MG Little Sports - recommendations?

AlexB · Veteran Member

MG Little Sports - recommendations?

Eaglemax · Guru

Hi Alex.

Have you seen the Euro 9,10,11ft vans with optional shower/toilet. ? And under 800kg.

AlexB · Veteran Member

Hi Eaglemax

Yes I have looked at the Eurovans at a show 2 years ago.

Not impressed with the interior fittings or durability of the fibreglass shell.

Price from memory was far in excess from what I was quoted for the Little Sports.

Thanks for the tip and will check them out again

regards

Alex

HandyWalter · Senior Member

The only thing that could be an issue is the dust ingress from the rear door. OK most vans let dust in and there are a number of solutions, which some people think work and others say dont. However New Age make a caravan with a rear door, and owners have expressed that on dirt roads the dust that flicks up at the rear of a van is a real issue. I guess if you stay off dirt roads it should not be a problem.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

My personal preference would be to avoid a pop top if possible.
Stronger & probably about the same weight, but more importantly, more convenient and much better insulation, both sound and heat.

Cheers,
Peter

AlexB · Veteran Member

Thanks for the suggestions, however
It is this one (if reports are OK) or nothing

The rear door dust issue is not a problem according to those that have them, a mat at the door
solves that problem.

I am solo and a smaller van is what I want to tow with the Outlander, anything bigger/heavier
really strains the beast (using my heavily loaded box trailer as an example)

Pop top because of windage, it is not much higher than the tow vehicle.

Price - this model is about 50-60% of the price of euro style vans, plus it is a build, not a stock item
and allows me to have it modified for solar roof, internal battery, porta potty etc and the rear awning.

This allows for free camping at un-powered sites for some time.

I am retired and have about 5-6 good years left, and hoping to visit areas for fishing or just to
go down to Tassie for a month or more.
Thanks
Alex

Desert Dweller · Guru

It looks like a nice little compact rear entry caravan to us. The awning looks a little flimsy (probably Prostor or Fiamia), we'd be going for a roll out Dometic.

AlexB · Veteran Member

Hi

Not sure about the awning as it is from the manufacturers website, however

it does not appear to be that different to the awning attached to my vehicle.

Obviously it will be checked out if I go ahead with the purchase.

Until the decision is made, will check out the free campsite owned by Sydney Water

on the Kangaroo River, try the tent (not good for old bones) and see what the

fishing is like.

Alex

PeterD · Guru

HandyWalter wrote:
The only thing that could be an issue is the dust ingress from the rear door. OK most vans let dust in and there are a number of solutions, which some people think work and others say dont.

Rear entry vans having a bigger dust problem than other vans is just a Furphy. We had a Viscount Nipper for 4 years. The only dust we got in it was a patch about the same size as the vent in the rear door just inside the door. We kept a door mat there and a quick flick of the mat in the open air by the first in the door soled that little dust incursion.

Eaglemax · Guru

I think the van you are looking at will be fine. Just a thought. I owned a T@B large teardrop van once. There are not many in Oz but a batch were made for door on LHS in the late 1990's. They were well made and came out in a Safari model higher than the standard one. Tare 500kg Towball 75kg easy to tow, towed it with my Hyundai i30 diesel. ALKO torsion suspension, huge bed,

There isn't a grand number of small vans on the market that's why I built my own with shower and toilet. You can read it here if that interests you. I tow it with our kit car vintage style. 450kg tare 748 ATM.

https://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=76375

Such is the demand for large vans small vans are not often contemplated to make. I do agree with Peter, the poptop arrangement can be annoying for some, not for others.

Cheers.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Alex, one of the forum members (Possum3) often refers buyers to the Caravan Council's website for possible horror stories, etc.

It looks good & don't be put off by a poptop - I have one & don't wish to raise my car port to cater for a van's height where I could stand up easily without hitting my head on the roof, air conditioner & lights (I'm 6'6" tall). It does get "cool" inside but so far the heater & bedding works well.

The only downer that I can see is the east-west bed - if one needs to go walkies during the night, you may have to crawl over a comfortable partner! Our solution when we had the Jayco Outback Eagle was if one wanted to go, the other went too!

I like the wheels - 15x6JJ. I might be in touch with MG & see if their wheels are rated higher than 1000kg. My Discovery's wheels are rated at 1000, I'd like a bit more safety.

AlexB · Veteran Member

Thanks for your comments Eaglemax, I wish I was 20 years younger to undertake what you have done in your build.

However as you state - not much available in small vans, and this particular one is suitable for my needs, if I can get

some re-assurance that it is of good quality - something missing on searching the net.

The teardrop would of been great if I could have retained my Goggomobile Dart LOL.

So - cannot build -

Not going to spend $45,000+ for a bigger tow vehicle - though the 14' version would have been perfect

I guess that I will take a 900km drive to chat with the manufacturer. As they build to order, little chance

of inspection of a built one.

Good luck with your bigger van build

regards

Alex

AlexB · Veteran Member

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Alex, one of the forum members (Possum3) often refers buyers to the Caravan Council's website for possible horror stories, etc.

........

The only downer that I can see is the east-west bed - if one needs to go walkies during the night, you may have to crawl over a comfortable partner! Our solution when we had the Jayco Outback Eagle was if one wanted to go, the other went too!

Hi Warren,

I checked the CC website and there is nothing I can find on reviews or horror stories,

However the Lemon RV FB page has a listing of do-not-touch dealers and manufacturers

and MG is not on that list.

A poptop is OK for me, more benefits with towing economy rather than a distraction in use.

Only thing is whether the roof will take the load of a couple of solar panels.

The double bed - may specify a single instead and 2 small wardrobes as it will be for SOLO use only.

One for clothing and the other for fishing rods.

Have been bitten twice before in marriage - therefore no need of a partner to accompany me.

Besides what woman wants to spend time touring and fishing LOL.

The tare weight (690kg) is just under what is needed for brakes, though it does come with electric brakes as standard.

and is about the maximum that my vehicle can tow comfortably. Strictly for bitumen use.

I guess that I will have to go for that drive and check out the manufacturer down in Geelong (900km away)

Many thanks for your thoughts

Alex

Bryan · Guru

Be good to know how you progress as I may be looking at something similar in the not too distant future. I was looking at the Jayco J-Pod Sport but the MG is better equipped.

AlexB · Veteran Member

RE: MG Little Sports

Bryan · Guru

RE: MG Little Sports - recommendations?

PeterD · Guru

AlexB wrote:
I am limited by the 2.5 liter Outlander as to towing capacity and very frustrating in finding something suitable that will not drag the guts out of the motor when on the road.
Alex

Alex, exactly which model Outlander do you have? I have been through the Mitsubishi data and can only find 2.0, 2.4 and 3.0 litre models. Most of them have 1500 or 1600 kg towing capacity. The lowest towing capacity is a 203-2006 model with 1200 kg capacity. Also the lightest Hayman Reese towbar model is rated at 1200/120 kg.

I think you are setting your aspirations too low. You could be looking for a larger van and your vehicle would be capable of towing it.

In an earlier message you said "The tare weight (690kg) is just under what is needed for brakes, though it does come with electric brakes as standard." The requirement for breaks on a caravan is based on the GTM (gross trailer mass - the maximum loading on the wheels) and not the tare weight. The following is a quote from VSB 1

15. BRAKING
15.1 Trailers that do not exceed 0.75 tonne GTM with a single axle
No brakes are required.

AlexB · Veteran Member

Hi PeterD

You are correct, it is the 2.4 liter Outlander with AWD, a nice long stroke motor with the CVT gearbox.
I have read reports of the CVT overheating when prolonged towing near the limits and not something
I want to experience.

Towing limits fro this vehicle are 750kg (unbraked) and 1,500kg (braked) with ball weight 150kg.

While the tare is 690kg, and maybe an extra 150kg of load, (I travel fairly light) would prefer a van
that does not mean the car is constantly lugging under load.

I had a small V8 on a 20' van years ago and that was straining in some instances climbing pass's.

The 14' model of this manufacturer would be perfect with the 2 single beds, however the gross mass
is more than I would like.

Will see what I can ascertain from the manufacturer in a call to them today
regards
Alex

Grandad5 · Senior Member

I believe you to be very sensible in ignoring the "Maximum" towing capacity of your tow vehicle and going for as small as you can that still suits your needs.
My own van is also 10' long.
The maximum towing capacity of any vehicle is not like luggage weight allowances at the airport. "There to be used" They are the absolute maximum your vehicle can tow without destroying itself .
Keep as far below that max as possible.
Also, your tow vehicle will be considerably heavier than your van.
Another positive in your favour.
I'm off to have a look at this little MG to see if there are any good ideas I might steal.

Jim

Grandad5 · Senior Member

Ok, just had a look at the MG.
I can see the attraction and now totally understand and endorse your thoughts to have a single bed and two wardrobes.
Not much storage without doing that.
Not sure I would have thought of that solution. seems obvious, when someone else suggests it. That's a sign it's a good idea.
Obviously I can't help with your questions re quality. There are people here far more qualified to help you with that concern.
In the meantime, I think I'd happily make that 900km trip.

Jim

AlexB · Veteran Member

Hello Jim

Just spoken to MG, price is a little more than first indicated, but still reasonable for what you get.

The deposit is 25% which is more than I expected for the build which takes 6-7 weeks.

However there is nothing else near it on the market, even camper-trailers are the same price

with canvas walls, and near the same tare weight.

I will have to fly down to Melbourne later to discuss options with them (rear awning est $200?)

however the option for the single bed and wardrobes are many thousands more - may

give that a miss I think and stick to the basic standard van.

At least the roof will take the load of self installed solar panels, and they will make a vented space

for a 100ah battery. Just have to make sure there is a power point for my low power amateur radio

and fitting for the antenna - I still use the old fashioned digital communication - morse code LOL.

Thank you to everybody for your help and suggestions

regards

Alex

Bryan · Guru

Great stuff Alex and good luck. Please keep us in the loop.