Demountable motorhome

[Drover]

I always wanted one but the wife said there wouldn't be enough room.

However, I have always found them to be surprisingly spacious.

I have exactly the same problem.
.mine won't even look at one.

 

[wildebus]

Fixed double over cab bed (something that seems to have gone out of fashion with motorhomes) Double dinette which could be used as another double but we don't intend to use it for sleeping. Galley kitchen, cupboards, fridge freezer, and a compact toilet with basin and shower.

About the same accommodation as a large high top van conversion or a small coach built motorhome.

The fixed double over the cab is our favourite feature. In all my years of trailer caravanning, even with a large 'van, I have never had a satisfactory layout that allows a permanent bed without the whole 'van feeling cramped.

I really don't understand why the overcab bed has all but disappeared as a feature in any new Motorhomes. As you say, it gives a permanent bed without taking lots of room from the living space.
I have a double overcab bed on my motorhome and I keep it made up ready for use and it doesn't require messing around with moving cushions around and losing seating space, or dropping an electric over-lounge platform that stops the seating area being used if anyone wants to have a sleep or laydown.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

I really don't understand why the overcab bed has all but disappeared as a feature in any new Motorhomes. As you say, it gives a permanent bed without taking lots of room from the living space.
I have a double overcab bed on my motorhome and I keep it made up ready for use and it doesn't require messing around with moving cushions around and losing seating space, or dropping an electric over-lounge platform that stops the seating area being used if anyone wants to have a sleep or laydown.

I agree. Guessing that old age and/or health immobility might put some people off the overhead cab bed option?

But the drop down cab bed is a really excellent idea, imo.
Looked at Laikas and Autosleeper Mirages etc. that had the drop down cab beds before lockdown, all very workable and didn't affect the seating arrangements, but now those vehicles would be too big for me. Not because I can't drive them, but the dreaded 70 approaches (C1), plus we got to some places in Ireland in the old VW that you would really struggle to reach (or even be impossible) in bigger vehicles.

The little Autosleeper we have now is grand and I love it, despite having to make the bed/beds up every night.

However, if you travel solo it is pretty much perfect as you can extend one side bench as a permanent bed if you wanted to be really lazy on occasion, and still room to move around as normal during the day

Also, it does work well as a two-person camper - but only if both of you have the same approach to on board housekeeping ...!!!

 

[wildebus]

I agree. Guessing that old age and/or health immobility might put some people off the overhead cab bed option?

But the drop down cab bed is a really excellent idea, imo.
Looked at Laikas and Autosleeper Mirages etc. that had the drop down cab beds before lockdown, all very workable and didn't affect the seating arrangements, but now those vehicles would be too big for me. Not because I can't drive them, but the dreaded 70 approaches (C1), plus we got to some places in Ireland in the old VW that you would really struggle to reach (or even be impossible) in bigger vehicles.

The little Autosleeper we have now is grand and I love it, despite having to make the bed/beds up every night.

However, if you travel solo it is pretty much perfect as you can extend one side bench as a permanent bed if you wanted to be really lazy on occasion, and still room to move around as normal during the day

On my Autotrail, it is officially a 4 berth motorhome - 2 on the overhead cab and 2 made from pulling the extensions on the two facing sofas together.
However, I took a tape measure to the seats and found that the width of the bed when you pull the facing sofas togther is identical to the width of the longer of the sofas if you just use the extension of that one and leave the shorter sofa as seating. The only difference between the two is you loose a few inches in the bed length - but only important and relevant if you are over 6 foot tall.

So if we want to use the lower bed, I only ever extend the one sofa so we have 2 beds (one upper and one lower) AND still have sofa seating for 2 (plus the 2 cab seats when swiveled) - so officially 4 berths and 4 seats simultaneously in the space of just about 3 metres of living space.

In reality though, a motorhome double bed is not really an adult-size double bed but a generous single (IMO anyway), so got 2 single roomy beds.

Also, it does work well as a two-person camper - but only if both of you have the same approach to on board housekeeping ...!!!

This is the reason why my van tends to be a solo-occupant van for any trip extending more than 2 nights

But it means I usually have a nice overhead cab bed to sleep in as well as a have a nice sofa lower down to stretch out on with my legs up to watch TV

 

[barryd]

I really don't understand why the overcab bed has all but disappeared as a feature in any new Motorhomes. As you say, it gives a permanent bed without taking lots of room from the living space.
I have a double overcab bed on my motorhome and I keep it made up ready for use and it doesn't require messing around with moving cushions around and losing seating space, or dropping an electric over-lounge platform that stops the seating area being used if anyone wants to have a sleep or laydown.

Me neither but they went out of vogue I think with the lower profile being preferred. Personally I prefer loads of living space and storage space and the luton overcab on ours is massive. I boarded mine over the mattress bit and there is all sorts stored up there out of sight behind the curtain. It helps balance the weight with the scooter on the back but mainly leaves so much space in the living area. Two living areas as it happens. I have to text Michelle if she is in the front dinette she as that far away.

Swift made two versions of the 496 Esprit low line and high line and the ones with the overcab like ours are like hens teeth but with nearly a ton of payload I had to have one. Took me years to find one.

 

[r4dent]

I would never get up that step with dodgy knees!

Dodgy Knees... didn't he say "What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others."


I think that, being Greek, he actually said «Αυτό που μου αρέσει να πίνω περισσότερο είναι το κρασί που ανήκει σε άλλους»,
but I know that no one in this group is pedantic.

 

[r4dent]

Fixed double over cab bed (something that seems to have gone out of fashion with motorhomes)

I suspect that one reason is the aging demographic of motorhomers.

Never had an over cab bed, but I know that the pull down cab bed (needed a ladder to get up) on our Burstner seemed to get higher each year and was a major factor in changing vans (that, and being over 3500kg).

 

[ProDave]

You have touched on an interesting point there. My truck has a MAM of 5850Kg. I hadn't stopped to think that takes it into C1 class. I had expected to drop my C1 when I reach 70 but assuming I still have this I will be renewing it.

EDIT: I may be misunderstanding this? The vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 3500Kg and a Gross Train Weight 0f 5850Kg

So if I dropped the C1, would it be legal to drive it on a Category B licence? That seems to allow up to 3500Kg plus trailer?

 

[r4dent]

You have touched on an interesting point there. My truck has a MAM of 5850Kg. I hadn't stopped to think that takes it into C1 class. I had expected to drop my C1 when I reach 70 but assuming I still have this I will be renewing it.

EDIT: I may be misunderstanding this? The vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 3500Kg and a Gross Train Weight 0f 5850Kg

So if I dropped the C1, would it be legal to drive it on a Category B licence? That seems to allow up to 3500Kg plus trailer?

You need to check your figures.
MAM 5850 / GVW 3500 doesn't make sense.
If you think your figures are correct please tell us (with photos) where they come from.


If (as I suspect) the correct figures are GVW 3500; MAM 3500; GTW 5850 then you are OK without C1.

If you can keep the C1 then do so. You never know what you'll want to do in the future.

I lost mine because I inject insulin and was unlikely to pass the medical.

 

[Nabsim]

You don't need a C1 to drive a vehicle with a GVM of 3500kgs or less. Does it weigh 3500kgs or less with the camper on the back loaded with stuff and people ready to go? If so no problem

 

[Mikebike]

I really don't understand why the overcab bed has all but disappeared as a feature in any new Motorhomes. As you say, it gives a permanent bed without taking lots of room from the living space.
I have a double overcab bed on my motorhome and I keep it made up ready for use and it doesn't require messing around with moving cushions around and losing seating space, or dropping an electric over-lounge platform that stops the seating area being used if anyone wants to have a sleep or laydown.

We had to move away from lutons as we got older the wife has two new hips and can't climb easily and also makes numerous visits in the night I also make a few so climbing over partner just didn't work.

 

[ProDave]

You need to check your figures.
MAM 5850 / GVW 3500 doesn't make sense.
If you think your figures are correct please tell us (with photos) where they come from.


If (as I suspect) the correct figures are GVW 3500; MAM 3500; GTW 5850 then you are OK without C1.

If you can keep the C1 then do so. You never know what you'll want to do in the future.

I lost mine because I inject insulin and was unlikely to pass the medical.

Yes that was a typo. GVW 3500Kg so the truck on it's own with the camper etc cannot weigh over 3500Kg. The GTW includes a trailer so you can have that as well with a normal BE licence.

This trucks weights are somewhat confusing, it can tow a 3500Kg trailer, but obviously not at the same time as carying a heavy load on the load bed, there would have to be almost no other load for it to tow a 3500Kg trailer and still be within the GTW of 5850.

It is even more confusing as it has the air assist rear suspension but all that appears to have done is raise the axle 2 weight not any of the totals. That is I guess just to allow for the fact with the camper on the rear overhang puts the centre of gravity quite far back so more load on the rear axle and not much of it on the front.

 

[r4dent]

It is even more confusing as it has the air assist rear suspension but all that appears to have done is raise the axle 2 weight not any of the totals. That is I guess just to allow for the fact with the camper on the rear overhang puts the centre of gravity quite far back so more load on the rear axle and not much of it on the front.

Makes perfect sense.
As you say rear axle needed to get up plated because of the change in COG.
Previous owner probably didn't want to go over 3500 to avoid need for C1.

It is probably possible to get it up plated, to increase payload just like a lot of people with conventional motorhomes do.

 

[ProDave]

Best wild camping spot from last weeks trip.

 

[fiona b]

There is no one size fits all motorhome, we all have different needs and wishes. This one suits our needs at the moment. Agreed the step is pathetic, that came with it, we are looking for a good folding two step but have not found one yet. It has a proper toilet in a decent compartment, that was a must have. There are all sorts of demountable campers available and many are very basic inside with just a pull out porta potti under a seat, that would not have been what we wanted.

It does look top heavy but it is fine to drive, just don't expect to go round corners like you are in a sports car. The truck has uprated air assist rear suspension.

We have just retired at a relatively young age so intend to enjoy ourselves while we are still fit and able. All the time we were working and with limited spare time, we could never justify the cost of a motorhome that back then would not have got much use, which is where a trailer 'van wins, no tax, no MOT, simple diy maintenance and you don't even need to insure it if you don't want to. But trailer caravanning is very different to motorhoming and touring and that is what we want to do now.

There is no one size fits all motorhome, we all have different needs and wishes. This one suits our needs at the moment. Agreed the step is pathetic, that came with it, we are looking for a good folding two step but have not found one yet. It has a proper toilet in a decent compartment, that was a must have. There are all sorts of demountable campers available and many are very basic inside with just a pull out porta potti under a seat, that would not have been what we wanted.

It does look top heavy but it is fine to drive, just don't expect to go round corners like you are in a sports car. The truck has uprated air assist rear suspension.

We have just retired at a relatively young age so intend to enjoy ourselves while we are still fit and able. All the time we were working and with limited spare time, we could never justify the cost of a motorhome that back then would not have got much use, which is where a trailer 'van wins, no tax, no MOT, simple diy maintenance and you don't even need to insure it if you don't want to. But trailer caravanning is very different to motorhoming and touring and that is what we want to do now.

Hi,
Great to see another demountable. My husband and I have had ours for 3 years and love it. I suspect we may have both got them from a certain gentleman in Carmarthen. Everyone thinks not much room but a bit like the Harry Potter tent, it's deceptive, there is a more than you think. We shelved the wardrobe which gives us more room. We are still working, so mostly weekend/short trips, but can do a 2 week trip no problem.
We camp all year round, it is very toasty. Good to have the option to demount if we need to.
Regarding the step, we didn't like the fact that it 'advertises' if the unit is occupied or not (if steps are up then unoccupied). So we bought a folding plastic 2 step, which we bungee to the kitchen unit. It works well and doesn't get in the way.
Happy travels

 

[ProDave]

Yes indeed ours did come via Nolan, though it was second hand being sold by him on behalf of the owner but originally supplied by him new. We have relatives down that way so last year we visited to see if we liked the demountable concept and ended up buying one, and flew down a few weeks later to collect it and drive it home (we are in the Highlands)