59. Hunting for a compact motorhome
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- The Camping, Caravanning and Motorhome show is up and running again (and was packed) and I went along with a mission to find a compact motorhome or large campervan, with a shower, fixed bed, and comfy lounge area.
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50k where do you get your cash?
Oh, I can’t actually afford one!! This is all pipedream stuff.
@@Vandemonium what I call my “lists of things I would do with my lottery winnings, when I finally buy a lottery ticket”
@@Vandemonium Join the rusty old van club. Buy one every year.
GoFundMe David.
Realistically the kind of people that buy brand new motorhomes are recent retirees with £50k+ private pension lump sums sat in their bank account.
That new compact motorhome will look lovely parked in front of your new canalside cottage, with your narrowboar displayed in the background.
That Nuevo EK with the moving shower wall/sink was a real different van. I think that was my favorite, with your choice F-60 being in second place. Of course, the prices are all more than double the cost of what I have now, so I doubt that I am trading. Thanks for sharing. I love to nose around without being in crowds.
Nice, but pre-made campers have a few things that annoy the ever living crap out of me, like:
- Doors that you have to step through sideways! Damned, it's a door, not a hidden passage for emergencies, hell, how do you carry food and other stuff inside if the door isn't wider?
- cheap materials, tons of plastic, bad insulation, no solar-panels etc. etc. etc.
This is why I rather like van-conversions that are done by the people using them, especially since vans have actual doors that are wide enough to fit through :)
Still, thanks for covering the show, David! Cheerio!
I'm in the US and we have a 30' Travel Trailer, it's bigger than anything that I've ever wanted (going to go Motorhome in the next couple years) but I still am surprized at the sizes of trailers and motorhomes I see, especially the 5th Wheel or Gooseneck trailers, they could replace our house! I lived in the UK for a couple years and remember driving our "Mini-Van" on those roads, it was harrowing, I can't imagine taking a caravan or motorhome on those narrow roads.
The simplest solution is to mount wheels on the boat.
Hahaha I like that
@@Vandemonium amphibious narrowboat.. the living limousine...
How cool is that?
Given the hope you never come acroas with a roundabout, which are very generously spreaded everywhere in the UK, if I recall our family trip there ages ago..
That was a giggle worthy comment.
Imagine the corners on them country roads, dodgy 😂
Hee hee heee ! Your opening was hilarious ! ( I would have got caught exactly the same way ) Jon , we’re all Lemmings!
We went looking for something similar about 5 years ago, but couldn't find anything that suited us. The nearest was the Westfalia Columbus, but $$$. We ended up buying a new van and converting it ourselves (which is when I found this channel!).
The search for a fixed bed that doesn't take up all your space can be frustrating. Eventually I found that the reason I disliked sleeping on a pull out couch was simply all the fiddle of making and unmaking the bed. And that was resolved by finding a cheap flannel sleeping bag liner that just rolled up into a small bolster when I wasn't inhabiting it, and rolled out in seconds at bedtime. Zip two together for full sized bedding that stores compactly in plain sight, and pops in a clothes washer at need like any sheet. The zipped up bottom means you don't have to tuck it in, and flannel is surprisingly warm. Takes all the fuss out of going to bed in a compact space. Best idea I had since reversing the passenger seat.
My problem with campers is; when you want to drive around, you have to take the entire thing with you. This is why I prefer a caravan which you can leave on site, using your car to explore.
8:55 the basin swinging out BLEW MY MIND. It's so fun seeing all these little design tricks small home manufacturers have to think of, thank you for sharing them with us 💖💖💖
The best advice to anyone shopping around for these “homes away from home” is simply: Plan a successful bank heist first ! 😉
There not cheap need a few few quid for a nice one
I'm a little behind on your content David, i didn't know you were thinking about a new van. I like your smaller van, you built it and you know it inside out. There is something to be said about keeping things simple.
Brilliant video. Very informative , thank you. Lots of good points raised. I loved that shower idea with the moving wall. 🙌👏🏻
cost of fuel at the moment its cheaper to fly abroad than drive to cornwall and back
Every couple of years I love doing my round-trip cross country road trip from my home in San Diego, California to where my family lives in New York; it's around 2,900 miles each way. I always pass multiple dozens of motorhomes (RV's) and here in the States they are huge, averaging around 65 feet long and about 10 feet wide and in addition they have "pop out" sides for additional living space. I envy those RV's as I pass them in my 2017 Ford Mustang as I have to stay in hotels every night. Then I realize that my V-6 Mustang gets about 32 miles per gallon on the HI way whereas the rolling land yachts probably average about 8 mpg. In addition, the average price of one of these RV's is around $180,000 while my hotel room is about $60 per night. While not as luxurious, the Mustang road trip is far more economical.
BTW, I've seen all of your "Cruising the Cut" video's at least 4 times and every morning I have my morning coffee in one of your "Cruising the Cut" mugs, I have 3.
Love your video's and look forward to new ones.
Dan Plitt
Thank you!
When I briefly stayed in my own van conversion alone rather than with my partner I never converted the bed. We had a sofa pull out bed. But when I was on my own I didn't convert and just slept on the single bed/sofa. Something to consider but will be different if you spend longer periods of time in it.
So it is going to be another van conversion project, but this time with a bigger van? Yes you can!
I think, David, you should buy an older motorhome of the size your require, take it to Simon and Gemma (from the Ship Happens channel that you visited recently) and design your dream van with them. Their family business is building custom vans.
What did we learned? There's no way around building it by yourself!
:-D
Thx for taking us with you!
:-D
If i could afford such a van, I'd choose the Auto Sleeper Nuevo, liked the looks of it outside and in. Thank you for showing the show, all the campers, etc., very interesting to check out.
We have an Autosleeper Nuevo as mentioned in you vlog. It's the perfect compact van for us. We wildcamp and it fits pretty much anywhere. All vans are a compromise of sorts as you know. Thanks for posting.
That was FASCINATING. Motorhomes and campervans here are SO different (and SO HUGE in comparison) that this was fun to see. I especially liked the ones where the shower in the bath can be partitioned off. Thank you for taking me along for a visit!
I think we’ve spent about 10+ years looking for the ideal van…. Lots of ideas from your channels as well… made us think about space.
We ended up buying this year. It’s a coach built, 12 year old van with a lovely lounge (you’d approve!) that can be used as two singles, and an overcab fixed bed. Autosleeper, so the very clever bathroom too!!!
It’s just about perfect for us now (family of 3) but also great for two… with tons of room.
It’s 6.6m long so a little more than you want I suspect, but I accepted that as a necessary evil for getting all the bits I wanted. Sits on our driveway too, so we don’t have to store it somewhere.
If ever you are down in London and want a nose, you are most welcome. Also, being 12 years old meant still v nice condition but half the price of a new one!!
Thank you!
Thanks! Love your enthusiasm!
David, if anyone deserves to have their dreams come true it is you.
I'm amazed at how efficiently they use the space. Looking from the outside, I'd never have guessed any of these had bathrooms
Dear David, you broke my heart when you teased about purchasing the beautiful house on the canal. So now you must purchase your dream camper! Thank you for sharing your adventures on land and water.
Our neighbours had a similar experience getting to the NEC halls but then found out it was sold out so had the pleasure of retracing their steps and coming home🤣told me they then had one of the best rows in 30 years of being married - ah the joys of camping...
Ouch!!
You are like the Goldie locks of the campervan world lol, do like the last one though, all the places you would really want to be camping here in Ireland have narrow winding little roads and a lot of over hanging bushes and trees so big camper vans or motor homes will struggle.
An excellent video-thank you. We spent 2 days at the NEC trying to find a small camper that would sleep 4, with 5 belted seats, plus take a folded up wheelchair. We had a fair budget but like you we simply couldn’t see what we wanted, and felt as you did, that so many layouts were claustrophobic. I’m glad you found your van, our hunt continues but suspect I’m simply going to have to buy a van and get it converted. We were so disappointed than in amongst all those beautiful vehicles we couldn’t find a single one we liked that fits our needs. We know what we want - basically a Nu Venture Rio that sleeps 4 and has the belted seats we need - it just doesn’t seem to be out there.
☹️
A man can dream, can't he?
Yes! (Hitch-Hikers..?)
This was super interesting!
Here in Dallas, the motorhome & travel trailer show is on in our local convention center. We’re going to have a look.
We currently have a 23’ camping trailer. It’s too big. We have a deposit down on a 17’ Casita trailer, but the wait time for delivery is over a year.
Smaller is better. You can get really off the beaten path. I hope you eventually get the small motorhome that you really want.
Happy Trails
Thanks David. Just what I needed, a break from the world!
A million more choices than I see at RV shows in the US.
Finally! Someone who shares my view on campervan/motorhome seating 😅
Most I've seen, you can "sit to table" for a formal supper but you can't lounge
Good luck on your quest 🙂
You'll have to do a lot of beg, borrowing, & stealing to get that van, @ least I would, but I like it just as much as you. Nice pick.
Have a wonderful day,
Chris from Missouri
I share your frustration in hunting for that elusive perfect layout/floorplan. We had been shopping for a caravan/trailer for some time but were not happy with most of the available models and the silly excesses that seem to be so popular.
We have opted instead to go with a manufacturer that offers several different lengths/floorplans and lets the customer choose which options/extras they want.
The only wrinkle is they are so popular, there is a wait list for them... ours should be rolling off the factory floor in 15.8 months. And yes, I do have a spreadsheet that determines days/months to go.
Which manufacturer is this?
Yes your large compared to US ones are tiny. Then our roads even in the back country are wider. Take care and hope you hit the lottery someday. (I hope to hit it also)
This makes more sense for young folk. The open road is a wonderful adventure.
Now that you found your van go and have a "cuppa" and a cheese sandwich and dream a little. Thanks Sir David.
I think you should buy a van and do your own David, you did such a brilliant job with your van and in a relatively short period of time, I am sure you could kit one out to your own spec.
I liked that last one too. In general I think the RV industry seems like they've joined some kind of extremist Ikea cult - "must use MDF, laminates, must have sharp corners. doors, drawers, hinges, doors, drawers, hinges....." All those hard cupboards and things jutting out (and adding a lot of weight). Soft storage! (Think of a hanging bathroom bag with lots of pockets. Now imagine it made out of Ikea panels - yikes.) The small counter area of the last van's kitchen is no problem. In the 40' Jeanneau sailboat I sailed for a couple of days, the main galley counter is also the door to the fridge. tight and a bit of hassle, but if I owned that boat I'd solve that day one with flip up counters. Easy to do in an RV as well.
I do see progress in the 'garages' fold-out-of-the-way beds in the back. My dream camper van has a pop up top, bed up top: warm in the winter, 360° of openings for the summer. Best views. (In boats it's only taken about 800 years for sailors to demand more windows. I've stealth camped in my Prius and Tesla - nothing over the windows. Who looks at another car? I've seen people admiring my Tesla up close without noticing there's some old man sleeping in the back.) A bed up top means you can just leave whatever it was you were working on down below, or not have to park the mountain bike that's in the back outside to make room for the bed you have to set up. With petrol prices I'm surprised the entire industry has not gone to pop-up tops. When RVs are almost all pop-ups, then the industry will have woken up. And, it'll take a few more years, but I think the UK is the perfect market for Battery Electric RVs. The distances aren't that great. For me here in the States, though I'm an EV guy, I do dream about a Mercedes diesel 4x4 I can take up to Alaska and on all those desert roads.
[And you could make a funny video about those large campers, like the one I rented in 2018 that are much too wide for the roads in the UK, or in Scotland where main roads legally have to change their width every 2 miles or so. (Someone tried to call me out on that, I just responded: A82 west side of Loch Lomond.) I hit the mirror three times before a bus sticking out into the roadway smashed it. The rental company only charged me 200% of what it would cost to replace. If I did that again I'd just order one and replace it myself. I'll never forget reserving it on-line and my son saying, "I need a shower." Add another meter of width.]
Well on a positive note, it is a whole lot cheaper than your dream house you showed over on your other channel!
True!
Hope you finally get the van of your dreams. Great video.
What you are describing is a 6m chusson of which I’ve had 3 of them . This year they brought out a new van size width 2.1m model this year , the x550 6m long . I’m getting mine this week .... large lounge , full width bathroom shower room , drop down electric bed 🛌 always made up ...its perfect
Thanks, very interesting, I guess you should just send your design ideas to the manufacturers and see who takes you up on your suggestions! Then you could offer to ‘test’ drive !!!😆. Joan
That opening sounds like every experience I've ever had at the NEC. Absolute maze of a place.
I love your idea for a fixed bed and a lounge living area vs a dining living area! You have optimized for comfort and I respect that
Thank you David I am looking for a compact van too! The last one was ideal !
May I make a suggestion? Taking ideas from your boat and current van plus what you have researched have a custom made van built Or would this be costly? They build tiny homes on tiny budgets and some are WOW
Thank you for our safe visit to a van show enjoyed Jan Adelaide
9:00 I like the shower! We need that in the US
LOLOL.. oh dear Dave! So good to see you again.. You must have been knackered by the time you were finished! Love how you show the real story adding the trip their. Every informative and enjoyable
I would still like the WildAx Solaris with the bunks at the back. Ideal for the two of us as the day and night areas are distinct (in the morning I can get up, cook a full English, eat it and stack the washing up in the sink while my wife is still in bed And in the evening I could read in bed while my wife watches rubbish on the TV.) but with the option of having 4 berths if my children or grandchild want to join us.
Hi David. I’m not a motorhome owner…..at the moment. But it would appear that your ideal specifications match mine. The motorhome I initially looked at was the Auto Sleeper Topaz, which used the VW platform, unfortunately the were discontinued in 2016 and second hand prices for later models are mad. But the model that I am sure you will be inspired by the spec of the Roller Team T-Line 590. Should tick all your boxes. Happy hunting.
Everyone is dead excited now, yet the big change to all electric is just around the corner. This time next year the first converters will have their VW ID Buzz concepts on view, along with bigger conversions on some of the larger vans that are coming out this year.
We’ll be selling our T5 shortly, while it’s still worth something.😁
The more David mentioned the word 'lounge', the more I envisaged him in a silk dressing gown, sporting a cigarette holder, as he played a scene out of Noel Coward's Private Lives. Private Lives in a motorhome, would surely be a big hit. But who for Sibyl and Amanda?
Very well scripted video and enjoyed watching thanks
In the US, the "garage" style camper is also called a "toy hauler" because people want to bring their quads or motorcycles with them.
So much fun to look isn't it and dream, it was a wonderful stroll thru and your right, these are babies in the usa! Just saw your moving, maybe more trips for this channel, that would be awesome too.
Seeing this reminds me once again that the US RV industry mostly cranks out garbage
And the costs three times as much.
It’s amazing what you can do with a bit of plastic and foam
Awesome show👍🏼
Keep making your excellent videos and one day soon that will become a reality!
Glad you enjoy them!
Very well presented as always David. I have the Elddis cv40 and I have changed the rear of the van to a fixed bed. I agree with you that the dining area behind the drivers seat is a bit formal and there’s definitely room for improvement. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and giving an entertaining no nonsense review. 👍🏻
Thank you!
Drop down beds could be handy but like double floors they take up valuable headroom. Thank you taking us along. 👍
Interesting to see the different kinds of campers available in the UK, as my wife and I just purchased one here in the US.
What did you get, what's it like?
@@Vandemonium We are waiting delivery on a "Jayco Greyhawk Prestige 29mvp" Nice interior, big-ish kitchen. Nicest floorplan we found in a size we like and a price we can afford.
You’re right about Americans and and I mean no disrespect. Our American 5th wheels easily go over 40 feet/ 19 meters. And Class A motor homes are beast. But I appreciate European engineering on their campers. That is what American RVs lack.
The drawback of the coachbuilt F60 is that it isn't truly compact. Yes, it is in length but not in width and after driving a 6.99 metres motorhome on UK B roads and rural lanes for the past three years, I find width is a greater issue than length. The F6 is 2.35m (7ft. 7ins) with wing mirrors folded and a countryside hedge brushing 2.77m (9ft 1inch) with mirrors operational. Van conversions are narrower and easier to manouevre on Britain's back roads and also A roads it has to be said!
True! I'd prefer a van conversion too but none of them have drop-down beds (presumably because of the curved shape of most vans)
i love caravans, campervans and motorhomes and have been going to shows and camping or caravanning in one form or another since i was a child. however, the prices have pushed me out of the market now so i have to build my own far cheaper versions. my next projects are a homemade demountable for a pick up, and then a conversion on a luton van. if ever youre serious david, you should build your own upscaled version of what you already have. after all, you know exactly what you do and dont need from living in a boat and camping
you are the boating and camper jeremy clarkson, its great
The vans that can take 4 passengers often have 2 passenger spec available as an option which should help with living space.
Excellent David
Thank you
As a long time camper owner, I would skip the shower. They are so small you
can barely get in them. Those wet baths are a pain, even the one where you fold the wall. Our shower tub is just used for storage. You only go to campgrounds with facilities anyway. I like your camper and you have made it quite comfy.
But no, I don't just go to campsites with facilities hence the requirement
I like the made campervan the most. Make it like your own.😄
Thanks for the upload :)
When you fancy a really nice, large motorhome remember they require a special licence based on how old you are, and the motorhomes Maximum Authorised Mass. It puts the mockers on it a bit. I know someone who wanted to buy one, and came away with a touring caravan.
I'm very old and have a license that means I can drive almost anything luckily.
@@Vandemonium So am I David. However I lost the important bit when at 70 I renewed my licence online.
Oh really?! That's useful to know, cheers
Buy it!
At 6:45 - here in the States, we call those "toy haulers". Roll in a couple of mountain bikes, motorcycles, etc, and off you go!
The problem with that, so called, toy hauler shown is that the "garage" is all behind the rear axle. So you would actually very limited on weight therefore getting a motorbike to go in there would not be easy.
I once wanted a giant motorhome with enough garage space for one of those little Japanese K-cars, especially when there were sporty 2-seater K-cars. The thing is, I imagined it as a multi-purpose space. When you camp, you drive the car out and convert the space to a living area. That might not be such a good idea with bicycles.
Some great vans. The Wingamm Oasi 540 is my favourite but it’s so expensive, probably due to the monocoque body. I prefer a van conversion because I’m worried about the extra width. I collect my new van next week and I’ve chosen a Devon Colorado, it’s the same layout as the Symbol. Thanks as always for sharing an interesting video.
Oh, that’ll be lovely, how exciting for you 😀
I'm completely with you on the lounge layouts. The ones with forward facing seats feel more set up for just transporting people during the day than making everyone comfortable when you're actually stopped somewhere. Seems rather odd given there's really no way to sleep 4 in most of them!
I’ve got my eye on a Murvi having read that on the Ford chassis there is en electric button you can touch to fold in the side mirrors on narrow roads! Having decapitated more side mirrors than I care to think about it sounds ideal. Grumpy husband remarks £60+ is a lot of money for an electric switch. Ah well, have to think of another must-have gadget! CynthiaB
Don't all vans have retractable mirrors now? It's a big money-saver if you have to park by the side of the road all the time.
The electrically operated lowering bed thing and the warning sitckers on it honestly reminds me of that one story you read on your other channel with the assassination bed that squashed weary travelers in the night
Hahaha you’re right!
Nice to see what is available in England, but, you aren't helping my wife's hinting that we should get a nice pull behind camper. She is looking at somewhere around 20 ft long with a garage area for our ATVs during travel and then an area for the dog crates while we are parked. Maybe tomorrow's trip to the local hunting show will make her forget about camping and thinking about going on another safari, or, hopefully thinking about something even cheaper like a pair of camouflage muckers. Keep up the great work.
Every time I watch your channel I find myself wanting to get my own campervan. It might be a losing battle really. (that being said, I've always loved the little teardrop tow along style campers).
spacious motorhomes these days are lovely - well equipped and a joy to travel in but there is a delicious appeal to a micro camper
Agreed!
For some reason, I am somewhat addicted to all things trailer and van, though I feel no desire to own either. I watch a lot of these videos and really think that the European ones, which do tend to be smaller, are so much savvier in fitting things in to use the space well. I do like that Wingam.
Hi David. Saw you on Alan's video (from NB Lazy Daze). Hubby and I used to always look forward to spring when we would go to Boat and RV shows. Great fun to look at all the new (and expense stuff). Walking, walking, walking and always tired when you got out of there. Been there. Done that. But still fun to see all. I like the look of the newer campervans, but my goodness, the prices start at 80,000 US dollars and up. Ugggggg. Nice to dream. But they are definitely easier to drive and set up camp, compared to larger campers like we had. We never really went far. Hey, you take care out there.
I was there today(Saturday)with my family and we had a wonderful time
The perfect motorhome does not exist! It's all a matter of deciding what you intend to do with it and working out which features are absolute necessities and which you are prepared to compromise on.
Another informative video, thanks. So much choice and so little money.😉
Alright, alright, alright, last two or three looks really wonderful. But let's sort out that house with private mooring, before we go to buy another car, shall we? :D
I have too many idle dreams!
@@Vandemonium So do I. Endless propulsion of life ...or a curse.
Great video David. I still love the idea of a Camp trailer because you can pull it with the van you own plus its easy to store when you dont need it. They are very roomy inside too. It would be the canned ham shape.
I was unfortunate to be taken in by the Wildax van, which i purchased brand new in 2020, and thats when my troubles started, over two months before they finally got the fridge to work, the sky light replaced twice and still leaking, the electric step only ever worked for a week before breaking, the van suspension rides flat on the Bump stops before you even put a tooth brush in it, the sink in the shower room leaked, three of the plastic handles on the blinds broke after two weeks, in all the van spent more time in the repair shop than with me, i lost over ten thousand pounds when i sold it back to them, but was relived to get shot of it. so to sum up, it was badly made by a company that just doesn't give a toss, cheap plastics all around, avoid this cowboy company at all cost.
Oh dear, that's a sorry tale indeed
That's really unfortunate, hard luck! My 2019 Wildax van is really rather good has given me no problems over 12,000 happy miles.
Nice to see you find the near perfect match, even if your not planning on purchasing. Interesting design choices. It surprised me how uncomfortable I got just looking at some of those "lounge" areas. Fun video, cheers!
Just had a brilliant (delusional) idea! See if you can get the maker of that dream liner to sponsor your channel with a long term loaner😉
It is a very nice camper van. I agree on fixed bed. I would hate having to deal with the bedding in the daytime on a conversion version.
Interesting video! The only real difference- leaving aside the lack of Class A behemoths- with the smaller USA models is the right hand drive. There are, to coin a phrase, only so many ways to skin a cat.
You’ve found your dream van and your dream cottage with mooring.....you’re on a roll! Now what are you going to do about them? 😃
Buy more lottery tickets
Probably continue to dream about them...
Of course! Who doesn't enjoy a little day dreaming?
Oh I love your dream van !!!!! It's beautiful !! 43K suscribers. I just really think we need to all give you one dollar each David. Easy peasy. This was great fun thank you.
Haha no, but thank you.
The clean air stuff has really put me off getting a camper , going to leave it a few years and see what happens , love your videos
Getting ready for bed and I see (Vandemonium) has a new video excited! perfect timing me and my wife we have been considering one of these. thanks again David pro video as always!