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quoteTime for action!
You can tell by some of the optional extras offered for the new Fairford Plus motorhome from Auto-Sleepers, that it’s reaching out to potential new customers.
Racking for canoes, door-mounted bike rack, rear wind-out awning – all optional and all shown here – are pointers towards the kind of outdoor adventures you could have in a motorhome like this, the new Auto-Sleeper Fairford Plus.
The long-established converter is unique in using the window van version of Peugeot’s Boxer base vehicle. It means you get athermic (i.e. insulated) glass windows instead of the plastic units added to standard vans by rival converters.
In 2020 guise, Boxers come with Euro 6.2, 2.2-litre engines. Auto-Sleepers goes straight to the top of the class with the Fairford Plus motorhome, with the most powerful 165bhp version as standard.
It’s the recent hike in Vehicle Excise Duty for motorhomes that pushes the initial on-the-road price over the £60,000 hurdle. Like most other new motorhomes for 2020, you’ll pay some £2,135 in VED (road tax, if you prefer to call it that), for the pleasure of owning an upmarket model with the latest, cleanest diesel engines.
But, it’s at the back of this conversion where all the action is. There’s a rear lounge with two folding metal settees for daytime use, although do note the lack of side windows.
Or, you might prefer to leave them in their night-time mode – for a permanent transverse double bed (1.88m x 1.40m), using support bars and set at a height that should make access easy for most people, with storage underneath that’s also accessible via the twin rear doors.
Or you might want to fold back that framework altogether for a huge storage zone, capable of accommodating bikes, outdoor furniture and lots more.
There’s also a 1.94m x 1.34m bed to be had from the dinette seating behind the driver.
There’s a more than adequate kitchen, too, centred around a Spinflo Triplex cooker flanked by worktop either side, plus a sink in matching black. Cooking facilities are enhanced by a Dometic microwave oven above the latter.
There’s a good choice of of storage, too – double overhead locker, large locker to the right of the cooker, floor locker under the oven – although it’s only a standard-sized fridge.
There’s a clever bit of space-saving in the washroom, too where – as well as the tambour door – there’s a clever facility to slide the basin out of the way when you want to optimise space for showering.
Other key items include tanks for fresh and waste water, plus gas, at 69, 40 and 25 litres respectively. The main parts of the Whale heating and hot water systems are also fitted underfloor – again freeing up vital interior storage space.
There’s also a 105Ah leisure battery linked to a solar panel. Cab kit extends to a touchscreen “infotainment” system with sat nav, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and Traction Control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system, all among a highly impressive overall specification.
The standard fit Sargent tracker will help you to keep insurance premiums low.
Note, also, there’s a choice of two furniture finishes and a dozen alternative soft furnishings.
Verdict: Storage abounds in this clever conversion
Plus: Versatile rear lounge/bedroom/storage zone
Minus: Slightly compromised washroom, small fridge
In-a-nutshell: A van that can
There’s more information on the Fairford Plus on the Auto-Sleepers website. Find out more about insuring this or your current motorhome on our motorhome insurance discounts page.
Alternatives: Adria Twin 640 SGX, Auto-Trail V-line 636 SE Sport, Globecar Globescout/Campscout, Swift Select 184, Volkswagen Grand California, Westfalia Sven Hedin/James Cook
Auto-Sleeper Fairford Plus factfile
| Model | Auto-Sleeper Fairford Plus |
| Base vehicle | Peugeot Boxer window van, 2.2-litre, 160bhp, Euro 6.2 |
| Dimensions | 6.36m L x 2.26m W x 2.64m H |
| Berths | Four |
| Travel seats | Four |
| Maximum weight | 3500kg (4000kg opt) |
| Payload | 424kg |
| MPG estimate | 28-32 |
| RRP | From £60,135 |
| Safety & security | Electronic immobiliser, Sargent Cat 6 tracker, remote central locking to all doors, ABS and EBD, EBA (emergency brake assist), tyre pressure monitoring, twin airbags, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguisher, 25-litre underfloor gas tank, Motorhome Wi-Fi |
| Key options | Premium Pack (£2,500), Winter Pack (£295), Media Pack (£995), Climate Pack £1,000), Thule Pack (£595) |
Try the Adria 6.36m twin axcess. Transverse bed was our one issue and this model overcame it. It is a 2 berth only, well a child bed can be made from the dinette but it was only ever for the two of us so it’s perfect for us. Lots of storage space and a very large garage under the bed.
Looks a nice van conversion, however I am not a fan of transverse beds or the continental lounge which seriously restricts floor space. Whilst I am looking for a van conversion I do not think I would consider this model