Moto-Trek Euro-Treka I

Price from: £69,999 As tested: £69,999 Berths: 3 Travel seats: 2 Type Approval: European Whole Vehicle (applied)

Slide-outs – those amazing living-space extensions found on American RVs are extremely rare on this side of the pond. There are one or two very expensive, heavy motorhomes (think RS in the UK) offering them as options, but otherwise just a couple of panel van conversions (Chameleon, Danbury) have this facility. That’s all about to change…

If you’re not into equestrianism or motorsport, you probably haven’t heard of Yorkshire-based Equi-Trek or sister company Moto-Trek, renowned for top-of-the-range horseboxes, horse trailers and specialist motorsport motorhomes. Now Moto-Trek is expanding into mainstream motorhomes – both panel van conversions and coachbuilts – and has ambitious plans for the future.

The imposing Euro-Treka I is based on Peugeot’s Boxer with the 2.2-litre, 148bhp engine as standard – if a Comfort-Matic robotised gearbox is desired, a Fiat base vehicle will be used. A lightweight Al-Ko chassis underlies a strong aluminium floorpan – as used in Equi-Trek horseboxes. Admittedly, the Euro-Treka does bear some family resemblance to a horsebox, utilising the same overcab moulding and retaining an unusually high roofline, but finished in gleaming black and silver with alloy wheels, this prototype was very impressive.

Forwards of the door is the kitchen unit and, opposite, a long, luxurious, leather-covered settee. The two cab seats swivel, though the driver’s is, at this stage, partially obscured by a wall. With no rear travel seats, this is purely a motorhome for two travellers.

Centrally positioned in the motorhome, up a small step, is an offside washroom, with separate shower cubicle opposite. Beyond is the bedroom, with its transverse island bed.

There’s no mistaking that at eight metres (26ft 3in), the Euro-Treka is a big motorhome – and quite heavy. The maximum weight is 4,500kg, but this allows a good payload of just over 600kg.

The 148bhp engine pulled the Euro-Treka briskly over the steep Pennine hills, the Al-Ko chassis gave it excellent handling, and the motorhome’s interior was notably quiet. Moreover, the Euro-Treka is slightly narrower than many coachbuilts, and on twisting roads like those, every little helps!

Kitchen

The kitchen, opposite the lounge, occupies one long unit. There’s a combined stainless-steel sink and three-burner hob, with darkened glass lids, and a pop-up socket tower with three mains sockets and two USB ports.

Under the surface, there’s a combi oven/grill, and a 100-litre three-way fridge with removable freezer compartment. Above this, the Daewoo microwave is admirably low set, just three feet from the floor – production Euro-Trekas will have a 190-litre fridge with separate freezer, but the microwave will still be reachable.

Washroom

The washroom, with smooth tile-effect walls, provides plenty of leg and elbow-room around Thetford’s admirable bench toilet.

A vanity unit contains a stainless-steel basin, with mixer tap, and there’s plenty of storage above and below. A mirror over the washbasin, toilet roll holder, toothbrush mug and towel ring complete the fittings, and there’s a clear push-out window, with blind, plus two LED ceiling lights.

The shower cubicle is quite wide, has a bi-fold translucent door and the same easy-clean walls. However, with headroom of only 1.85m (6ft 0¾in), I had to stand with my head in the skylight! Moreover, the showerhead is on a bracket, not a riser-bar, there’s no soap-dish, and the sole drain hole is positioned to the rear. Moto-Trek is working on these points.

This is an extract from a longer article in October 2013 Which Motorhome. To subscribe, click here.

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A unique and intriguing British motorhome (thanks to those slide-outs) which should become seriously competitive in the luxury coachbuilt market