Those portholes look like toilet seat lids and ugly I think. Those thin cupboards above the drivers seat are a nice touch, most don’t utilise the space which annoys me. Like this van it’s clever, just those big lids that are hideous 😂 PS I bet there wasn’t much payload and it would need up rating
Haha, yes I did think that about the porthole windows when filming. Agree too about utilising space. Cupboards or cubby holes, even small ones, are useful. The van felt solid, but couldn't see any figures regarding payload. Thanks for commenting.
I’ve got to be honest, I’ve watched all of your videos and I didn’t like any of them, (vans that is) certainly wouldn’t be paying all that money for one , I’m glad I built my own at least I’ve got everything I want and it’s in the right place.
Thanks for checking out this series of videos and commenting. Much appreciated. I guess everyone's needs are different and happy that you have a van that suits you. Enjoy your travels. Martin
I hope you won't mind me picking your brains a bit? I'll be looking to get a motorhome next year, and one of the biggest questions in my mind is about how much of a hassle is caused by the extra width of a coach built van. I'll be spending several months at a time in the van, and so space seems like a big priority (I'm not a big fan of small living spaces anyway, but you simply have to compromise on that for travelling this way). I'd prefer a coachbuilt for more interior space- in fact I'm favouring a large front lounge and over-cab bed. But it is a bit of a nagging doubt that people such as yourself are happy to give up the extra space in order to have a narrower vehicle, and so I wondered if you wouldn't mind expanding on your issues and your experiences in coping with the vehicle width of a coachbuilt? Perhaps it might make an interesting short video?
Hello, and thanks for taking the time to comment. Not sure if I am the right person to ask but I will tell you my thinking. The Bessacarr that I have at present (lots of previous videos showing it) is my first motorhome and I took a long time to choose it. The large rear washroom was the clincher. Having done 4 years or so of trips around the UK, the width has been my biggest concern. I have been holding my breath while driving some narrow roads hoping that I wouldn't meet anyone! I like the space inside and being a tall chap, it does feel roomy. The vans that I have been looking at are 2.05 m wide whereas my Bessacarr body is 2.33 m. 28cm difference is 11 inches narrower so that appeals. On top of that the wing mirrors on the van conversion cabs are 19cm shorter than the long arm wing mirrors on my Bessacarr. That is 38 cm (15 inches!) across the whole cab. I believe that would give me greater piece of mind on narrower roads. As for the inside, living and travelling in a van conversion, I can't tell you about, because I haven't got one yet! That would be my biggest compromise. I also want a fixed bed, four seatbelts and an automatic. It may be a big mistake on my part if I changed, but because of my anxiety I can't go on trips and constantly worry about not being able to go down those roads, park in those spaces or not visit Cornwall!! With the overcab bed that you have thought about, I guess you will also have to consider height. I haven't worried about that too much in my Bessacarr, or the length to be fair. Thanks again.
Thanks so much for that very detailed and helpful info. Tbh, reading that response has almost tipped me back towards a van conversion! I'm not a hugely confident driver and I worry it might put me me off doing some drives if the roads start getting really narrow. On the other hand, I might spend 5 or 6 months of each year travelling in the van, so the need for living space is a major issue. But anxiety and stress on narrow roads might also make my trips unpleasant, but just in a different way. Maybe a 6.5 or 7 metre van conversion is the way to go? It's almost impossible to predict how each of these competing compromises might impact on living in a van, as I've never done it. I think a week's hire of each type of vehicle might help me make a better decision. I'm also starting to wonder if I might be better going for a used vehicle for my first van, as I wont lose too much money if I sell it on after six months. But once again, thanks for your helpful and thought-provoking reply.
@bigtoe333333 The hiring of a van is something that I was encouraged to do, but when I was quoted £1,000 for a week, I thought I would be okay! I do think it a good idea though if you are uncertain. I bought secondhand. There are some nice used vans out there. Have you been to any motorhome shows? Always plenty of vans and motorhomes to sit in and check out. The Warners shows are worth going to. I guess there are 6.5 or 7m van conversions out there. Crafter or MAN vans are 6.8m I think. Ir took me over a year to choose 'Bentley' and he has been good to me. Good luck. Martin
Hello again! I did ask about it later, but I don't think that particular person had an answer. I was more questioning the designer who thought over complicating the washroom was a good idea. I suppose if you were travelling in a small van with someone you didn't like, then maybe a room divider was a good thing...
An expensive van for not so good a layout. That bathroom was crap. You could block off the sink but what about all the water that would run behind and underneath the bog! Nah, whoever bought that has more money than sense.
Haha totally right Helen. Must have been a first year design project "how many doors can we get in a washroom". Oh and I can add a barn door thing too. 😂. Never seen anything like it. Ciao
Love a bit of spring action!
It was all going well until the washroom!... Doors here, there and everywhere!
Cheers Marrrrtin!
😁
Yeah bloody hell. By the time you've sorted all the doors you've had an accident!! Cheers Ju
Forgot to say. . 5-0 COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️
@@BentleyOnTour 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@BentleyOnTour Just had to look that up!!!!!!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@blakes4ontour Were gonna win the *cup*
Those portholes look like toilet seat lids and ugly I think. Those thin cupboards above the drivers seat are a nice touch, most don’t utilise the space which annoys me. Like this van it’s clever, just those big lids that are hideous 😂 PS I bet there wasn’t much payload and it would need up rating
Haha, yes I did think that about the porthole windows when filming. Agree too about utilising space. Cupboards or cubby holes, even small ones, are useful. The van felt solid, but couldn't see any figures regarding payload. Thanks for commenting.
I’ve got to be honest, I’ve watched all of your videos and I didn’t like any of them, (vans that is) certainly wouldn’t be paying all that money for one , I’m glad I built my own at least I’ve got everything I want and it’s in the right place.
Thanks for checking out this series of videos and commenting. Much appreciated. I guess everyone's needs are different and happy that you have a van that suits you. Enjoy your travels. Martin
I hope you won't mind me picking your brains a bit? I'll be looking to get a motorhome next year, and one of the biggest questions in my mind is about how much of a hassle is caused by the extra width of a coach built van.
I'll be spending several months at a time in the van, and so space seems like a big priority (I'm not a big fan of small living spaces anyway, but you simply have to compromise on that for travelling this way).
I'd prefer a coachbuilt for more interior space- in fact I'm favouring a large front lounge and over-cab bed.
But it is a bit of a nagging doubt that people such as yourself are happy to give up the extra space in order to have a narrower vehicle, and so I wondered if you wouldn't mind expanding on your issues and your experiences in coping with the vehicle width of a coachbuilt?
Perhaps it might make an interesting short video?
Hello, and thanks for taking the time to comment. Not sure if I am the right person to ask but I will tell you my thinking. The Bessacarr that I have at present (lots of previous videos showing it) is my first motorhome and I took a long time to choose it. The large rear washroom was the clincher.
Having done 4 years or so of trips around the UK, the width has been my biggest concern. I have been holding my breath while driving some narrow roads hoping that I wouldn't meet anyone! I like the space inside and being a tall chap, it does feel roomy.
The vans that I have been looking at are 2.05 m wide whereas my Bessacarr body is 2.33 m. 28cm difference is 11 inches narrower so that appeals. On top of that the wing mirrors on the van conversion cabs are 19cm shorter than the long arm wing mirrors on my Bessacarr. That is 38 cm (15 inches!) across the whole cab. I believe that would give me greater piece of mind on narrower roads.
As for the inside, living and travelling in a van conversion, I can't tell you about, because I haven't got one yet! That would be my biggest compromise. I also want a fixed bed, four seatbelts and an automatic. It may be a big mistake on my part if I changed, but because of my anxiety I can't go on trips and constantly worry about not being able to go down those roads, park in those spaces or not visit Cornwall!!
With the overcab bed that you have thought about, I guess you will also have to consider height. I haven't worried about that too much in my Bessacarr, or the length to be fair.
Thanks again.
Thanks so much for that very detailed and helpful info.
Tbh, reading that response has almost tipped me back towards a van conversion!
I'm not a hugely confident driver and I worry it might put me me off doing some drives if the roads start getting really narrow.
On the other hand, I might spend 5 or 6 months of each year travelling in the van, so the need for living space is a major issue. But anxiety and stress on narrow roads might also make my trips unpleasant, but just in a different way.
Maybe a 6.5 or 7 metre van conversion is the way to go?
It's almost impossible to predict how each of these competing compromises might impact on living in a van, as I've never done it. I think a week's hire of each type of vehicle might help me make a better decision.
I'm also starting to wonder if I might be better going for a used vehicle for my first van, as I wont lose too much money if I sell it on after six months.
But once again, thanks for your helpful and thought-provoking reply.
@bigtoe333333 The hiring of a van is something that I was encouraged to do, but when I was quoted £1,000 for a week, I thought I would be okay! I do think it a good idea though if you are uncertain. I bought secondhand. There are some nice used vans out there. Have you been to any motorhome shows? Always plenty of vans and motorhomes to sit in and check out. The Warners shows are worth going to.
I guess there are 6.5 or 7m van conversions out there. Crafter or MAN vans are 6.8m I think.
Ir took me over a year to choose 'Bentley' and he has been good to me.
Good luck. Martin
Why not ask for assistance with the washroom?
Hello again! I did ask about it later, but I don't think that particular person had an answer. I was more questioning the designer who thought over complicating the washroom was a good idea. I suppose if you were travelling in a small van with someone you didn't like, then maybe a room divider was a good thing...
An expensive van for not so good a layout. That bathroom was crap. You could block off the sink but what about all the water that would run behind and underneath the bog! Nah, whoever bought that has more money than sense.
Haha totally right Helen. Must have been a first year design project "how many doors can we get in a washroom". Oh and I can add a barn door thing too. 😂. Never seen anything like it. Ciao