6 belted seats but no lounging area. Ho hum.

Gill

Wiggy

Critch - We had a similar problem to yourselves ie need a big van with 4 seats (all with 3 point belts) and 4 beds (a double & 2 singles).

We looked around and settled on a Devon Sahara an LDV Convoy based hightop from Devon in Co Durham - it was an ideal vechicle for us for the 5 years we owned it.

We travelled with our children 2 teenage size versions and ourselves and all the gear all over europe and the UK and it fitted the purposes well never let us down and was used as an everyday vechicle for work n back journeys all year round.

Devon now do a Renault master version as well as the LDV I believe

Good luck

Anonymous

Wiggy - where are LDV's (the van bit) made. I can't seem to find it on the Internut. I have found Devon without a prob.

Raine

P were you lookin in Devon England (giggle giggle bet ya were) cos i just read Devon (ireland) heheheheh Laughing

We also queried the seat belt set up, we have two in the dinette (we are a 24' lowline scout,4berth, i had wanted a 6 berth (just did although there are only 2 travelling (boys grown!) and someone said if'n they are sitting facing towards the back of the van, they don't need seat belts?(huh?)

twooks

[quote:e4b28910df="Pusser"]Wiggy - where are LDV's (the van bit) made. I can't seem to find it on the Internut. I have found Devon without a prob.[/quote:e4b28910df]

Anonymous

Thanks Twooky. Wiggy1 kindly pm'd me with a wealth of info. However, when the word Leyland was mentioned, my Austin Maxi came to mind. Great idea, crap car.

critch

Thanks Wiggy will check Devon out.

What are average mpg for you vehicles? Would guest the 2.5d LDV would return 30mpg? What does a 6berth Kontki return.