Swingwalls

We've been looking for a few months now to change the Nuevo. I think we have come to a decision to swop to either a later Nuevo or a Broadway (the layout with two long benches and rear kitchen, two berth). The stumbling block to stay with an AS for my better half is the swingwall used in both models. As far as she is concerned, a swingwall is just something to go wrong. I remember one thread on here about the top pivot coming away from the ceiling. I hope that was just a one-off. Has anyone else had problems with their swingwall?
We've still not totally written off the Warwick Duo as an alternative but feel we may appreciate the space of another coachbuilt more.

We don't move ours very often but it's one of the (many) things we like about the model. No problems with it whatsoever. I can understand the attraction of the Warwick Duo, we've looked at them a few times. For us it's about the extra space so if we were to change right now it would be another Neuvo or, at a push, a Broadway.

I have only swung mine a couple of times as we prefer to shower using the site facilities. I do have a problem with the translucent shower screen though. I have to park on a steep slope and the very flexible screen bows quite considerably. It hasn't yet detatched although it looks very close and is fine when parked on the level or on a moderate slope.

We looked at panel vans but felt so much more comfortable in a coachbuilt. I would like something longer but we cannot go above 6m and still park at our flat, and the Scandinavian tolls were a lot cheaper for under 6m vans so I am happy with the Nuevo.

I am quite tall at 6' 3", and nothing like as bendy as I used to be. For me the swing wall makes all the difference in a small van, where there isn't room for a large, dedicated shower.

I can take a shower quite easily if I don't flail my arms too much, and without splashing water all over the place. The only problem I have is bashing my head as I exit the bathroom!!    (Over two years and I still haven't learned!!!)

I think the problem aired on here a while ago must have been a one off. Others would have gleefully joined in if they had experienced the same problem - and they didn't! I would consider it one of the better design features of the van, as it utilises a small space to the best possible advantage.

Plus if you are one of those people who never use their own shower (  ) you are wasting hardly any room, as most of the shower area doubles up as standing room in the loo when having a wash or doing the teeth.

We have not had any problems with our swingwall shower, fitted on the same 2 berth Broadway you are considering.  We do occasionally forget that the shower gel is in the niche behind the washbasin, behind the wall, but eventually one of us remembers. 

As Dave says above, it's a neat bit of design making the best of a small space.

If you are of generous proportions or borderline agoraphobic then there is no reason why you should swing the wall at all to shower. A bit more wiping down afterwards but nothing that a good microfibre cloth can't deal with. Remove the loo roll first though....

One of the reasons we chose our Nuevo was the cleverness of the "swingwall". It gave us basically what we had in our previous caravan "a shower cubicle", not just a shower curtain and in such a compact vehicle.

Researching for a possible Nuevo, did AS stop production between 2011 and 2014? I ask because on Autotrader there are 48 Nuevos for sale but none between those years which is likely to be the age we want.

Did they call them Nuevo II during that time?

We had one, and that's what it was called, but I don't know for how long they were named as such.

dbroada wrote:I do have a problem with the translucent shower screen though. I have to park on a steep slope and the very flexible screen bows quite considerably. It hasn't yet detatched although it looks very close and is fine when parked on the level or on a moderate slope.

 We've used small blocks of the flexible high density foam, the kind that is often used in packaging, at the top, middle and bottom, between the door and the wall. It stops the door rattling and seems to prevent it bowing quite so much.

dbroada wrote: I do have a problem with the translucent shower screen though. I have to park on a steep slope and the very flexible screen bows quite considerably. 

I wonder if you have the same screen that we have ? Ours is strong enough that we hang a couple of overdoor hooks over the top with a bath mat on one and a bathrobe on the other. We've done that since new in early 2014 and never had a suspicion of bowing, deforming or chipping.  In wet weather we hang wet anoraks and umbrellas there.

Hi Paul, weve got a 2012 NUEVO EK ,having had coachbuilts with the dreaded nylon curtains ( Hymer and a Pilote) the swing wall came over as a really good design point ,and it hasn't disappointed, and no problems with it at all. the difference between a 2012 and 2014 onwards is that they are about 4 inches longer so that they were able to make the lounge settees the same length,they were in continuous production throughout those Yrs, probably the lack of S/H Nuevos is due to like us we like it too much to change!Best of luck with your quest for a new van, Kind regards      Paul

When we first went to use our swing wall (Berkshire)it come off with a small black plastic bit on the floor, could not work out where it came from so put swing wall back in place had no problems since. What i have noticed with the sink section that swings round is a crack on corner of sink think it caused by leaning on sink when on loo.

Hi Paul
We didn't use our shower in the 09 Nuevo that often. However we have used this one in the Sigma frequently this year, I'm abit more porky now and can still get a good lather up within its confirmed space.
Boaby

Thanks everyone for comments so far. Carol is a lot more confident in the swingwall now. Just got to find a van in our budget.

Quilter wrote:

dbroada wrote: I do have a problem with the translucent shower screen though. I have to park on a steep slope and the very flexible screen bows quite considerably. 

I wonder if you have the same screen that we have ? Ours is strong enough that we hang a couple of overdoor hooks over the top with a bath mat on one and a bathrobe on the other. We've done that since new in early 2014 and never had a suspicion of bowing, deforming or chipping.  In wet weather we hang wet anoraks and umbrellas there.

If I feel like heading downstairs sometime I'll look at mine and maybe even take a photo. We put wet things on the clothes line so the screen wouldn't be available to us.

dbroada wrote:
If I feel like heading downstairs sometime I'll look at mine and maybe even take a photo. We put wet things on the clothes line so the screen wouldn't be available to us.

The over door hooks are permanent and stay there while we are travelling when the polystyrene shower screen is parked against the wall. Even with the clothes line across there is still enough space that bathrobe etc stay in place.

Quilter wrote:

dbroada wrote:
If I feel like heading downstairs sometime I'll look at mine and maybe even take a photo. We put wet things on the clothes line so the screen wouldn't be available to us.

The over door hooks are permanent and stay there while we are travelling when the polystyrene shower screen is parked against the wall. Even with the clothes line across there is still enough space that bathrobe etc stay in place.

I will look into that possibility at the same time.

We have had our two berth Nuevo II EK bought new since December 2010. When I go away wild camping I obviously use the shower and therefore the swing wall system. I have never experienced any problems whatsoever.

Our old Autocruise Starfire EL had a swing wall bathroom, always said the man that thought of that should be knighted! Brilliant idea but so simple. Never a problem with it either.

Hi
   We have a Surrey with the Swingwall being a 58 plate it must have been one of the first with this design ,We have had to have the sink replaced as it was just plain worn out quite a big job at Autosleepers and we have noticed the swingwall is cracking at the bottom so be warned as it gets older and we rarely use the shower
Regards
Alan

groundhog wrote:Our old Autocruise Starfire EL had a swing wall bathroom, always said the man that thought of that should be knighted! Brilliant idea but so simple. Never a problem with it either.

Autocruise were apparently the first to use the swingwall.

gemdeco wrote:Hi
   We have a Surrey with the Swingwall being a 58 plate it must have been one of the first with this design ,We have had to have the sink replaced as it was just plain worn out quite a big job at Autosleepers and we have noticed the swingwall is cracking at the bottom so be warned as it gets older and we rarely use the shower
Regards
Alan

That's the sort of problems I dread, thanks for the warning.!

I'd agree with all the feedback on the design and use. Just one comment: the door could be improved by being a few inches lower. This might avoid the small amount of water spilling outside the shower area onto the toilet "area". The same comment applied to our earlier Autocruise . That said, we overcome the problem by placing an absorbent cloth outside the door.

An improvement over the Autocruise is the two drain holes. I've never understood why manufacturers of shower trays for caravans/motor homes  often provide just one drain hole, and frequently it's not even in the middle!

I'd also warn about leaving bottles in the niche behind the swing wall. Some are not held firmly and, movement of the van or the swing wall,  can cause them to drop out and possibly crack the shower tray.

cruisecontrol wrote:An improvement over the Autocruise is the two drain holes. I've never understood why manufacturers of shower trays for caravans/motor homes  often provide just one drain hole, and frequently it's not even in the middle!

Three in our tray.
A trip to Specsavers perhaps??