Romahome Dimension beds

[tentpeg]

Maybe the Dimension is the answer for me ... but it has not charmed me like the outlook.

The major problem for me is the beds are they, HAND on Heart guys comfortable. And how easy is it to make them up after a couple glasses of wine. The outlook I could manage absolutely no problem..

But fitting on covers with foam, putting in inserts..... Its a problem. Am cautious about asking these questions because clearly you love your Dimensions dearly and I think the kitchen area is brilliant incidently. But all motorhomes designs have drawbacks... the trick is chosing the one that is most compatible with yourself.

Am thinking of hiring one to find out....

Thanks people.

[playallday]

May 23, 2008 19:35:28 GMT tentpeg said:

Am thinking of hiring one to find out....

Hi tentpeg
Check out with Ant who does the 'Ask Ant' section.
He does a 'Try before you buy', a really good deal but I don't know what choices you have as to the model. You can contact him either on here in the Ask Ant section or via his website www.avonmotorcaravans.co.uk
Happy hunting ;D
Jean

[Graham]

Hi Tentpeg

We have had a C15, a Duo and now a Dimension and we can say "hand on heart" that if we could have the Duo bed in the Dimension then we would have our dream van.

Having said that we are happy to sacrifice the easy put up bed for the luxury of the kitchen, bathroom, more space etc.

The beds in the Dimension do get easier the more you put them up and it does become second nature after a while.

Regarding the infill cushions for the top of the bed, I think I am right in saying that the new Dimension II or R30, doesn't have these as the seats are level.

I think you will find you'll never have the perfect layout but its a matter of what you want most. In our opinion if you have got the necessary readies and its a choice between an outlook and a Dimension then the Dimension must be the better option.

Regards
Graham

[tentpeg]

Thanks for your replies... I think the next question is Graham are they comfortable???

Playallday, thanks for the suggestion but I am a long way from deciding to buy. I am at the research stage.... this is a process that can take years. However ideally in about a year for this one... I would not buy new for a first motorhome because you would take a real financial hit if you made the wrong choice! I will look out to see if there is anywhere to hire to get some idea.

Most clever designs I have seen have to be the Romahome Duo Outlook, brilliant, really clever and very well finished and put together. Concern perhaps a tad to small as realistically there are compromises if you add a loo.. but maybe you could live with that. Beds... could put those together easily no problem. Plus, and not least, a very good dealer who has a proven track record and that is worth a lot. He is one of the few who I reckon would look after his customers and that is worth a lot, not heard a negative word against Ant of Bristol.

The volkswagon topaz - great layout. Shower at the back so you have an external shower possibility and easy to dry the shower out by opening the back door which I reckon could be a problem with enclosed shower rooms. Against.. price and cripey finding a honest dealer forget it .. would have to be a private buy theirguarentees are not worth the paper they are written on from what I can see..... Also not sure that they would be so well insulated as the Romahome. Beds reasonable... not so easy as outlook but look comfortable when out.

Romahome Dimenson... kitchen brilliant.. storage great. Showerroom looks good, although not so good to dry out if you do have a shower, but have read here it is very well sealed unlike some.. must check sometime. Seating area flexible but less cosy then the Duo Outlook which is delightful... Is however clever. BEDS - fiddle to make up but the real thing is are they comfortable when they are made up??? Lumps and bumps not my idea of fun

The search and deliberations continue.....

[snobbyafghan]

We have a Dimension 2. The beds are very quick to put up - I'd say about 3 minutes each. Now that we keep the duvets and mattress cover thingies in stuff bags, the bedding disappears into the Luton top neatly.

Comfort was what worried me. First, could I stretch out (necessary if I'm going to avoid cramp!)? I'm 6' tall, not exceptional these days, but I was concerned about the beds being long enough. They are. I have to sleep on the nearside with my head at the dashboard end - the steering wheel on the other side makes it unsuitable for someone of my height.

Also, were the beds going to be wide enough when used as 2 singles? They are, at least for my shape (I'm reasonably slim!).

Finally - are they comfortable? We use Dunelm (spelling?) mattress toppers (I think that's what they - this is really Celia's department and she's not here at the moment). They are not bulky, will go in a stuff sack when not in use and make the bed plenty comfortable at least as far as I'm concerned.

What we haven't done, is use the bed as a double. The first time we used the van we took the infill cushions with us to make a double but found that they were using up valuable space. We reckoned it would make moving round in the van to restricted once you'd made the double up so we haven't bothered. Frankly, assembling the double DOES look a bit of a hassle but we haven't actually tried it. Without getting too explicit, if you want to get cosy, there are plenty of ways to accomplish that with just a little ingenuity and without assembling the double ;D

Hope this helps.

Doug

[tentpeg]

Height is not an issue for me being 5Ft 4.. however I notice the Dimension's car seats are particulary heavily idented... So wondered what that was like? Clearly you used mattress toppers which implies there is a need but if they solve the problem maybe that is okay.

[snobbyafghan]

The seats on the Dimension 2 (the current model) aren't indented - we use the matress toppers because the seats on their own make for a hard bed. I think the earlier Dimension has indented seats.

Doug

[Graham]

We've got an earlier model with the indented seats and there is an overlay supplied which fits over the seats and fills in all the dents and makes it smooth.

It is comfortable enough for us, we've just had a fortnight in France and no problems, it depends on your idea of comfort I suppose, it is camping after all, its a damn site more comfortable than sleeping on the floor. ;D

We don't find putting the double bed up much of a problem although if you need to get up in the night its a bit more awkward getting out of bed, if you sleep with your head towards the back of the van as we do you risk kicking your partner in the head as you swing your legs round. ;D

As Doug says the single beds are a better option as you then have a gangway to step into.

Cheers
Graham

[tentpeg]

When I finally get around to getting my dream of a motorhome it will be just me with the occasional edition of the odd just grown up kid that I suspect unless the weather is really nippy will decamp to a tent rather than be with Mum. I just worked out though with the outlook there is nowhere for a bike and would quite like a towbar.... Am undecided totally....

I do like the Romahomes though am not quite sure why but I just do....

[barry5933]

We have a Duo HyLo and we also needed to carry bikes.

Advice from ALL sides is NOT to fit a towbar, since it adds even more weight to the long rear overhang overloading the rear axle and lightening the steering, plus the necessary ironmongery reduces the rear ground clearance even more than the standard Romahome footwell.

We do carry our bikes ... inside between the beds. see the piccies in my earlier thread -

smallmotorhome.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=camping&action=display&thread=1957

We have two full size adult touring bikes complete with all panniers etc. Bit of a tight fit, but once on site they are unloaded and stored outside or in the awning.

As you say, everything's a compromise.

[snobbyafghan]

I don't think there is an overhang problem with the Dimension. We have a bike rack and a towbar, as it happens.

Doug