Van layouts

[Guest P.J]

We are planing to buy our first motor home. undecided about which lay out. Limited to 20" Mainly for two people occasionally 5 Would like to be able to carry friends, so any suggestions ? would need seatbelts. will probably buy 2006 reg model Also as ex sailors know how important storage is for long term usage.

[Guest David Powell]

Go to lots of dealers and spend plenty of time siting in 'vans and try and get the feel of what layout you could live with. What ever you buy [layout wise] is what you are stuck with. Don't carry too much gear, so when "lash up & stow" is piped, you may find stowage space rather limited.

[Guest Brian Kirby]

Or, instead of lots of dealers, go to the Outdoor Leisure show at Olympia and look around virtually all of the UK offering in one hit. But first check your driving licence for what you are egally entitled to drive. Make sure you allow plenty of time at the show, it gets surprisingly tiring and you'll almost certainly need at least one break outside. Take something like a day bag for all the catalogues you'll collect. Make sure you collect these, memory is useless as they all become a blur after awhile. Also make sure you get the technical section that gives unladen and laden weights, plus the normal (not "show special") price lists and the options/extras lists and prices wherever possible. Above all don't buy at the show. Just make firmly (but politely of course), clear to all sales ataff that you are very interested in buying, but not at the show. Retire home for a hot toddy and a good ruminate. Decide how far you are prepared to travel for vehicle servicing, and also for purchase, always bearing in mind that you may need warranty work to either the motorhome or its base vehicle. Check whether your local base vehicle service facility, for the base vehicle/s you favour, can actually accommodate motorhomes. Check whether the local dealers/ agents for the marques you fancy can carry out the annual accommodation service. Fridge, electrics, gas, heater etc. Be cautious of any who can't, they won't be able to do much pre-delivery preparation. Check that agents/ dealers for imported motorhomes have some track record with the marque, and check how long the marque has been available in UK (some seem to turn up when the market is good, but then disappear like summer snow when sales slow, leaving you with a bit of a problem). Then, when you've done all your homework and got your shortlist, audition the selected dealers and, above all test drive the van, or at least a similar one on the same chassis. Ideally, plead for an extended test or hire one for a few days, as a 30 minute test drive doesn't really allow you to do more than realise it's a lot bigger than a car! As David says, once you've bought it, it's expensive to change if you subsequently decide you don't like it. Good hunting, and good luck Brian

[Guest P J]

thamks to Briam & David. we have looked at all our local dealers(5) as you sugested. unfortunately as we live on the south coast , we don't have a lot of choice of dealers, as they all seem to be in Yorkshire !Will be going to Earls Court this week to see whats available there. I agree that one should buy local, re warranty etc. Would like to hear of others experience re carring passengers. We find it odd that you can buy a five berth van ( which is what we want) but dont have five seat belts. What is the situation re belts in rear facing . Comments from experience motor homes welcome please.

[Guest David Powell]

Hi..PJ..Go to search..key word:- seat belts...loads of information.

[Guest David Powell]

Hi..PJ..Go to search..key word:- seat belts...loads of information.