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Location: In the badlands on the border of Staffordshire and Cheshire just out of earshot of the M6 and WCML
Status: Offline
Hi Tramp,
Every time I start looking at compact coachbuilts I get a disappointed feeling spreading over me. They all seem to have the same layout with no floor space and nowhere to safely and accessibly store dogs. Add to that no kitchen worktop, restricted access with no wide side door and no rear doors and I keep wondering where all the additional size has gone.
Don't leave us PVC's I think they really are the answer. Try a different layout like a Symbol, Warwick, Tempo or Rhythm for a change.
Andy
Hi Tramp, I have a Dethleffs Globevan 1, which is the model before the Summer Edition. I had a duetto before and It's a great improvement. Much warmer, I don't really find space a problem, you don't have to mess about putting the bed up or the table up as it's already sorted and you don't have to squeeze around when you are using the table, loads of room. The dethleffs seems to be the only van of this size to have an oven / grill as standard. The shower / loo is good with the moving wall system and no awful curtain to get in the way. It has a huge water tank and a great heater. I was also worried about going from the big sliding door to a wee side door but haven't really noticed and it means I'm not roped in if someone is moving house! The garage is brilliant and it's great to have a shed to put wet minging clothes after a nice long walk in the mountains, It's heated too!! which means you have your very own drying room. Its comes as standard with 10 watt halogen bulbs which really waste electric and need replacing with led's if you are going to do any serious wild camping. The build quality is good nothing to be worried about apart from fitting cream upolstry and carpets!!! not good for a single bloke. The mk7 transit seems really good, driving it is a dream. I had the seat lowered as part of the deal and after 8k miles am really really pleased with it. I return a good 30 mph sometime 32-34 if I drive it steady. Hope this helps
Jus & Rosie
hi juspalm,
cheers for the info before we had our pvc we had a large bessacarr coach built so we are aware of the better insulation values of the coach bulits just not aware how bad the pvc are , but then again I suppose they are fine for the 3 season trips and even in winter for a short halt but I begrudge haveing to have the heating on all the time as a soon as it gets hot and cuts out it gets cold around the feet.
must get some fairy slippers and tights to keep warm worked for my Gran
we like the german vans as they have excellent winter insulation and they all have pocket sprung matteresses for a good nights sleep
Tramp, do you really feel that the Twin is poorly insulated? I have found it difficult to compare with my previous compact coachbuilt so I am not sure. I know that there is quite a draught from the drop vent beneath the drawers, and one from the Truma cupboard, again, probably from a drop vent. It will be a shame to lose your PVC forum input.
Just made the move from Panel Van Conversion to Low Profile coachbuilt myself, (not one on your short list) though as the changeover was only yesterday a bit early for my overall thoughts.
However-already-'SPACE'-(How strange-wife just came in and I asked her what her first thoughts were on stepping into the van when I arrived home yesterday-she said SPACE also).
Secondly daughter in law came and checked out the van this afternoon, and with three of us in there for about half an hour-Warmth, cold afternoon, no heating, but it was warm, therefore vastly improved insulation. Absolutely no doubt about it.
Now Andy, I know our van was a Tribute and not a Twin, but it seems like a move from living in a corridor to a small room.
There will of course be negatives-only got about 25mpg on the trip down with a new engine-more care needed in tight areas, and will no doubt be more difficult to park.
New van is about 2 ft longer at just under 20ft, and is wider of course.
It has that all important (to us) fixed bed. More later
Paul
______________________________________________________________ Forgotten, but not gone.
I was apathetic but now I canīt be bothered.
We have a globevan 1 june 2007 and are quiet happy with it as the other member said.Payload good 780kg and the garage is great no moving things around in hab area.Heat dual electric and gas if its really cold,we start it on gas for about 15mins then run on electric if its a EU site.
Over garage bed is great no draughts have to turn heating off as it gets too hot if left on over night.Use it to lounge on during day.The have altered the SE van 2008 by removing drawers which acted as steps to bed as well as drawers,they now use a short ladder.
Its good a build as hymer van and a lot cheaper.
No spare wheel supplied with it, but bought one and keep it in garage plenty of payload for that.The table turns into a small bed when dropped and cushions fitted.Large inside water tank under seat and large waste tank.Great for 2 adults and a 1 dog.Done about 4000 miles so far no problems.Handbrake takes some getting used to.Had front sunroof fitted glad because it puts a lot more light into hab area and in summer nice ventilation.Good length just fits on our drive under 6m and not a bad width.
Hi,
I have just returned from the Dethleffs factory near to the Swiss border.(I organise the Owners Club). One of the guys on the trip is a bit older and he has had three different types of 'van and he has visited three different production factories. He said straight away that the Dethleffs has far thicker floor/walls/roof than any others he has seen. Dethleffs are the biggest in Scandinavia if that gives a clue. My Dethleffs is 16 years old and still original and solid. Also, I can confirm that Dethleffs helpfulness to customers is fabulous, even for older vans. (This week from stock we have helped an owner get a window for his 1990 A class FROM STOCK in 3 days!)
Cheers Richard
We have the Summer Edition 2009 model although we did pick it up in June 2008. We did have a trigano tribute but one cold alps visit -23 we decided to change, we have just done Xmas in the same region in France and can honestly say we have hit the jackpot. The heating once I sussed out what the Germans were going on about was easy to use, still need the prompt sheet though. Fixed bed a must, I had flu over the xmas break and my husband was reaping the benefits of leaving me in bed and just getting around the van as normal. The heating pipes that surround the mattress to keep the sides warm we have had to adjust once we realised what was supposed to happen. We have had a slight dissapointment the hot air came apart under the shower/wc area and melted the pipework this is being sorted soon under warranty. Kitchen area is snug with not alot of space but with a bit of thought using the sink lid this can be overcome, seating area very good and to keep the table up is a bonus, we have had 6 people eating at the table! The shower was used last year on rallies and I have no complaints, just one slight adjustment can Dethleffs put a plastic screen on the bottom of the woodwork it does get wet. Driving of the transit is superb very easy and with the 6th gear and cruise control makes the autoroute a pleasure(?) Garage is my husbands domain, no girls allowed unless it needs cleaning, 2 mountain bikes do fit but they do take up a lot of room which surprised us. We use the hot water tank area in the garage to put wet things they dry very quickly.
The transition from pvc to compact was not painful although a little care where this one gets parked is always on our minds.
KJ
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Italy
and tights to keep warm worked for my Gran 
