Choosing next van

Hi Dave

No specific help I'm afraid, but with more than 40 years of caravanning and motorhoming experience behind us my advice would be to go for the one that feels absolutely right for you. I'm talking about the habitation side of course - the bit you live in is by far the most important.

Why not run a triple entry check list? "Must have" on one side, "Not too bothered" in the middle, and "Not at any price" on the other. Sit and ponder in all the vans that take your fancy - and take your time.

You are still very unlikely to find the perfect van (if such a beast exists??) but your compromise will be as close as you can get to the perfect van FOR YOU!

Dave


P.S. And be cautious of other people's advice. What suits them might drive you up the wall. Fixed beds are an example - why lug around six feet of space that's utterly wasted during the day when it takes less than a minute to make the bed at night? Yet others think they are the best invention since sliced bread!!

And the overcab roof light that robs you of the perfect place to store the duvets!

We bought a 12 month old Gatcombe limited edition 10 years ago and it was a smashing van 5 cylinder 2.5 diesel T4 engine and it flew along, don't know the price of spares though as we only kept it 2 years.

Rienza based on the Ford Transit will be a plodder but virtually run forever and cheaper for spares.

John.

The Rienza is a nice van one to consider, it is in effect a styrofoam version of the Legend.   We considered on 2 occasions buying a Rienza or a Hampshire (same van with a Marquis badge) but it was a tad too long to park at home. Hence our Windsor which is just shorter

We're like Roli though Peter, we can't accommodate a van any longer than 6 metres on the drive.

Even if I admitted to the remote possibility of being wrong ( ) we are left with very little option. I know there are 6 metre vans with fixed beds, but the sacrifice in most (all?) other habitation issues is far too great for us to contemplate.

Who knows what the future will bring though? I always said I would never tow a small car, but age and health issues forced a change of mind, and having realised how easy it is I rather wish I hadn't been so set against for so long.

Dave

Hi Dave,

I have run a Rienza for about 6 years. Ours is a 2006 two berth on a Mk6 Transit. We were more than happy with it.

The van was a mark6 and therefore a five gear manual change. It could have done with a sixth gear, although since we usually travel at 50 - 55mph it was not a major issue. This returned an average of about 29mpg. It has been said that the mk 7 has more electronic bits and does not have quite the same reliability in this area.

Rear wheel drive and we fitted winter tyres and never had any issues with mud or grass. It has a chain rather than a belt, so no worry there. We are trading it in with 37,000 miles and had no mechanical issues whatever although it was hardly 'run in'.

I had the chassis and underside wax oiled, the hab is grp, so the only rust potential is the cab and parts will be available for ever. That said the only evidence of rust (and I checked very regularly) was the standard surface rust that appears above the windscreen on all transits. At ten years of age I had one spot treated 18 months ago and it was beginning to show again recently.

The interior was fantastic, ours had a payload of about 550kg so no load issues. It was a two berth with a massive cupboard over the cab were we kept the bedding. The rear lounge is a delight with sprawling room on both sides and three huge picture windows. The two settees can be used as singles or a minute makes up a huge double. Cavernous storage under the beds, and 8 overhead lockers which we never managed to fill.

Washroom is average with no major design issues. The kitchen is good with slide out work top and a hinged one too. Three gas rings, one electric and a gas grill and a seperate oven.

6.9 metres and I think 2.2? Wide. 3500kg 80litre water tank and 60? Litre waste. 2 x 7kg gas bottles. Spare wheel as standard.

One major reason we bought ours was my wife felt very confident driving it (like a big 4 x4 ) and the rear vision was a big plus for her. Granted it is a bit simple in terms of driving kit, ie. no cruise control Bluetooth, inbuilt sat nav etc. But not something we felt we missed out on.

One note of caution. When we took it for trade in the dealers mechanics found damp in the near side wall behind the fridge. I was devastated as damp was something we watched for. No smell or other clues. Not a dealer scam as they had removed the fridge vents and had me feel around and see the readings. I was still offered £25000 for it, although this has to be seen in the light of the price to change, but it gives an indication of what they think they can resell it for after the damp has been dealt with. Donaghy's of Letterkenny, a well respected dealer so the repair should be sound. Not specifically a Rienza problem, I think damp is eventually an issue with most vans.

Feel free to contact me by thread or pm if you want more info. 

The only reason we are changing is that we fancy an A class and Autosleeper cannot meet our need.


Davy

Hi  ...    I can only enthusiastically echo all of Davy's remarks (Team Rienza) ..  ..  we owned one for seven years and it's a wonderful van.   Ours was two berth with storage in the Luton but I believe there are four berth versions.    I have yet to find a van which ticked all the boxes as well as it did.    Good luck with your search, and like Davy, just ask if you have any niggling doubts.

Bob.

Davy  .. I presently have an "A" class Burstner Viseo (shouldn't admit that on this forum ) so if you have any queries/thoughts, PM me.

Thanks for that offer Bob, but we are taking delivery in Jan an A class Hymer B598 PL.

I just had not until now made it public. As we have downsized our house and retired we wanted to plan for the next 10 + years of active touring.

Our Rienza was superb, but we wanted an A class with island bed to avoid the night time difficulties of a transverse bed. We also wanted a seperate shower, so sadly Autosleeper did not meet the spec. The construction method and Alko chassis were appealing for future longevity.

I am afraid I will have to amend my profile to sleeperless, but like lots of others I intend to hang around as this is such a friendly and useful forum. Strangely there is no equivilant for Hymer despite the numbers sold. Not sure what to do about my username which I use on several fora.


Davy

Peter Brown wrote:

Gromit wrote:Fixed beds are an example - why lug around six feet of space that's utterly wasted during the day when it takes less than a minute to make the bed at night? Yet others think they are the best invention since sliced bread!!

Above could have been said by me 5 years ago but I was wrong.  All the storage space underneath accessible from both inside and outside (no water heaters or tables under mine), Cats (in boxes) and all sorts of odds and ends on the top when camping, helicopters or walking gear when not. No bed to make and, very occasionally, don't even have to clear the table and do the washing up till the morning!

Totally agree Peter.  We've had both make up bed and now a fixed bed and wouldn't go back.  In addition to that already mentioned bikes are safe inside and both don't have to go to bed at the same time in a van that's only 500mm longer than our previous Gatcombe. 
Not knockin' just sayin'
Rich..

TeamRienza wrote:but we wanted an A class with island bed to avoid the night time difficulties of a transverse bed. We also wanted a seperate shower, so sadly Autosleeper did not meet the spec. 


Davy

Hi Davy, shame you couldnt have waited until next month as the New Autosleeper Corinium is being shown at the NEC and that may tick some of your boxes, ie Island bed on Alko chassis etc !!  , what would make that perfect (well.... almost perfect, if it had Alde Heating) but no ones seen it yet, should be interesting  , Rob

Hi David
I'm really cuffed for you and hope you have many years of great touring in your van
Hope you had a really good test drive ? My son picked up a used van from a dealership before Christmas and in a rush to catch a cross Chanel ferry didn't have a decent road test.
Within the hour of collecting the van the water pump failed, fortunately the dealership was able to arrange repairs and he was on his way, although a day late.
Happy New Year
Boaby

P.S the van is 2007 reg and with under 7000K on the clock

Congratulations on your new van. I hope you have many trouble free  miles and lots of great trips in it.

A happy new year and a slightly late xmass present to yourselves.

Best wishes,

Davy

Congratulations on your new van and hope you have many years use from it.

John.

Dave 418 wrote:...................
 I am having lunch in the van just to have a play with things, sad I know. So far a nice van.

Dave,

Not sad at all - just a case of "Boys and their toys!"     

Enjoy!!      

Best regards,

Ian

Enjoy your van, I have had lunch many times in my van, on the drive.

If you are a loony Dave, that makes two of us. Well, four if you include our bosses!!

We still have afternoon tea in the van on occasions. I also like to sit in there sometimes and ponder about what might be improved and how best to do it - a significant part of the pleasure of motorhoming in my opinion.

Useful tip though - always have a plausible story ready for when the wife comes in and wakes you up. Saves you looking quite such an idiot!!

Dave

Much as I love my pre school grandkids coming to stay, there are times when granddad gets a bit battered from being climbed on etc. So I start a game of hide and seek. Guess where my chosen place is to hide.., and I lock the door behind me...

bikeralw wrote:Much as I love my pre school grandkids coming to stay, there are times when granddad gets a bit battered from being climbed on etc. So I start a game of hide and seek. Guess where my chosen place is to hide.., and I lock the door behind me...

     

We try to make a point of standing in the drive to say our "Goodbyes" ...   

... usually with a celebratory glass of something alcoholic in hand ...   

... and with much wafting of the hands in the "go away" gesture to the words "Au Revoir!"  


At the moment we are at the "great-grandchild" level and it don't get any easier as you get older!!     


Best regards,