Coachbuilt to Van Conversion

I'll be interested to watch this develop as it's something that we may consider.  We hire a van conversion when we visit our daughter in New Zealand and know exactly which layout we'd like.  Not sure on the length of the hired ones, but not short, but always been able to park in towns there, but then they have more space even in the towns.  Storage of things hasn't been an issue on our 6+ week hire amd you get chairs and table thrown in.  Our biggest concern is the weather in this country.  We have a windout awning on our coachbuilt and it is used occasionally for shade or rain shelter, we have not had this on hired ones.  Generally the weather is warmer in NZ and so we do plenty of outside living, this is the aspect that concerns us most with having one here.  As far as I was concerned cleaning was a doddle - sweep the uncarpeted floors and open the backdoors, all gone .  We tend to use ours most of the year, just Nov-Feb we are not generally out and about due to the weather and Christmas.

I have been wondering that too for the dreaded day when I have to downsize, I have even looked at some to get some idea of what would work and what wouldn't. A couple of things I am almost certain I would need is a drive away awning and a lot more relience on site facilities. I don't think there is a lot to be gained in thinking parking in towns would be easier.

peedee

From our experience with a hired one, the facilities are usable but compact and for a decent shower experience using the site ones is probably best, but certainly acceptable for toilet and handwash.  Lack of full length hanging space (for my ballgowns) could be a pain as it is quite short, but didn't actually interfere other than requiring the ironing, on site facilities, of cotton summer dresses which I do like to take abroad.  Parking in this country is probably the least reason for purchasing - it's still to high for height barriers and actual parking space length, but maybe slightly more acceptable to park in the street as not as big as a coachbuilt.  Not too sure about driveaway awing, getting it lined up again and a large gap between the 'van and awning - it may only be our friends that have this issue.

DK, I can only give you an oblique opinion. We travel and live for up to six weeks in a ten year old Eriba Caravan with internal living space of 4.2 metres x 2.0 metres - probably similar to many panel van conversions. The biggest advantage of down sizing for us was the reduced width - especially on country roads and mountain roads.

i have looked covetously at Murvi Morello panel van conversions -  about 5.6 metres overall length, which would give us the same internal living space as the Eriba,  but a far higher standard of comfort and equipment. I love their compact, go anywhere style, and would not want anything more cumbersome. I would buy one tomorrow if I had the money! 

But we have already bitten the bullet of travel with minimal luggage and kit - no aquaroll etc. That's the big first step.

Good luck  with your choosing. Here's a photo of what we have now -  but you have seen it before! 

We did it the other way round going from a van conversion to a slightly bigger coachbuilt. We've liked then both, I never felt cramped in the smaller van the only thing is extra doors mean colder areas. Because we travel in the UK at the moment and often head north the coachbuilt has definitely felt warmer. Both vans have been just under 6m and we don't miss anything bigger.

David, have a look at the Carthago Compactline i138, 6.4m x 2.12m wide, so PVC dimensions, but a real double floored quality A class MH.

nice year old one at Southdowns.....fully loaded, auto 150 bhp....

two full sized doubles....

or something without a fixed bed same length...a lovely used Frankia 640 SD, huge drop down bed (used as double or singles) rear washroom, hreat centre kitchen.....at SMC of Newark.

similar size to a PVC but far better insulation, winterisation, watwr capacities, shower usability etc.....

even used, these might be a little over budget, but ypud be getting something a mile away from a traditional PVC...

BB

The problem with continental vans for us is the door on the wrong side. I don't particularly have an objection to what side the door is on but where we store the van it is much more convenient for us if the door is on the UK side to allow easy access and everything in the garden is set up for the van to be reversed into its storage space but thanks for the suggestion. 

David

We moved from a 2 berth caravan to a 6.3m Autosleeper. The reduction in storage is a bit of a surprise at first but you do get used to it. We have been away for 3 weeks without problem or having to wash any clothes.

In the winter we take a storage box which travels in the van but lives outside on site.. In there is the toilet fluid, mains lead, silver screens in the winter, bits of wood, folding bucket and all the stuff which used to be in the caravan's gas locker. ( We have no external storage lockers )

In the summer we also take a utility tent.. Chairs small table and BBQ etc easily travel in the van, but on site there is nowhere to put them without the tent.. We have also occasionally have used it as a dining room. We chose the tent rather than drive away awning so as not to have to mess about attaching and detaching it to the van when we go out..and they are a LOT cheaper !

Hope that helps

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