MMM – September 2019

142 outandaboutlive.co.ukSeptember 2019

magazines, etc –evenforretaining
a baguette (well, this test wasin
Normandy). And anything kepthere
canbereached fromthe upper bed
whenyou wakeup– eventhat bread.
There are fourlarge top lockers
in the rearlounge, aswell as more
stowage under the setteesandbelow
the floor. Someof the under-seat
space is accessible viathe backdoors,
where amains lead, hoseandlevelling
wedgescanbeaccommodated, and
you’ ll alsofindanexteriorhot/cold
shower. Nevertheless, I squeezed
enoughbedding forthe rearbed into
the remainingspace, thougha single
cupboardorone large drawer onthe
nearside, insteadof two smaller ones,
would have made lifeeasier.

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT MOTORHOME?Our buyers’ guide has

over15,000 makes and models motorhome.ma/buyersguide

FACTS AND FIGURES

PRICE

From:£51,100 (plus roadtax)

As tested:£54,580

BASICS

Berths: 4

Travel seats: 4

Warranty:Base vehicle andconversion two

years

Type approval:European WholeVehicle

DIMENSIONS

Length:6.36m (20ft 10½in)

Width:2.05m (6ft 9in)

Height:2.88m (9ft 5½in)

Gross vehicleweight:3,50 0kg

Payload:400kg (estimated)

BASE VEHICLE

Type:Fiat DucatoL4H3 Heavy panel

van

Engine:2.3-litre, Euro 6d, 160bhp,

front-wheel drive, six-speed manualgearbox

KITCHEN

Cooker:Two-burner hob (optional

oven/grill not fitted to test vehicle)

Fridge:Thetford 90-litrecompressor

BEDS

Rear double:1.86m x 1.63m

(6ft 1in x 5ft4in)

Drop-down double:1.85m x1.28m

(6ft 1in x 4ft2½i n), max headroom 0.56m

(22in)

ESSENTIALS

Freshwater:95 litres(inboard)

Waste water:100 litres (underfloor,

insulated)

Space/water heating:Truma Combi 4D

diesel-fired blown-air

Leisure battery:2 x 100Ah

Gas:1 x 4.5kg

OPTIONS

Fitted to test vehicle:160bhp engine with

Eco Pack (£1,320), Comfort +Pack –

passenger airbag, cruisecontrol, ESC, cab

air-con, height-adjustable front seats,

colour-coded bumper, Pioneer radio,

flyscreen door, rear speakers and remote

radio controls (£1,590),Traction Plus

(£260), rear parking sensors (£310)

THE ALTERNATIVES

Auto-SleeperFairford £56,200*

Swift Select 184 £47,240*

*2019-seasonprices

Finally, it’s worth commenting on

the Dreamer’s suitability forwinteruse

withextensive use of XHP insulation,

as well asthe 25mm Styrofoam floor.

And alookunderneath atthe easy

draining forthe waste tankshows yet

more best-practice carriedover from

Rapidocoachbuilts.

Here’s arear lounge van conversion that works better than any other as afour-berth,

as well as beatingmost rivals with itswashroomfacilities. That the drop-down bed

(so much better than a pop-top roof bed as seenin some rivals) is so appealing when

usingthe LivingVan as a two-berth only confirms thisnewcomer’sall-round appeal.

It’s practicalfor winter use, too, and is a genuine alternative to a coachbuilt.

THE VERDICT

The toilet room hasnew basin
and better storage than rivals...

...while opposite the Modul’Space

designallows a proper separate shower

MOTORHOME SUPPLIED BY

Groupe Rapido

)0033 243 301^070

dreamer-van.fr

INSURANCE

)0800 975 1307

shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk

Find quote detailson Secondhand Choice

£603.15

TESTED Dreamer LivingVan