To change or not to change

Having had the challenges of the last couple of years we know what we want and don't want in a new caravan.  We find it disappointing that UK manufacturers all provide a full size cooker and a microwave.  We really don't want to spend fuel transporting the weight of such things which we will never need or use.  Furthermore, all the UK vans are wider than we would want.  It looks as if we will pay more for less and buy an Eriba Touring.  It's narrow - only 200 cms. - and comes with just a two burner hob which is more than adequate.  We cannot remember ever using more than one burner at a time in the past so two burners are more than sufficient.  The lack of a cooker provides more storage for other essentials.  An added benefit of the Eriba is that a Thule sun canopy can be attached.

An Eriba is something we might have chosen if we could have continued with a caravan, I think they're solid and well designed. Happy travels QQ, everyone has to find what suits them best. 

The UK caravan industry design and build what they think their main market desires. If that includes a full size cooker and a microwave that is what the market gets. A microwave can easily be removed to provide more storage space. We would be reluctant to buy a motorhome without both a cooker and a microwave, in fact we were surprised how inconvenient it was when the microwave gave up the ghost in the previous motorhome! I have always admired the build quality of the Eriba caravans but could I live with one, I doubt it. Might be fine if you can live outdoors all the time but I think I would find it very claustrophobic. Going back to your original idea of a motorhome I would have thought a small PVC would offer more spacious accommodation than an Eriba. I know you wanted an automatic gearbox. Renault do a proper auto box as will Fiat from next year. There are lots on converters that will build to an almost custom layout. If you could manage in a 5.5 mts van conversion I would have thought all of your issues would be solved as it would be small enough to park and compact for get along narrower roads.

David

There are a few 'micro' Motorhomes like the Nu_Venture range that cram quite a lot in a small footprint.

The MH was 6.4m and the caravan is 6.2m so not a lot in the size difference.

The caravan has slightly more space in the bathroom due to how its laid out. The beds/couches are the same size, as is the fridge.

Top lockers x 4 in the lounge 2 above the sink/hob the difference with the caravan is that we have much more worktop space and food cupboard space. The living area isn't that much difference but feels more spacious.

The MH was a Bailey so wider than normal and was very roomy. The MH had 9 top lockers and another 4 above the cab 2 of them was huge. 

As I said up thread we liked the MH but there was things we found we missed out on when touring. Always being on the move doesn't appeal to us though we do have 1 night halts even with the caravan. We rarely stay longer than a week anywhere even with the caravan. 

What we miss about the MH is the payload and the fact that everything is in the van with you.

Some folk say that it doesn't take minutes to set up a MH and while that can be true on a level pitch, if you happen to not have a choice and the pitch is uneven in both directions, it can be a bit of a faff.

Setting up the caravan doesn't take us minutes as we both have our jobs, if its uneven ground then its not an issue.

The MH had a fixed satellite dish which was great but it meant you had to pick your pitch with care and nearly always in the open. The caravan has a portable dish so we pitch where we like and site the dish where it needs to be 

We never stayed on aires while over there as we prefer sites. We also prefer to be out of towns and cities, not always the best with a MH but great with a caravan, much quieter and cheaper too  

When we are home we tend to do lots of DIY jobs and both of us help out with the community, so when we are away we like to relax on some days, so quieter sites relaxing countryside with lakes and mountains by cycle paths suit.

We don't like town/city sites where folk (MH's) are arriving at all hours and then leaving again early morning,  a constant stream of coming and goings isn't to our taste. 

We tend to travel anything from 75 - 200 miles between sites depending on what we fancy doing and how good or bad the weather is. 

Would we go back to a MH, you never know we might but for now we are more than happy to be back with a caravan.

I have just discovered that it is possible to a Thule canopy to a Bailey. That being the case, a Phoenix 420 looks more appealing than an Eriba.  

Just a word of caution that by the time you add the canopy the already meager payload allowance will be reduced further which will mean you have to rely more on using the car for heavier items. Otherwise I would agree with you that it would fit your requirements, probably better than an Eriba.

David

Many thanks for that comment which is helpful.  In fact we are now almost decided on the Xplore 422 instead of the Bailey.  The advantages are considerable: no microwave, more cupboards and lockers, a generous front gas locker; the list continues.  Furthermore the buyer can specify additional weight to take it to a generous 1200 MTPLM.  Yes, we will have to forego the luxury of a Thule Omnistor and revert to a simple canopy but we all have to decide which are the most important features we really want.