Advertisement
Dreamer D42
Sections:

Key Features

Model Year 2016
Class High top
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 34,945
Length (m) 5.41
Berths 2
Belted Seats 4
Main Layout French Bed
See full details
Advertisement

At a glance

Berths: 2/3 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato MWB panel van Maximum weight: 3,300kg Payload: 455kg

Full review

There’s a budget brands war going on, as imports to the UK offer cut-price versions of existing ranges, usually under a different name. With Rapido, the previous Campérêve name was seen as too continental, so it’s been replaced by this Dreamer – five models, three of which are available in standard and Select guise.

Few can compete with a price of less than £35,000 for a Dreamer D42. That’s for a new Fiat Ducato MWB van conversion with a 2.3-litre, 130bhp engine.

We thought it more appropriate to focus on the standard D42 here, but with the £385 Dreamer Pack included that includes passenger airbag, cab air-conditioning, cruise control, colour-matching for the front bumper, electric heated door mirrors, swivel seats, a radio and pre-wiring for a stereo and reversing camera. It’s hard to see anyone getting hold of any Dreamer without such a pack. The example here also has the £500 Comfort Pack, also hard to dismiss.

Here, as standard, you get white bodywork, while minimal graphics lift it from ‘white van’ status.

Perhaps as a result of paring back the specification, the Dreamer feels spacious inside. It’s a standard continental lounge that offers a rear travel seat for two, with the kitchen inside the sliding door and a rear section with a French bed and washroom.

The kitchen is more campervan than motorhome, with its Dometic two-ring hob and sink combination set over a 90-litre Vitrifrigo compressor fridge. There’s space alongside it for three drawers and one overhead locker, but not grill.

The D42 sleeps two as standard (a fiddly third berth is a £194 option) and the solid back doors mean you can sit up in bed without fear of damaging a blind. The fold-up slatted frame section can make load-carrying more feasible.

Content continues after advertisements
Advertisement
Advertisement

The washroom has a space-saving tambour door. The mixer tap for the fixed corner basin is also the showerhead, but there’s only a shower curtain.

Savings? The rear travel seat only has no adjustable head restraints. The side windows have standard flat blinds. Overhead are standard rooflights. You can hardly call these deal-breakers.

In any case, no obvious rival offers the French bed format, while most key budget-priced alternatives are six metres long.

You can see Dreamers at just four outlets across the UK. Dreamer leaves it to each to quote an on-the-road price.

This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the January 2016 issue of What Motorhome.

Content continues after advertisements
Advertisement
Advertisement

Expert motorhome advice to your door!

Why not subscribe to one of our fabulous magazines and get expert advice, travel ideas, technical help and all the latest news for your motorhome and your motorhome adventures!

MMM Motorhomers' Magazine

Want to know more about MMM magazine?

Every month MMM has articles written by motorhomers who have been there and done it, from great UK and European (and further afield) tours, campsite reviews, owners' reports and DIY projects among other things. MMM's tests, reviews and expert buying guides are not to be missed. MMM's technical advice is a must and includes everything from weekend jobs to longer-term DIY projects. And much more!

About MMM magazine  
What Motorhome Magazine

Want to know more about What Motorhome magazine?

Every issue of What Motorhome magazine provides essential buying advice for anyone looking to buy a new motorhome or campervan or upgrade their existing model. With a pedigree of over 30 years of offering the best motorhome and campervan buying advice, every issue of What Motorhome includes more new motorhome and campervan reviews than you will find in any other magazine.

About What Motorhome  
Campervan Magazine

Want to know more about Campervan magazine?

Campervan is the exciting monthly magazine that will give you all the inspiration you need to explore the world in your campervan. Every issue is packed with real-life campervanning experiences, inspiring travel ideas in the UK and further afield, the best campsites to stay on, campervan road tests and reviews of the latest models, and much more!

About Campervan magazine  

Our verdict

This is some bargain - and a rare example of a French bed layout in a medium-length Fiat Ducato 'van.

Advantages

Razor-sharp pricing
Permanent bed with quality mattress

Disadvantages

No grill
A bit plain before options are added

Sign up to our free newsletter

Join our community and get emails packed with advice and tips from our experts – and a FREE digital issue!

Sign up now!

Subscribe to the new-look Campervan

Access every published issue plus the latest edition – all fully searchable!

Discover more

More dedicated campervan content

Advertisement
Advertisement