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?