StillSmart

Life is silly-busy just right now...

Does anyone here have any experience in building a motorhome from a panel van - if so, I have a few Q's not listed here I'd like to ask at a later stage.

Plus, I can see a number of LWB's (long wheel base) vans but no XLWB's (extra long), even on sites like van-trader. Where can I find such vans and might they be recognised as a specific kind of vehicle?

In particular, I see that a Mercedes Sprinter has a decent LWB; are there any that are longer still, please? I tried to find a table of van lengths but failed.

Thank you muchly.

When I used to work for VOSA as an examiner, we used to call them EXTENDED CHASSIS VANS, most were used by delivery companies, with uprated suspension.

We have had 3 motor-homes the last one was a Burstner747,it was 27 foot long. The problem with large motor-homes is when you get to your campsite and get set up,they are to large to go anywhere, for instance try parking it in some small coastal town or the lake district no chance!
we got a trailer and a piagio x9 scooter which was a pain to tow, try reversing it. we ended up with a scooter rack and a Vespa 250 gts so we could get a round, we were losing the plot!
a motor home should be about mobility,travel,exploring new places, my advice think small,not big,you can get drive away awnings then use the motor home to explore during the day,use the awning to sit in etc and sleep in the van on a night.
Smaller campers are much more versatile. Now we want a Eriba caravan,we should have done that first! we would have saved a shed load of money! but its a personal choice,you sometimes have do things yourself for a year or two to find out whats suits you.

Regards Lucky.

Thank you, both.

vino-tinto: wow, thanks for that. I'm not keen on an ex-delivery vehicle having seen them being driven to hell and back.

lucky: yes, certainly food for thought, thank you. It's a tough choice between space and versatility. I will definitely consider your advice thoroughly - it could be a game-changer....


Thank you again.

So cheat...... Convert an artic trailer. 2.5 meters wide, 13.8 meters long. Get one with a zepro or similar tail lift and you could likely have a smart car or auris etc........inside. 13 ft at the "fifth wheel" should give you about 8ft internally.

even fully stacked out/loaded with holiday stuff itd be no weight, tyre wear and good diesel figures.......

after market air horns some upper and lower mounted light bars, a bull bar for tbe front and bingo. You could really piss the caravaners off.........just like they do to us !

I have seen a nice one where the cab was a pick-up that reversed into the motor home body. It used a 5th wheel coupling, but was not articulated.

At the camp site they put down stabiliser legs and went off shopping in the pick-up leaving the motor home set up. Best of both worlds possibly.

Sorry for the delay in replying, life is just too busy right now.

I do like the idea of a detachable tractor unit, but I shudder at the thought of driving an Artic truck!

As happened, I got an extended wheel base Transit just to get some experience to cut my teeth; my real all-out kit-out will be the next van once I have learned my mistakes....

Thanks to all who replied; your comments made a massive difference.