Downsizing Dilema

Kontiki

Kontiki

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As we don't do the longer trips anymore & finding the van not being used as much we have been thinking of downsizing to a van conversion. Found a van we like & can get a reasonable deal for the part ex. We currently have a Swift Escape 684, low profile 7.4 metre & thinking of buying a dealer special version of the Eddis CV40 Autoquest CV40 Layout Features . Advantages would be we would be more likely to use it for the odd day or weekend, could get rid of the car & use the van for daily (sometimes weekly) use so only one tax/insurance/running cost etc. BUT where can you stick what we consider the essentials such as chair/table/awning/BBq + all the other junk we think we might need. Not too bad if we were going to a rally or even a campsite where you can unload when you get there but we tend to wildcamp, in this case we wouldn't bother with the blow up awning but just can't see where we could store a couple of chairs, do we have to consider smaller more compact stuff? Just wondering how others manage.

Maybe I'm not looking at it the right way, for many years we had a self build on a 1992 Renault Traffic, because it was a self build I made it to fit in what we wanted or bought stuff that was suitable, also did a self build on a short wheelbase Renault Master with a fixed bed & a large storage space at the the back.
 
Hi, We downsized earlier this year after having two previous coach builds, with the same worries as you. In May last year we bought a new Elddis 196 (rear Lounge) which was 7.4m long with a long ‘over hang’. It was a beautiful looking van and had everything you would need on a trip. After about 6/7 months we realised we had made the wrong decision, it was too long for us and frequently ‘grounded’ on ferries and once entering a car park. We had a rethink about the type of camping we did and decided that we really needed to be in a smaller van. After a bit of soul searching and many trips to dealers and online, looking at layouts etc and worrying about where to put all our stuff we bought a Vantage Neo, panel van conversion, which we collected in July this year. We have travelled over 3000 miles in this short time, mainly 4 day weekends but one 15 day holiday, which included 6 Islands and one 9 day holiday. Its like a Tardis inside, we have not had to leave anything at home on any of our trips. In addition to this the rear lounge in the Neo is bigger than the one in our Elddis. You have to be organised though, we make use of packing cubes for clothes, stacking trays in the overhead lockers, pans with detachable handles, ‘Joseph’ stacking utensils etc. In the looks department our van is not as pretty and modern looking as the Elddis but we love it and think now we have finally got it right. My advice would be go and see as many vans as possible, overall length does not equate to the amount of storage you will have on the inside. Talk to as many people as you can who have the model you think might suit you. We even knocked on the door of a Vantage owner on a campsite to ask some questions - embarrassing but well worth it. Happy hunting.
 
Also thought about a trailer but as you said defeats the idea of downsizing, when we were looking decided that if we went to the larger van over 6 metres then again wouldn't get any advantage & would have to keep the car. The Elddis is just under 6 metres so not too impractical to use as a daily run about.We don't do that many miles been retired for 12.5 years, also not far from a bus stop so more likely to catch the bus sometimes, having a car has made us a bit lazy.
When we were at the NEC we kept being steered back to the small coach built vans but this again defeats the object. Did think about getting a towbar fitted if we do but a small van which would give us the option to get a trailer (maybe a nice m/bike or scooter again). This would justify towing a trailer, could get a covered one to store all the extra bits when we go off to Europe.
 
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Bathroom / shower

we have a 6.5m coach built with a shower in the bathroom with a door to stop water going everywhere !

We have looked at smaller vehicles but in most the shower is simply not for us.

However our usage profile is "full-time" for the summer so the extra room is needed

Narrower / shorter vehicles have the advantages you describe but in one sense I would get the "biggest smaller vehicle" you find suits.

Whilst you are living at home I suggest a car is still best for many things and a small electric runabout maybe worthwhile as you could use the camper for longer trips eg to friends

Given your planned usage profile (Weekends and maybe a 2 week trip) you can make a success of it and getting shot of unnecessary items will help a lot

We have a decent sized "dining table" which we keep in the storage area..That could go !
2 folding chairs and a small coffee table would be on our Keep list
BBQ outside Carpet etc etc could all go as could tools and other odds and ends

Ps On the assumption you declare it to your insurance company your premiums will probably increase if it becomes your only vehicle
 
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I have a chausson 510 which has been replaced by the 530.

We love it plain and simple.

The bed is a drop down over the lounge ( fully made up appart from pillows) giving you a large lounge which can seat up to 8 or 6 comfortably.
A separate shower, and toilet, and a decent kitchen with a gas oven, and it even has a small garage.

We can park it in all but the smallest car parking spaces, and because it’s less than 6 m we are treated the same as s car on the cal Mac ferries when going over to Arran.

I think that possibly going from such a large mh to a smaller van conversion may prove a mistake, this offer something in between.

Best of luck whatever you do.
 
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We had a 7.5m Frankia and wanted to downsize. I fancied a 6.4m PVC and we even drove 600 miles odd return to look at what we fancied, a Globecar Campscout Revolution and we were very impressed with it when seen at the dealers. However to be safe we rented a similar type of model for a few days - and I’m so glad we did. No way could we have lived with such a cramped layout. The shower was tiny, the toilet cramped and we hated the half dinette - it felt really claustrophobic and we couldn’t easily move around each other. In the end we went for a 6.75m Hymer Mli. Only a bit longer but what a difference and with a proper lounge.
The best advice I can give to you is try before you buy - rent the nearest model to what you want for a few days.
Tony
 
Have you looked at a PVC with a fixed rear bed?
I know some people don't like them or the front dinette that comes with that design,but that's the compromise you have in a PVC.
Large lounge or lack of storage, it's up to you.
I find a rear lounge in a panel van a waste of space and the seating is rarely comfortable.I don't spend hours in the van unless the weather is crook so don't get this lounging business.Would rather sit in the sun anyway.On many vans the cab seats rotate to face the dinette and are comfy for evenings.
The space under the fixed bed in my 6m Globecar is enormous. It takes a table, chairs,landing net, drop net,fishing rods, small weber charcoal bbq,charcoal, silverscreen,levelling ramps,external doormat,4 breadcrate bases for soft ground, and 4 large stacka boxes containing cycle gear and tools,walking gear,waders,fishing tackle(a lot) and sundry items.I've put the spare wheel in there as well(fixed) for easy access and to stop it corroding away under the vehicle.The rest of the van has numerous cupboards for clothes and kit including full size pan drawers under the hob.This storage capability is what made me buy the van.Similar layouts are provided by Adria,Hymer,Rapido and several others.
This van is also my daily driver and I don't find it inconvenient to drive as such. It's doing a tip run today in fact.

Before this I had my first van, an Autosleeper Symbol. Hopeless. To be fair it was only a MWB but the very poor storage made it a pain for anything more than weekends away. An expensive mistake for me.

I suppose it depends how much kit you've got and what kind of trips you have but for me in a PVC,fixed bed is a no-brainer.

Korky.
 
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That autoquest cv40 looks pretty good for the money. You can leave the bed fixed from the look of it and dinette looks decent. Shame there aren't any bathroom pics.

Edit: you can see the bathroom in the virtual tour here. Looks good to me.
You are being redirected...
Fridge is massive.
 
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You could always put a storage top box on top of a shorter vehicle to compensate for limited storage space. You would probably require a telescopic ladder for access. Flamma Ultra Box roof boxes for example. They will hold folding tables, chairs, windbreaks, awnings, etc. and virtually all the bulky lightweight stuff you might put in a garage but not bikes of course.
 
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To put my two pen'orth in.
My Adria twin ticks almost every box for me. Storage in the van body, ample. Under fixed bed, massive. Bathroom snug, especially taking a shower, just make sure you have every thing you'll need handy. The bed is firm, this suits me. Kitchen, more than adequate, fridge, good size. Wardrobe, short, but deep at around 2ft.

The build out is pretty standard for the continental fixed bed layout. 'Spose, if i an't broke, don't fix it. The longest I've been out is 17 days, no probs.

The Sainted Nik hasn't been out over night yet, there could be the only issue. I reckon one of you may have to be seated if the other is moving about, doing cooking or whatever. Standing space is limited. I don't mind sitting down, observing domestic duties.

Parking. At just under 6 mts. It fit's on driveways okay. I realise not everyone has a drive, although as it's a van, that shouldn't be a problem. Maybe your local plumber hasn't either. Mind you, the money plumbers charge....... Anyway, Supermarkets. You'll probably take up a length and a half car places, so be selective. up to now, I've not had a problem.

On the plus side. It's a van, steel, no plastic or fibreglass seams to fail. Seats 4 travelling, sleeps 3. A 6ft x 4ft 6 bed, the table converts to a short third bed.
I love it. It's my first motorhome. If I wanted anything bigger, I'd buy a 4x4 and caravan or a A class Hymer or Yank.

'Spose you pays yer money and takes yer chance.
 
Look at it another way. We upsized twice first time from backpacking, such as doing the Pennine way etc. If you didn’t want to carry it, it didn’t go. Then up to motorbike and tent touring which again teaches you how to travel light. Now a PVC and carry a scooter on the back. How much crap do you really need to carry to be able to enjoy yourself. I think, not much.
Last night in St Valery en Caux I watched a Frenchman struggle to get a huge gas barbecue out of the van and set it up in the tiny space he had between vans to cook half a dozen sausages. Now this chap didn’t look like he was having such a great time. I just shook my head and walked to the nearest bar for beer. Use a disposable barbecue if you fancy a barbecue. Saves a lot of messing about.
I am sure some people use things just because they have them, and not because they want to.
Ask yourself how much do you carry that you very very rarely use.
 
We have thought of downsizing to a PVC and have found that in order to get a decent shower you need to look at models with end bathrooms as the shower part is in the centre where the height is at it's best, but you then seem to lose out on the storage space as a fixed rear bed model tends to be the best for storage. Like everything in life it's all about compromises and only you can decide what you need the most. What we have done is I have written down the features I would like in order of importance and Diane did her list, then we compared them and found that they were almost the same! If I could afford one I'd probably look at the IH range, they do the rear bathroom on Ducato 540, 600 and 640 wheelbase sizes. The 640 would only be a metre shorter than you Kontiki so for everyday use I would think you'd be better off with the 540 or 600 ones. Another good make that seems to combine features with functionality is the Vantage range and they do some on the Ducato 500 chassis, great for parking!

Regards,
Del
 
Thanks for the comments/advice, we have a decision to make by March anyway. My license expires again, when I got to 70 I had the medical etc. & it was renewed for 1 year. Next year applied again had lots of phone calls to them, seemed to be filling in forms for ever & they gave me a license for 2 years. The Swift Escape we have is plated at 3.7t & I've decided to give up the C1 category so renewing license is easy but would have to down plate the van back to 3.5t.

We were at the NEC the other day & think we looked at most of the van conversions, but ended up not finding anything that we would consider perfect. Most of the motorhomes we've owned had a fixed rear bed or beds with a garage so been used to having just the front dinette to sit, however having a small van which has an end lounge appeals to us especially for days out. The Elddis CV40 is only 5.99 metres so its always going to be on the small side for the price though the dealer special edition has a lot going for it at a reasonable price this is the Brownhills version New Fiat Elddis Evolution CV20 130BHP Motorhome for Sale | Brownhills Motorhomes Limited wrongly labelled as a CV20. The one we are looking at is at Vehicles4Leisure but their website doesn't have any information on it yet but apart from the colour the 'dealer special editions' have the same extras. Must admit the Brownhills one in Black looks nice but it dearer by over £2 & they didn't offer as much in px also it was Brownhills :eek:. Didn't realise Hymer now own Elddis.
 
alwaysared said:
We have thought of downsizing to a PVC and have found that in order to get a decent shower you need to look at models with end bathrooms as the shower part is in the centre where the height is at it's best, but you then seem to lose out on the storage space as a fixed rear bed model tends to be the best for storage. Like everything in life it's all about compromises and only you can decide what you need the most. What we have done is I have written down the features I would like in order of importance and Diane did her list, then we compared them and found that they were almost the same! If I could afford one I'd probably look at the IH range, they do the rear bathroom on Ducato 540, 600 and 640 wheelbase sizes. The 640 would only be a metre shorter than you Kontiki so for everyday use I would think you'd be better off with the 540 or 600 ones. Another good make that seems to combine features with functionality is the Vantage range and they do some on the Ducato 500 chassis, great for parking!

Regards,
Del
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How many minutes a day do you actually spend in the shower????
The last thing I would want to give up is the rear lounge for the sake of a slightly larger shower in our PVC to be able to park up and throw open both rear doors for the view is great.
Each to their own.
 
Fazerloz said:
How many minutes a day do you actually spend in the shower????
The last thing I would want to give up is the rear lounge for the sake of a slightly larger shower in our PVC to be able to park up and throw open both rear doors for the view is great.
Each to their own.
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I never said that I wanted to spend time in the shower, just merely pointing out that if the shower is important to you then a rear bathroom would be the best option, just like I pointed out that a fixed bed was the best option for storage so what's your point?

Regards,
Del

Edit: Also ***** said about using the shower daily, so obviously it maybe important to him.
 
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I thought about once a month for a shower if I needed to or not :lol-049: especially when wildcamping. We used to have a Frankia A class which had a massive end bathroom, even so the shower cubicle wasn't that big, best shower room we had was in an Adria Izola, nice size & as it was over a wheel arch it had a seat.
 
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