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Chausson Welcome 711 Travel Line motorhome
Sections:

Key Features

Model Year 2018
Class Low Profile Drop Down Bed
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 55,150
Engine Size 2.3TD
Maximum Weight (kg) 3,500
Berths 4
Main Layout Rear Lounge
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At a glance

Berths: 4 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 449kg

Full review

Chausson’s 711 is unique on today’s market although we have seen its ilk decades before. This French low-profile is big on the number two, with two seating areas, two tables, two rear travel seats, two drop-down beds, even two habitation doors – one on either side.

Externally, all looks pretty much standard for a seven-and-a-half-metre low profile, the flat-ish roofline and overcab moulding does not make it obvious that there is even one, let alone two, drop-down beds within.

The interior begins with swivelling cab seats that turn to face two fully-belted, swivelling single travel seats. Above this there’s a drop-down double bed. Next, on the offside, is the kitchen, with washroom opposite and, in the rear, drop-down bed number two is above a U-shaped lounge. Beyond this is the garage.

Unlike the majority of Chausson low-profiles, which can be had on either the Ford Transit or Fiat Ducato chassis, the 711 is only available on the Fiat. The standard set-up is the 130-horsepower motor with six-speed manual gearbox, which hauls the camper-specific version of the Ducato chassis.

First impressions are that the front seating area feels very spacious. The rear lounge is less so, because it contains a large table that fills almost all the space. The front seating area plays a very different tune as there’s loads of room for four people to spread out, enthroned in their own armchairs. There’s a table at this end, too, but it’s removable and emerges from its home next to the nearside rear travel seat. Once released, it stands on a single leg, mounted in a floor socket.

The cab floor is higher than that in the living area, so, as a gang of four, the rear seats come lower to the table than those in the cab. Back aft, the lounge might seat eight in reasonable comfort, so there’s oceans of room for the four residents. The table does make the lounge a great place to dine and its bulk is mitigated somewhat by a top that slides this way and that.

The garage projects into the lounge far enough to allow a shelf with plenty of area for the detritus of life when pitched. The power of two is back as the corners are home to a pair of capacious, jacket-length wardrobes. All is finished off well, with a pair of high-level lockers and, in front of the central window, a panel that hides ambient lighting and is home to a perfectly located twin USB socket.

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Thetford’s Triplex cooker provides hob, grill and oven, in a package that’s motorhome-friendly. This is especially unusual in a kitchen as bijou as this. The Dometic fridge boasts 134 litres, a removable freezer section and auto energy selection. It’s a case of ‘storage three, worktop one’ in this kitchen as two drawers, a cupboard and roomy two-door job up top wins over a modest slab to the right of the cooker, plus the sink’s lid and its surroundings. There’s not much working surface, but this is average for this type of galley.

A bit of a circular theme sees a round basin, toilet lid and integrated shower cubicle fit snugly into the washroom. Even the room has curves – its walls bending to form a D-shaped room, its doo,r a tambour unit that slides out of the way behind the toilet. Storage is squarer, with a shallow- but-expansive cupboard above and a big pigeonhole further down behind the loo. It may be a simple feature, but I really liked the hand towel-sized hanging rail below the basin. There’s good counter space, too, so no balancing of cosmetics on the rather slippery toilet lid is needed when operations are underway.

The lounge table descends at the turn of a key to allow the rear double to lower to an easy-hop-in sofa level, but only if you remove the side backrests first. Stowing them beneath the bed would seem logical. However, they’re too long for the space. If these two cushions were made into four shorter ones, all would work in greater harmony. The bed is comfortable, long and wide – I slept very well.

As well as improving reliability, both bed systems include an adjustable limit switch that stops it in the stowed position, so there might be scope for setting it to allow you to leave your duvet in place when you put the bed away. The front bed cannot come down to seat level as the top of the fridge is partially in the way, so a ladder is needed. But there’s good headroom above and the bed is identical to its mate.

Heating and hot water systems here are different to many, as the space heating is powered by diesel from the vehicle’s tank. Water is warmed by a gas/mains Truma boiler. The electrics and water fill point are grouped inside an external hatch, service box style. The garage is big enough for bikes and its across-the-rear boot lid allows access to all your kit no matter where it’s located.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the May 2018 issue of MMM magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.

 

    

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Our verdict

The 711 takes full advantage of the drop-down bed concept and packs plenty into its 7.5m body. The rear travel seats are class-leading, the spacious interior is a plus and twin habitation doors always offer a convenient and safe side for entry and exit. A truly novel motorhome.

Advantages

Superb rear travel seats
Genuinely novel layout

Disadvantages

Big fixed table in rear lounge
Lounge backrest cushions too long to stow conveniently

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