Buying your first campervan as beginners - Why we chose the Elddis CV40

[@beatentrackleisure]

Let us know what van you own or are looking at buying?

[@clivebaker9720]

recently bought a CV60 - very much agree with your summary, other brands (as seen at the NEC this week) are often much better built & feel better quality wise .(whilst costing more) .....however, we love the van & the layout so happy with our choice & so far everything working fine !

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi there 😊 thank you for your message. I'm glad to hear that you are happy with your van even when we consider the small amount of bad points. It's all about value really and these Elddis (although increased much recently, like every other vehicle) still represent value in the class. We also prefer the British layout with the door on the left, when compared to some of the more impressively built German brands. Hope you enjoyed the show at the NEC. I've seen the CV group had a stand there!

[@DiAllinson]

Re. a shelf for cuppa, aka the brew shelf, I've seen this on another van life video where someone fitted a small shelf to the back door, and the shelf folds down when not in use. Or you could have a small box shelf, I think someone got one from Ikea

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Di! Happy New year to you! Thank you for the tip regarding the "brew shelf" that shelf sounds ideal and would solve the biggest bane of contention we have regarding our van, however trivial it appears in the grand scheme of things 🙂 we will look into both options, thanks again

[@mallen88]

Hi 👋 new subscriber here. We have just taken the plunge and bought a new CV40. It will be our first Motorhome. I’ve had many moments since putting the deposit down asking myself whether or not we have made the right choice and spent many hours watching videos from CV owners such as yourselves. Found this one particularly helpful and I am now a bit more confident we have made a good choice as many of the things you mentioned in your video are the same things that are important for us. What you have said about the prices going through the roof is very true. Ours is a dealer spec with the 9 speed auto gearbox and it’s £73,000. However, similar vans from Auto Trail and Swift are pushing the £80,000 mark. Thanks again for a cracking video 🤙

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Michael. Thank you very much for the kind words and glad that the video proved useful to you in some way. Also, congratulations on your purchase. The specification you have got is spot on and regardless of the prices having elevated over the last few years, the CV range as you rightly point out are still good value when compared to other brands offering similar specification. We would love the automatic gearbox to be honest, but none were avaialable when we were looking, but they are an easy and comfortable drive. If you haven't already, make sure you joint the two CV groups on Facebook, there is a wealth of information that covers every topic in those. We still feel exactly the same about the CV40 as we did when making the video and we have used it extensively this year. Enjoy your travels and thanks again :)

[@mallen88]

Thank you and yes I definitely will join those groups. We hired a Motorhome last month which was a Toleno S at 6.36m long. The layout was perfect for us (front dinette, rear transverse bed) but the only issue we had with it was getting into car parks with it, so we feel the shorter CV40 might be a perfect compromise. Also we plan on visiting the Scottish islands so your point about cheaper ferry fares is very pertinent to us. The only thing is we have a dog that has a habit of muscling in on bed space so that extra 37cm on the Toleno may have been a god send 😂

[@LeisureBit]

It’s very true that they are something in between a campervan and a motorhome isn’t it, always helps as you can go by either alias 😀 I looked at the CV40 but was just too tall for the size of the van for transversal sleeping so we went for the CV20. Very useful video - all the very best, have a fantastic Christmas and New Year, David & Rachel 🎄👍

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi David and Rachel, thanks very much for the kind words. We have watched many of your extremely useful videos both prior and post ownership of the CV and found them very helpful and have made some purchases based on your recommendations. Although we can luckily fit transversely into the CV40 (just about) we do admire the extra space at the back in the 20 and once we have no need for the extra (small) bed in the 40 , may consider one, or by then the natural progression of it. Seasons greetings and all the best for 2023 and happy travels. 👍🎄

[@karlospappy8908]

What you need David is an extra 30cm 📏😂Cheers K.

[@GoodnightIrene]

Nice honest appraisal guys , from a Moho owner who needs the extra space with kids ! 👍

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi there 😁 thank you for the kind words. We may have the confidence one day to upgrade to a motorhome because of the extra dimensions, with children it's a much easier decision to go the coach built route for sure 👍

[@ECBtester]

Bought a Dealer special on a september 2020 plate..(magnum Gtv20) Guy before went to town on extra solar and lithium and Air suspension.. Weve had to compromise on space moving back to a van..But i missed the inside outside feeling of having doors open..Motorhome was like living in a box. Ive agreed with you about the microwave to the point it could be used as more storage.So ive removed ours and us now a cupboard with shelves..As like the elddis motorhome it would of only been used a s a bread bin. Great video and agreed with you on 99%

[@beatentrackleisure]

Thank you for your kind comment I love the idea of the specification on your CV20 with extra power and lithium, which gives you flexibility for off-grid. Once I know that we are keeping the van long term, I believe we will follow your example.

[@philipcoates7959]

Hi. I enjoyed all the useful info you shared with us regarding buying a CV40. We’ve ordered a CV20 (I’m 6’2”) and have been waiting 15 months for delivery (due 1st quarter) which isn’t that unusual these days.! Looking forward to trying it out for myself in the Spring (hopefully). Phil

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Phil. We are glad to hear that you are nearing the end of your long wait for your lovely new van. I am pleased that my information regarding taller people should maybe consider the CV20 appears to be correct. I have heard that the wait times for these Elddis vehicles is coming down, but obviously not in all instances. Lovely time to receive your van (all things being equal), ready for Spring and a full year of travels, we will keep our fingers crossed for you.

[@peterneal7160]

Hi ya, we have a 2008 Compass Motorhome, part of Elldis Group. Our Sat Nav takes our Dimensions but still tries to take us down narrow one track roads at 6'6" & we are 8'!! Generally we don't have any problem with TV, sometimes on a site the signal is crap! But some sites have a booster that you can plug an Aerial lead into. We keep our bed made up and have 2 little folding tables to put our Cuppas on and more 😁 our last Gas bottle lasted best part of a year mostly used for cooking! 😁

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Peter. Thank you for your comment. How crazy is your sat nav, in that it asks for your dimensions and still takes you single track lanes 😮 at that width, I would be sweating permanently, but in all honesty the width would be very useful when pitched. Glad to hear you don't have too many issues with your TV, I actually purchased one of the booster cables you describe when we went to Hawes recently and it worked really well, apart from there didn't seem to be enough booster points on site. Stay safe on your travels and have a lovely festive period. Regards Sarah and Wayne

[@karlospappy8908]

We have a CV 40 on order since July 21 after selling our VW California, we might get it April -May 23 which if it comes will be nearly 2 years wait. The really annoying thing with Elddis is there seems to be no order when building these vehicles, I know people who ordered several months after us and they have taken delivery of their van. We chose the CV40 as we wanted a fixed bed, shower room and front seating area but like you didn't want the width of a coach built and to be honest the damp issues that can come with a coach built. Happy travels. Cheers K.

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Karlos, we are so sorry to hear that you have waited so long for your CV40 order and can understand your frustration, especially as it's not a given it will appear in April-May. I guess that means you've been van-less all that time since selling the VW? 😭 It's a poor show if others are receiving their hands before you guys, after ordering well after you. I hate to be cynical, but it makes you suspicious that if it isn't due to bad production management, Elddis may be producing the vans sold at a higher margin first 🤔 now that the price has soared. Let's be optimistic and hope that the delay is due to their much higher standards employed in their builds of late, especially as you guys had a VW previously which is the pinnacle of quality. We really hope you received good news soon regarding your van and you can enjoy a full season of travels and experiences. It will be worth the wait for sure, we love our van. Have a lovely festive break and best wishes for 2023 ( especially for April-May) 🚐

[@rogerwilkes9704]

I have an April 2022 CV20 Vogue and I believe the habitation build quality is very poor.HOWEVER anyone practical can put most of the Elddis " instilation" faults and anomalies as they should have been upon delivery. This though with- respect in our case that it was at £54,500 as a 9 speed auto with £2500 extras- still makes it a bargain compared to ANY other NEW 6m campervan with this much standard kit. PS the euro6D final engine - which is an Alfa Romeo- gives 5-10 % mpg than the previous model in our case between 33 and 38 mpg ie 650 -700 miles per tank actual ( tank to tank / mileage)

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Roger, thank you for your comment and insight into your Elddis experiences. Certainly agree that the niggles are trivial on these vehicles and with a little DIY competence can be fixed or improved upon from the factory, I just wish I had this competence 🙂 Your van certainly represents value given it being based on the latest van version and having the newer/upgraded auto box, that's certainly a good return on mpg. Even with the manual version of the previous generation, I feel I receive a decent return on mpg considering the weight of the vehicle et all. It is nice to hear the positives as it is all too easy to get bogged down in the negatives. Happy and safe travels to you 🚐

[@stevezodiac491]

It is much better to charge your cab battery on a proper portable battery charger. If you charge it, by just turning over the starter and leaving it idle or slow round the block type circuits regularly, you will coke up the particulate filter and the engine itself. Diesel engines work best on a long run, when they can heat up properly at higher revs. There are no perfect answers for motorhomes v larger vans v VW T6 size camper vans. You always seem to sacrifice something to get something else. The word you should be looking for is compromise. I wouldn't like to store my van away from home, and because ours is 5.4 metres long it fits nicely on our drive and anything that needs doing to it , can be done there as well as parking in a smaller spot and manoeuvring down single track roads. A lot of motorhomes seem to be stuck at the camp site because they are too big to explore with but on the campsite they are nicer to stay in because of their size. To get both when you are there, a proper caravan might be best, using your car to explore etc. Compromises ! I think that what we may do is get a caravan as well and use that for longer stays, with a bigger party in a single area and use our camper van for touring when there is just the two of us. .

[@beatentrackleisure]

Hi Steve, many thanks for your comment and helpful advice regarding battery charging. I am trying to put together a soltion for cab battery charging by having a Sterling battery maintainer installed that will take excess charge from the leisure batteries (charged by the solar panel) and pass it to the cab battery. You are right, it is not ideal to charge the battery whilst idling and I have heard of several people that have had issues with their diesel particulate filters from such use. I never idle the van, but take it for a 10-15 mile run whilst keeping out of top gear, although with this extreme cold we are having, I am going to be doing this every few days which is not great. We were originally looking at the Globecar Roadscout that was 5.4 metres and a well builf vehicle, but were not many about unfortunately. I am extremely jealous that you can work on your van at home and charge where neccessary. We have also come to the conclusion that it would be nice to have a caravan due to the space and the option of touring in the car, I never want to use the van once we are pitched and am currently looking at solutions such as taking a motor scooter. Whilst we get used to this hobby of touring, the van is great, but certainly will consider being a tugger in the future.

[@rodcarter4502]

Why buy it when you could buyback nice German van

[@beatentrackleisure]

I love the German vans, but i like the habitation door on the correct side of the van ☺️