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Dethleffs Advantage Edition T 7051 EB motorhome
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Key Features

Model Year 2018
Class Low Profile
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 59,995
Engine Size 2.3TD
Maximum Weight (kg) 3,499
Berths 3
Main Layout Fixed Single Bed
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At a glance

Berths: 3 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,850kg Payload: 812kg

Full review

The Dethleffs Advantage Edition is actually a continental range that wasn’t originally destined to come here at all – until Lowdhams spotted its potential and snapped up an exclusive deal. It’s the very long list of standard kit that really grabs your attention, though. You can choose from island bed (T 7051) or single bed (T 7051 EB – as shown here) layouts, with the latter coming in low bed form or with high beds (and thus a full garage). The EB and non-EB versions are identical forward of the bedroom and both come with either 130 or 150bhp engines, and a choice of manual or Comfort-Matic gearboxes.

The sticker price of £59,995 might keep a tempting ‘5’ at the front but you have to stump up a further £1,995 for the Edition Pack, which adds over £7k-worth of goodies. That said, there are plenty of motorhomes that would require thousands spending on extras and accessories to get anywhere near the Advantage Edition’s equipment level.

It’s instantly clear that this is not an entry-level model. You’ll spot its silver cab, alloy wheels and awning straight away, but it also features flush-fit windows and an extra-wide habitation door. The base vehicle spec is all-inclusive, too, with a leather steering wheel, chrome-ringed dials and a Kenwood double-DIN head unit with sat-nav, radio/CD and reversing camera, as well as ESP, Hill Holder, Hill Descent Control and digital, automatic air-conditioning. Then there’s the big overcab sunroof stretching way back into the ceiling.

An impressive payload of over 800kg is due, in part, to the 3,850kg chassis but Lowdhams can supply an Advantage Edition downplated to 3,499kg. The lowered-chassis Camper version of the Ducato is standard, so handling is reassuring. You shouldn’t have to worry about the longevity of your ’van, either, as its body uses Dethleffs’ Lifetime Plus wood-free construction with GRP roof and under-floor.

Further pluses are a satellite dish as standard and a gas locker with slide-out frame for the cylinders, making changing them a much less back-breaking ordeal. External storage on this derivative is not quite to full garage status, but it’s copious for outdoor clobber and internal height in the locker is 780mm.

The impression of superior build quality continues throughout the Advantage Edition – this feels every inch the £60k ’van. Illumination is the modern-day mix of concealed mood lighting and more direct spotlamps – all LED, of course – with reading lights which can be repositioned anywhere along their mounting rails. Of course, the 18.5in TV – mounted at an ideal viewing height – is another standard feature.

The Edition’s fairly compact galley has more of a stepped depth to the worktop than a true L-shape, which appears to open up a bit more floor space in the area. A folding worktop extension is a practical addition, too. And, if the rest of the motorhome might lack a bit of bling, the grey and white finish, textured worktop and acrylic splashback here make up for it. More importantly, the combined oven/grill unit is mounted below the hob, rather than above the 142-litre fridge (which ticks off another spec item with automatic energy selection). All the drawers have soft closing and there are convenient 12V and 230V sockets.

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Second only to the specification in the reason-to-buy stakes is the EB layout’s end bedroom and en suite. Opting for the low single bed model completely changes the feel of the bedroom, and it could actually be seen as offering a super king-sized double. There are single mattresses on either side – each at least 2m long – but in between is a central cushion measuring 1.10m long. Then there’s a further slot-in centre section which increases the length of the middle bit of bed to 1.72m – now it’s practically a triple bed, measuring 2.13m across! Ratcheted tip-up mattress supports on each side make for luxurious lounging with the Sunday papers, while on-rail reading lights match those in the lounge.

The whole en suite bedroom area can be segregated using the toilet door, while the shower and loo can then be made private from the bedroom with a pull-across concertina screen. In any case, the shower eschews the usual clear plastic enclosure for a rotating, grey tambour door, which is left ‘open’ for a more spacious feel when not occupied. So, a great fixed bed motorhome with all the toys for just over £60k.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.

 

    

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