Caravan and Motorhome Show at NEC

[Moped]

Visited today. Options for motorhomes with a payload north of 700kg and a price tag of less than £100000 extremely limited. Nothing in the 3500kg category as far as I could tell.

Noted that some of those motorhomes based on Mercedes Benz running gear did offer payload upgrade options from 400kg to 1000kg or more but the cheapest was £105000 and cab based not an A class.

Liked the Pilote A class layouts but all 3500kg with limited payloads.

Didn’t really take too much interest in camper vans or panel van conversions as layouts not for us. We need something we can live in 3 months at a time and don’t want to be crawling over or squeezing around each other or making a bed up every night.

The van that came closest to something we already had layout wise with a decent payload was a Mobilvetta at a cost of £108000 and it did offer a bit more in the way of power, comfort, and additional Alde heating features and the dealer did say he would offer us in part exchange exactly what we paid for our motorhome 3.3 years ago but what we currently have suits us perfectly so it seemed a bit pointless changing for changes sake.

Would have meant finding the most money between any part exchange and upgraded caravan or leisure vehicle we would have had to have funded anyway so not prepared to do that for the small increase in benefits in our view.

And for less money the Swift Kontiki models felt more like home anyway with their British feel but as we already have one the current models are not really much different apart from a lounge layout rather than dinette and we actually prefer the dinette layout we have which Swift no longer offer in their Kontiki range due to the pop up passenger seats under the lounge seating.

More on what I thought of accessories later.

 

[Moped]

Had a chat with a VW Californian owner in one of the diners about the virtues of camper vans.

He said VW own product was the real deal built on a function over form basis as opposed to conversions on base vehicles which tended to feature a lot of bling and superficial led lighting to appeal to a younger generation.

They also used the VW camper as a car and it had the drive of one. I suppose working couples who are not able to take extended breaks are a target market for camper vans. They move on to bigger things when retired or semi retired if they want to have the extended trip lifestyle.

Great for going under height barriers and weekends away and stopping on campsites with facilities when on longer trips. They did have a portable chemical loo tucked away in a cupboard for emergency night use but generally would use site or public facilities daytime so not having a built in WC not too much of an inconvenience.

They did fully understand why we had what we had with our lifestyle.

They were looking at purchasing a drive away awning and were looking at frame or inflatable options. It had to fit in an allocated storage space when packed away. I said that based on my experience pass on an inflatable and go for a frame. They are more stable when the wind blows and don’t suffer pressure drops as temperatures cool at night and you then wake up with a droopy awning that needs pumping up again. In a drive away situation do you want to return to find it sagging a bit? However ours was one that was purchased 8 years ago and I did say that they may be better now and more stable. We did subsequently buy a preowned frame job on eBay and that was fine. But in any case regardless the pegging out with either type takes more time than assembly.

Made me think though where was VW?

Last year they make a great play about the launch of the Grand Californian and had their own stand.

This year VW as a company seemed to be absent and unless I missed it not a Grand Californian in sight at the show. Didn’t notice a Ford stand either displaying their own Transit camper van models.

Maybe they are doing so well with long waiting lists VW and Ford felt they did not need to peddle their wares at the show this year.

 

[Boris7]

Have to say I looked but my 2 priorities are bed layout and ability to stay off grid especially at race events.

So narrowed it down to 2 vans RS Motorhomes Elysian, which I loved but just too long for my driveway and starts at £200k or An Auto-sleeper Burford Duo, which is £118k but needs solar, lithium, inverter, generator and levelling added.

Since I already a Burford Duo with all that on (al be it 10 years old) I decided not to change.

I love the idea of a Morello Loft, just love it tbh, but can’t see past the fact that it only has 1 door and at £250k+ it’s not suitable for my kind of use.

 

[runnach]

I love the idea of a Morello Loft, just love it tbh, but can’t see past the fact that it only has 1 door and at £250k+ it’s not suitable for my kind of use.

Our N&B Arto has only one door, I actually like the one door idea, less door security to contend with.

 

[Moped]

The Auto Sleeper Burford Duo did pique our interest as it had the rear washroom layout of our former caravans which we liked and also a payload we could work with. Seemed odd that it was a 4 berth with only 2 travelling seats. No rear garage though and lack of a future proof option of taking grand children on holiday meant that even if we could afford it, it was a no.

As for Morello very long queue of people waiting to be invited into one. All potential lottery winners. Why do people tease themselves and waste time queuing for something they are never going to own? I guess genuine invited potential buyers get a free pass invite and don’t have to join the riff raff to use a a John Cleeseism.

 

[Moped]

On the accessory side of things why do people buy cheese, bottles of vodka, and fancy knives at a caravan and motorhome show?

Thoughts on accessories.

Had our free coffee at the CCC stand. The CAMC stand seemed a lot quieter this year.

Examined the Totalcool 3000 as potential van cooling kit but passed as online reviews were mixed and cheaper alternatives to potentially experiment with were available. Then started looking for portable 12v compressor air con units and nothing at the show. Is somebody missing an opportunity here?

Ecoflow Wave 2 too bulky and power consuming in my mind but others may disagree.

Interesting new sun screen privacy product for their wind out canopies on the Thule stand but was advised it was designed for low riding camper vans only.

Unless I missed something, unlike last year, no one seemed to be selling generators this year. Maybe not a popular product with U.K. leisure vehicle owners?

Plenty of solar panel and a few power bank sellers but Mrs Moped said I was not to have anymore. Good thing she is around to temper my addiction for this sort of kit!

Cadac stall popular and one or two good offers but we already have what we need.

No Remoska cookers for sale anywhere although they do currently have a good discount on their 2 litre model on their website.

RoadPro always busy and same again this year so show visitors seem to have a keen interest in power upgrades for their leisure vehicles. Why don’t motorhome manufacturers take note and offer their own power upgrade options?

The usual fare of general leisure accessory retailers but didn’t fancy lugging kit around the show. Plenty happy too though!

Plenty of ebike sellers but no one selling escooters. We travelled to the show by train to avoid the motorway road chaos at peak periods on the Birmingham orbital motorways and I noted the ban on escooters being permitted to be carried on trains. But not a ban on e-bikes which is good as I transport mine by train. Wonder why the difference?

That’s enough for the moment.

Anybody else who visited the show have any thoughts on accessories.

 

[Boris7]

The Auto Sleeper Burford Duo did pique our interest as it had the rear washroom layout of our former caravans which we liked and also a payload we could work with. Seemed odd that it was a 4 berth with only 2 travelling seats. No rear garage though and lack of a future proof option of taking grand children on holiday meant that even if we could afford it, it was a no.

The Burford Duo does have 2 dining areas layouts one of which has 2 travelling seats with seat belts, never felt the need for a garage personally.

As for Morello very long queue of people waiting to be invited into one. All potential lottery winners. Why do people tease themselves and waste time queuing for something they are never going to own? I guess genuine invited potential buyers get a free pass invite and don’t have to join the riff raff to use a a John Cleeseism.

Your right, I can afford the lower end of the range only, so only looked at the Home and the Loft, I was speaking to one of the girls on the stand and pointed out that most of the people there would never buy one, she told me they will be busy all throughout the show and will only sell 1 or 2 units.

 

[Boris7]

Our N&B Arto has only one door, I actually like the one door idea, less door security to contend with.

In 2004 a works van I was driving suffered a fatal mechanical issue at about 70mph, I was in the outside lane of the M1 passing 2 trucks at the time, I heard a strange noise as I started to move back to lane 2 then realised I had no steering.

I ended up in a live lane with the van on its side, with only one door I could have been stuck ( I actually got free by kicking the windscreen out )

Since that day I every time I get in a vehicle I’m looking for the best way out.

As for security, I don’t see why securing doors is a priority when we all have windows, mostly plastic.

 

[trevskoda]

E scooters are not legal, only pedal ass bikes with 250w motor, thats why not on show, yet here loads in Belfast streets.

 

[Boris7]

RoadPro always busy and same again this year so show visitors seem to have a keen interest in power upgrades for their leisure vehicles.

RoadPro did my lithium and solar, great job, but for the inverter I went to S&G Leisure as they were much cheaper.

What surprised me was S&G bought the inverter from RoadPro.

I then found out if I’d bought the lithium and solar from S&G they would also have bought the kit from RoadPro and again would have been cheaper fitted.

 

[Moped]

E scooters are not legal, only pedal ass bikes with 250w motor, thats why not on show, yet here loads in Belfast streets.

You can use them in France and Spain and also Eire I believe. But not NI. I guess though that the reason they don’t sell at the motorhome show is that the typical motorhome buyer is of an age where they would be laughed at by the hoodies if they were seen on one! So wrong target market.

 

[runnach]

In 2004 a works van I was driving suffered a fatal mechanical issue at about 70mph, I was in the outside lane of the M1 passing 2 trucks at the time, I heard a strange noise as I started to move back to lane 2 then realised I had no steering.

I ended up in a live lane with the van on its side, with only one door I could have been stuck ( I actually got free by kicking the windscreen out )

Since that day I every time I get in a vehicle I’m looking for the best way out.

As for security, I don’t see why securing doors is a priority when we all have windows, mostly plastic.

Fair points, and so far so good I’ve not had any mechanical issues and the one aptly known as suicide door. I keep my old hardened steel MMA chipping hammer in side storage pocket next to me for the exact purpose you mention, except you were able to use your feet, thankfully to remove screen to escape.

Regarding door and from a security point of view during sleep time (we can arm access door and garage door at sleep time) having one main walk in access point is easier to monitor. Front OS & NS double glazed sliding windows, access is reduced by using captains chairs and drop down bed to wiggle room buys time in the event off…

Anyway, glad you escaped relatively unharmed when your motor had a mechanical failure.

 

[Fisherman]

We went to the NEC February 2022, never again.
We were seriously looking at the van we have since ordered and hope to collect before the end of the year. The place was heaving when we arrived around 1 on our first day. When we got to the Rapido stand we unable to get inside the van we wanted to buy. We asked the dealership who were selling the van if there was any chance we could get inside the next day before the show opened, only to be told that was not possible. We turned up half an hour before opening time next day only to find hundreds were there before us. We headed straight to the Rapido stand only to find the same issue. We eventually got inside but there were already another couple in and we were unable to see the whole van. When we asked for figures for a trade in the figures given were more of an insult than proper figures.

We wandered around the hall disappointed that after travelling over 300 miles, spending a night in a Travelodge and having to travel 300 miles back up the road we managed 3-4 minutes inside the van we wanted to buy. I did buy some accessories but left feeling what a waste of time and around £200 in costs.

In February at the Scottish show we managed to get inside the Adria equivalent of our new van the 640 SLB. Yes the entry costs were more expensive, and if you took a car the car parking was expensive. But our total outlay was £28. We used our bus passes to get to the show. We spent around 15 minutes twice inside the van. I think they allow to many inside the NEC we could hardly move when we were there. Every van had queues of people waiting to get inside, some others did not even allow access. Also if you are a serious buyer there should be some way of the sellers to give you unfettered access to the van(s) you are considering. Possibly allowing you to enter after or before closing.

To be fare it was the first show for 18 months due to covid, but that does not excuse the numbers that were allowed in. You could not buy tickets on the day as they were sold out.

 

[Fisherman]

Fair points, and so far so good I’ve not had any mechanical issues and the one aptly known as suicide door. I keep my old hardened steel MMA chipping hammer in side storage pocket next to me for the exact purpose you mention, except you were able to use your feet, thankfully to remove screen to escape.

Regarding door and from a security point of view during sleep time (we can arm access door and garage door at sleep time) having one main walk in access point is easier to monitor. Front OS & NS double glazed sliding windows, access is reduced by using captains chairs and drop down bed to wiggle room buys time in the event off…

Anyway, glad you escaped relatively unharmed when your motor had a mechanical failure.

Terry we had an issue with our current van when the Habitation door jammed and we could not get back into our van when parked up in Lossiemouth. We had to use the drivers door which is the only other door we had on our A class. I don’t know what we would have done if we only had one door. When I got inside I managed to fix the door myself. For some reason the barrel had seized. I freed it up using some WD 40, I have a small can in the van. This was 18 months ago and this has never happened since.

 

[mark61]

4 side doors and rear doors on a 6m panel van. When my doors are open I have more area open than panel,

Must have been about 2013 or 14 when I last went to NEC show. Doubt I'll be going again.

 

[Moped]

To be fare it was the first show for 18 months due to covid, but that does not excuse the numbers that were allowed in. You could not buy tickets on the day as they were sold out.

That was certainly the case then and it was also half term so many families were on a day out with children running around. It is billed as a “camping” show in February so it will draw larger numbers.

Definitely did not feel the Caravan and Motorhome show was overcrowded with its couples only 99% attendance and not being half term. Was able to get into every van of interest without any wait but we were looking at the manufacturers more spacious top end models which may have helped in this regard.

The only minor niggle was lack of payload data in many specification sheets and when it was included I was surprised so many 3500kg vans only offered a payload in the range 300kg to 350kg which is nothing by the time you include a single passenger, full tank of fresh water, gas and 2 e-bikes and some accessories that you might want to add. And they then tell you that you can load the garage up to 150kg!

As for carrying a family of 4 with this payload limit no chance!

 

[Fisherman]

That was certainly the case then and it was also half term so many families were on a day out with children running around. It is billed as a “camping” show in February so it will draw larger numbers.

Definitely did not feel the Caravan and Motorhome show was overcrowded with its couples only 99% attendance and not being half term. Was able to get into every van of interest without any wait but we were looking at the manufacturers more spacious top end models which may have helped in this regard.

The only minor niggle was lack of payload data in many specification sheets and when it was included I was surprised so many 3500kg vans only offered a payload in the range 300kg to 350kg which is nothing by the time you include a single passenger, full tank of fresh water, gas and 2 e-bikes and some accessories that you might want to add. And they then tell you that you can load the garage up to 150kg!

As for carrying a family of 4 with this payload limit no chance!

The Wildax Elara had a 220kg payload with a manual gearbox and 190 with the Mercedes auto box. I knew this before going to the show, but this information was not available. When I mentioned to the salesperson you could see by the look in his face he was nervous. Payload is vital, our new van will only have a 400kg, one of the few things I was not happy about. But it’s sufficient for us. Also there’s a strong possibility the weight may rise to 4.25t next year fingers crossed. That would allow us up to 3.65t on our chassis.

My criticism stands, to many were allowed in spoiling it for those who attended. Regardless of half term or Covid.

 

[runnach]

Terry we had an issue with our current van when the Habitation door jammed and we could not get back into our van when parked up in Lossiemouth. We had to use the drivers door which is the only other door we had on our A class. I don’t know what we would have done if we only had one door. When I got inside I managed to fix the door myself. For some reason the barrel had seized. I freed it up using some WD 40, I have a small can in the van. This was 18 months ago and this has never happened since.

We had a similar situation within say two week of purchasing current MH, which was fortunately parked on my driveway, I wont say how I got in to MH, I am sure you will suss this out yourself. Once in, I still could not open door, I stripped the lock internally, the problem was a snapped tension spring, replacement sourced from work + spares, never had an issue since, that said though, I do replace spring every two year and ensure a good coating of silicon paste added.

 

[colinm]

Had a chat with a VW Californian owner in one of the diners about the virtues of camper vans.

He said VW own product was the real deal built on a function over form basis as opposed to conversions on base vehicles which tended to feature a lot of bling and superficial led lighting to appeal to a younger generation.

They also used the VW camper as a car and it had the drive of one. I suppose working couples who are not able to take extended breaks are a target market for camper vans. They move on to bigger things when retired or semi retired if they want to have the extended trip lifestyle.

Great for going under height barriers and weekends away and stopping on campsites with facilities when on longer trips. They did have a portable chemical loo tucked away in a cupboard for emergency night use but generally would use site or public facilities daytime so not having a built in WC not too much of an inconvenience.

They did fully understand why we had what we had with our lifestyle.

They were looking at purchasing a drive away awning and were looking at frame or inflatable options. It had to fit in an allocated storage space when packed away. I said that based on my experience pass on an inflatable and go for a frame. They are more stable when the wind blows and don’t suffer pressure drops as temperatures cool at night and you then wake up with a droopy awning that needs pumping up again. In a drive away situation do you want to return to find it sagging a bit? However ours was one that was purchased 8 years ago and I did say that they may be better now and more stable. We did subsequently buy a preowned frame job on eBay and that was fine. But in any case regardless the pegging out with either type takes more time than assembly.

Made me think though where was VW?

Last year they make a great play about the launch of the Grand Californian and had their own stand.

This year VW as a company seemed to be absent and unless I missed it not a Grand Californian in sight at the show. Didn’t notice a Ford stand either displaying their own Transit camper van models

Maybe they are doing so well with long waiting lists VW and Ford felt they did not need to peddle their wares at the show this year.

Everyone is different and have different priorities, for many years I drove a VW as my daily driver, and it was also our campervan, we now have a Ducato XLWB campervan, my main bugbear with it is it doesn't get used when we are not away. As for awnings, have had them on rental vans, would never bother with one on a van we own, if we wanted more room would get a bigger van, which we have been considering for some time.

 

[UFO]

In 2019 we were determined to buy a new van. We visited the NEC show in early 2019. Spent the day looking at PVCs, not impressed with some of the 'innovations' which did not add much in our opinion and many of the vans had too much 'bling'. Got back to our 10 year old van at the the end of the day had a cup of tea, looked around and concluded that we had not seen anything that would justify spending on a new van.

A van we wanted to look at was the Wingamm City Suite but none around to look at. At the time it was around £70k, now I understand it is £110k plus what would be needed for off-grid living. Someone must be paying these £100k plus prices but there can't be that many lottery winners out there!