jeffw Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Please could anyone give me some advice on van selection? I am disabled with an unusual spinal injury that stops me from sitting. I have to travel lying down, driven by my carer and as an experiment I bought a cheap campervan 4 years ago. To say it has transformed the quality of life is an understatement. I now wish to upgrade. After much research on the web I need some help on selecting a second hand 2 berth low profile coachbuilt motorhome that is pretty short in length for £20K max. My main concern is, as it will be my only transport, it needs to be easy to drive and particularly park for physio appointments, shopping etc. Worst of all will be the on street parking outside my house in the centre of Lancaster where I live. I have a Renault Traffic 1992 without power steering (15' 3" long). How will a much newer MH with power steering, say maximum 18 1/4' long compare for parking? I have no idea at present and it will be an expensive mistake to get wrong!! Please can I have your views on this? I would just get a Autocruiser Vista as the shortest I can find, but would like a side door for an awning when we stay longer somewhere. Any suggestions on particular models? Looking at Autocruise Starfire, but worried about length. I need mid bench seats so it can be altered slightly for a permanent single bed for me to travel on. Also if anyone is selling a suitable MH please feel free to contact me! Sorry for long post, and thanks for any help. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 jeffw - 2009-01-04 7:36 PM Please could anyone give me some advice on van selection? I am disabled with an unusual spinal injury that stops me from sitting. I have to travel lying down, driven by my carer and as an experiment I bought a cheap campervan 4 years ago. To say it has transformed the quality of life is an understatement. I now wish to upgrade. After much research on the web I need some help on selecting a second hand 2 berth low profile coachbuilt motorhome that is pretty short in length for £20K max. My main concern is, as it will be my only transport, it needs to be easy to drive and particularly park for physio appointments, shopping etc. Worst of all will be the on street parking outside my house in the centre of Lancaster where I live. I have a Renault Traffic 1992 without power steering (15' 3" long). How will a much newer MH with power steering, say maximum 18 1/4' long compare for parking? I have no idea at present and it will be an expensive mistake to get wrong!! Please can I have your views on this? I would just get a Autocruiser Vista as the shortest I can find, but would like a side door for an awning when we stay longer somewhere. Any suggestions on particular models? Looking at Autocruise Starfire, but worried about length. I need mid bench seats so it can be altered slightly for a permanent single bed for me to travel on. Also if anyone is selling a suitable MH please feel free to contact me! Sorry for long post, and thanks for any help. Jeff Hi Jeff & welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of experience here & I am sure you will get lots of information. Firstly I assume that with your difficulty you may be on DLA or Mobility. If so you should qualify for VAT exemption on a new vehicle and any modifications carried-out. Therefore if you are able to increase your budget there are a few Low Profile Coachbuilts that become a possibility. There still appears to be quite a few 2008 models around that Dealers are doing tremendous offers on to make way for the 2009 models. We currently have a Bessacarr E410, there are Ace (as few still about) & Swift equivelents, all made in the same factory, which is under 19' long, it has side bench seats in the motorhome. We find that being short in the height stakes we can use these as single beds with the Cab seats swivelled. These are similar layout to the Vista, but considerable cheaper from new. There are also models which have fixed rear beds, with a forward dinette that can convert to a single bed across the van that may be suitable. January 2009 "Practical Motorhome" has a group test of 3 Motorhomes in this style. We have an Autocruise Sportstar (in the above group test) on order as the Bessacaqrr can not take a powered wheelchair on the Bike Rack. The majority of the shorter LP Coachbuilts tend to be built on the Short or Medium Wheelbase chassis, so I would not anticipate that you will have any problem versus the Renault (which I guess at 15'3" is also a Medium Wheelbase chassis.) Can I suggest you get hold of a copy of MMM sister magazine "Which Motorcaravan" as it usually has a page showing the layout of the different Motorhomes and their sizes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizken Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Hi Jeffw Look out for an Autocruise/Marquis Horizon. This van was specially built with a wide rear door, to accomodate disabled users, was approx 18feet long, and a 2000 year model would be within your budget. Try searching for the model on google Regards Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 Thanks for the suggestions, just so as not to rule out any MH, I don't require a wide door, as I cannot use a wheelchair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Jeff: I've looked through the new-motorhome listing of a 2005 copy of Which Motorcaravan to see what was available then and likely to be comfortably beneath your £20K ceiling now. There were quite a few compact over-cab coachbuilt motorhomes, but ultra-short low-profiles were rare as hens' teeth. The lengths of an Autocruise Starfire and an Autocruise Vista were quoted as 5.59m/18.34' and 4.78m/15.68' respectively. If you are uneasy with the Starfire's length and MUST have a low-profile coachbuilt design, then the only real alternative to the Vista seems to have been the Autocruise Starlight (5.26m/17.26' long). Unfortunately, I don't know what this model's internal layout was like. (The Starlight was also marketed as the Pioneer Cortez, and the Vista as the Pioneer Pizarro.) It should be practicable to attach an awning to the rear of a Vista/Pizarro, though I guess the rear door might present problems for you entering the vehicle when it was street-parked. Power-steering is a boon for parking, but it still won't allow a 17'+ vehicle to fit into a 16' gap. ;-) As your motorhome will need to be street-parked, is a coachbuilt motorhome the best idea? A panel-van conversion's narrowness should make parking simpler, its metal bodywork would be more resistant to accidentally knocks and scrapes, and the side entrance-door should facilitate access and fitting an awning. Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Welcome Jeff! Derek Uzzell - 2009-01-05 9:27 AM As your motorhome will need to be street-parked, is a coachbuilt motorhome the best idea? A panel-van conversion's narrowness should make parking simpler, its metal bodywork would be more resistant to accidentally knocks and scrapes, and the side entrance-door should facilitate access and fitting an awning. Just a thought... If you want to pursue that idea (and could possibly manage a VAT-free new van), talk to Roy Wood Transits, who are Govt-approved disability specialists and do one-off campervans for specific needs. http://www.roywoodtransits.co.uk/motorhomes/index.html Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Hi Jeff We have a marquis lancashire same as an auto sleeper nuavo, the near side single bed should be big enough, i'm six foot four, the van is about 17 foot long and we park in a busy side road in Birmingham without any problem. Pete Just thought, i read somewhere recently, that you canclaim the vat back on seconhand vans if you are disabled (new legislation) worth making enquiries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 What about a Rapido 709F? It's a low profile coachbuilt with rear nearside double bed with half dinette up front, rear offiside washroom with door then kitchen area at the front. We had one for nigh on 4 years from new (03 model on Fiat 2.3JTD, RHD), he was an absolute gem of a 'van (..... yes .... I still miss him! :D ) and at 5.5m in length he was very easy to park. Build quality was excellent and when we PX'd him he was like new. 2004 models seem to go for around £23-25k so a 2003 model shouldn't be too far away form your budget of £20k. The below link takes you to a site with one for sale which is over your budget but it has some good interior shots etc for you to see what it is like: http://www.meridianmotorhomes.com/motorhomes/rapido_709f_1108/rapido_709f_1108.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Have you looked at the Romahome r30 dimensions 11. I have been looking at smaller motorhomes and I was very impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Romahome R30 dimension: Unfortunately it looks like this would be way out of the budget of £20,000 (more like £35,000) and I don't think there's anyway he could lay down whislt travelling as the front seats form part of the bed. Nice van though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Tony Jones - 2009-01-05 10:41 AM Welcome Jeff! Derek Uzzell - 2009-01-05 9:27 AM As your motorhome will need to be street-parked, is a coachbuilt motorhome the best idea? A panel-van conversion's narrowness should make parking simpler, its metal bodywork would be more resistant to accidentally knocks and scrapes, and the side entrance-door should facilitate access and fitting an awning. Just a thought... If you want to pursue that idea (and could possibly manage a VAT-free new van), talk to Roy Wood Transits, who are Govt-approved disability specialists and do one-off campervans for specific needs. http://www.roywoodtransits.co.uk/motorhomes/index.html Tony This was my thought as well. Coachbuilt vans are easy to damage, and difficult to repair, compared to van conversions. Also, the van conversion will have the original locks, which these days are pretty good (certainly better than almost any coachbuilt locks), and there are plenty of aftermarket deadlocks for all doors if required. The drawback is that they cost more, but your budget should see you suited, albeit the van may be that bit older. Many "borrow" the classic VW camper layout, so the travel arrangements should not be too much of a problem, but I'm not so sure about ablutions etc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Not so sure about the classic VW layout would be suitable, Brian. It is transverse rear seating and normally not the full width of the Van, therefore travelling in the horizontal position would not be possible. I guess the Panel Van posibilities, would be something like Trigano or Autosleeper, Devon, Murvi, Adria Van models. An imported make may give the opportunity to have a longer bench seat on the UK passenger side. http://www.brownhills.co.uk/motorhomes/used/558_Auto-Sleepers-Dorset--2.2HDI-used-motorhome.aspx (only attached to show layout style) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Sorry, hit the send button too quick. I meant to add this link also. http://www.marquismotorhomes.co.uk/used-motorhomes/used-model/Properties/make-0/berths-0/price-0/model-0/fuel-0/type-EV,HT/order-1/per-20/page-0/modelno-7302 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 flicka - 2009-01-07 10:56 PM Not so sure about the classic VW layout would be suitable, Brian. It is transverse rear seating and normally not the full width of the Van, therefore travelling in the horizontal position would not be possible. .......... I was assuming the seat would be converted to the bed position for travel, so horizontal travel would be longitudinal rather than transverse. Not sure about Bh under present circumstances, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffw Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 Thanks for all the replies! Unfortunately I'm still rather unsure what will suit my needs best. I looked at a Starfire, Vista and a couple of van conversions (Trango Tribute?) last week. I can see advantages to the van conversions, but the layout seems impossible to modify for a 5 1/2 feet bed I need. Taking out part of the wardrobe still means the permanent bed would have to go right across the side door completely blocking it. The coachbuilts seam very spacious inside (infact more than I need!) but even the vista looked pretty imposing to park on the street. The Autosleeper Neuvo suggested, at 17' 10", would be my favourite but as the fridge is on the side this doesn't leave enough length here to put my bed. I guess getting the fridge relocated would be very expensive? So I'm thinking about the Starfire again as the cupboard in this position will be easy to cut down to extend the bench seat to 5 1/2' for me to lie there. Please could someone look at their magazine from around 2004 and tell me if there where any other low profile coachbuilts less than 18' 3" in length that I should check out?. Also looking into the VAT position on second-hand vans. Thanks again for all the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainbow-Chasers Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 I did see a dethleffs the other day which would fit the bill pretty much, it was fairly long low profile (for a two berth) but not long enough to cause problems parking etc. It had two single permanent beds in the rear, the washroom was at the back accessed through the walkway between the beds. Fore of this was the seating area to the left, and to the right the kitchen. Just beyond that, the driving position. Based on a renault chassis. I just had a quick look and it is 10k over budget! But nonetheless, you may find a cheaper one similar elsewhere! http://www.edenmotorhomes.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizken Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Jeff Have a look at an Autocruise Valentine - at 17'10 it is 6" horter than the Starfire. The front half of the van is exactly as Starfire, with 2 side benches, but the entrance door is in the back, instead of the side. We find that this give more floor space, as the cab to the rear door is unrestricted floor space. As it is the same manufacture as the Starfire fittings and build quality is identical. We find that the rear door is useful in car parks, as you do not need the space between vehicles to open the habitation door, and you can park on either side of the street without exiting into traffic. Previous to our Valentine, we had a vista, which was only 15'10" long but unbelievable interior space, whilst being much shorter than even the panel vans. Our only reason for changing to the valentine was to obtain the 2 side benches instead of the L-shaped settee on one side only. Best wishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Jeff Found this that may be of interest (but a little older) Those I have seen are short and although not Low profile the are reasonable overall height due to being on the VW chassis with rear entrance door and side bench seats. I would think that the bench could be extended by replacing the passenger seat, but without blocking the cab door. http://www.bedfordshiremotorcaravans.com/vehiclepage.html?id=151 or http://www.motorhomes.mobi/Motorhomes/tabid/95/ItemID/20862/Motorhome/Holdsworth-Valentine/Default.aspx There are pictures on the sites to give you an idea of layout and there may be others out there not so old. Dimensions RHD, VW 2.4 Diesel Factory built Holdsworth Valentine, small coachbuilt on VW chassis. Power steering, Overhead cab bed, rear kitchen - hob, fresh and waste water tanks, seperate toilet and shower cubicle, propex heater, hot water, cassette awning, roof rack, Dimensions: Length is 5.08M - 16"6 Width is inc. mirrors: 2.28M - 7"6" Height is inc. extras: 2.90M - 9"6" Please check the safety aspect, I am not sure how you can be secured in the horizontal position either lenthways or across in a Motorhome. But presumable you may alreaqdy have a solution if you have current transport. If so would you share it with the forum, please. It could be of interest to someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Hi Jeff Looking for a small coachbuilt for my nephew I found this link. (but out of his price range. Thought of my last post on this thread and might be something you may consider. http://caravans.vivastreet.co.uk/motorhomes-sale+wisbech-pe13/nu-venture-rio-/8490155 For layout views of the current model have a look at:- http://www.nuventure.co.uk/Nu%20Venture%20Nu%20Rio%20Motorhome/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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