I am considering purchasing a motorhome (not too large) with quality construction and fittings that is capable of towing a small car.  Quite a few of the motorhomes that I have looked at have a queen bed that is either east-west at the rear of the motorhome or up against a wall, both of which can make it difficult for one person to get out of the bed without disturbing the other.

Any suggestions on which makes and models we should be looking at are welcome.

Cheers

Rex

A lot depends on your budget..

these guys are good http://www.wirraway.com.au/
We have a paradise which is based on a 6500 Iveco, has an Island bed in a slide out and can tow 3500kg braked however you need a light ridged licence.

We tow a suzi 2 door GV with no problems.

Cheers

Mike

I have a wirraway MH. Love it. Excellent quality. Excellent after sales service. Tow a little Suzuki with no problems. Rob quite often has good used vehicles for sale. Mildura based. As far as quality, would be hard to find equivalent, paradise would be closest. Once again depends on budget. All wirraways are on Mercedes base.

This is the bedroom area.

Good day Rex 

We have a Sunliner with single beds fiat ducato had it six years now had nothing go wrong not even a screw come loose great quality tow a suzuki swift

The fiat is 3 litre plenty of power and does 10 , 9 litres per 100 KLS  manual/auto 11.2 towing car 

Dragonfly1 

rexboggs5 wrote:

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I am considering purchasing a motorhome (not too large) with quality construction and fittings that is capable of towing a small car.  Quite a few of the motorhomes that I have looked at have a queen bed that is either east-west at the rear of the motorhome or up against a wall, both of which can make it difficult for one person to get out of the bed without disturbing the other.

Any suggestions on which makes and models we should be looking at are welcome.

Cheers

Rex

 

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 This is my parents motorhome, an Iveco chassis, Winnebago Esperance. It is for sale on Gumtree and Caravan Sales.

I think it is an island bed

 http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ulverstone/campervan/winnebago-esperance/1074402632

I have just discovered that to tow a Suzuki with an A frame now requires Dept Transport approval (In WA, which now comes up to all other states apparently) . First criteria is the motor home must be 3.5 times the weight of the towed vehicle regardless of the towing capacity of motor home. I have filled in the 12 page application form and passed that bit. Have since received a 3 page form to complete and then have to get an engineer to certify the welds on the A frame are up to required standard (already have engineers compliance plate attached) and then present motor home and Suzuki (together) for a vehicle inspection. This is all with a factory built A frame.

Apparently the rules have not changed for decades it  is just the dept transport have now deemed that a A frame is a vehicle modification not an attachment. My inquiries are that there has been no no accidents caused by non compliant A frames or no formal directive to change this interpretation, just someone decided that the dept had not been policing correctly previously.  

It is  interesting that the WA web page explaining about A framing changed in November 2014 to say owners were required to have dept Transport approval to A frame a vehicle. Previously the only legal requirement was to have an engineering compliance plate attached. When I said I have been using this A frame for 10 years I was told "then you have been operating illegally with no insurance cover for 10 years".  (i have a copy of the WA instructions on A framing from 2005 to produce in other states if stopped by police. This was the recommendation on this web page}

To my knowledge vehicles have been A framed in WA for the last 50 years then without any change in legislation it has been illegal since November 2014. 

It seems to me that some one has decided to stop A framing in WA

good luck working this lot out

Neil

Hi Rex,
We have an Auto trail Delawary also on a Fiat Ducato chassis, and we love it. sorry I can't talk about towing yet as we hadn't deceided if we want to tow, although we are enquiring at the moment and would like to throw a Suzuki jimmny on the back if we can. But the motorhome is A1 the quality is magnificent. We recently went on a 90 km off road through the Barrington tops expecting problems but, everything was great, I have enclose some shot of our baby, ( not studio shots) but real everyday living. Can't recommend them enough.

Cheers

Greg

Mike C wrote:

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Neil

We are wandering OT here a bit.
however I just looked at the rules that you refer to and they apply to "Un Braked" A Frame towing.

Properly braked units are a different matter (no less confusing) with NSW being the most stringent (must have brakes over 750kg, Override brakes ok to 1999kg and Active Brakes Air, Electric over 2000kg regardless of Motorhome weight) however as I understand it if you are legal in your state you have a right to drive thru all states in that vehicle.

cheers

Mike

I realise not totally on topic just the question was including flat towing. I believe the delema I am in needs to be brought to the attention of any one contemplating a framing.

I was always of the view that the 3.5:1 was regards brakes. This is not so according to Dept Transport inspectors. If over 750kg must have braking , over ride OK up to 2000kg. The thing that has got me is that A framing is not permitted, full stop, if less than 3.5:1 weight ratio. Treated different to trailers. I cannot get an answer as to why A frame is deemed to be so dangerous. The inspector seemed quite chuffed that he is currently putting 4 out of 5 motor home/a frame combinations off the road. The Motor home gets a yellow sticker as A  framing is deemed to be one unit.

All beats me. All I know is I have to go through all the approvals and inspections to be made road worthy again. By the way I do comply with the 3.5:1 ratio so I will comply. Just pay enough money and fill enough forms and all will be OK.  

Neil

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