IH 710 IFL high-top campervan
Description
A rare base vehicle brings with it extra space and rear-wheel drive
Key Features
Full Review
Words & photos: Peter Vaughan
The IH 710 IFL
Not so long ago the extra-long Fiat/Peugeot vans were considered to be about as big as most campervan buyers would want, at 6.36m long. Now, though, there are an increasing number of long-wheelbase MAN, Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafter conversions of around 7m in length.
And then along comes IH with something even bigger – a 7.27m-long Iveco Daily which can be ordered with a five-tonne maximum gross weight and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity! Not only is this a bigger panel van, but it can also be specified with a potent 210hp engine and twin rear wheels (all Dailys are also rear-wheel drive).
Of course, it’s as long as many a coachbuilt motorhome but the 710 IFL is still a lot slimmer, making it easier to pilot through towns and on country lanes. Its all-steel construction is another advantage, along with the large sliding door which gives access to the living space.
Then, at the back, the full-height barn doors open onto one of the biggest garages you’ll ever see in a campervan – 1.89m high, 1.73m wide and 0.72m deep.
It’s a completely unencumbered space from floor to ceiling, although you will need to be able to reach the toilet cassette for servicing. IH says it can kit out the space with shelves, etc, to suit whatever purpose you envisage for the area.
If this review has piqued your interest, you can see it and its fixed bed sister model in our round-up video from the October 2023 NEC show below.
The interior
Inside is the classic IH front lounge layout (hence the FL in the name) but bigger. There’s a long, L-shaped sofa facing the side door (great when the weather’s warm enough to leave that open) and the two swivel cab seats complete this spacious lounge.
A free-standing table is added for dining and the slatted base of the settee simply pulls out to make the 710 IFL’s double bed (which IH says is 2.03m by 1.27m).
There’s room beneath the sofa to store bedding and access here is via a convenient drop-front door.
The kitchen
If you think the lounge looks large for a campervan, then the kitchen area will take your breath away – you’ll struggle to find bigger in a panel van. On the offside is an L-shaped unit that incorporates a full cooker with three gas rings, mains hotplate and a separate oven and grill.
That’s not a cooker you’ll often see in a campervan but it’s the amount of worktop space here that’s really the wow factor.
Opposite, there’s even more preparation space, care of a lift-up flap, as well as a lot more storage in high-level, eye-level and low-level lockers.
There’s a cutlery drawer, too, but after all this mine’s-bigger-than-yours design, the size of the three-way fridge – a relatively modest 93 litres – is a tad underwhelming.
The washroom
Beyond the galley, an unusual twin door arrangement leads into the washroom. This takes up the full width of the campervan, although the nearside is occupied by the wardrobe, so it’s not a huge room for your ablutions and a curtain is needed when showering.
There’s a bench cassette toilet, above which is a rather dated tip-up washbasin held in its stowed position by a cheap plastic catch that seems out of place in a campervan costing £113,826 as shown.
The spec
That price includes the Premium Package, which adds features such as a 300Ah lithium battery, 2kW pure sine wave inverter, 250W solar panel, Kenwood radio with 7in screen and sat-nav and a twin-lens reversing camera.
Alloy wheels, a 4.5m awning, 21in TV and half-leather upholstery are further extra-cost items here but every IH is bespoke in terms of spec and décor.
If this review has piqued your interest, you can see it and its fixed bed sister model in our round-up video from the October 2023 NEC show at motorhome.ma/NECOct23
Where to buy
IH Motorhomes are only available direct from the factory at Knottingley in West Yorkshire, where there is a small showroom and an outdoor display area for new and used vehicles.
You will normally see pre-owned IH vehicles here if a new one is out of reach and the company is also a dealer for the Pilote Group’s Joa Camp brand. IH also usually exhibits at many of the main motorhome shows.