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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 8:58:24 GMT
Yes, I am happy to sit on a site for weeks. That's the idea. I'm not interested in making statements, I'm interested in maximum comfort for long periods, which means as big as possible and island rear bed and separate shower/toilet and proper size oven. Of course manoeuvrability and touring come in to it to an extent, so perhaps a six-wheeler is overkill.
Have you got any models in mind which fulfil this brief, and meet your stringent technical knowledge/specs? My friend's Concorde Credo does look a good option. Budget around £30k second hand.
Wouldn't mind doing a bit of online gricing at them.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jul 1, 2020 11:22:51 GMT
I will be leaving the car again tomorrow night for however long a period... This time the tyres will be pumped up a little higher to avoid flatspotting and I did a good run yesterday so should start up again when I get home as long as its not much longer than eight weeks. Was just over seven weeks last time. I might have missed it, but presumably SWMBO tested negative? You didn't miss it - but she was negative... Only took 14 hours from the test time to get the answer. Pretty good I reckon. I assume there are quicker tests but presumably much of this time is mainly related to transport from the test site to the lab. I bet if one was in the lab, the result would come through within an hour. She was tested at 10:30 and the site didn't close until 17:30 think, so seven hours waiting there already. |
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Post by Humph on Jul 1, 2020 11:44:40 GMT
Might be a silly question, but couldn't Mrs E use the Merc once in a while when you're away, just to keep it ticking over so to speak? Can't be a "size" thing if she had a Range Rover at one time?
Or is it that ( understandably enough ) she just won't be seen in a beige car?
😉
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Post by Humph on Jul 1, 2020 12:01:31 GMT
@ Al, I know you don't generally post when you're not "working" 😉
But, could you maybe let us know how getting through Folkestone and Calais goes once you're over the other side? Just curious...no agenda really...🌞
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 12:16:22 GMT
Yeah, sure. I'll be taking a laptop on holiday for the first time in my life, so that I can use it to order grocery collections from Super U. I'm sure I can spare a minute away from the pool/wine/steak to let you know.
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Post by Humph on Jul 1, 2020 12:23:27 GMT
Just in case you thought any of us might be jealous, I just thought I'd make it quite clear that none of us are, at all, in any shape or form, perish the thought etc...
😕
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 12:27:30 GMT
Chickens, counting. Good chance something could land and bugger it all up still.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 12:30:02 GMT
What's wrong with the Dethleff's underpinnings? Looks like a FIAT, so similar to yours? What's the other one running on that's so superior? The Ducato maxes out from the factory at 4000kg GVW (4250 if you're lucky). That Dethleffs is running at 5000kg after it's been tinkered with (part of that being the tag-axle Al-Ko chassis - and I don't like tag-axles). Frankly, I think it's pushing it too far. The Concorde is based on an Iveco Daily chassis, that leaves the factory rated at 6500kg, and that's what Concorde leave it at. More robust build (though probably more 'commercial' to drive as well). I much prefer the twin rear-wheels doing their factory-designed job to the tag axle. Regardless of the GVW, the dethleffs has little more usable payload than my 'van, which has a GVW of 3500kg. It's a big gin-palace, but you can't (legally) carry much more than I can (payload disappears quite quickly when you're carrying full water tanks!). The Concorde does a bit better for payload, but adding a Smart car is going to eat quite a bit of that.  Just noticed the Smart car comment. Was more thinking Renault Twizy... |
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Post by Humph on Jul 1, 2020 12:53:03 GMT
Chickens, counting. Good chance something could land and bugger it all up still. Ach I'm sure you'll be fine, ( if a bit short of luggage space 😉 ) and at least you don't live in Leicester and/or have booked a holiday in Greece. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 12:55:46 GMT
34 litres more than some.  I think I passed through Leicester on coaches a few times, drew down the blinds, didn't get off.  |
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Post by tyrednexited on Jul 1, 2020 13:11:32 GMT
Was more thinking Renault Twizy... ....good luck with charging that on your average campsite power supply...  (or you could take a generator, lose even more payload and annoy the neighbours). |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 13:14:59 GMT
Tiny traction battery, easy done from a 3 (2 in europe) pin plug, surely. All the French hypermarkets have charge points these days. Even less of a problem 6-10 years from now.
Would a Peugeot 108 or similar go in there?
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Post by Humph on Jul 1, 2020 13:26:13 GMT
My BIL has an enormous caravan. Don't know what make it is, but it has twin axles and is just huge and has all manner of clever things inside. Pulls it with a Touareg.
He's still agonising about whether to take it to France in August as they usually do. He's for, she's agin.
Anyway, I'd think it was still way cheaper than one of those fancy dormobiles.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 13:30:34 GMT
Add the price of a decent Toerag and it isn't.
I was caravan minded until T&E and my retired motorhoming friends put me straight.
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Post by tyrednexited on Jul 1, 2020 14:56:36 GMT
Yes, I am happy to sit on a site for weeks. That's the idea. I'm not interested in making statements, I'm interested in maximum comfort for long periods, which means as big as possible and island rear bed and separate shower/toilet and proper size oven. Of course manoeuvrability and touring come in to it to an extent, so perhaps a six-wheeler is overkill. Have you got any models in mind which fulfil this brief, and meet your stringent technical knowledge/specs? My friend's Concorde Credo does look a good option. Budget around £30k second hand. Wouldn't mind doing a bit of online gricing at them. I think you're going to have to revise your budget, your expectations or your aspirations (most likely all 3). A 10 year-old Credo (a bit down-spec and lower-payload than the current model) is currently going to cost you North of £65K. As they get older, reliability (not always a prime criterion, or even achievement, in your case, I know) and spares become an issue (even for the bigger converters, motorhome building is still a bit of a cottage industry, and after a few years, replacement bits of broken trim and fittings can be hard to find). I think, unless you win the Maltese lottery, that a reliable Concorde is going to be out of your budget for some time. If that is your budget, and you want an A-Class (the ones with the integrated cab), then you're in this territory: www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-search?sort=price-asc&postcode=w1a1aa&radius=1500&make=RAPIDO&price-from=30000&price-to=40000(You can change the Make to, say - Hymer, Carthago, Pilote, Dethleffs, Burstner, Frankia....... to look at other example models to get an idea) None of them are particularly young at that price (though, as with many motorhomes, the mileage may be low, which is not necessarily a good thing), and I could make positive and negative comments against every one. My own current 'van is a similar spec to this: www.highbridgecaravans.co.uk/products/motorhomes/HCCQF76158/2019-hymer-exsis-t-588About as long as I would like (I've driven bigger), narrower than standard, so easy to get to out-of-the-way places, lightweight, so adequate payload without breaking the 3500kg limit, and the third 'van with a basically similar layout, which we've found really suits us. You'll find such non A-class vehicles are generally cheaper than those above, and there are, as usual, advantages and disadvantages. As I've said elsewhere, though; if you're going to remain static for weeks/months, even though I proselytise for motorhomes, I'm not sure that's the correct solution. I know people do it, but caravans are for sitting on a site, motorhomes are for exploring. |
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