Auto-Sleeper Fairford

EVERY model that we’ve reviewed so far has been a two-berth, but the Fairford has beds and seatbelts for four. It’s the same overall length as the Warwick XL and also has a rear lounge, but this time there’s a second seating area up front.

Most of the Fairford’s rivals adopt a halfdinette arrangement for the forward lounge, but here it’s pullman-style with forward and rearward-facing benches on either side of a wallmounted table. There are two three-point belts on the front-facing seat but, on site, this area will be tight for more than two adults. Appealingly, though, there are small backrest pads on the side wall, so you can sit ‘side-saddle’ and look out of the open sliding door.

At the back, the rear lounge is obviously more compact than in the two-berth Warwick models, but this is still a cosy and comfortable place in which to relax. You can also dine here, adding one or both of the small tables that store behind the settees’ backrests. Then, at night, the two sofas pull together to create a transverse double bed that’s 1.85m by 1.24m.

Of course, the front lounge converts into a second double bed (1.91m by 1.34m), leaving room for one person to stand by the sliding door and a slightly larger area between the washroom and galley. Bed-making here is more complex and requires a selection of infill cushions (think about where you’ll store these), so a better solution for some will be to make a smaller front bed (1.84m by 0.90m) that doesn’t require the three large infills and leaves a clear walk-through past the kitchen.

Those cook’s quarters, centrally positioned on the nearside, are super-sized at 1.91m long, with loads of worktop on which to prepare dinner. Keeping the counter at one modest height throughout, the wardrobe is concealed under the forward end of the kitchen. With four folk’s gear to accommodate, you might fold clothes, rather than hanging them.

Naturally, as in the two-berth models, the Fairford’s galley gets all the gear, including an oven/grill and microwave. There’s a 71-litre fridge, too, but no drawers in this kitchen.

Opposite the culinary area, you’ll discover the ablutions behind a sliding tambour door. Here, the washbasin can slide to a position above the toilet to create more room for showering. There’s sufficient room for that and use of the loo but just be careful to align the showerhead accurately when repurposing it as the washbasin’s tap.