Our Adria Twin

We have found the fixed bed layout of our motorhome to be ideal for the type of holidays we have as a couple mainly touring around. Some people have stated that it is a waste of valuable floor area but we have found the half dinette at the front is fine for lounging as we mostly use the swivelled driving and passenger seats as they are very comfortable. Not having to make up the bed each evening is a big plus and useful for daytime snoozes and the large storage area underneath the bed is more than ample. In our previous Autosleeper Symbol we found it necessary to fit a backbox for our long trips. We no longer take bikes as they rarely got used.

We have carried out several improvements to the interior of our van as we have been using it for the last year. I always endeavour to make these changes with the minimum of impact on the factory supplied vehicle although the occasional discrete screw hole is unavoidable. A very useful item I have used is the very high strength double sided adhesive gel tape 25mm wide which unlike the foam based tape is transparent and can be peeled off surfaces without leaving any residue.

Underbed storage area
We removed the hinged divider panel from under the bed as it made access to most of the area inaccessible from the interior if closed across, and wasn't moveable when the area was full! This was replaced by two substantial wooden battens which are removable so that a full through access for transporting large items. This divides the area equally the rear being for tools and dirty items such as buckets and waste containers, hoses, ramps and a three drawer plastic storage box for tools, satellite equipment and the many spares and odds and ends we take with us. In the front area we have plastic storage boxes for food, books etc and bags for boots and a folding step we have found essential for access to the bed at night! I dismantled the wine bottle holder to remove the cutout panels and this box is ideal for cereal packets and a couple of larger guidebooks. I have since added a 10mm ply panel to separate the two storage areas.

Extra worktop
One shortcoming of this layout of motorhome is the lack of worktop when cooking. This has been partly solved by a fold-down work surface across the doorway in some motorhomes we looked at, but I have come up with a different solution. The extra worktop (at present covered in woodgrain Fablon) has been designed to clip onto the front edge of the wardrobe and supported by a clip-on wooden leg. The rear edge is lipped to prevent items falling over the back and the size and shape allows access to the bathroom whilst it is in place. We use an old piece of plastic tablecloth spread over the bed to prevent any splashes (and a similar piece is put over the rear bench seat when dishing up meals). The only shortcomings we've found is having to open the wardrobe door to clip it in place (the door can be closed once in situ due to the thin metal brackets used) and remembering to take items out of the fridge before it's set up, otherwise some contortions are required! As a bonus the worktop drops vertically at the front of the underbed area retained by a batten. This reasonably secures stored items if a sudden stop is needed when driving. Ideally everything has to have two uses (The Truma heater controls visible in the righthand photograph are a labelled photo of the controls which are located under the bed as we can't remember which way to turn the gas controls!)

Bathroom
Although we found the bathroom storage provided above and below the basin to be well designed an additional rail for towels and flannels which hook on large shower curtain rings has been fitted, together with a liquid soap dispenser, toothbrush rack and a plastic wall mounted tray for shampoo, sponges etc while showering. I have replaced the shower head with one with a trigger handle making it a lot easier to keep a fairly consistent temperature when showering. We found a waste bin that easily fits in the bathroom and which doesn't get in the way. It hooks on a rail made from electrical trunking.

Television mount

I have recently removed the tv mount and panel as we rarely take a tv and just prop it on the closed sink glass cover as it is easier to watch at a lower level.
We sometimes take a 16 inch Technika (Tesco) 12v television with freeview and DVD drive powered through an Amperor stabilised power supply, or 230v transformer when on hookup. We use a Maplins Comag suitcase satellite kit or a portable SLX amplified aerial for freeview which normally works well in most Uk areas. We do end up with a tangle of cables although there are adjacent 12volt and mains sockets.

Waste tank
The Adria has a 90 litre waste tank which usually lasts about three days when touring but I prefer to drain it whenever possible and we have an old Thetford 20 litre shallow slide-under tank as there isn't too much clearance underneath the van. We found the Adria fitted drain to be awkward as it is too far inboard. I loosened the ballvalve outlet elbow and swivelled it rearwards. 38mm kitchen waste pipe fittings fit into the elbow so I added a second elbow followed by a reducer to the smaller 32mm wastepipe pushfit fittings. The final elbow swivels to align with the slide-under tank via a flexible hose or it can be easily withdrawn and an extension pipe pushed in to reach a drain to the side of the van if necessary. I also carry a longer length of waste pipe (easily obtained from an Aquatics centre). The operating handle for the shutoff valve is on a flexible drive that kept becoming detached from its spigot. This has been fixed by carefully drilling a 3mm cross hole through the coupling with a retaining pin pushed through.

Other improvements
I fitted two shelves into the wardrobe as we don't take bags for our clothes The blue plastic boxes are a slide fit and the top shelf stores electrical odds and ends. I have added two LED spotlights to improve the illumination as we mainly use the comfortable swivelled cab seats in the evenings. They are fed from the leisure battery via the existing under cupboard side spotlight cable with a fused cable. The curtain wire stretched between the cab grab handles, visible in the photo is useful for drying towels overnight. Another useful addition is the small beige tray from a garden centre, stuck to the narrow window ledge in the lounge area - fine for cups etc. We usually remove the table in the evenings and rotate the dinette seat cushion which is propped up by a simple frame so that one of us can stretch their legs out.

We have put a wardrobe rail along the rear offside lockers for coats on a hook on hanger and built a bookshelf below the lockers aas we always sleep with our heads to the nearside wall where the reading lights are.

We took down the thin side curtains supplied and use internal insulated thermal screens in addition to the Seitz front windscreen blind already fitted. I accept they are not as efficient as external screens we have used on our previous motorhomes but are easier to store as they don't get soaking wet and allow a quick getaway if disturbed at night.

LED spotlights (striplight now removed) wardrobe shelves and boxes useful tray by side window

I have fitted an 80watt solar panel feeding into the Schaudt EBL208 control unit via a Schaudt LR1218 solar regulator. Also there is a Schaudt OVP1 anti surge unit fitted onto the mains input.

page updated 03/05/2015

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