hi ho

[donnk]

Hi all

Looking to take early retirement and on my bucket list is a year long tour of Europe in a motorhome. Wife will be with me for some of the trip but will be solo for most of the cold bits!

I could do with some help choosing a motorhome. I've made a list of must have features to try and narrow the search. Budget wise 50-70k

Must be coach built, panel van is too small
Single beds
5+ birth as I want space even though 2 of us
Wet heating
Tank toilet not cassette
Aircon in living area
Auto box
Onboard LPG tank filled by pump at garage no bottle s
Large washroom fixed sink
Enough battery power to run telly cooker heating etc for 24 hours

Will have a largeish scooter on the back for trips to town/shops etc

Any advice appreciated

Fred

 

[Retread]

Hi and welcome.

Most of your features are achievable within the price range (new or used?) you have quoted but the Marine style toilet may be near impossible to find as a standard fitting unless you are considering a US style RV
Many Coach built s and PVC are aimed at the mature market and come with twin beds, you need to prioritize fixed against make them up every night. a body length from 7.00m long should be adequate.
Do not get confused in the relationship between number of births and daytime living accommodation, the inverse rule normally applies.
Alde wet heating is available but may be at a premium price.
A Marine style Holding tank would only be available on a custom build and that becomes expensive, don't forget you will still need to handle and store the waste pipe These systems need a dedicated emptying point and if not available it can get messy!
Full Aircon ( ie with a heat pump) in the living area works off 240V and this will restrict you to caravan sites and will not be available while touring. A Chilling unit may meet your requirement and can operate on 12V. but is not effective in high humidity.
Auto No Problem
LPG tank again an after market fix and no problem.
Ar Battery bank of 2X 110Ah will be big enough to cope with LED lighting, a 12V telly, your Heating pump and the occasional use of a microwave if required and that size bank can normally be found in the better motorhomes out there.

 

[LizziePope]

Hi Fred, welcome to the Practical Motorhome forum!

 

[Flicka]

Hi Fred & welcome to the forum. From your list my first thought was an American RV, but there size can be very restrictive to access many areas. As previously said don't mix No. of berths to space, i.e A 6 berth overcab can have less floor space than a 4 berth low profile. The biggest "add" cost will be your choice of toilet as almost without exception European (including UK) use the cassette type. Due to the length of models that could suit your other requirements IMHO a garage model with fixed rear bed(s)would be most suitable for the scooter. The other consideration will be the available payload which will easily push you to look beyond the magic 3500kg MAM. Not such a problem now, but can be an issue when you reach 70th birthday.

 

[TonyJones]

Hi Fred, and once again, welcome!
You're clearly not looking for a bog-standard, mass-market Autosleeper or Swift job. Finding your ideal might be tricky, but as you've seen you've come to a group which enjoys a challenge!
Your LPG tank doesn't need to be a custom-made underslung one. Several firms (including Gaslow, which I use myself) offer refillable bottle systems, with a filler-point on the outside of the van, which can be filled at LPG stations as you require - although it's a bottle that sits in the gas locker, it never moves, no humping around and exchanging.
Anyway, all the best with your search, and you'll always find helpful advice on here.

 

[donnk]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

With regard to the toilet I don't want to be pulling a big heavy smelly box around. I saw on YouTube the Americans connect a pipe and drain black water and then grey water through same pipe which serves to clean it out. Seems a good idea?

I don't want a huge van but needs to have some decent room as a year is a long time !
Definately no gas bottles, had to be a tank. Looking at an onboard 3000w Honda silent LPG generator to be plumbed in.

Do you think I'd be better off finding a layout I like then get toilet, gas and waste tanks retrofitted ?

Thanks again

 

[Retread]

Hi
About your 3Kw 'silent' generator, I have a small genny about 1Kw which was marketed as 'Silent' and believe me it is not, so much so that it is confined to the garage at home and only emerges during power cuts!
Please, first have a demonstration and then decide if you are anti social enough to run one of these things in close proximity to others.
Other points of conflict can include yappy dogs, TV in the awning, tuning your scooter on site...........................in fact most anything that disturbs the peace and quiet.

 

[donnk]

I'm hoping to avoid sites at all costs, mainly for the reasons youvstate. I'm using a hotel room on wheels, the whole camping scene I have no time for.

I share Mr clarksons view on caravanners and camp sites!

 

[Retread]

Using the van off site here in Europe (not counting the off shore islands), normally includes overnighting on an 'Aire' , the problem with noise pollution is even more pronounced because (often) vans are parked in close proximity to each other, windows will be open because the weather is better, and a Genny will be a source of friction.
If you were searching for a quiet night would you expect it A) on a lorry park where the 'Frigo' units run all night or B) anywhere else!

 

[Flicka]

Hi Fred - your biggest problem IMO will be your toilet requirement. I am not aware of any European / UK motorhome (including the big RS Motorhomes) that fit this style unit, Had a quick search & can't find any aftermarket fitters either, It wouldn't be an easy job The only company that comes to mind as an outside possibility is Travelworld (nr Telford) Regarding carrying the toilet cassette, the newer models are wheeled so the only lifting is out of it's locker & at the disposal point. Max capacity is 17litre so approx. 20kg in total.