Desirable MH features? Forums

JeanLuc

Well, as has already been said, you just have to do a lot of research and talking. We got into this lark just under 2 years ago so perhaps our experience will prompt a few questions in your mind.

We began by talking to a couple in Tuscany who were full-timing (we used to camp in a tent then). They had chosen an A-Class for space with a fixed rear bed so they did not have to move anything else for sleep. We then spent a few months searching websites, reading magazines, visiting dealers and going to the annual show at the NEC in October. There is no substitute for getting in a lot of MHs and thinking about what it would be like to use them. Narrow your choice down to what seems most important, then keep going back to the same selection of vehicles and check your instincts / plans and ideas.

We have what is by today's standards, a fairly short A-Class (or B-Classe Hymer just to confuse). It is 6.41 metres long with an over-garage rear bed, L-shaped lounge and over-cab pull-down. The kitchen is well-fitted with a 3-ring hob and we do not miss an oven although many people claim this is important. Decide for yourself whether you want to cook roasts or if you would merely use it for warming croissants. (If the latter - get them warm from the boulangerie).

The rear garage provides very valuable storage and the trade-off of reduced inside space is more than compensated for in our opinion by: 1) the feeling of having a separate 'bedroom' at the back; 2) the L-shape centre lounge area in conjunction with two swivelling seats which provides ample space for the two of us - the benefits of an A-Class. We have found it a bit cosy on the occasion when our adult son and daughter have joined us for a weekend, but that is not our primary use of the MH; it's for us.

Also, if you intend to tour mainly on the continent, I would strongly recommend LHD. It's much easier to handle 'over there' and since you are very used to driving in UK you can easily accommodate the 'wrong side' driving position over here. Ours has an auto box and that makes LHD even easier - you don't keep grabbing the door handle every time you want to change gear!

Regarding water - we can hold 120 ltrs of fresh and 100 ltrs waste. That has proved ample for the two of us and easily lasts 4-5 days. The capacity is challenged only when our daughter comes along and needs to wash her hair in the shower.

If you intend to use Aires abroad and may not have access to an electric hook-up all the time, make sure you have a couple of leisure batteries, not just one.

Regarding the Gaslow system, we had one fitted with two 11Kg bottles fitted and find it excellent. It can easily handle 3-4 weeks in summer without re-filling, so we have not had to refill abroad yet. But then you get the necessary adapters so the system gives you great freedom. And an 11 Kg cylinder is b****y heavy so I would not want to be heaving calor versions in and out of the locker.

Final thoughts concern winterisation. Not just important if you go skiing (we don't) but if you want to use the MH year-round make sure it is well winterised. Early in our search dealers told us that German (and some French) vans are better in this respect than British, although I think the Brits are catching up. Don't forget to check if the waste water tank is either between the floors of an ALKO chassis, or heated if it is slung beneath the vehicle.

Hope this rambling helps to give you food for thought.

DocHoliday

DocHoliday

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi Doc

We have what we think is the perfect van for us Wink

Low profile (no overcab to waste valuable and expensive fuel pushing it through the air), and a fixed bed so one of us can go sleepy-byes at any time (I try not to when I'm driving, however).

Our water system is around 100 litres each, and I would guess would do 4-5 days as others have suggested. For us, an oven / grill combined was essential (warming up pizza, flans, quiches, and then toasting bread in the morning), which is what we have. We also have a large fridge with separate freezer, which will be good to cart frozen bits and pieces around with us, in case we get caught out by strange bank holidays and the like.

We have 2 leisure batteries (110 AHr each), which we will be supplementing with a solar panel soon-ish. More choices, more flexibility.

We have space for 2 6kg calor bottles, or 1 X 6kg and 1 X 13kg at a push, but if we do some extended European touring, we'd have a refillable bottle in one of the spaces.

We must be strange, because we don't see the point of a rear lounge, and after our experiences with our 'make-up-bed' Pollensa, we definitely wanted a fixed bed. We have what they call a 'Euro lounge' (as seen on a lot of European motorhomes), which is two swivel cab chairs, and 2 2-seater settee things around a large fixed table. This would make up into a double bed if we were ever foolish enough to allow anyone else to sleep in our van.

There's some Beginners' Guides, starting

Rapide561

Hi

I choose a van with a partial twin floor - housing all the plumbimg etc and, in my case, very well tested in February this year, with no problems. I also had a fixed bed model - no making up beds etc. I also wanted a huge payload and estimate that I carry 500kg of clutter.

Keep an eye out for decent sized fresh water tanks and a dual fuel heating system. A dual fuel cooker helps save gas, if you can get a cooker with an electric hotplate for use when on hook up.

I also added...

Roof aircon - it is ok to sweat to death now and again on holiday, but not day in and day out. Very comfortable.

Extra shelving in the lockers - keeps things neater and easier to find.

LED lighting - helps preserve battery life when wild camping.

Power sockets - a few more added. I often have the TV, laptop and phone charger plugged in at the same time.

Storage racks for crockery etc - very cheap from places such as

geraldandannie · Moderator