We were so close to buying an Autotrail and so happy we hired first. The driving experience was horrific! We ended up going home and couldn't wait to take it back. I have no idea how people can say it's fun! Quite disappointing because we had so many adventures planned. Thank you so much for your honest video. Wish I'd seen it before! Going to stick to Airbnb 😂
Interesting reading the comments here - it’s clearly a matter of horses for courses. We did exactly the opposite to most people, bought a California, loved the ride but found the camping experience to be relatively miserable, sold it and bought an F60 Autotrail which has completely transformed our enjoyment of “vanning”. Fully agree that the driving experience is nowhere near as good as the Cali but the comfort and convenience of the motor home is easily tens times better…a real home from home no matter what the weather throws at us. Our view was that the time spent camping vs the time spent driving was such a massive ratio that we could live with a lesser driving experience and that has worked for us.
Nice review and yes I agree it’s a lifestyle choice. I can’t relax in hotels and b&bs I love my own space. Plus I can take my dogs. Thanks for your time and effort doing your channel.
Fab Vlog, as ever. We did exactly that. Hired a Motorhome and experienced the same issues, plus an awful turning circle. So, we ordered a factory new T6.1, 4M, SWB, Kombi, Highline, T32, 204PS and had it converted to 4 Birth. It was the Black 'Swamper' you saw at BusFest, opposite the 3 Crafter Guys, in the Club section. Our only regret is, not having enough time to travel every weekend. I would happily spend 6mts in it, despite no shower and a, as yet not used porta potti. We love camper vanning and believe VW have made a mistake by discontinuing the T6.x idea and instead partnering with Ford...🤯. Hope all goes well with your Sven and many more hotel pampering hols for your Dad!!
I remember your van - looked fantastic! I think we're all waiting to see what the VW version of the new Transit looks like, here's hoping for something that we'll all aspire to. Our Sven can't come soon enough!!
Enjoyable review. Fascinating how a clever design becomes washed out by a less appealing driving experience. We take the California a little bit for granted but we do enjoy driving it even above the cars.
Interesting video which contributes to the ongoing debate of campervan versus well equipped compact motorhome for similar money. As your Dad is the double of Len Goodman, I would have to give the Autotrail a SEVEEEEEEN !
I had a similar sized motorhome, but i had to get rid due to build quality and the width, those extra wide mirrors didnt help - it wasnt an auto trail. I went for a van conversion on a transit, so much easier to drive and is ideal for me, but its all about compromise. Good luck with his final choice/decision.
Crikey, the rattling would drive us mad. We hired a VW California Ocean, loved it, but needed just slightly more space. We love our Bilbo LWB Celex converted from a T6.1 VW Transporter. Always recommend hiring, first. Great video though, thank you and your Dad 😄🚐
Good video. I would say though that a lot of the noise is to do with the build quality. I’ve owned an old Hymer & Concorde and rattles & noise were barely evident in either. Same goes for the driving and control. Even big vans shouldnt be battered around or be overly tiring to drive. I like the Lay-out of that van but I wouldn’t touch an English Motorhome with a bargepole.
I think it's quite interesting how something on paper can look just perfect as a solution/answer and the reality when you try it can be totally different for unexpected reasons. Both my dad and I were really surprised how much conversion noise there was in this as we both were expecting a lot better. Having been in other motorhomes and big van conversions we'd agree with you - they're not all like this!
Good question - my dad was getting between 22 and 28mpg in this one. That said, the 22mpg was when he had to get a bit of a move on to get to a campsite in time (so 70mph on the motorway) in high winds and driving rain.
Just to give fair balance, they aren't all like this - there are other makes and base van models which are extremely well built and don't rattle and drive fantastically.
We were so close to buying an Autotrail and so happy we hired first. The driving experience was horrific! We ended up going home and couldn't wait to take it back. I have no idea how people can say it's fun! Quite disappointing because we had so many adventures planned. Thank you so much for your honest video. Wish I'd seen it before! Going to stick to Airbnb 😂
Interesting reading the comments here - it’s clearly a matter of horses for courses. We did exactly the opposite to most people, bought a California, loved the ride but found the camping experience to be relatively miserable, sold it and bought an F60 Autotrail which has completely transformed our enjoyment of “vanning”. Fully agree that the driving experience is nowhere near as good as the Cali but the comfort and convenience of the motor home is easily tens times better…a real home from home no matter what the weather throws at us. Our view was that the time spent camping vs the time spent driving was such a massive ratio that we could live with a lesser driving experience and that has worked for us.
Thats a really great point re time spent camping vs time spent driving
Nice review and yes I agree it’s a lifestyle choice. I can’t relax in hotels and b&bs I love my own space. Plus I can take my dogs. Thanks for your time and effort doing your channel.
Fab Vlog, as ever. We did exactly that. Hired a Motorhome and experienced the same issues, plus an awful turning circle. So, we ordered a factory new T6.1, 4M, SWB, Kombi, Highline, T32, 204PS and had it converted to 4 Birth. It was the Black 'Swamper' you saw at BusFest, opposite the 3 Crafter Guys, in the Club section. Our only regret is, not having enough time to travel every weekend. I would happily spend 6mts in it, despite no shower and a, as yet not used porta potti. We love camper vanning and believe VW have made a mistake by discontinuing the T6.x idea and instead partnering with Ford...🤯. Hope all goes well with your Sven and many more hotel pampering hols for your Dad!!
I remember your van - looked fantastic! I think we're all waiting to see what the VW version of the new Transit looks like, here's hoping for something that we'll all aspire to. Our Sven can't come soon enough!!
Good review. Well produced
Thanks for the honest review
Thanks, really good film (yet again). Answers so many of my questions about 'bigger than Cali' vans
Glad you enjoyed it but I would say that bigger vans aren't all like this too - some are extremely well built, solid and do not rattle!
Enjoyable review. Fascinating how a clever design becomes washed out by a less appealing driving experience.
We take the California a little bit for granted but we do enjoy driving it even above the cars.
We did in ours too - any drive always felt like an occasion !
Great vid,, enjoyed that,, i agree hire first, we hired a vw camper and took loads from a week in it before we bought a year later
Interesting video which contributes to the ongoing debate of campervan versus well equipped compact motorhome for similar money. As your Dad is the double of Len Goodman, I would have to give the Autotrail a SEVEEEEEEN !
😆
I had a similar sized motorhome, but i had to get rid due to build quality and the width, those extra wide mirrors didnt help - it wasnt an auto trail. I went for a van conversion on a transit, so much easier to drive and is ideal for me, but its all about compromise. Good luck with his final choice/decision.
Crikey, the rattling would drive us mad. We hired a VW California Ocean, loved it, but needed just slightly more space. We love our Bilbo LWB Celex converted from a T6.1 VW Transporter. Always recommend hiring, first. Great video though, thank you and your Dad 😄🚐
Can't that bed come right down so you don't need a ladder
Unfortunately not because the cupboards are attached to it underneath.
That bed comes further down doesn't it?
It didn't want to!
Good video. I would say though that a lot of the noise is to do with the build quality. I’ve owned an old Hymer & Concorde and rattles & noise were barely evident in either. Same goes for the driving and control. Even big vans shouldnt be battered around or be overly tiring to drive. I like the Lay-out of that van but I wouldn’t touch an English Motorhome with a bargepole.
I think it's quite interesting how something on paper can look just perfect as a solution/answer and the reality when you try it can be totally different for unexpected reasons. Both my dad and I were really surprised how much conversion noise there was in this as we both were expecting a lot better. Having been in other motorhomes and big van conversions we'd agree with you - they're not all like this!
Think that's your grill pan rattling. Better packing will help
It wasn’t actually as it was wrapped in a tea towel.. that grill / oven looked like a rattle box!
Funny how these professional testers never mention any of these faults.well done you
Camperdad Time
What's running costs?
Good question - my dad was getting between 22 and 28mpg in this one. That said, the 22mpg was when he had to get a bit of a move on to get to a campsite in time (so 70mph on the motorway) in high winds and driving rain.
Those rattles 😮 don’t think one of your guides with sticky anti-rattle tape would sort that lot 😂
Oh my... it would take A LOT of time to find and silence all of those!!
They are all like that...I never know how people do big miles in them, they are very tiring to drive.
Should of really tested a compact Motorhome as a comparison to a campervan
Good video, pretty much convinced me not to go down the Motorhome route.
Just to give fair balance, they aren't all like this - there are other makes and base van models which are extremely well built and don't rattle and drive fantastically.
It's a big no for me. I'll stick with my Cali.