Motorhome for eMTB

[x5x3]

I've been looking for something suitable for extended trips with an e-MTB, i.e. it is bigger, heavier and more expensive than a normal MTB, so not really suitable for external storage.

I cannot decide whether a generic motorhome with a big garage area or a custom Crafter/Sprinter build is best.

Please note that I have no interest (i.e. skills) in doing a conversion myself, but there are a couple of companies I have found which do.

Cost wise, there is not much in it, and I've tried to consider things like re-sale value but struggling to make a decision.

I've excluded the all the Transporter type builds I've seen to due to lack of toilet/shower and/or internal storage.

Anyone have any thoughts/ideas on this please?

[r3g]

A bike of any sort means you have nowhere to stand/sit/sleep in anything Sprinter sized or smaller if you want it inside. Just got a proper coach-built with a suitably sized garage to chuck it in.

[Alicat]

A have a MAN TGE van based conversion. The bed is quite high across the rear, but it means a bike will fit under the bed with the wheels removed. There are quite a few vans that you can do this with.

So it is possible to use a Crafter/TGE/Sprinter sized van

[x5x3]

Alicat said:

A have a MAN TGE van based conversion. The bed is quite high across the rear, but it means a bike will fit under the bed with the wheels removed. There are quite a few vans that you can do this with.

So it is possible to use a Crafter/TGE/Sprinter sized van

did you do the conversion yourself?

[missing the VR6]

We bought an Etrusco A7300DB last year specifically because it had a massive garage for bikes. While we don't have e-bikes we've just come back from 6 weeks in Europe with 3 adult bikes and 1 childs bike in it along with table, 4 chairs and all sorts of stuff we didn't really need. No reason you wouldn't easily get e-bikes in it.

[Ashtray83]

I just put mine and the mrs on a fiamma drop down rack on the back of a t5 couple of locks never had an issue with the wet weather either

[Random Account No6]

r3g said:

A bike of any sort means you have nowhere to stand/sit/sleep in anything Sprinter sized or smaller if you want it inside. Just got a proper coach-built with a suitably sized garage to chuck it in.

You’re contradicting yourself a bit there.

In a Sprinter you have the bikes (up to 4, on runners if you’re swish), in the garage under the bed, inc storage. Luckily a bike is around the same length as a bed

Leaves space for sitting and cooking in the middle.

If you go LWB on a Sprinter you can do more in the middle.

[x5x3]

Decided on an Auto-Trail Expedition 68 in the end.

[WillB]

x5x3 said:

Decided on an Auto-Trail Expedition 68 in the end.

Not seen this before, looks ace for a couple who like to cycle! Keep us updated on how you get on with it

[x5x3]

WillB said:

x5x3 said:

Decided on an Auto-Trail Expedition 68 in the end.

Not seen this before, looks ace for a couple who like to cycle! Keep us updated on how you get on with it

will do - delivery is spring next year at the earliest

[chopper602]

I specifically bought our Knaus coach built as it would fit our eMTBs in the garage. Mine is a 29" wheel and it goes in without having to take any wheels off. Ideally when touring you want anything expensive like that out of sight all the time, hence the garage option.

[Steve Kimberley]

x5x3 said:

Decided on an Auto-Trail Expedition 68 in the end.

There's a Facebook Ex 66/67/68 page which seems to attract fairly decent types (unusually for Faceache!) but, with many decrying the build quality, waiting times etc etc. May be worth a look.
I did order a 67 a couple of years ago, but Autotrail jerked us around once too often so I cancelled and got my deposit back...

[x5x3]

Steve Kimberley said:

There's a Facebook Ex 66/67/68 page which seems to attract fairly decent types (unusually for Faceache!) but, with many decrying the build quality, waiting times etc etc. May be worth a look.
I did order a 67 a couple of years ago, but Autotrail jerked us around once too often so I cancelled and got my deposit back...

thanks for the info, I'm aware of all the issues facing the entire industry in general.

I looked at several suppliers and appreciate there is a reason they are the cheapest by far.

My understanding is they do not return deposits so clearly have changed since you ordered.

[Steve Kimberley]

I think it depends on the dealer tbh, but this was at the time of huge waiting lists and they probably sold it immediately for considerably more than I'd agreed to pay, so were happy to return the (2k) deposit.
Spinney Motorhomes btw.

[Harv-surrey]

One of the best converters for bikes are cjl

https://cjlleisure.co.uk/

Looked at their man tge/crafter bike vans at the last motorhome show and they are simply stunning.

Watch some of the video walk around videos on YouTube or their Facebook page

Wish I had the budget for one

[egor110]

What length motorhome are you looking for ?

Do you want a van conversion or motorhome , do you want a full time bed or fold up bed ?

Rough budget .

[x5x3]

Harv-surrey said:

One of the best converters for bikes are cjl

https://cjlleisure.co.uk/

Looked at their man tge/crafter bike vans at the last motorhome show and they are simply stunning.

Watch some of the video walk around videos on YouTube or their Facebook page

Wish I had the budget for one

yes I agree - they do look stunning and appear to be built to a high quality - but, and it is a very big but - they are twice the price of the option I am going for.

egor110 said:

What length motorhome are you looking for ?

Do you want a van conversion or motorhome , do you want a full time bed or fold up bed ?

Rough budget .

thanks but if you look through the thread then you'll see I made a decision already.

[adsvx220]

I have a Roller Team Zefiro Sport which has a huge garage. As we use it for karting the large garage is great. We also use it for family trips away which means putting 2 e mtb's in the back along with our sons mountain bike till with room to store and within weight. Its a great motorhome with best of both worlds. Big king size over the cab and a sligtly bigger bed above the garage.

[egor110]

What weight is it with the ebikes and kart onboard?

[AlBondigaz]

I had 6m Sprinter Conversion. The XL eBike would fit inside under the bed, in a bike bag with both wheels off... doable but a bit of a faff. I also had an external bike rack for the cheaper bikes - usually minus the front wheels which were stored inside the van to make the bikes less attractive to steal.

With the bike rack on the van was about 6.5m long.

Traded it for the smallest A Class I could find, a 6.4m Carthago. So much less hassle... open garage doors and bike goes in without any dismantling. Totally out of sight. Van feels like its twice the size of the Sprinter internally but has same wheelbase, and takes up about the same amount of road and driveway space.

But, the Sprinter was cooler ... and nicer to drive!

Edited by AlBondigaz on Friday 2nd February 18:22