MY MOTORHOME
Bob and Jean Jackman buy what they think will be their ‘last’ motorhome
Life with a luxury rear lounge A-class motorhome from Frankia
We bought our first motorhome in 1999, a 6m two-berth coachbuilt with rear U-shaped lounge. This lasted until grandchildren arrived and was replaced with a CI Mizar in 2004 and then, in 2008, with a Frankia 680 ED.
Our latest ’van is another Frankia, the I 740 Plus, which is on a Fiat Ducato with an Al-Ko chassis.
We chose it for the following important reasons:
Having finished six months of treatment, I wanted a luxury two-berth, able to travel and sleep four. Jean was semi-retired and I was hoping to follow suit in a few years, so we’d have it fully ‘altered’ by then. The U-shaped lounge seats six in comfort, eight at a push and, most importantly, two in snooze mode. The garage takes two full-sized bikes (one electric), though the front wheels do have to be removed – an acceptable compromise. We have just managed to get four bikes in. Two occasional travel seats in the rear lounge.
Euro 6 engine.
Nearly a tonne of payload (even with a built-in kitchen sink, it’s always handy to carry tools, spares, oojymabits and thingamabobs).
The main (drop-down) bed. As the person who slept at the front of the overcab bed, I always had the cold spot; no more!
We had, in fact, spotted the ideal (two-year-old secondhand) earlier version of this ’van for sale at SMC, but it was sold very quickly so we never had chance to view it.
We looked at both used and new stock and found this 2016 model available immediately.
After much discussion, we decided to do or die and picked it up a few days later. We loaded all our gear and headed to the south of France for February and our shakedown cruise. ³
THE POINTY END
It’s a manual, six-speed, 177bhp Fiat
– a great drive and exhaustively discussed. Enough said!
The electrically operated dropdown bed sits above the cab and, with the extensions, can become two
(joined in the middle) singles. We use it as a transverse double and the infill cushions have never left the loft, along with the carpets.
Once lowered, a Mini Heki vent is accessible for warm nights.
Blinds on the cab windows keep the sun out and provide privacy. The front blind can be lowered to allow light in, but still keep the inside private.
Behind the cab seats are two cupboards: the nearside having a single shelf and the offside contains two large drinks cupboards, one making the two-step stairs up to the bed, and a drawer above.
The table is stored between the driver’s seat and the cupboard behind.
There are also two fiddle rails above each cupboard for guidebooks and small maps, though these are only truly accessible when the drop-down bed is lowered.
WASHING AND CLEANING
Aft of the two cupboards are sliding doors that can then be pulled across to separate the shower (offside) and loo/washbasin (nearside) from the bedroom. Pulling the loo door towards the rear encloses the washroom.
Excellent LED lighting, a rooflight, Thetford C260 loo and great pump pressure, makes this washroom the best we’ve had.
The shower has two swing doors to enclose it, two drainers and a rail above to hang wet stuff.
In the floor, a hatch enables access to the grey water tank and plug for complete emptying. Another Mini
Heki allows vapours to exit and sunlight to enter.
AMIDSHIPS
Behind the washroom is the entrance door, on the continental side, which is very convenient as we spend as much time abroad as at home. Actually, more time there, on the road, hopping out for baguettes for lunch! Just inside, behind the steps, is a shoe locker under the floor.
Behind the door is the two-burner hob and sink. This was the major compromise, as we’d never coped with just two burners!
Well, we have, quite easily as it turns out!
Beneath the hob and sink are three large drawers. The top one holds all our utensils with ease, and the second holds cans, pasta/rice, a bin and washing powder. The bottom drawer has two frying pans, two pans, three sieves (!), two kettles, more food and food bags, etc.
The crockery, more pans and storage containers, tea, coffee, etc, live in the two cupboards above the hob and sink.
In the floor, there’s another storage area and access to fresh water tank and drain down valves.
On the nearside are the wardrobe, fridge/ freezer/oven combo, a cupboard with shelf ( for a TV/laptop) and a high-level cupboard.
The wardrobe had four equally spaced shelves and no hanging room. By moving the bottom shelf up, we have a place to hang coats, etc.
The reduced shelf holds laptops and a rucksack, leaving washing and other odds and sods to be stored on the top two shelves.
We had doubts about the high-level oven, being of average height. However, as the oven is quite small, it has proven very usable.
The alternative layout would put
“Three large windows and a large skylight provide light” ample natural
the oven under the hob and halve the size of those wonderfully large and practical drawers.
So, in the end, this layout works best for us, but we are very aware of the oven door when open, as it’s easy to crack your head on!
The fridge holds more than the fridge we have at home and the freezer holds several weeks’ worth of meat and ice cream. The upper cupboard stores bread, butter, cereal and biscuits, though it can get warm if using the oven.
The lower cupboard is used for clothes and the drawer above it for pens, book and electronics.
Natural light enters via a Mini Heki in the roof, a window in the door and another above the sink. A bright task light is also located above the sink.
LOUNGING AND SNOOZING
Behind all this is the reason-to-buy U-shaped lounge, which is up a small step to increase the garage height. There are eight high-level cupboards used for first aid kits, books, sweets, spare bedding and anything else we can’t bear to leave behind.
The three large windows and a large skylight provide ample natural light, and there are LEDs that keep it just as bright at night.
The table had not been fixed in place, so the heavy leg went into the loft and two fold-up legs were screwed to the tabletop.
This stores neatly behind the driver’s seat (checked before we bought). Once on site, the table is usually left in the lounge but, in nice weather, can be used outside, so it’s lighter and more flexible that the fixed version.
The lounge makes two singles by removing the cushions and storing in the cab/shower, or an enormous double with the aluminium struts (kept in the wardrobe) in place and the seat tops folded out and backrests slotted in.
OUTSIDE
Next to the driver is the gas cupboard that holds two 11kg cylinders. We had the Gaslow system in the old ’van transferred and the filling point fixed in the door.
Behind this is the exterior access to the underfloor storage (beneath the washroom) that we use for tools, water pipes, spare loo cassette, awning and Fiamma poles.
On the nearside, three more doors give access to the loo cassette, electric hook-up and water (with room to store two cables and various water adapters). Finally, there is access to the Truma Combi 6kW space and water heater.
The garage holds two to four chairs, two bikes and associated outdoor kit and a third loo cassette.
Most importantly, it holds a full-sized spare wheel. which is located under the footwell area of the lounge, bringing the weight as far forward as possible.
There is also a second fresh water filler, useful if you can’t reach the tap and fill from water bottles, etc.
NOTHING’S PERFECT!
During the time we’ve owned the ’van, we have made a few alterations….
The Banner leisure batteries were too large to allow the battery door to be sealed closed.
So, with a few offcuts of wood, I made a platform to enable the second battery to turn through 90 degrees and hold it securely in place. This then allowed the battery compartment to ³
be sealed again.
I have added two pairs of 12V and USB chargers that are only live with the ignition on. One pair power the dash camera and are fitted in front of the passenger door.
The second pair charge more USB devices or laptops via a 150W inverter. A 12V socket added inside the garage enables water to be pumped into the fresh water tank from a water carrier (if we don’t move the ’van).
After the tracker was fitted, the cab battery struggled to cope over winter, although the solar panel does charge it a little.
To ensure the cab battery copes, A RoadPro device has been added to keep it topped up.
The grey water can only be fully drained by removing a plug in the tank, which is located in the centre of the motorhome.
Using 20mm waste pipe, a domestic waste flange (cut to fit) and a homemade bracket, I extended this to the offside. Using a cork, I can drain into a bucket for disposal, or rinse the loo.
The fitted roller that the electrical hook-up cable was attached to is a waste of space.
This was removed and two new ends added, giving room for an additional cable and water adapters.
I had previously made up a lightweight 100W portable solar panel. This was vital when the solar panel failed as we do not use hook-ups in the summer!
To facilitate simpler charging, I made and wired in dedicated tails to the existing regulator.
ALL’S WELL
After four years of ownership, we have probably sorted all the minor niggles and hopefully all the major ones for the next 10 years.
The fridge failure (see panel) was a real pain, but the rest were really only minor inconveniences.
The windscreen leak is still to be resolved, and we suspect a new windscreen is in the offing.
This will be fitted with the much larger seals that are being used on the more recent motorhomes.
The real question is, where to go next (and when)?