Coachbuilt to Van Conversion

I have found this thread very interesting to follow. We changed from a caravan to motor home the same year as DK. We have often discussed what we would do in the future.

Would we stay with a coachbuild, change to a PVC or go back to a car and caravan.

I think we can safely say now, we would go back to a caravan. Once our health is such that we can no longer ride our bikes to get around and need to use a car to get out and about. Public transport doesn't always help and the thought of having to always stay in busy towns fills me with dread as I hate noise. Not my idea of a holiday.

We have looked at PVC's but I truly don't think I would like the reduced internal space, I do know that I would hate the sliding door, having had a people carrier with one. We currently have a 6.6m coachbuild IF we wanted to stay with a coachbuild but go smaller I then we could, but not by much, however we could go for something slimmer.

The move back to a car and caravan would, I think for us be the choice, it would give us plenty of room and greater flexibility once on sites, now that we are retired staying put for weeks on end is possible, something we never did for more than 5 days when working and first retired. However things change and we tend to have a much more relaxed attitude to our trips away these days. The only things is I won't tow the caravan but I will drive the motorhome (when I'm allowed)  

DK I hope you find the answers you are looking for and that it works out for you.

We have done exactly what you will possibly do in the future, it has made things so much easier to "carry on camping"

Tammygirl

Interesting thoughts. I don't see us going back to a caravan. We did it for 30 years and the reasons for changing from that to a motorhome are still valid. I don't think I would want to go back to towing and the associated hassle that personally I attached to caravanning immediately before we changed to a motorhome. Margaret is of the same view as well. I am not so keen on seclusion, preferring to be near to habitation. This is for various reasons, not least that it allows us to operate without moving the motorhome off site. Also I can no longer walk the long distances I once could so prefer to have places where the shops and towns are within easy reach. We don't mind public transport and often found it to be quite entertaining!!! 

I am not totally convinced a PVC is the answer as like you I would be concerned about the available space and whether we would successfully adapt. There are smaller coachbuilt motorhome that we could go for but then I start to think that there is nothing particularly wrong with what we have and like everyone we have no idea how long we will be able to carry on motorhoming should we just carry on with what we have? Camping has been a big part of our life and taken us to some really wonderful places so we would be reluctant to give that up whilst we can still manage. Whether a smaller vehicle would help us extend that time it is difficult to decide. We will have a look when we go to the NEC and go from there.

David

DK, I drove a slimmer (and shorter)  A class coachbuilt round Portsmouth the other day and was truly amazed at the difference a 6.4m X 2.12m footpint van is to drive and park.

add in a shorter wheelbase than a PVC and the van took city roundabouts with total aplomb, with manoevring even better than the longer wheelbased PVCs.

considering that a van like this can still support the full features of a proper MH (2 huge beds, large garage, proper shower, decent kitchen storage etc) its a world away from a PVC in terms of living with it...

no sloping sides, no sliding door, but just as usable as transport once on site....

add in a double floor.......etc....

yes, im talking about a German van, but the smaller/slimmer concept is out there with UK vans, too.

TG mentions that a slimmer van might be useful...remember that your (and their) Bailey would be 2.49m wide, against the latest slimline width of 2.12m.....thats a huge 37cm difference (over a third of a metre) which makes piloting the slim type of van easy peasy...totally stress free.

DK, I totally agree with you regards "nothing wrong with what we have" we have been round the houses with ours. We've looked at  British vans and the German vans that BB speaks about and no doubt they are well made but again neither of us is that keen to own one. Neither do we like the new Bailey's, when it comes down to it we still like what we have, which is why 4 years on we have finally got round to having a roof satellite installed. We will be going to the Manchester show at the end of next week all being well, so no doubt we will have a good look around at what is on offer, however I don't think we would consider changing it for another 3 years or more now. Good luck with your mission.

Once you've been to the show why not hire one for a few days.  It might save you a lot of money in the long run.  Just make sure you go to a site you know and like to give it a fair go!

of course, not everyone wants a german van, but my point was that there are slimmer/shorter coachbuilts out there (from europe and the UK) which are far easier to drive and park, especially when coming from an extra wide van like the Bailey....most full sized vans are 2.27m-2.35m wide, the Bailey is another 14cm-22cm wider than 'full sized')

my test drive (on a motorway and through a city centre) has convinced me that, 'to a degree', smaller/slimmer (especially slimmer) makes the things that most full sized vans struggle with (parking, squeezing through traffic at pinch points etc) far less taxing.

yes.....'to a degree'....and (for me) that degree is to be able to have a coachbuilt (with taller, straighter sides) in a PVC footprint....

OH has always hankered after a smaller van (despite the plentiful room and storage we now have) but we felt that a PVC was just too small, despite being (pretty much) the same external dimesions.

David, only just found this thread, i have done exactly that, downsized from a 7.6 metre Autotrail Savannah behind which i towed my Yaris car on an A-frame, anyway through health problems and reaching 70, I traded it in for a nearly new Autotrail V Line 600, we have not been dissapointed, its differant,very differant, the 600 has a very good sealed shower and you can seal off the rear as a dressing room, no ready made beds but i feel they are a waste of valuable space in a 6 metre van which is primarily for use in the UK in any weather.We also have a Labrador, who always comes with us, And yes we do manage. If you intend to tour mainly in europe then i suggest you look at continental van like the Globecar or a Rapido v33. However for the UK get a UK made van.(my opinion) have had some issues with the side windows of my van, but now resolved, thanks to a good dealer. Very pleased with the quality of our Autotrail 600 sport. Not so keen on the rear lounge SE versions, but thats down to personal taste. Good luck in your looking. 

Should add that the AT 600 sport has a double floor, largish(compared to some) water tanks,both heated, a 100w roof mounted solar panel and a second leisure battery, a replacement fibreglass roof with panoramic front skylight(same as our Savannah) the newer ones have an underslung re-fillable gas tank as well, only debateable feature is the 12v/230v only fridge, would have prefered a 3 way, but in all other respects it is perfect...for us, we all have differant needs and must haves. And there atr always compromises to be made.  oh yes fitted outdoor chairs on rear door and loads of bits storage, however i had to fettle the main under settee to take our 2 duvalays, otherwise A1

Rayjsj

Useful comments on the V-Line as that was one of the ranges I was going to look at. Would I be right in thinking the Tribute range as just a cut down version of the V-Line?

David