Short vans

[nevynd]

Hi all,

Does everyone agree with the manufacturers that people no longer want compact fully kitted motorhomes? Even Romahomes latest model comes in at 6m long, van based conversions are almost all based on LWB models, and coachbuilt vans of the sub 5.5m variety are neigh on vanished from the pages of MMM.

 

After searching for a new 2 berth, fully usable motorhome on a sub 5m van, I was reduced to just three vans, the ENC Fifer, the Horizons Unlimted Carvarno and the HU Innovation1. Now that 'juddergate' has come about I have discounted the Fifer, and so am left with the two transit conversions. It seems as though major motorhome manufacturers have given up on we Britons with our small drives and tiny ferries, and left us with the choice of second hand or specialised conversions.. :-(

[Tony Jones]

This was exactly our dilemma last year - wanted SWB so we could use it as main vehicle, but full spec for holidays.

We came to the same conclusion as you, so we ordered a Cavarno (which arrived early in March) and can recommend it 100%.

As always with anything brand new, there have been minor glitches but the after-sales service has been excellent.

We've already put 10,700 on the clock, and we both have day jobs!

PM me if you want a chat about it.

 

Tony

(No interest other than satisfied customer)

 

PS - welcome to the forum!

[Minstrel]

I've just had a look on the web at the Cavarno, it looks great, I think if we didn't want to ski I'd be very tempted.

[colin]

Most of romahomes are sub 5m so if the market is there they will have good sales, but moving into the LWB sector sugests they feel to get extra sales they need to make a bigger van, Hymer may be bringing a MWB van to UK but sevel based, Adria have made a MWB van which is not imported to UK. But is there a big market for small vans? proboly not as there is not much price differance between them and a LWB, so I would think a lot of people will opt for that bit more space, thats certainly true for us, similier seems to be true for cars, each new mark of a model seems to get that bit bigger.

[GJH]

Our Elddis Autoquest 100 (aka Compas Avantgarde 100) is just under 5.5 metres long and I think the new ones are about the same length. Supposedly 4 berth but just right for two.

 

Graham

[Guest peter]

And our Rapido 110F is only 5.8 and very complete and comfortable. :D

[breakaleg]

This why we bought our lancashire on the old peugt chassis, its 10 inches shorter than the shortest of the new peugot/fiat.

pete

[mike warland]

We have a Hymer Exsis at 5.4 metres which is extremely comfortable and we regularly sleep 3/4 people in it. we particularly like the level of winterisation in it which means we can comfortably camp in very extreme conditions. Inboard fresh and wast water tanks. I notice there is one for sale in October mmm also a pair of left hookers at Deepcar.

[lizken]

We certainly do not agree that short vans are not required.

We own a 2004 Autocruise Valentine (from new) and have decided that we will not attend the NEC this year. We have been to 3 outdoor shows in 2008 and cannot find another coachbuilt, with all the equipment that the Valentine has, under 20 feet in length, compared to our very compact 17'10"

Parking restrictions, at home, do not cater for a longer van, so until manufactures have a rethink, and produce a "little un" again, we will not be changing.

Ken

[Rainbow-Chasers]

We dropped one of ours off for service at marquis ivybridge, and had a look around at some more. We saw a very short van, c class which i thought was fantastic! The space was there, lay-out great and even shockingly 4 berth! I thought it would be 2 berth.

 

Cant think of the model but found a similar sized van:

 

http://search.marquismotorhomes.co.uk:8004/detail.pax?stockno=59352

 

They also have so older 2 berth (r reg upwards) small van conversions which are very nice! Keep looking! But would recommend that new one we saw as it was a gem, shows what they can do with a small c class! Was not much longer that a normal van!