Tribute 680

Berths: 2+1 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato XLWB panel van Gross weight: 3500kg Payload: 435kg

When Tribute launched its latest van conversion, the 680, at the end of January, it was only the latest manufacturer to realise the advantages of the Fiat’s extra-long-wheelbase van, particularly in allowing a generous fixed single bed layout.

While Tribute van conversions are made in Italy, unlike their coachbuilt cousins, Auto-Trail’s influence with its sister factory within the Trigano empire means that this ‘van has its sliding door on the ‘correct’ side for the UK. That gives it a real USP.

Slide back that door and you will notice two other clearly British-inspired features. There’s a warm oatmeal finish to the interior, which is much more traditional than some European models, but possibly less practical.

There is a well-equipped kitchen, too. As well as a two-burner hob that’s in line with the rectangular sink, you get a Thetford Duplex oven and a 75-litre Dometic three-way fridge. The table in the adjacent dinette includes an extension that makes it one of the largest I have seen in a two-berth van conversion. Come eating time, there’s easily room for four to dine here in comfort.

The washroom, across the aisle from the kitchen, includes a swivel toilet and a separate shower head. The shower tray is not generously sized and only has one drain hole. The sliding basin, too, is small and an unusual ‘R’ shape that could prove harder to clean. There is a large cupboard, but no open shelving.

The similar Sun Living Flexo SLX includes a partition you can lock into place to create a huge, under-bed storage area. Not so here, as the aisle simply leads up two steps to the beds. Such an arrangement does mean the beds are marginally lower and easier to get into, and the bedroom itself has four blown-air ducts.

Open the barn doors at the back and you’ll see a small underfloor storage area next to the gas bottle locker. This is partly taken up with the infill cushions and extra boards you need to turn the two singles into a double.

There are overhead lockers, placed sensibly to give you enough room to sit up in bed. On the driver’s side there’s another socket for the TV, and a further mains socket. There is another locker across the back of the ’van that is so small you could only just hide an umbrella in it but it could be the cause of a sore head.

This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the July 2016 issue of What Motorhome. Buy it now.

This Tribute stands out for having an oven and a sliding door on the UK side, but its rear storage could be more versatile.