sjoyce666 Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Hello all, first post here as we are looking to purchase our first motorhome We are a family of 5. 2 adults and 3 children aged 6, 4 and 4 I have been looking on AutoTrader, eBay, Gumtree and a few local Motorhome dealers websites for motorhomes that would suit our requirements and wondered if anyone could help out with models that may meet what we are after We basically require 6 full seatbelts and we like the layouts with rear lounges as the children can sleep up front on the dinette and the over cab bed and we can use the rear lounge while they are asleep and convert that to a bed when ready to sleep ourselves I have read various threads on here about the hassle of making up the beds all the time with a rear lounge but that is going to be a necessary evil with the size of our family. I have also read about the weight limits and fitting all of us in a 3.5ton motorhome. I will do the C1 test if required but I haven't found many motorhomes that use a stronger chassis to require this and understand with us all on board we will not have a great deal of weight left for "stuff" We will be buying used, probably from a dealer as it will be our first motorhome. Budget up to £30k but would like to be closer to the £20k end if possible. Looking at the ones for sale they seem to be between £20k and £30k and up to 10 years old The models I have found tend to be Elddis, Swift, Compass and a couple of Bessacarr. I need to do some more research into the build quality of these so if anyone has anything to add please do. I have also found a Bailey and a Dethleffs but these are right at the top of and a little over the budget Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 sjoyce666 - 2016-08-04 4:04 PM Hello all, first post here as we are looking to purchase our first motorhome We are a family of 5. 2 adults and 3 children aged 6, 4 and 4........................We basically require 6 full seatbelts and we like the layouts with rear lounges as the children can sleep up front on the dinette and the over cab bed and we can use the rear lounge while they are asleep and convert that to a bed when ready to sleep ourselves .............................. I have also read about the weight limits and fitting all of us in a 3.5ton motorhome. I will do the C1 test if required but I haven't found many motorhomes that use a stronger chassis to require this and understand with us all on board we will not have a great deal of weight left for "stuff".........................Scott Much will depend on how you would use your motorhome, but if you are contemplating holidays as opposed to weekends, bear in mind two things. Your children will grow, and become heavier as they do so, and they will require loads of "stuff" that will also be surprisingly heavy. You will need a large van to accommodate you all, and that means a van that is inherently heavy. My expectation therefore, is that you you will absolutely need that C1 entitlement for anything more than short trips. I would suggest getting that out of the way first, as once you find your van you will be legally unable to drive it home until you get that licence. It is the plated weight that counts, not it actual weight as driven. I think you'll be looking for something of at least 3,850kg to be practical in use, preferably more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjoyce666 Posted August 4, 2016 Author Share Posted August 4, 2016 Brian Kirby - 2016-08-04 7:13 PM sjoyce666 - 2016-08-04 4:04 PM Hello all, first post here as we are looking to purchase our first motorhome We are a family of 5. 2 adults and 3 children aged 6, 4 and 4........................We basically require 6 full seatbelts and we like the layouts with rear lounges as the children can sleep up front on the dinette and the over cab bed and we can use the rear lounge while they are asleep and convert that to a bed when ready to sleep ourselves .............................. I have also read about the weight limits and fitting all of us in a 3.5ton motorhome. I will do the C1 test if required but I haven't found many motorhomes that use a stronger chassis to require this and understand with us all on board we will not have a great deal of weight left for "stuff".........................Scott Much will depend on how you would use your motorhome, but if you are contemplating holidays as opposed to weekends, bear in mind two things. Your children will grow, and become heavier as they do so, and they will require loads of "stuff" that will also be surprisingly heavy. You will need a large van to accommodate you all, and that means a van that is inherently heavy. My expectation therefore, is that you you will absolutely need that C1 entitlement for anything more than short trips. I would suggest getting that out of the way first, as once you find your van you will be legally unable to drive it home until you get that licence. It is the plated weight that counts, not it actual weight as driven. I think you'll be looking for something of at least 3,850kg to be practical in use, preferably more. Thank you for the reply Brian Collection wouldn't be a problem as a family member would drive it home who has the entitlement although I appreciate I would be required to do the test before I could drive it myself Which motorhomes would you recommend that would meet our requirements of 6 full seat belts and a rear lounge that are over 3500kg? The trips would mainly be weekends away and the odd week during school holidays. We would not be touring for weeks on end. I appreciate the children will indeed grow and require more "stuff" but if we can purchase something now that would last 5 years or so that would be acceptable Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Hi Scott and welcome to the forum. Depending on the age of van you are willing to accept there are earlier models of reasonable quality that were much lighter as base vehicles (unladen that is) than more modern models. Over the the years as expectations for ever more equipment has grown so too has the unladen weight of coachbuilts. The Swift Kontiki range are one example (and still in production) that had a full range of 2 - 6 berth models but I'm afraid I cannot help with individual models numbers - the Internet or an email to Swift may bring you the information on which may fit your needs and indeed the relative unladen, MTPLM and axle weights you need to consider. This is just a general rule of course but if you are looking to buy one no more than 10 years old then the weight issue will always be there. With only two of us in a two berth coachbuilt (with garage storage for bikes, chairs, table etc) we found we need a useable payload of 800kgs - but that does us for long winter trips too - and we still had to go to the lengths of uprating our MTPLM and the rear axle weight to accomodate that. So it may be quite a drawn out process for you to fund the right van in under 3500kg but not necessarily impossible. My understanding of earlier models in British built vans is that Autosleeper and Bessacarr were considered to be better built vans but, again, that is quite subjective. Good lick with the search David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjoyce666 Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 david lloyd - 2016-08-05 9:18 AM Hi Scott and welcome to the forum. Depending on the age of van you are willing to accept there are earlier models of reasonable quality that were much lighter as base vehicles (unladen that is) than more modern models. Over the the years as expectations for ever more equipment has grown so too has the unladen weight of coachbuilts. The Swift Kontiki range are one example (and still in production) that had a full range of 2 - 6 berth models but I'm afraid I cannot help with individual models numbers - the Internet or an email to Swift may bring you the information on which may fit your needs and indeed the relative unladen, MTPLM and axle weights you need to consider. This is just a general rule of course but if you are looking to buy one no more than 10 years old then the weight issue will always be there. With only two of us in a two berth coachbuilt (with garage storage for bikes, chairs, table etc) we found we need a useable payload of 800kgs - but that does us for long winter trips too - and we still had to go to the lengths of uprating our MTPLM and the rear axle weight to accomodate that. So it may be quite a drawn out process for you to fund the right van in under 3500kg but not necessarily impossible. My understanding of earlier models in British built vans is that Autosleeper and Bessacarr were considered to be better built vans but, again, that is quite subjective. Good lick with the search David Thank you for the reply David We are not stuck on up to 10 years as such. It's just from our searches the motorhomes with the required number of seatbelts tend to be 10 years old or newer I will have a look into the Kontiki models. A few have turned up in our search but they seem to be fixed bed or bunk beds and we are quite set on the rear lounge idea and fully aware of the hassle this layout can cause in regards to making beds daily etc... Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 I agree with Brian. If you are intent on buying a motorhome, sort out the C1 licence issue. There are a few firms who offer specialist training for leisure vehicles including horse boxes. When I last looked, prices were up to £1,000 but the pass rates were high with some quoting over 80%. Use the Out&About database to search for six berth motorhomes. This will give you a feel for what is available. https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/ Duncan posted a link to a range of OAL articles which are worthing viewing if you haven't done so already. Other forums produce similar guides. http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Motorhome-guides/41792/ Continental manufacturers usually have a six berth in their range although sometimes the way they calculate loading margins seems questionable. Don't consider going below 3,500kg. It'll be too tight and worsen as your children grow. Make sure whoever sleeps in the overcab bed is comfortable with the reduced headroom. We found our children occasionally enjoyed kicking each other etc in the luton which didn't aid family harmony. Be aware that berths do not always equate to seatbelts. Some six berth vans will have only four seatbelts. If size isn't an issue, then the rare Burstner Argos is a daddy! http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes/burstner/argos/2006-burstner-argos-a748-2-diesel-shepton-mallet-mfpa-2c929b994f1bf28d014f634638275a2c/makemodel/make/burstner/model/argos Consider an A-class with a drop down bed. More expensive than a coachbuilt but the quality should be better. Whoever you buy from, do some research on them if you can. People's experience of dealers and motorhome brokers varies. Making up the beds is more of a compromise than hassle. Elldis and Compass are the same company with slightly different models. Swift and Bessacarr are the same company with different trims. Have you considered a caravan? It can be a better alternative if you intend staying on sites more than a few days. You will get much more space if you add an awning. I no longer know the licence requirements for towing but you can check those out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjoyce666 Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Brock - 2016-08-05 11:01 AM I agree with Brian. If you are intent on buying a motorhome, sort out the C1 licence issue. There are a few firms who offer specialist training for leisure vehicles including horse boxes. When I last looked, prices were up to £1,000 but the pass rates were high with some quoting over 80%. Use the Out&About database to search for six berth motorhomes. This will give you a feel for what is available. https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/ Duncan posted a link to a range of OAL articles which are worthing viewing if you haven't done so already. Other forums produce similar guides. http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Motorhome-guides/41792/ Continental manufacturers usually have a six berth in their range although sometimes the way they calculate loading margins seems questionable. Don't consider going below 3,500kg. It'll be too tight and worsen as your children grow. Make sure whoever sleeps in the overcab bed is comfortable with the reduced headroom. We found our children occasionally enjoyed kicking each other etc in the luton which didn't aid family harmony. Be aware that berths do not always equate to seatbelts. Some six berth vans will have only four seatbelts. If size isn't an issue, then the rare Burstner Argos is a daddy! http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes/burstner/argos/2006-burstner-argos-a748-2-diesel-shepton-mallet-mfpa-2c929b994f1bf28d014f634638275a2c/makemodel/make/burstner/model/argos Consider an A-class with a drop down bed. More expensive than a coachbuilt but the quality should be better. Whoever you buy from, do some research on them if you can. People's experience of dealers and motorhome brokers varies. Making up the beds is more of a compromise than hassle. Elldis and Compass are the same company with slightly different models. Swift and Bessacarr are the same company with different trims. Have you considered a caravan? It can be a better alternative if you intend staying on sites more than a few days. You will get much more space if you add an awning. I no longer know the licence requirements for towing but you can check those out. Thank you for your reply Brock. C1 is not a problem and I will take it if the motorhome we find requires this. I have found a local company offering a course for £900 so have already taken this on board as a required cost I have searched for 6 berths on here and they are all over budget and similar to the ones I have found that are in budget although newer kit and interiors obviously We will look into the guides posted and look into getting the book Brian advised With regards to the continental manufacturers we would be more than willing to purchase one if it met our requirements. We are not discounting any manufaacturer at this point. We are however not interested in left hand drive models We are aware of the problem of seatbelts and berth size and as we have young children we will require full 3 point seatbelts and not lapbelts. This discounts several motorhomes and the majority of motorhomes over 10 years old Size is not a problem and we have seen several Burstner models in our search but they are either over budget, not the layout we want to look at, left hand drive or do not have enough seatbelts. The one you link to is left hand drive, has a fixed rear bed and not enough seatbelts I prefer the A class over the Coachbuilt motorhomes but nothing has come up in our budget with our requirements so far. Again if it did we would not discount it on the basis of it being an A class. I like the look of Eura Mobil A Class motorhomes but again nothing has turned up yet We will put another thread up and search various sites and forums when we do find a suitable motorhome to get feedback on the dealer We have discounted caravans Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 sjoyce666 - 2016-08-04 7:38 PM..............................Which motorhomes would you recommend that would meet our requirements of 6 full seat belts and a rear lounge that are over 3500kg? The trips would mainly be weekends away and the odd week during school holidays. We would not be touring for weeks on end. I appreciate the children will indeed grow and require more "stuff" but if we can purchase something now that would last 5 years or so that would be acceptable Scott You could do worse than investigate the Autotrail models. Some of their vans have layouts that are close to what I think you want. Your budget will dictate the age of van you can afford. However, you have something of a practical problem. You want six berths, so a large van. Large vans are heavier than small, for obvious reasons - which is why I advised that you will need that C1 licence. But, also, larger vans are more costly than smaller vans so, for a fixed budget, you will be likely to have to settle for an older van due to its size and price. Large vans are less popular than the smaller ones, so you will not get that much choice compared to smaller vans. All this means more compromise on your part, either on layout, age, or price. I would also suggest you look at the larger Hobby vans but, although you should be able to match your budget, I'm not convinced you'll find the layout you want. My impression from what you said about your foreseeable pattern of use is that you won't use the van that much. In truth, my impression is that you'll use it so little it will be likely to become something of a costly liability. All motorhomes are based on light commercial vehicles, and these are built for a relative short, brutal, life. They do not respond well to standing for long periods, suffering a number of consequential problems, especially water ingress into the engine bay that then causes secondary mechanical issues. Old vans are like old cars, things go wrong! Also bear in mind that even visiting a busy supermarket with a large motorhome can be difficult, as can parking generally, access to attractions etc. etc. On balance, on the assumption that you already have a car with six seatbelts, I too would be inclined to look at towing a caravan which, lacking an engine and gearbox, should prove far less troublesome. They are also cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, and they don't need road tax, so for the same cost you should find something considerably newer (even brand new), so less prone to problems of leakage and general deterioration. Their advantage is that they are built to be parked while you use your car to get about. So, having one standing around is not really a problem. You will however need a B+E driving licence category, so may still need to take an additional test, and may even need C+E if the combined plated weights of tow car plus caravan would exceed 3,500kg. Not easy, is it? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjoyce666 Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Thanks again Brian It certainly isn't easy and the main worry is the weight limit with all 5 of us and associated "stuff" although the longest we are likely to be away on a single trip is 7 to 10 days. We would prefer not to go down the caravan route but your points are valid about the vehicle we already have, insurance and it is something to look into We plan on using it most weekends including throughout the winter even if it is just a trip down to the coast on a Friday night so it will get used but I understand the problems that can arise from it being sat for a long period of time. I'm sure it wont be sat on our drive as long as some have been sat on dealers forecourts or in storage yards The motorhomes that pop up in our search most often are the Elddis/Compass 180 and the Swift 630L although I will look at the AutoTrail models Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh4x4 Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Hi, we are also a family of 5 with similar requirements as yourself and we recently picked up a 2012 swift escape 686 privatley within your budget price and find it to be a great motorhome. It is probably classed as a budget model but we wanted something newer to our last 2004 suntor 630l model. It has everything you need in my opinion at a great price for a new van. Maybe one to consider for yourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 I don't know why Scott is not keen on a caravan but he has obviously spent time looking into 'vanning so I'm sure he has reasons. We did 5 years of caravanning - admittedly in the 90s - when our two boys were young and they thoroughly enjoyed it. We switched to motorhoming when we wanted to tour Europe. Motorhomes are also advantageous if you want to go out for a day from home such as to a country fair. They are also easier to ready for a quick weekend away. If it came down between an Elldis and Swift, I'd take the Swift because it will look and feel more modern. Build quality and damp will be similar from what I read on the forums although I never really know how many of these vans are sold so in percentage terms, Swift and Elddis may not be as bad as it can appear. I had a Swift 620 with a similar layout to the 630 [only a single bench seat in the rear, not a twin] and it worked well for the four of us plus dog. The 630 is a good layout for a young family. I'd take an AutoTrail over a Swift because the spec should be better but I have never seen an AutoTrail with six seatbelts. One thing with young children that hasn't been mentioned is the suitability of the seats for them. I'm well past the time of trying to fix child seats into a motorhome but Scott will need to ensure the seats are suitable, or can be made suitable, for the children. Modern cars have ISO fixings now - I doubt a motorhome has; a motorhome 10 years old will not. The crash protection systems in motorhomes do not extend from the cab into the dinette where the children are likely to be sitting although their seatbelts should be bolted to the chassis to provide a similar level of protection as a typical school bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 sjoyce666 - 2016-08-05 8:19 PM ... although I will look at the AutoTrail models Scott Scott, You can download AutoTrail brochures and handbooks from many recent years back to 2003 from the AT website... Link If you look through them you will get an idea of what was on offer through the years and what you need to look out for in your search. HTH, Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Brock - 2016-08-05 11:04 PM One thing with young children that hasn't been mentioned is the suitability of the seats for them. I'm well past the time of trying to fix child seats into a motorhome but Scott will need to ensure the seats are suitable, or can be made suitable, for the children. Modern cars have ISO fixings now - I doubt a motorhome has; a motorhome 10 years old will not. The crash protection systems in motorhomes do not extend from the cab into the dinette where the children are likely to be sitting although their seatbelts should be bolted to the chassis to provide a similar level of protection as a typical school bus. Very valid point The seats on a van are not as wide as the back seat of a car. Three child seats? Also bear in mind that there is not a side wall to both sides, so the outer seat is open . ALSO no air bags in the van, apart from the cab. I would not personally want to put children's that young in the back on there own! . Having had 3 myself , I know how they squabble, especially , regards who sits where!! i know it is often a dream of younger families, to be able to do what we older ones are able to, regarding our freedom from the restraints of working!! Please think carefully about the outcome of an accident, it may not even be your fault . Have a caravan , or go to camp sites , until they are much older PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Italian vans tend to be more family orientated with bunk beds for the children. Have a look at Rollerteam. As the children grow up they will probably prefer to more independent and sleep in their own tent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 PJay - 2016-08-06 10:03 AM The seats on a van are not as wide as the back seat of a car. Three child seats? Also bear in mind that there is not a side wall to both sides, so the outer seat is open ... PJay And, the upper anchorage always seems to be between the seats and not at the outside edge as in a car, so the isle seat will get no support to hold a child seat onto the seat. I have read previously of people complaining that child seats 'fall' off the isle seat far too easily and hence cannot be used for children. Perhaps your OH could sit in the back with 2 children and the third rides up front as long as you can disable the airbag if necessary? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Keithl - 2016-08-06 10:57 AM PJay - 2016-08-06 10:03 AM The seats on a van are not as wide as the back seat of a car. Three child seats? Also bear in mind that there is not a side wall to both sides, so the outer seat is open ... PJay And, the upper anchorage always seems to be between the seats and not at the outside edge as in a car, so the isle seat will get no support to hold a child seat onto the seat. I have read previously of people complaining that child seats 'fall' off the isle seat far too easily and hence cannot be used for children. Perhaps your OH could sit in the back with 2 children and the third rides up front as long as you can disable the airbag if necessary? Keith. I have read about the child seats falling off sideways, but did not want to be too scary for OP I do hope he has a serious think about it PJay Maybe google child seats in motorhomes?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjoyce666 Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Thank you again for your replies With regards to the AutoTrail motorhomes I am yet to find one in budget with 6 full size seatbelts Regarding the car seats this is another issue we will have to look into. All three of our children when travelling in our family car are rear facing. This will not be possible in a motorhome. We will have to use high back boosters. It may be possible to remove the seat cushions to stop any sliding issues but we will look into it closer to the time I can see the benefits of caravaning instead but towing a caravan doesnt really interest me and we prefer the get home and go of the motorhome. Yesterday as an example we would have gone down to the local beach for the evening in a motorhome. We wouldnt have done this in a caravan Search goes on and the main issues at the moment are the weight limits as I still havent found anything over 3500kg and I am pretty sure under 3500kg will not give us enough payload. The other issue is of course childrens car seats It could just be a case that as a family there are too many of us and we are too young to find a suitable motorhome and may have to revisit it in several years time Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Scott, you'll find a motorhome. It just takes time. There are numerous grandparents running around with grandkids secured in their motorhome and some families who have taken the plunge. And yes nipping out in the motorhome for an evening and having tea or supper whilst watching the sun goes down has a strong emotional pull. Such events make for memorable times with the family even when they get older. It can be frustrating - ask anyone trying to buy a new motorhome and being quoted delivery times of up to 12 months, or in one case I know, almost two years . The leisure industry is booming and manufacturers are still gearing up to meet the demand after the long recession. That puts pressure on the second hand market. Some dealers will make an effort to source you a motorhome. Warners have a show at Malvern next week and at Lincoln next month. If these are near enough to you, you could pay a trip, immerse yourselves in the motorhome experience, and talk to a range of dealers about your needs. New and second hand vans are on show. I doubt you will find your perfect van but sometimes lady luck is kind! Or, you could hire a motorhome for a holiday just to tide you over until you find the right van. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 OK, so a motorhome it is! :-D There are Autotrail models with six seatbelts, but they are presently an option involving a full dinette (two belted forward facing seats, two belted rear facing seats, plus driver's and front passenger's seats). This layout is not, however, common. Use Keith's link to explore the earlier model ranges, and then try a specific web search for any models that would suit you. It is going to take you a long time, because you have very specific requirements. I don't know how long you would intend to keep the van once bought, but bear in mind that over that period of time your children will get physically larger and heavier, and so what works in terms of seating initially may not work in two years time. I would also add a caution regarding rear facing belted seats, because on older vans these were often only lap belts, and in some cases lap belts were fitted to side facing seats, so the mere number of belted seats is not a guide to what you may think suitable. Have you tried using the search facility on this site under "Motorhomes for sale" and just entering five berths? It pulls up 74 motorhomes ranging in price between £11,000 and £91,000, but plenty of choice in the lower price bracket, including several Hymer A class vans that should be a solid buy. However, this selection will include vans with fewer than 5 belted seats (don't ask, no-one understands why they bothered! :-)), and those where berths have to be constructed from seat cushions. Be cautious especially of the Italian made vans, because these were often built primarily for the Italian hire market which is a somewhat peculiar market. They are large vans with little (and often poorly explained!) payload, that seem to have been built to facilitate large family gatherings, where the vans are little more than mobile bedrooms, with all the "living" functions being provided at a relative's house. So, check the payload very carefully, to the point of insisting on a weighbridge ticked for the van as offered for sale, and then doing your own calculations on what you plus your family would add (this would be a quite good approach to take with any van as, if you stick to 3,500kg, you will always be flirting with the maximum permissible load for the van. I don't wish to add complication upon complication, but you should also think very carefully about the rear axle load limit. There are large numbers of vans made (Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot bases) with 3,500kg maximum permissible weight, and a 2,000kg rear axle limit. Due to the limited wheelbase permutations of the standard van chassis, on which most will be based, many of the larger vans have very long rear overhangs. Any load carried behind the rear axle places more than its self-weight on the rear axle, with the balance being deducted from the front axle load. This means that a significant number of such vans will run out of rear axle load before they reach their permitted maximum overall weight. In other words, they cannot be operated at 3,500 tonnes MAM, because they will first hit their rear axle load limit. This can be ameliorated to some extent by re-distributing the load, but it is very difficult to calculate the extent to which this can be achieved before purchase, unless you already know the weights of everything you would carry, where in relation to the rear axle you would load it, and the actual rear axle load before you start loading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Perhaps the OP should advise us what his children prefer doing. Happy children usually relates to happy parents and a happy holiday all round. Many campsites in the UK seem to be located some distance from civilisation. If the children are happy exploring the local countryside or playing together within the confines of the campsite, then well and good. We travelled with our young son in a VW campervan so were able to use the van for getting out and about to visit the local area. A 6 berth MH may be a tad more difficult, especially parking at your destination. Another option is for your wife to take the family car and use the MH as a permanent base. In which case, a caravan might be more convenient :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Regarding the European manufacturers some have a "budget range" which may now come within your budget. Dethleffs have Sunlight, Hymer have Carado, Adria have Sun Living. as examples. Although not your preferred layout this Sunlight shows what can be in range. http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes/dethleffs/sunlight/2008-dethleffs-sunlight-a69-6-berth-with-travelling-seats-diesel-carnforth-mfpa-2c929a7a5516b38201554fb0714369f2/makemodel/make/dethleffs/model/sunlight Anything earlier than 2008/9 may have seating capacity for 6 but seatbelt requirements for all seats in motorhomes only became legislation in 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 sjoyce666 - 2016-08-06 1:38 PM Thank you again for your replies With regards to the AutoTrail motorhomes I am yet to find one in budget with 6 full size seatbelts Regarding the car seats this is another issue we will have to look into. All three of our children when travelling in our family car are rear facing. This will not be possible in a motorhome. We will have to use high back boosters. It may be possible to remove the seat cushions to stop any sliding issues but we will look into it closer to the time I can see the benefits of caravaning instead but towing a caravan doesnt really interest me and we prefer the get home and go of the motorhome. Yesterday as an example we would have gone down to the local beach for the evening in a motorhome. We wouldnt have done this in a caravan Search goes on and the main issues at the moment are the weight limits as I still havent found anything over 3500kg and I am pretty sure under 3500kg will not give us enough payload. The other issue is of course childrens car seats It could just be a case that as a family there are too many of us and we are too young to find a suitable motorhome and may have to revisit it in several years time Scott If it has to be a caravan to overcome the several difficulties of accommodating the children perhaps, to give you the freedom of individual days/evenings out, a suitable tow vehicle such as a Mercedes vito people carrier, ford Galaxy (or newer equivalent, VW caravelle type vehicle would give you that daily get away vehicle and excellent towing capacity for a large family caravan? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjoyce666 Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 In reply to some of the replies We plan to keep the van for several years so the children growing is something we have to take on board with regards to the weight The children are fine in the countryside. We live in the countryside anyway so the children are fine with long walks and using the bus to get to local towns for days out. Most supermarkets will deliver to campsites nowadays so food provisions isn't a problem either We wont be taking two vehicles and are not interested in a caravan as already stated We have a SEAT Alhambra as our family car so we could easily go the caravan route but it does not interest us. It will be a motorhome or carry on as we are with static caravan holidays here and flights abroad We will look into the budget models from the European brands but nothing has come up with the layout and seatbelts at the moment. They all seem to be Elddis or Swifts with the odd Roller Team in there Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Don't give up hope Scott. It's a question of keep searching, as many manufacturers have variations not currently listed in their literature. Here's an example of a Chausson LHD but further searching may bring up a RHD model. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-Ford-Chausson-6-berth-Motorhome-LHD-/322221353462?hash=item4b05e3a9f6:g:x-AAAOSww4NXqPC1 Another manufacturer that comes to mind is Rimor again often on the Ford twin rear wheel chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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