Devon Monaco

[Mrs Sea]

Still doing my homework on which van to buy but have decided a panel van conversion will suit our present hobbies and lifestyle best. So which one?

 

We can't afford IH, Timberland or Murvi (even second hand) as they come with all the bells and whistles plus leather upholstery non of which we need.

 

The Trigano Tribute has been severely slagged off by several folk in other threads so don't fancy going down that line.

 

The Devon Monaco seems a reasonable 'in between' option. We like the huge space under the rear bed like a mini garage! Its built on the Renault Master too (we'd like to change from the Fiat we have at present) which gets good reviews from virtually everyone. Can anyone comment on the hardiness/workmanship of the conversion? Have they sorted the problem with the shower yet?

 

The insulation material is thinsulate apparently, which doesn't absorb moisture. Anyone any experience of this as insulation for a van (rather than as clothing!)?

 

Our other concern is that the rear upper doors and windows are uninsulated and as the highish rear fixed bed touches the windows surely condensation will be a big problem. Devons answer to my concern is 'turn up the heater and open the windows'....! or 'specify no windows in the rear door'. As we are almost certainly buying 2nd hand the latter option won't be possible but why can't they put proper double skinned windows in like other conversions we have seen? Can you get double glazed rear windows retro fitted anywhere?

 

Anyone with a Monaco who can give us the lows and highs would be a big help.

 

Many thanks

[colin]

We have looked at the Monaco, but where put off by small bed, the 'not quite finished' look of demonstraitors, and 'Mr Devon's' bad attitude to customers, that aside, the base vehicle is good, Adria make a Master with double glazed rear windows, so they must be availlible.

[Mel B]

Last month we were in France and met a couple on an aire who had had a bespoke van done by Nu Venture. As he was disabled and mainly had to use a wheelchair his wife had designed it and had it made to her specification with a rear bed with large storage space underneath for all the wheelchair and associated paraphanalia. From what I saw it was a very nice job and they didn't have lots of bells and whistles on it, just what they wanted and no more. It was built on the new short wheelbase Transit and the one thing they had to make certain of was the placement of the transverse bed to make sure that it went above the support struts so that it had the maximum possible length as the wife is quite tall.

[twooks]

I've heard same reports on Nu Venture [but there are 2 firms in Wigan called Nu Venture something or other - used to be 1 firm 2 brothers but one decided to branch out] and they look ok.

Have similar opinion of Devon as that expressed above, and once had a long conversation with someone who used to work there - not encouraging. Devon seem to have gone downhill since moving to their new premises at Ferryhill.

 

 

B-)

[Mel E]

Mrs Sea,

 

The problem with asking for opinions on a forum like this is that you'll get a very small sample size, and, by definition, people who contribute to forums tend to have well-defined views.

 

To answer your two specific points:

 

- we have no condensation problems in our Renault Master conversion, except on the front screen, which is the case with all motorhomes unless you fit an external silver screen. We have internal silver screens for the rear windows to provide insulation and, though not a perfect fit, they do resonably well. We have not had a problem even in sustained sub-zero temperatures.

 

- you cannot retrofit double glazed windows in the Master because of the odd shape of one of the windows. Those with double glazed windows use normal Seitz (or other make) windows fitted into a blank door with no windows or (in IH's case) replace the whole rear of the vehicle with a GRP moulding.

 

- we looked at the Devon when changing and visited them at Ferryhill, where they've been for quite a while now. We were well received and looked after. However, the Devon range is cheaper than IH/Timberland, etc., and, even with lower overheads - though their marketing expense of visiting all the shows is on a par with IH/Timberland - the saving must show somewhere, so their conversions are not as well finished. But the Devon Monte Carlo costs around £31,000 new on a Renault Master compared with Timberland's Renault at around £45,000. Clearly, these are apples and oranges!

 

If you want a view from users (rather than those who have bought something else), visit a show - the next is at Lincoln - where there'll be lots of people with most of the van conversions you're interested in. Just wander round the camping area and chat to them about their experiences. 'Would you buy one again?' and 'What problems have you had?' is usually a good starting point. You won't get totally unbiased views, but you'll do better than on a forum.

 

Mel E

====

 

[twooks]

Probably the best way to get an unbiased opinion on a van [or anything else] is talk to someone who no longer has one.

check the magazines for someone selling a van you may be interested in - make contact - and if they've already sold - ask them for comments.

That way there is no hidden agenda, no commercial interests, and you are talking to someone who has actually lived with the van rather than just test driven or looked over - and paid for the privilege.

Of course, we all have different standards and requirements, but that's always going to be an issue, you just have to filter out the inappropriate bits.

Good Luck

 

B-)

[Cattwg]

Hi Mrs Sea,

We bought a Devon Monte Carlo, second hand and took it to Scandinavia last spring - 7K miles in all. The Master (2.8 turbo diesel) behaved impeccably. The max speed limit in most of Norway is 50mph/80kph - the 'van returned 33 mpg. I usually achieve 30 mpg when touring.

We are very pleased with the conversion. Agreed it's not finished to the standard of Timberland or IH but then they are £1000's more expensive.

One advantage of the Monte Carlo is that the bed can be left up whilst touring - I find this a real boon. In 3 or 4 years when we come to change our 'van we will definitely be looking at the Monaco with the fixed bed and huge under-bed storage.

Regards Cattw