Which make model to consider Motorhome Family 2 adults 2 kids

[heysidays]

Hi All
Brand new here. We are looking to sell our caravan and move to a MH.
We have been looking at the Zefiro 690 and/or the Zefiro 696 (ie 6berth/5berth 6Belts/5Belts).
There are four of us, two adults and two children aged 11/13.

Can somebody help with other makes and models with the above layouts beyond Zefiro I have seen a couple of others but want to make sure I have explored the entire market before committing to purchase.

Also could somebody give me an idea of Luxury by manufacturer?
Just for instance is a Chausson better than a Rollerteam or better than an Rimor, or which one is classed as more luxury.

I can navigate my way round caravans and know which are are defined as more luxurious than others as we have been caravanning for 8 years now and owned a couple of Vans but I am struggling with MH to get a grip on what is defined as more luxurious than others. (I am not talking about the 100k and above models) more the models that have a list price of £60-70K.

Many thanks look forward to getting your feedback.
Chris

 

[Mel]

Not sure that I can be of much specific help but you can search by motorhome layout on Caravan Finder. Also there are lots of reviews on You Tube. The motorhome ones that “Here we tow” do are very balanced.
Given thae age of your children, room is going to be at a premium. We had a 5 berth Compass Moho when we had 4 children aged 5 to 17. It was hilarious. Had the big ones sleeping in tents outside.
Mel

 

[borderbilly]

I would keep the van, lots of pro,s and con,,s with a motor home.

 

[Beachball]

I would probably go for Zerfiro 690 because it a 6 berth, (6 belts) and it got a large garage and a 4 bike rack sounds like it got a lot of room and just in case your kids decided they want a friend to come , but i would look at them both and then decide which suit you best .

 

[Mr Plodd]

A factor often overlooked is, believe it or not, weight when it comes to Motorhomes.
I recall a few years ago at the NEC enquiring why a motorhome was advertised as a 6 berth, but only had about 300kg available payload!
The reply I got was that it was "expected" that any more than two planning on sleeping in the motorhome would travel by car!
So be very careful before committing to anything that the payload is sufficient ESPECIALLY if its advertised gross weight is 3500kg also if over 3500kg you will not be able to drive it on your B+E licence!

 

[Buckman]

Our friend bought a Chausson motor home for him, his wife and their 14 year old son. Used it a couple of times and then sat on their driveway for months at a time before they sold it. It had a very nice layout with island bed at the rear and bathroom in the middle. However when on site if they wanted to go anywhere they had to pack up, go out for the day and then unpack again on their return. He said it ws just too much hassle as they wanted relaxing holidays.

 

[heysidays]

Not sure that I can be of much specific help but you can search by motorhome layout on Caravan Finder. Also there are lots of reviews on You Tube. The motorhome ones that “Here we tow” do are very balanced.
Given thae age of your children, room is going to be at a premium. We had a 5 berth Compass Moho when we had 4 children aged 5 to 17. It was hilarious. Had the big ones sleeping in tents outside.
Mel

Thank you….our current van is 4 berth but we have a full length awning and the eldest sleeps in the awning thus we are already used to this scenario….in my head it’s only 3/4 more years before they stop coming with us

 

[heysidays]

I would probably go for Zerfiro 690 because it a 6 berth, (6 belts) and it got a large garage and a 4 bike rack sounds like it got a lot of room and just in case your kids decided they want a friend to come , but i would look at them both and then decide which suit you best .

Thank you I am leaning towards the 690 as its payload is 535kg is slightly shorter than the 696 and can tow up to 2000kg braked (which is what we will be doing).

 

[heysidays]

A factor often overlooked is, believe it or not, weight when it comes to Motorhomes.
I recall a few years ago at the NEC enquiring why a motorhome was advertised as a 6 berth, but only had about 300kg available payload!
The reply I got was that it was "expected" that any more than two planning on sleeping in the motorhome would travel by car!
So be very careful before committing to anything that the payload is sufficient ESPECIALLY if its advertised gross weight is 3500kg also if over 3500kg you will not be able to drive it on your B+E licence!

Thank you the 690 has a payload of 535kg plus if we decide to tow a small car the 690 can tow up to 2000kg braked and the cars I’m looking at have a maximum weight of 1100kg so could put any excess weight in the car…..I take your points thank you

 

[heysidays]

Our friend bought a Chausson motor home for him, his wife and their 14 year old son. Used it a couple of times and then sat on their driveway for months at a time before they sold it. It had a very nice layout with island bed at the rear and bathroom in the middle. However when on site if they wanted to go anywhere they had to pack up, go out for the day and then unpack again on their return. He said it ws just too much hassle as they wanted relaxing holidays.

We will probably get round this by towing a car on an A frame but I do understand this is one of the cons of MH holidays

 

[borderbilly]

Thank you….our current van is 4 berth but we have a full length awning and the eldest sleeps in the awning thus we are already used to this scenario….in my head it’s only 3/4 more years before they stop coming with us

I would keep the van for 3/4 years as you say, but whatever you decide to do enjoy 😉

 

[Mr Plodd]

Thank you the 690 has a payload of 535kg plus if we decide to tow a small car the 690 can tow up to 2000kg braked and the cars I’m looking at have a maximum weight of 1100kg so could put any excess weight in the car…..I take your points thank you

Good to see you are aware of weight. Still be a good idea to add up the weight of your passengers, along with the (possible) weight of fresh and waste water, clothing, bedding, crockery etc. In addition research what awning might be available to you as motorhomes don't have full length awning rails, and are invariably higher than caravans so a "caravan" awning won't fit. You can get panels that will zip into/onto some MH wind out awnings, but they are much smaller than full sized caravan awnings (and we found) nothing like as draught free.
As for a car on an A frame just be aware that doing so is 100% illegal in Spain if you are thinking of going there. Also is that towing weight of 200kg for the base vehicle the MH is built on (Transit) or for that specific MH as many MH's, due to an extended chassis, have greatly reduced towing capacity. You need to check the numbers on the vehicles VIN plate to be sure. I had a large MH with a MGW of 4250kg, but I could only tow a Smart car onto a specialist lightweight Smart car trailer, even then I was just 10kg under tge MH's max towing weight.

Please dont think I am trying to frighten you off but having run MH's for about 12 years, and being an ex traffic cop, I have first hand knowledge of the various "issues" that can (and do) arise with them.
In the spec I see the ULW is 2965 and the MGW is 3500kg. Don't forget there is a difference between ULW and MIRO. ULW doesn't include the weight of the driver, gas cylinder, fluids, awning etc! So those can have an impact the available payload.

As you can see there are a lot of additional considerations you need to take into account before parting with your money.

 

[RogerL]

I'm intrigued to know how motorhome users get round the legal requirement for towed cars to be fitted with an over-run hitch which operates all 4 of the car's brakes - the few I've looked at on sites have only had unbraked hitches, which are illegal if the car's GROSS weight exceeds 750 kg, as they all do.

 

[otherclive]

I'm intrigued to know how motorhome users get round the legal requirement for towed cars to be fitted with an over-run hitch which operates all 4 of the car's brakes - the few I've looked at on sites have only had unbraked hitches, which are illegal if the car's GROSS weight exceeds 750 kg, as they all do.

Despite lots of previous discussions on the A frame car tow hitches I can’t recall a definite answer on legality, apart from in Spain. There seems to be a lot of nuances wrt the regulations. If it was clearly an illegality then the police and DVSA stop checks would have had a field day in summer on the M5.

 

[Mr Plodd]

When serving I trued desperately to get an answer out of VOSA regarding the legality of A frames, concerning the application if the brakes, and the inability of the brakes to auto disengage when being reversed, as all braked trailers are required to have. They would not give me an answer other than their usual "Its not our job to give legal advice or opinion, its up to the courts to determine if an offence has been committed" etc

Having read the regulations VERY carefully, and being very conversant with interpreting them MY view is that A frame towing cannot be legal because of the braking requirements (many A frame manufacturers fit electricall operated brakes to the towed car, but electrically operated brakes are not legal in the UK. That's why American fifth wheel caravans must be modified before being sold in the UK) AND the requirement that any trailer must be capable of being reversed "A reasonable distance"

Any car on an A frame cannot be reversed ant sort of distance unless it's dead straight, because of the castor angle of the front wheels causes them to go onto full lock if other than perfectly straight (think how your cars steering winds itself onto lock when you are reversing)

I tried to take a couple of A frame drivers to court, but the prosecutions were discontinued by the CPS because they feared they might lose and be made to look bad!

Me? I always used a trailer, that way I KNEW I was 100% legal.

As for Spain it's is 100% illegal to EVER tow a car. The requirement is that they must be lifted off the road if broken down or immoblie. A car on an A frame, whilst technically a trailer in the UK is still classified as a car in Spain.

 

[Buckman]

We will probably get round this by towing a car on an A frame but I do understand this is one of the cons of MH holidays

They did tow a small car behind them and it was still a hassle. If you are going to tow behind the MH why bother changing the caravan for a MH. Seems pointless as paying VED on two vehicles instead of one? Your choice.

 

[RogerL]

When serving I trued desperately to get an answer out of VOSA regarding the legality of A frames, concerning the application if the brakes, and the inability of the brakes to auto disengage when being reversed, as all braked trailers are required to have. They would not give me an answer other than their usual "Its not our job to give legal advice or opinion, its up to the courts to determine if an offence has been committed" etc

Having read the regulations VERY carefully, and being very conversant with interpreting them MY view is that A frame towing cannot be legal because of the braking requirements (many A frame manufacturers fit electricall operated brakes to the towed car, but electrically operated brakes are not legal in the UK. That's why American fifth wheel caravans must be modified before being sold in the UK) AND the requirement that any trailer must be capable of being reversed "A reasonable distance"

Any car on an A frame cannot be reversed ant sort of distance unless it's dead straight, because of the castor angle of the front wheels causes them to go onto full lock if other than perfectly straight (think how your cars steering winds itself onto lock when you are reversing)

I tried to take a couple of A frame drivers to court, but the prosecutions were discontinued by the CPS because they feared they might lose and be made to look bad!

Me? I always used a trailer, that way I KNEW I was 100% legal.

As for Spain it's is 100% illegal to EVER tow a car. The requirement is that they must be lifted off the road if broken down or immoblie. A car on an A frame, whilst technically a trailer in the UK is still classified as a car in Spain.

Thanks for that insight - I understood that electric brakes were recently made legal in EU/UK but must still be operated by the over-run hitch on a trailer under 3500 kg, like hydraulic, rod or cable brakes.

 

[heysidays]

When serving I trued desperately to get an answer out of VOSA regarding the legality of A frames, concerning the application if the brakes, and the inability of the brakes to auto disengage when being reversed, as all braked trailers are required to have. They would not give me an answer other than their usual "Its not our job to give legal advice or opinion, its up to the courts to determine if an offence has been committed" etc

Having read the regulations VERY carefully, and being very conversant with interpreting them MY view is that A frame towing cannot be legal because of the braking requirements (many A frame manufacturers fit electricall operated brakes to the towed car, but electrically operated brakes are not legal in the UK. That's why American fifth wheel caravans must be modified before being sold in the UK) AND the requirement that any trailer must be capable of being reversed "A reasonable distance"

Any car on an A frame cannot be reversed ant sort of distance unless it's dead straight, because of the castor angle of the front wheels causes them to go onto full lock if other than perfectly straight (think how your cars steering winds itself onto lock when you are reversing)

I tried to take a couple of A frame drivers to court, but the prosecutions were discontinued by the CPS because they feared they might lose and be made to look bad!

Me? I always used a trailer, that way I KNEW I was 100% legal.

As for Spain it's is 100% illegal to EVER tow a car. The requirement is that they must be lifted off the road if broken down or immoblie. A car on an A frame, whilst technically a trailer in the UK is still classified as a car in Spain.

This company fits A frames that meet all legal requirements…..maybe technology has moved on since you retired?

 

[heysidays]

They did tow a small car behind them and it was still a hassle. If you are going to tow behind the MH why bother changing the caravan for a MH. Seems pointless as paying VED on two vehicles instead of one? Your choice.

Don’t pay VED on a small 1.0 petrol but I get your point 😂
Why was it a hassle….seems a lot less of a hassle than a caravan and car?

 

[RogerL]

This company fits A frames that meet all legal requirements…..maybe technology has moved on since you retired?

Which company? I'm interested to know how it works and how it meets requirements.

 

[heysidays]

Which company? I'm interested to know how it works and how it meets requirements.

Home

www.tow-bars2tow-cars.com

Sorry forgot to add the website 🤦‍♂️

 

[heysidays]

Blurb from their website


Utilising the latest electronic technology, Tow-Bars 2 Tow-Cars Ltd. offers you a superbly strong but lightweight system that is both attractive and incredibly easy to fit or remove, and unlike other systems your car's modern appearance is maintained when you're driving your car. Our unique electronic braking system gives you far more control over the braking of your tow-car, and it meets all European towing rules. Our A-frame is a 100% legal A-Frame towing system. The sturdy but lightweight system dispenses with 50 year old caravan technology in the heavy sliding tow hitch, allowing the tow-car to be reversed easily. The vehicle has been professionally converted by our skilled team at our base in North Lincolnshire. Ours is the only system that allows the tow vehicle to brake proportionally the same as you are braking in your motorhome, giving you full control over the tow-car. By having a proportional braking system we can issue a Certificate of Braking Efficiency to prove the motorhome and tow-car complies with EU regulations - comforting to know when towing in mainland Europe. In normal use, the system fits to your motorhome in under five minutes. There are no untidy cables to attach to the car's brake pedal and nothing to remember to turn on or off. The vehicle is left looking like a normal car without having large protruding bars or permanently fitted towing brackets. Better still, when not in use the system folds up and can be stored in the boot of the tow car. How the system works: The two eye bolts are screwed in by hand to the towing points (hand tight).The A-Frame is attached very simply into the two pins and secured with 2 linch pins. The A-Frame is attached to the rear of the motorhome using a standard tow hitch. A special 13 pin lead is attached with a half-twist action on both your motorhome and the car. This controls all the rear lights of the tow-car (a legal requirement).The unique interconnecting lead also allows a trickle charge from the motorhome to the tow-car's battery when the motorhome is running. This ensures you never get a flat battery when you reach your destination. Upon attaching the 13-pin lead, the tow-car automatically ''sets itself up'' into tow mode, and when the lead is removed after your journey the car reverts automatically to standard road going mode. A break-away cable is attached using clips. This whole process takes less than five minutes by almost anyone, as the heaviest part (the A-Frame) weighs only 11Kg compared to most other systems at over 20Kg.The rear towing sign is attached in the rear window of the vehicle. The (supplied) spare number plate is attached to the rear of the tow car. After attaching the towcar, just put the vehicle into Neutral, turn the ignition key into Position 1 to release the steering lock and release the hand brake. It is as easy as that, well under 5 minutes to fit.

 

[RogerL]

Home

www.tow-bars2tow-cars.com

Sorry forgot to add the website 🤦‍♂️

Thanks for the link - I read their website and understand how it works - but it doesn't use the over-run hitch which I thought was part of the legal requirement.

 

[heysidays]

Thanks for the link - I read their website and understand how it works - but it doesn't use the over-run hitch which I thought was part of the legal requirement.

Not sure you would have to contact them direct to get an answer

 

[borderbilly]

Home

www.tow-bars2tow-cars.com

Sorry forgot to add the website 🤦‍♂️

Thats a interesting set-up, and looks like they have got everything covered. I take it they give you a hands on demo when purchasing? If you are set on a MH, looks like the way to go