Dethleffs Trend A 7877-2 motorhome

Berths: 6 Travel seats: 6 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Al-Ko Gross weight: 5,000kg Payload: 1,221kg

New to this year’s Trend line-up is an overcab motorhome, the A7877-2. A

s indicated by the ‘2’, this is a double-floor model, the only one in the range. In the ‘basement’ are the fresh and waste water tanks, plus storage across almost the whole width of the vehicle.

It’s also the biggest vehicle in the line-up, at 8.60m long and 3.27m high. It’s based on a tag-axle Al-Ko chassis weighing in at five tonnes – you’ll need a C1 classification on your driving licence. However, that does mean there’s also 1,221kg of payload, which should be more than enough for a family of six and all the stuff needed to keep everyone amused.

Stepping on board, with the help of an electric slide-out step and a recessed internal step, you suddenly discover there’s space, lots of it. Even though this is a six berth, the internal height, light décor scheme and large living area and kitchen mean that it still won’t feel crowded with a full complement on board.

UK-bound Trends get an enhanced chassis spec, including LED daytime running lights, electric/heated mirrors, air-con, cruise control, passenger airbag, pre-wired radio and captain’s seats with height/rake adjustment and armrests.

Usefully, the overcab double bed pushes up to aid access in and out of the cab, too.

Up front the lounge is large. The dinette is clearly aimed at family meals and the backrests are well shaped for travel. The rear facing seats get headrest and seatbelts, making this a six-berth with six belted seats.

The kitchen feels very spacious, with its slightly L-shaped worktop. Three big drawers sit below a three-burner hob, with an integrated sink adjacent. There is also a decent amount of worktop next to this for food prep. Opposite, some might find the oven (standard for UK models) above a little too high. Adjacent to this is a small wardrobe; for the kids?

The second wardrobe sits within the washroom area. Simply open the door to the toilet and this swings across to enclose the rear. A curtain then draws across the bed area for night-time privacy if other occupants need to use the ablutions. In a separate cubicle, the shower has its own heater outlet, as well as solid, semi-transparent, doors.

The rear bed is quoted at 2.10m by 1.50m – pretty impressive dimensions. You sleep transversely and there are windows at either end of the bed. These let in lots of light during the day but make it difficult to sit up in bed to read a book or have a cup of tea.

The garage space below is big because the bed is quite high – you’ll need a ladder to get up there. There are locker doors on both sides and the space gets lighting, tie-down points for your clobber or bikes and a mains socket.

UK-market Trend models are very well kitted out, much more so than their European counterparts. The spec includes an awning light, a flyscreen door, cab blinds, an insulated waste water tank, ambient lighting and LEDs, electric operation for the Combi water/space heating and carpets.

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