Dethleffs Trend T 6767 motorhome

Berths: 4 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,499kg Payload: 582kg

Not so long ago, it was rare to see a European motorhome without a fixed bed. Some continental manufacturers dabbled with rear lounges of various shapes and a few have offered compact A-classes, but the continental desire for fixed bed comfort means that some of these models didn’t stick around for long.

As ever, there are exceptions, of course, but it was the development of the drop-down bed in low-profile motorhomes that really changed the game. Suddenly, you could have a big lounge and a comfortable bed in a much smaller package. And that’s where this entry-level Dethleffs comes in.

It’s not really in the compact category but it does offer a lot of motorhome in a sub-seven-metre body. It’s not a new model, either, but it’s worthy of your attention as its layout is very amenable to British tastes. There’s a spacious lounge up front, a central kitchen and a large, across-the-rear washroom. Better still, there’s a garage at the back, so you get the large external locker space that is so lacking in many British ’vans. Think of it as a rival to Chausson’s popular 610 layout.

The all-white body is crisp and fresh and the simple graphics enhance the overall look rather than cheapening it. The first thing you notice is the wider-than-normal habitation door – add in the low-level interior step and getting on board is an effortless delight. The interior layout is fairly typical of its type.

The lounge has an L-shaped sofa that provides two rear travel seats, with a decent side sofa for an extra lounge or dining seat. The two cab seats (with twin armrests) also swivel round to face the lounge in the usual fashion. Thanks to that large fixed table, which lowers on its substantial central support, the lounge can also make into a bed, if needed. But the main mattress is the one above, which drops down electrically. It will come down almost to seat level, meaning you can have it low down for easy access or high up to sleep an extra two folk underneath it.

The kitchen sits just behind the lounge. It’s a compact L-shape with a sink and three-burner hob located against the wall and a small amount of worktop in front. Drawers and cupboards, both high and low-level, provide plenty of storage, although the drawers are lost if you want the low-level oven. Behind you is the tall fridge/freezer, a 142-litre affair with a removable freezer compartment.

The washroom is across the back of the motorhome. The toilet and basin are on the left as you step though the door, with a frosted window (as well as a rooflight) providing daylight. The shower is on the right, with a duckboard, showerhead on a riser and a hanging rail for drying clothes and towels, etc.

A door on the back wall, with mirrored front, slides across to reveal the massive wardrobe. Elasticated straps will make a good job of retaining items stored here, but it’s advisable to invest in a set of lightweight storage containers to help organise the space. There’s also a rail running across the locker, although if too many clothes were crammed in here, you might not be able to easily access the shelves behind.

The final selling point for this motorhome is the external storage. It runs underneath the wardrobe and is a proper garage as it can accommodate a standard-sized bicycle. There are loading doors at both ends, but they differ in size.

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.