If you can go slightly bigger to 6.4m the Chausson 650 is incredible. The extra garage and internal space it gives frankly amazing. We've had some fantastic trips in our 650 and we carry a lot of sports gear, bbq, pizza oven and so on effortlessly. I cannot recommend it enough.
Lovely layout!👍 One of the best now out there for 2 people sins Adria Matrix Axess 520 ST stop produced in 2021. More or less the same layout as Adria. Thanks for this review.
I think for smaller motorhomes putting the bed over the lounge area is a very good idea because you don’t use the bed and the lounge at the same time. This small motorhome illustrates many of the advantages of a motorhome over a van conversion. I think this one would be great for skiers with that tall thin storage area.
That’s the kind of van/RV I wish I have. Since it’s nice to just hang out someplace for a day with it. Or, if I’m at a relative house for a family get together (which is impossible now), this would be neat to have and just hide myself away. Then again, I need the one that have the solar panels that can run the energy for the power for music and air-con at the same time. Which is just me for a hot day within an island.
Hello Alan. Sorry I'm late to this marvellous video but can you tell me where I can find the nets of which you speak for the open kitchen shelves? I got Gunzburg from what you said but couldn't find the rest (kepor?). Thank you.
There you go with a video - and I am much slimmer now then I was then : th-cam.com/video/ShR7V8DFxyg/w-d-xo.html I suppose you can order them here : facebook.com/netz.dir.was
Hi Alan, this layout seems great, I love the apartment feel and how the bed is designed! I know you don't like to comment on build quality (I've watched your other video linked below) but you said you had a friend who uses this van and if you have a video with him, or alternatively could tell me his impression of build quality/durability/insulation etc., I'd be really grateful!
He is happy with it but he uses it for leisure only. It is not warm enough for winter use in his opinion. He sometimes takes it to his allotment at weekends but may connect it to the electricity for extra heat.
@@VanlifewithAlanI was afraid of that. Their website gives it the big one about being winter-ready but I'm always sceptical 🤨! Hopefully something of the same layout, equipped for all seasons, is available from other manufacturers.
There are plenty of solar panels in the shops - you have to fix them on - or better get someone to do it. I have done videos on electricity and running computers etc. The boiler is powered by diesel for hot water.
looks good. decent sized kitchen, nice bathroom and lounge. As long as bedding can be stored on top of bed whilst raised it could work. Does it have a solar panal on roof?
I always felt the beds only steal space! This is a good solution & also the wall beds are nice solutions! Is there more of these ‘bedless’ innovative types?
Interesting. Pretty much identical to our 7 year old Burstner IT 585 but we have over 700kg payload, wondering if the bed motor is particularly heavy 😂
Hello Alan and thank you for the video....one thing I almost always wanna see and almost no one covers is, whether or not the RV comes with adaptive cruise control (ACC), and other tech like blind spot monitor...lane departure...etc. Ekko in the US has all those bells and whistles...given my experience with my own personal car, ACC is a must have, especially so in an RV. If possible, please do cover those options on the RV as well. I will not get an RV with no ACC, regardless of how good the RV is, am I the only one thinking like that? Lastly, what are your thoughts on the "Winnebago Ekko"? Thanks again!
I don't know the Winebago Ekko so I can't comment. As for the ACC, this depends on the base vehicle, not the motorhome manufacturer. I know that Mercedes has ACC so therefore it is an option with a Mercedes motorhome. I presume that Fiat offers it as well, but I don't know. This would come with the vehicle packed options! I have had vehicles with cruise control but I have never used it!
All these features come as options with the vehicle. I'm in Australia and pretty much all vehicles come with that stuff standard now. It surprises me that a lot of these vehicles in Europe still come with manual gearboxes, no Aircon, no reverse camera, ACC, or other safety features as standard.
Good layout. Thanks for introducing, Alan. Would appreciate any comments when you're doing these videos on the build quality. Mostly, I wish that companies like Benimar would recognise that some customers are looking to put their vans on a more powerful and 4x4 platform. Ford actually offers this, so it would be an easy win for Benimar to extend this option to the end customer.
Thanks Alan. OK, got it. There were two parts to my comment. Still looking for the perfect set up for 2 people plus 2 dogs who want to be more off the beaten track than on it. Basically, a Chausson 640 but better build quality and capable of mild offroad. If you can help me find the van we buy I can pay. Happy to pass on contact details if you delete from view.
Some thing like the Challenger 250? It's a little longer but has full bathroom and a proper garage. Although the big kitchen on this one looks very useful
I am a person who only sleeps 5-6 hours tops. For me, this is my favorite RV so far this year from a brand I never even heard of. Great video. Thanks.
I am sleeping more with age!
Alan pulling down that bed xD I couldnt laugh more, thanks for this
laughed my head off at the slimming advice OMG still laughing - thanks - stay safe - ;O)
Glad you enjoyed it
So did I and believe me I could use that type of advice! 😂
@@amyfender1 I do my best Amy! I eat once a day now. It seems to help!
If you can go slightly bigger to 6.4m the Chausson 650 is incredible. The extra garage and internal space it gives frankly amazing. We've had some fantastic trips in our 650 and we carry a lot of sports gear, bbq, pizza oven and so on effortlessly. I cannot recommend it enough.
Thanks for sharing!
Lovely layout!👍 One of the best now out there for 2 people sins Adria Matrix Axess 520 ST stop produced in 2021. More or less the same layout as Adria. Thanks for this review.
TY Allen.
Thanks for watching Brian!
Very beautiful RV and I like the layout. However I would pick one with a garage for my electric bike.
I think for smaller motorhomes putting the bed over the lounge area is a very good idea because you don’t use the bed and the lounge at the same time. This small motorhome illustrates many of the advantages of a motorhome over a van conversion. I think this one would be great for skiers with that tall thin storage area.
That’s the kind of van/RV I wish I have. Since it’s nice to just hang out someplace for a day with it. Or, if I’m at a relative house for a family get together (which is impossible now), this would be neat to have and just hide myself away. Then again, I need the one that have the solar panels that can run the energy for the power for music and air-con at the same time. Which is just me for a hot day within an island.
It's a great idea. It's like double story.
There is font storage under the dinette that has door to the outside, so additional garage space.
Great van,
But both have to go to bed at same time.
Thanks again mate 🙂
As I have nearly always gone to bed at the same time as the person I was with, I forgot about that one! But good point!
Hello Alan. Sorry I'm late to this marvellous video but can you tell me where I can find the nets of which you speak for the open kitchen shelves? I got Gunzburg from what you said but couldn't find the rest (kepor?). Thank you.
There you go with a video - and I am much slimmer now then I was then : th-cam.com/video/ShR7V8DFxyg/w-d-xo.html
I suppose you can order them here : facebook.com/netz.dir.was
@@VanlifewithAlan Thank you for taking the time to respond. I'll take a look.
Hi Alan, this layout seems great, I love the apartment feel and how the bed is designed!
I know you don't like to comment on build quality (I've watched your other video linked below) but you said you had a friend who uses this van and if you have a video with him, or alternatively could tell me his impression of build quality/durability/insulation etc., I'd be really grateful!
He is happy with it but he uses it for leisure only. It is not warm enough for winter use in his opinion. He sometimes takes it to his allotment at weekends but may connect it to the electricity for extra heat.
@@VanlifewithAlanI was afraid of that. Their website gives it the big one about being winter-ready but I'm always sceptical 🤨! Hopefully something of the same layout, equipped for all seasons, is available from other manufacturers.
@@fttf Winter ready for the Spanish coast maybe, but not for the Spanish interior!
I only need a 2 person van so looking for compact but spacious and this van ticks a lot of boxes!
Chris, how you doing mate?
These are very nice layouts. But for 55k you can also get a karmann dexter 550. Which one would you like more !
The Karmann is very compact but looks a little too compact for me. This one is just that little bit bigger but feels a lot more spacious.
For me def. The Benimar. Rented one gor 2 weeks and liked everything about it
Yes its certainly a trendy van externally.
Hi Mark!
i love all your vidios because you explained in detail . greetings from indonesia
Thank you very much!
If the table was foldable, t would greatly improve the circulation in the area.
Really nice but doesn't seem to have much storage for clothes etc
If we pick this one, how can we get enough electricity to work/run laptop/internet/lights/warm showers?
Is it packed on top with solar panels?
Or should we do it ourselves?
Can we even place enough to live in it & working in it daily? (Laptop)
There are plenty of solar panels in the shops - you have to fix them on - or better get someone to do it. I have done videos on electricity and running computers etc. The boiler is powered by diesel for hot water.
looks good. decent sized kitchen, nice bathroom and lounge. As long as bedding can be stored on top of bed whilst raised it could work. Does it have a solar panal on roof?
It would do if you bought one!
I always felt the beds only steal space!
This is a good solution & also the wall beds are nice solutions! Is there more of these ‘bedless’ innovative types?
Yes, there are a number of them such as by Challenger, Chausson, Hobby and others!
Interesting. Pretty much identical to our 7 year old Burstner IT 585 but we have over 700kg payload, wondering if the bed motor is particularly heavy 😂
I don't think the motor will add a great deal to the weight!
@@VanlifewithAlan nor do I 🙂
What happens if the bed motors stop working. Can it be manually wound up and down?
yes, there is a manual option to pull it down
And wind it back up again - but apparently it takes around 20 minutes.
@@VanlifewithAlan At my age, 20 mins to get it back up sounds great.
@@Chriswoodworker lol
I enjoyed watching the Video 😁 Review
Hello Alan and thank you for the video....one thing I almost always wanna see and almost no one covers is, whether or not the RV comes with adaptive cruise control (ACC), and other tech like blind spot monitor...lane departure...etc. Ekko in the US has all those bells and whistles...given my experience with my own personal car, ACC is a must have, especially so in an RV. If possible, please do cover those options on the RV as well. I will not get an RV with no ACC, regardless of how good the RV is, am I the only one thinking like that?
Lastly, what are your thoughts on the "Winnebago Ekko"? Thanks again!
I don't know the Winebago Ekko so I can't comment. As for the ACC, this depends on the base vehicle, not the motorhome manufacturer. I know that Mercedes has ACC so therefore it is an option with a Mercedes motorhome. I presume that Fiat offers it as well, but I don't know. This would come with the vehicle packed options! I have had vehicles with cruise control but I have never used it!
@@VanlifewithAlan Thank You!
All these features come as options with the vehicle. I'm in Australia and pretty much all vehicles come with that stuff standard now. It surprises me that a lot of these vehicles in Europe still come with manual gearboxes, no Aircon, no reverse camera, ACC, or other safety features as standard.
@@gooble69 Agreed, Thank You!
You forgot to mention the price?
I MISS THE SEKOND VIDEO! 😥
Good layout. Thanks for introducing, Alan. Would appreciate any comments when you're doing these videos on the build quality.
Mostly, I wish that companies like Benimar would recognise that some customers are looking to put their vans on a more powerful and 4x4 platform. Ford actually offers this, so it would be an easy win for Benimar to extend this option to the end customer.
Michael, there is a video response to this one! th-cam.com/video/qZ_B71RFOQQ/w-d-xo.html
Thanks Alan. OK, got it. There were two parts to my comment. Still looking for the perfect set up for 2 people plus 2 dogs who want to be more off the beaten track than on it. Basically, a Chausson 640 but better build quality and capable of mild offroad. If you can help me find the van we buy I can pay. Happy to pass on contact details if you delete from view.
Alan, this is another camper van based on a van and made of plastic.
You didn.t tell us what the base vehicle is (Fiat?) nor the engine ..Otherwise it,s a fantastic RV!👍
Looks like a Ford Transit.
and the other option is a Fiat Ducato!
funny your diet advice :)
Yes, lol to the intermittent fasting quip. Quite correct, but each to their own. 🦉 🦉
Glad you think so!
I like it 😊
Are you still doing your diet?
Yes but I think I have put on weight. I stopped when I was on antibiotics which was when this was filmed.
Bathroom in the back would be better
Some thing like the Challenger 250? It's a little longer but has full bathroom and a proper garage. Although the big kitchen on this one looks very useful
4:23 I think the bed can be dropped only halfway if you want to use the space under it while someone else sleeps