Motorhome layouts explained: Choosing the perfect motorhome
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- This week on the Motorhome Matt Podcast, Matt and Keith dive into a crucial topic for motorhome enthusiasts: motorhome layouts. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned traveller, getting the layout right can make or break your experience on the road.
Matt breaks down the various bed configurations, from island beds to drop-down beds, explaining how these choices impact the overall space, comfort, and practicality of your motorhome. We highlight the importance of trying different layouts before committing to a purchase to avoid potential pitfalls and ensure you’re making the best decision for your needs.
We also bring you the latest industry news, including details about the Camping and Caravanning Club's 2025 Owner Satisfaction Survey. If you’ve bought camping gear or a motorhome since 2021, this survey allows you to share your feedback.
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Matt also unpacks the Motorhome Matt Approved directory, where you can find trusted brands and services we recommend.
In the Q&A session, the hosts answer some great listener questions. Robert from Lutterworth asks about European breakdown recovery for his 8-metre motorhome. Ruth from Totnes seeks advice for attending the NEC motorhome show as a beginner. Finally, Alison from Edinburgh is unsure about selecting the right levelling ramps for her Fiat Ducato motorhome.
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Yet another excellent pod cast. Was great seeing you working hard at the lincoln motorhome show
Thanks very much indeed! We had a brilliant Lincoln show. Weren't we lucky with the weather?! The drive home was pretty horrible and wet though!
Glad you enjoyed this episode. Thank you for commenting
My motorhome is insured with Caravan Guard and their policies automatically include UK breakdown cover for any size and weight. You can add an optional European extension to the policy. Might be worth the caller contacting Caravan Guard. This is my third year with them and they've been great.
Excellent advice thank you. I too have used them and we've done repairs for them so sat on both sides of the fence as consumer and dealer repairer. Both experiences were great
Thank you! Watched an older podcast on van vs camping tyres. I was about to buy the wrong ones. So much misinformation on the forums.
You are very welcome here! I assume something I said was useful then? Thanks for commenting
Great article & I'm sure people new to campervans & motorhomes will find this very helpful. I would add vehicle width is also a consideration. We now have a compact motorhome, same width as a panel van & it is less stressful to drive on our rubbish uk roads 😂
Thank you Peter. Width is certainly a consideration on narrow UK roads. I’ve driven wide US RV’s and scared myself more than a few times! A compact Coachbuilt or van conversation is certainly less stressful to drive! Thanks so much for commenting
I find it interesting just how personal the choice of van layout is; getting the right one is harder than choosing a car or a house, in my opinion!
We rented a van first, before we even thought about buying our own. That was a campervan with rear transverse bed, and whilst we enjoyed the trip a lot that layout wasn't ideal for us. Firstly I'm just over 6' tall so found the bed cramped, and second we like to stretch out on our settees at home in the evening and the dinette wasn't set up for that. Also, we had one day where we stayed in the van all day (this was Iceland, in summer, and the wind was so strong that driving was unsafe!). That day showed us that we like a bit more space in the van.
When we got back home we wondered about buying our own campervan. We liked the size of the van but not the layout, so we went to our local motorhome show at Malvern and checked out every single van on sale. It was pretty much the last one where we both, instantly, knew it had the right layout for us. That was an Expedition 66, with a large rear lounge with plenty of space to stretch out in the evening or at night. Although it can be made up as a double, we haven't yet and just use 2 singles, which means that we don't disturb each other going to the loo at night (or more specifically, I on diuretics don't disturb my wife!).
There are downsides of course, mainly a lack of storage, but we've pretty much got that sorted now. And making/unmaking the beds doesn't take long.
Any choice of campervan or motorhome or caravan is going to be a compromise and you just have to decide what's more important and what's less important. I 100% agree with renting first; doing so meant that we knew what we didn't like about that layout and made it much easier for us to focus on what we wanted and evaluate each layout we found.
Brilliant insight thank you! Understanding what you need and how you will use the space is critical. And everyone has their own view on this. It’s great to hear you found the layout that works for you. Thanks so much for sharing. Others reading the comments will find this really useful I’m sure. Thanks for watching too! Maybe see you at a show in the future?
@@MotorhomeMatt Lovely comments, thanks! We'll be at the NEC show next month so hopefully see you there.
Please do come and say hi. I will on an Ask the Expert panel every day at 11.45am and on and off our stand 9.32
The rear kitchen layout is best IMO, with a long sofa bed down one side, like the Hymer B584 or Autocruise Vista. If anyone knows of other versions of this style, please let me know. Thanks.
Its a popular British layout. Have a look on the Caravan Finder website at that layout and see all the motorhomes for sale that match
You sounded a bit under the weather Matt so I hope you are over it by now! Owner satisfaction survey completed, thanks for the link. Do you have a discount code for the NEC?
Thanks for your kind concern. You can save a little on your NEC show tickets on this link
Mhmp.info/necshow
The discount code MATT is entered for you.
Hi Matt and Keith, just on motorhome layouts, is there such a thing as a motorhome that has one dropdown bed over the rear lounge only as we like the Rimor Evo 77 plus layout but this has 2 dropdown beds but we would only use one. We have a Rollerteam 746 at the moment and sleep in the over cab bed to save the faff of making the bed up in the living room. I have made new comfortable steps to get to the over cab bed which is great as the 746 has better head room. We do find this an issue as you cannot sit up in bed. as we are only 2 occupants normally we would like to keep the rear lounge but have a drop down bed in this area. This may save on the toll costs also as the 746 is 3.2m tall.
There may be such a layout but I’m not sure. A drop down over the middle area is easier to make due to weight distribution of the bed. Ie it is spread over both axles. Look at models like the Adria 590SG or 590ST. Also the Roller Team 590. Chausson also do similar models. In fact it’s a very popular European design. Bailey have also just launched their new Adamo with a drop down bed.
Look too at the Caravan Finder website for layout ideas and also here findmyleisurevehicle.co.uk/
Hope this helps! Thanks again for commenting
Hi Gentlemen can I just ask when your selling a motorhome there are many options out there. But is there a site or somewhere where potential buyers of a specific motorhome can leave a message to let sellers know that they are in the market for that specific motorhome so that the seller can look before they advertise?. I hope this is not a daft question. Great podcast/youtube channel regards Flipper.
That’s a great idea! I’m not sure there’s a specific portal for this but I would suggest letting a dealer know what you are looking for is a great idea. Plus with many owners groups on Facebook it could be a great idea to leave a message there. But I would say as the buyer the onus sits with you to search for the model you crave when for sale. Thanks for commenting
Great show guys , we collect our first campervan this Friday , it’s an autotrail expedition 68 , designed for our hobby mountain biking , both excellent bike storage and a ready made double bed , it’s been great listening to you shows on the build up to collecting our van , full of great ideas and recommendations
Thanks so much for your kind words! And huge congratulations on your first motorhome! Wishing many years of great memories and some exciting trips.