Which washroom

Thanks again for all the help with the info.

Looks like an early start and a busy couple of weekends ahead.

I'm sure I will be back here to get more advice from MH owners or maybe to say what we bought 🤞

PS. In older models AS also made the monocoques which are very sought after.

One main advantage of PVCs is their durability when coming into contact with hedges in narrow lanes. They are narrower than coachbuilt vans which is both an advantage and disadvantage depending on your point of view. 

Good luck. 👍🏻

Fully endorse what Tinny is saying. You do need to do a lot of research to make sure your MH choice is going to allow you to do everything you want it to do for you, and that you also get the quality you are looking for, for the money you are going to spend.

Overall size is crucial, it will determine just how easy it will be to tour with, without having to resort to public transport, limiting your sites, or walking/cycling. Layout needs to be something you can cope with for longer tours, making sure you are comfortable and warm over your stay. Think about how much time you spend in a bathroom, 10 minutes a day for showering? Do you want to haul an extra metre around for a mere 20 minutes, if you are mobile enough to go with something a bit smaller? The rear lounge option is an excellent compromise if you just fancy throwing out some sleeping kit onto single beds, or a fairly easily put out double. Again, fixed beds, unless either drop down, or transverse across rear (small Hymers) , will need greater length in most cases. Go as small as you can, but think usability and comfort.👍 Good luck.

There are some great nearly new bargains around as well if you look carefully. We bought our Autosleeper from a small independent dealer who specialises in finding good examples and selling with a decent warranty. Customer care after buying is critical.

Thanks again great advice  we have been looking at the bigger MH dealers at the moment.

We live in Yorkshire and may have travel a bit to find what we might like not sure where you live but if anywhere near to Yorkshire perhaps you could let me know the dealership name.

I think a mistake we often make is to try and replicated what we had in a caravan into a motorhome layout which usually means a larger vehicle. However that might not be an issue depending on how you intend to use the motorhome. If you intend only to use mainstream sites, maybe tow a car then size will not be so important. However if you want to use the motorhome to visit attractions and local towns and villages then size becomes more critical. The next consideration is what sort of sleeping arrangements do you want. If you want a rear double with additional seating at the front of the van that equates to a long van. If you are happy with converting front settess into either single beds or a large double that makes for a shorter van. Our first motorhome, which was 7.5 metres long, had a French bed, rather like the layout of the Elddis 155. However the toilet shower arrangement was slightly different in that the separate shower  was at the back of the van with the toilet in front. It looks as if the 155 is the other way round which means the whole shower toilets is in fact a wet room, which would not be my choice. Our current van is 6.6 metres long. It has two front bench seats which convert to single beds at night, a five minute swapover, and we have a rear toilet/shower compartment across the back of the van which works for us. One tip I would suggest is to try and get to one of the NEC shows so that you can see a whole range of layouts and designs under one roof. Whilst initially it might be a bit overwhelming it will show you all the options from which to draw up a short list. Good Luck.

David

Hi DK,

Again great advice and yes I think that maybe we are trying to replicate a caravan within a MH.

If you don't mind sharing would you be willing to tell me what van you have so I can have a look at this layout on the Internet or you tube.

My wife's car is a fiat 500 so would make an ideal tow car, unfortunately looks like I would have to downsize my lovely Kuga a sacrifice but hopefully worth it.

Our last caravan was a two berth with a great end washroom.  we always used that in preference to site facilities.  Used lots of CLs.

We had a 6.4m AS Broadway with two long settees that converted into single beds.  There were a few niggles but also a bit big for using to travel around, and a lack of storage.

We swapped to a 6.4m Globecar Summit Prime.  Same length, but narrower and not as high - much easier to manoeuvre and park.  Gives us two fixed single beds (so no climbing over each other) and lots of storage underneath.

Wash room is small but has a swing wall to provide shower.  Not as good as the Broadway BUT worth the sacrifice.  We do use the shower. Yes we have to step out into the van to dry - but we cope happily enough.  We dont shower every day - shock, horror!!

Weight, payload both important.  You have the license requirement - does your wife.  I have quite "a thing" about both being able to drive the vehicle - you never know when you might need it.  I assume your wife tows the caravan.

I think one of the biggest difficulties in selecting a first van (besides trying to replicate the caravan) is deciding how you will use it.  Just UK? Long trips to Europe? How much walking do you want to do.  Do you use bikes? How will you get to the type of attractions you like?  You say you like CLs - will needing a tow car limit you accessibility (probably not in terms of length, but dont forget width). 

You need to see as many different vans as you can, and as someone said go to one of the shows, but dont be persuaded to buy - just collect information.

Our current van is a 2019  Bailey Alliance 66-2. Now not a current model as Bailey seemed to have moved towards Ford as a base vehicle so they can offer an automatic gearbox. Unfortunately the models on that base vehicle have terrible payload allowances whereas mine has a 750 kgs payload allowance! 

David

Thanks DK,

That is quite spooky as looking through other options this is one we have been looking at on line and also watched some demo videos on YouTube. 

It looks a very spacious and airy van with what looks like everything we would need apart from the bed but as people have been saying it is an extra metre or so that you can potentially do with out on length, also looking at the fixed bed sizes they are not that wide compared to a bed made up at the front.

All we have to do now is find one, I notice there is alliance, advance and autograph guess this is just spec levels.