The latest addition to our luxury Motorhome fleet is the new Swift Autocruise 4 Berth Quartet. We would love to show you around, why not pop over and take a look? 

This review featured in several local newspapers and magazines. A link to the original article can be found here

Compact, practical and comfortable. Perfect for a quick getaway.

THE motorhome industry is booming at the moment. More and more people are recognising the fact that a home on wheels is one of the best ways to get around a destination without leaving any of your creature comforts behind.

I’ve reviewed a few different types and styles of motorhome over the years, but one of my favourites was always the Wildax Solaris – a van-based luxury motorhome with four beds and four seatbelts.

The vehicle I tested a few years ago was the first on a small fleet run by vehicle hire company Rising Brook Car and Van Hire in Cannock. They were keen for me to try their new Solaris, but seemed even more keen for me to try out their latest investment – the new Autocruise Quartet.

The Solaris has served them well. The bosses spotted it at a trade show and were lulled by its compact dimensions and tardis-like interior. It’s hard to find a motorhome with four beds and four travelling seats that’s still the same size as a van. Usually, more spacious motorhomes come with large conversions on the back.

The Quartet, another lucky find at a recent trade show, is fundamentally similar to the Solaris in the sense that it has a couple of seats with belts at the front end of the living area and bunks at the rear. But if you dig a little deeper there are many differences.

Both vehicles are based on the PSA Group (Peugeot and Citroen to you and me) van chassis, and the cabin is well equipped on both vehicles with cruise control, air conditioning, electric windows, remote central locking and a high-tech entertainment system with bluetooth.

Both have wide side access with powered steps and an LED awning light – and they both have a similar double bed up-front, bunks at the rear layout.

The differences are, firstly, in the details. The new Quartet feels more expensive somehow. Its faux-leather seat squabs start off the quality look and the sturdy handles on the overhead storage lockers, along with the dark ‘wood’ trim dotted around the cabin and living area complement the bright and classy LED mood lighting that crops up in the nooks and crannies.

It also has a better fridge, which runs solely off the electric power supply, speakers in the rear of the cabin and it has proper blinds in the cockpit area – which are much better than the pop-on screens in the Solaris I tried.

The bed layout at the front is different in the Quartet. The jury’s out for me whether it’s different in a good way or not, but it’s a complicated affair, because the layout has to accommodate the cabin’s large kitchen worktop.

It all folds out, eventually, to a large and secure double bed which is comfortable enough and, despite the lengthy set-up procedure, it’s not rocket science. One person will take a few minutes to construct it once experienced. It’s even easier if two people are involved.

The extra work-top, which intrudes across the entrance some way, is very useful in the day and better than the fold-up add-on in the Solaris, but whether you opt for a quick and simple bed or a more roomy workspace (which is still devoid of a draining area, strangely) is the first choice you will make.

A clever trick possessed by the Solaris, which doesn’t feature in the Quartet, is the folding top bunk. Families of four will find plenty of living space in either vehicle, but in the Solaris the top bunk folds away to the wall to turn the bottom bunk into an extra sofa. This doesn’t happen in the Quartet, which has a fixed top bunk.

This will bother families of four more than it will a couple. For my wife and I the bunks in both vehicle were used for some very handy storage space so we didn’t use the sofa. The front seating, boosted by the rotating driver and passenger seats, is more than enough anyway. Even for four.

On the road, there’s little to choose between the two campers. They’re both based around essentially the same van, so controls are light, there’s plenty of power from the engine and the fuel economy is impressive.

One of the Quartet’s biggest trump cards – and this may close the deal for most people – is that it has rear access. There’s a false back wall in the rear-fitted bathroom and this can be slid back to give access to the rear double door.

In the Solaris, this is blanked off, but in the Quartet it’s possible to walk right through the bathroom and into the world outside. As long as nobody’s using the toilet, of course.

When I tested the Quartet, around the narrow moorland roads of the Yorkshire Dales, it was equipped with its standard rear parking sensors. These are a big help, but I gather there’s plans to fit a reversing camera – which will be even better.

So there’s benefits to both vehicles. I like the Quartet’s quality feel and its rear access is a big bonus. The fridge is much easier to get along with too.

But I like the Solaris for its comfort and simplicity and that foldaway bunk will come in handy for entertaining friends.

If you hire a motorhome from Rising Brook, and I strongly recommend you do, you may be given the choice of both vehicles. It’s like choosing which of your children to leave behind.

They’re both great motorhomes and similar in many ways to one another and, whichever you pick, you’re assured of a great experience.

After plenty of thought I’ve finally reached the conclusion that, if it was me, I’d take the Solaris. No, wait. Make that the Quartet. Definitely the Quartet.

Actually, on second thoughts…

A three-day weekend break in a Rising Brook motorhome starts from £345.

A seven day hire starts from £575.

To find out more call 01543 502120

For more information on things to see and do in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas log on to www.yorkshire.com

Plan to hire a Motorhome for a family Holiday ? Click here for up to date UK Campsite information.

To check out the calender of Motorsport events for this year, click here.

Take a look at the fantastic range of the best festivals of 2013 here.

We have recently had our Motorhome featured in the Travel section of the popular local newspaper “The Burton Mail”. Click here to read the full article

Specifications

5 Door Inc Sliding Side Door 2.4 Diesel

MPG:35.8 Combined

Great For: Up to 17 people and hand luggage to travel in comfort.

Better Than: Paying a Bus and driver as divided by 17 people, minibus hire can be a real bargain.

Not So Great: If you have full 17 person capacity and lots of luggage, as you may struggle for space

Ford offers a whole host of extras plus power assisted steering, left hand sliding side door and step and even heated rear windows. There is a passenger assist grab handle and side and rear door step illumination as well as non slip passenger steps for easy entry. All Transit Minibuses have a ‘Safeguard’ passive anti-theft system immobilizer, high security locks and a visible Vehicle Identification Number.

Please Note: Vehicle measurements and descriptions are approximate and for guidance only. Hired vehicle may differ from the images. All vehicles rented will be supplied as per the category of vehicle and not specific make/model, if the requested vehicle is not available at the point of collection an alternative of the same or greater rental value will be supplied.

Hire for 1 week £399 3 Days £240 1 Day £89

Specifications

5 Door 9 Seater MPV 2.2 Diesel

MPG: 37.2/37.7 Combined

Great For: Up to 9 people to travel in comfort with huge amounts of luggage space for suitcases, wheelchairs or prams etc.

Better Than: The Ford Torneo as there is lots more space for luggage and with more head and leg room, it’s much more comfortable for your passengers too.

Not so great: If there’s a chance you might need more seats for extra last minute stowaways – in which case, think about a minibus…!

Alternative vehicles include

Please Note: Vehicle measurements and descriptions are approximate and for guidance only. Hired vehicle may differ from the images. All vehicles rented will be supplied as per the category of vehicle and not specific make/model, if the requested vehicle is not available at the point of collection an alternative of the same or greater rental value will be supplied.

Specifications

All have 3 seats, steel roller shutter rear doors, and rigid curtain-side loading access and 1 ton tail lift. All turbo diesel with automatic transmission.

MPG: 20.64 combined

Payload: 3,200 KG

Load length: 6.19 M Width: 2.25 M Height: 2.08 M

External Length:8.2 M Width: 2.5 M Height: 3.35 M

Will accommodate: 10 x Euro pallets

Ideal for: Professional level, large and/or distance furniture removal. It’s cavernous load space coupled with a heavy duty tail lift make lifting and loading really heavy items a breeze. If you really need to get it all in and move in one journey-there is nothing to beat this truck !

Not so great: If the driver passed there driving test after 1997 and hasn’t taken a separate HGV test. Business users must have an operator’s licences to use these truck’s commercially.

Show Me The Next Size Van Down From This

Please Note: Vehicle measurements and descriptions are approximate and for guidance only. Hired vehicle may differ from the images. All vehicles rented will be supplied as per the category of vehicle and not specific make/model, if the requested vehicle is not available at the point of collection an alternative of the same or greater rental value will be supplied.

Hire for 1 day £96.00 3 Days £255 1 week £479

All have 3 seats including the driver’s seat, steel roller shutter doors and electronic tail lift.All turbo diesel.

Specifications

MPG: 30 Combined

Payload: 1170 KG

Cubic capacity:25.22 Sq M

Load Length: 4.26 M Width 1.85 M Height 1.93 M

External Length: 6.9 M Width 2.08M Height 3.2 M

Will accommodate: 6 x Euro Pallets

Ideal for: Larger house moves or furniture removals where it’s important that the job is done in one move. We have these specially built to be larger than the regular box vans, so that if you do need the extra load space but don’t want to resort to using a 7.5 ton vehicle-this is perfect.

Not so great: If you have a very large removal over a long distance where doing more than one trip isn’t practical. Think about a 7.5 Box van instead.

We have these especially built on extended, extra long wheel based chassis Peugeot Boxers, Citroen Relays or Fiat Ducato. These vehicle are an ideal choice for a large box body as they offer greater weight carrying capacity than other makes whilst delivering greater fuel economy. At just over 14 feet/4.2 metre long, an extra large load capacity and tail-lift, this Luton offers much more than the standard Luton Box Van . Perfect for larger house moves and business’ requiring a large load solution, without the need for an operator’s licence.

Show Me The Next Size Up From This Van

Show Me The Next Size Down From This Van

Please Note: Vehicle measurements and descriptions are approximate and for guidance only. Hired vehicle may differ from the images. All vehicles rented will be supplied as per the category of vehicle and not specific make/model, if the requested vehicle is not available at the point of collection an alternative of the same or greater rental value will be supplied.