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Post by rod on Apr 28, 2014 7:58:26 GMT
Is your choice of vehicle size, be it campervan, motorhome etc right for you, or do you think you need smaller/bigger? I dont mean what vehicle you would have if you won the lottery etc.Just from the practical point of view?
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Post by n brown on Apr 28, 2014 8:47:34 GMT
the van will never be the right size ! i've had from small to very large and they were all wrong. my advice is to buy a fleet of vans a vw T5 size for odd nights away and knowing you can get under height barriers a SWB transit size so you can stand up to cook,but can still park in any bay or back street a LWB sprinter size so you have room to take a few steps,and a shower,ideal for fast economical trips abroad a LWB merc 814 size so you can have a bigger shower and a fixed bed,and a scooter on the back and a roof rack for the toys a single decker bus size now you can have an AGA,although Raeburn is good,and a decent sized dining tabl a one and a half decker so you can have an enormous living area,upstairs bedroom,and a roof patio for watching sunsets over the beach and that sort of thing add a boat,jetski,microlight,track bike,scooter and you're pretty well sorted
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Post by kangooroo on Apr 28, 2014 10:09:25 GMT
Mine is the perfect size for me: standing headroom with the roof up, room to stretch out, 5' wide bed, ample storage, fits beneath height barriers, attracts no attention when wilding and returns a good 47mpg.
To make it the 100% perfect van, I'd like to switch the gas hob for a gas oven and improve rear ventilation by fitting a roof vent.
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Post by billieblue on Apr 28, 2014 10:53:34 GMT
Don't get me started! I have a t4 and it's great but I'm constantly thinking, talking, looking re a bigger van!
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Post by Firefox on Apr 28, 2014 11:32:23 GMT
I don't want a bigger or smaller van.
Mine is ideal for 1 or 2 people. Has beds for 3.
High enough to stand up in (2.0m headroom)
Wide enough to sleep across the van (1.85 or 6ft 1" Bed)
Short enough to squeeze into a parking bay (5.4m long with 3.5m wheelbase. I can fit in a standard 4.8m bay with a foot overhang at either end)
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Post by yorkieowl on Apr 28, 2014 11:33:29 GMT
Size wise ours is about right size for us, room to move about, not too big for getting down narrow lanes, but would be happier if we had same size van with a narrow/tall garage and a separate shower.
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Post by gaz on Apr 28, 2014 12:47:38 GMT
the van will never be the right size ! i've had from small to very large and they were all wrong. my advice is to buy a fleet of vans a vw T5 size for odd nights away and knowing you can get under height barriers a SWB transit size so you can stand up to cook,but can still park in any bay or back street a LWB sprinter size so you have room to take a few steps,and a shower,ideal for fast economical trips abroad a LWB merc 814 size so you can have a bigger shower and a fixed bed,and a scooter on the back and a roof rack for the toys a single decker bus size now you can have an AGA,although Raeburn is good,and a decent sized dining tabl a one and a half decker so you can have an enormous living area,upstairs bedroom,and a roof patio for watching sunsets over the beach and that sort of thing add a boat,jetski,microlight,track bike,scooter and you're pretty well sorted are you sure youll have time to kit all them vans for us all
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Post by gaz on Apr 28, 2014 12:52:42 GMT
i can see the attraction with a small compact van but i do like space so bigger is better saying that ive seen some really big vans but get inside there is hardly room to move so i suppose layout has a lot to do with it imo
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Post by n brown on Apr 28, 2014 13:18:44 GMT
don't know if you saw that old bedford library van i did for a mate,wish i had some ''before'' pics,you couldn't move in the stupid thing,and it was a big van.he couldn't believe it was the same van when i'd finished a lot of vans today just have too much in them,bathroom too big,garage too big,far too many cupboards etc never enough kitchen ! obviously designed to be on EHU on a campsite,on hardstanding,everyone eats out,the kitchen isn't serious,just for snacks,but looks nice and shiny !plus you're expected to want different outfits throughout your stay,hence all the wardrobe and cupboard space. wildcamping is a very different proposition !
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Post by gaz on Apr 28, 2014 13:31:27 GMT
don't know if you saw that old bedford library van i did for a mate,wish i had some ''before'' pics,you couldn't move in the stupid thing,and it was a big van.he couldn't believe it was the same van when i'd finished a lot of vans today just have too much in them,bathroom too big,garage too big,far too many cupboards etc never enough kitchen ! obviously designed to be on EHU on a campsite,on hardstanding,everyone eats out,the kitchen isn't serious,just for snacks,but looks nice and shiny !plus you're expected to want different outfits throughout your stay,hence all the wardrobe and cupboard space. wildcamping is a very different proposition ! thats where i think a pvc comes into theyre own get everything how you want it maybe go away not far from home while its still a van have a night in it plan how ya want it from the ground up so to speak
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Post by rod on Apr 28, 2014 14:03:02 GMT
Well, I suppose it depends how the van is used. In our case its our only form of transport, so has to be reasonably easy to manouvre and park.Ive had larger vans in the past, Ambulances, Merc 608, stretched Toyota Hiace etc, they were no prob back in the day, but now I cant be bothered with the larger stuff.We never intended to use this van for the love of sleeping and sitting in it, more as a means to have all the services in, that was cheaper than hotels.A higher roof would be an advantage, but doesnt really affect us and what we get out of it.It was intended as a 2 year ownership, by which time it would have earnt its worth , and its bye bye, but if it lasts longer, then we'll keep using it.Although they are nice, I cant ever see us wanting a proper purpose built motorhome.
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Post by Mikehanky on Apr 28, 2014 14:18:06 GMT
i could not spend time in a small van we love the size we have now at 7.6mtrs great, i can just get in to most car parks strugle some times had a few bust ups but ha ho .like loungeing around at night with feet up can not stand makeing beds up at night fixed bed every time but all to our own as long as we all enjoy our vans
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Post by Firefox on Apr 28, 2014 14:31:40 GMT
A big consideration is if one has a second car. I just have the van now.
Can't be arsed with road tax/insurance/MOT/repair bills for two vehicles - a pure waste of time and money for me, so van has to double as car for town trips etc Hence the need for my van to be as compact as possible.
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Post by Mikehanky on Apr 28, 2014 16:00:11 GMT
A big consideration is if one has a second car. I just have the van now. Can't be arsed with road tax/insurance/MOT/repair bills for two vehicles - a pure waste of time and money for me, so van has to double as car for town trips etc Hence the need for my van to be as compact as possible. total agree there we have three motors cost fortune keeping them on road
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Post by yorkieowl on Apr 28, 2014 16:24:10 GMT
If we hadn't got a car as well then a van conversion would be fine. Like Mike says can't be arsed making bed up, so thats why we prefer MH, as for kitchen we wanted a full oven, and tend to do most of our cooking inside, and then eat outside, and wardrobe, are you kidding, my other half plays hell because of the amount of clothes I have in van, but I like to have a big selection even if I'm not gonna wear them all.
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Post by Firefox on Apr 28, 2014 17:00:16 GMT
The oven thing is strange. They always make a big play of this in motorhome mags, chanting the mantra that the Brits insist of a full size oven whereas the continentals don't care. Maybe we are "Ros Bifs" after all and the French were right! I don't have an oven in mine. There wasn't space and I preferred a big fridge. I swear by the stove-top oven though, in which I can make cakes, bake bread, and even do small roasts
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Post by Mikehanky on Apr 28, 2014 17:10:53 GMT
stove top oven tell us more
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Post by cardmaker on Apr 28, 2014 17:14:19 GMT
Well we started with a smaller van a Ford Frontier Transit and when we started used campsites so having no loo was not a problem, no cooker but I managed fine with two rings and a grill, but it was too small in an evening we felt slightly claustrobphic. We now have a Pilote with a cooker, loo and shower (which we use mostly as a wardrobe). The bed is hidden in the roof so that gives extra space in the day and we leave it made up so when lowered more or less ready to get into. We love our van and wildcamping now is no problem.
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Post by kangooroo on Apr 28, 2014 18:35:05 GMT
stove top oven tell us more I'm interested too. I haven't really got to grips with my hob and would much prefer a gas oven (but it must reach 230C!).
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Post by n brown on Apr 28, 2014 18:52:47 GMT
why 230c ?
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Post by Mikehanky on Apr 28, 2014 19:12:04 GMT
stove top oven tell us more I'm interested too. I haven't really got to grips with my hob and would much prefer a gas oven (but it must reach 230C!). what ya cooking at 230c burnt offerings
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Post by rod on Apr 28, 2014 19:13:49 GMT
Oven info here as well Vernon! Yes its a pain making the bed up, but it only takes a couple of mins.We like to go to a local food place/restaurant or whatever in the evenings, then by the time we've got back to the van after a , er,'few' drinks, we're usually ready to crash out.As for clothes storage, we havent got a wardrobe, so its stacking boxes , and swmbo's "this mustnt get creased" stuff in one of those hanging garment bags.Me, Im happy in whatever comes out the box first tbh!If we go for only a couple of days, its basic stuff only anyway.we realise our set up could be more luxuriously appointed, but as I said before, I works reasonably well, and is only a means of kipping somewhere for cheap, and making drinks etc to save wonga.
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Apr 28, 2014 19:22:15 GMT
Sometimes think that a bit more room would be cool but...don't want to give up being able to get round country lanes........ & fitting in S'Market parking spaces is useful!
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Post by kangooroo on Apr 28, 2014 19:23:21 GMT
230C - to cook my frozen fish. My culinary skills are... erm... a little limited but I know where I am with an oven at 230. Any other temperature and I'd be back to square-one again.
It's all completely academic though because I don't have a gas oven and probably not the space for it either in place of my twin hob!
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Post by kangooroo on Apr 28, 2014 19:24:45 GMT
Yes, that is how my cooking has been described...
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Post by X on Apr 28, 2014 19:30:30 GMT
Sometimes think that a bit more room would be cool but...don't want to give up being able to get round country lanes........ & fitting in S'Market parking spaces is useful! Silly boy !!!!! Mine fits in supermarket spaces (well 4 of them ) ! Country lanes are easy if the front fits the rest will follow These bigger vans are good in mud too
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Post by Mikehanky on Apr 28, 2014 19:41:47 GMT
big van go any where the front goes not true, front went down road in cornwall back did not bang bang. At one point thought we need air lifting out bloody big helicopter to pick the van up with use in it
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Apr 28, 2014 19:47:33 GMT
When do You find 4 adjacent spaces Charlie?.....or do You turn up at Night?....
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Post by X on Apr 28, 2014 19:54:05 GMT
When do You find 4 adjacent spaces Charlie?.....or do You turn up at Night?.... To be honest we do normally manage but the other day we did have to stop on some hatch markings with another reprobate from here ? Normally a look from me is enough to make most car drivers decide to leave . No in reality if we are in a town we know is difficult we do go in early or late but really we have never had a problem I guess a lot has to do with the fact they expect some old codger being careful in a motorhome only to find me aiming at them at warp speed with Karen breathing in and closing her eyes !
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Post by n brown on Apr 28, 2014 19:58:24 GMT
a gas oven is an insulated tin box with a burner,shelves and a door.you could keep one in a cupboard and connect it to your gas bottle with rubber pipe and stick it on your hob when you need it
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