Leisuredrive Vivante review and photos

[CAB]

This one is an 82/3 T26......must be on its limits ?

2760 kg with an added 38litre water tank, 2 adults, long weekend food and drink, and a great big box on the back.

They have weights in the handbook, you can download a PDF from the website.

 

[Sackmycook]

Part 2 - Storage.

Storage is an issue. I've counted 4 compromises we have made which have impacted storage:
1. SWB rather than LWB (because an LWB simply would not have fitted on our drive; we could have had a full-length wardrobe and extra leg-room in the seating area)
2. Elevating roof rather than high-top (Leisuredrive do their own high-top with lots of locker space above the roof line)
3. Rear kitchen layout (the full-length galley means less storage, a standard layout has all of the back for bulky items, bags, sleeping materials etc.)
4. Toilet (the area above the toilet is obviousy empty space, otherwise it could have been a full height wardrobe / cupboard).

This is what we have in the elevating-roof Vivante, in addition to the kitchen storage in the first post.

Cupboard over the worktop; wide enough for a kettle, bottles, tankards, etc. It goes up inside, but there are electrics behind the plug and control panel.

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There is a drawer and cupboard above the fridge.

The drawer is no good for food or liquids, toiletries etc.; it gets rather warm from the fridge, so books, games, nothing that could age or melt. The cupboard is where our clothing and toiletries are going to have to go, we will need to be quite creative in how we pack, lots of compression cubes I think.

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Under the fridge is another cupboard, but this has the fuse box and transformer. It fits a toaster and various other bits, I'm trying to find a maximum-fit storage box to make it easier to access what is in there.

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Under the N/S passenger seat is a large space, about 35 x 50 cm. It has a 3-pin plug fixed to the inside at the back. We asked for a USB point on this side of the van, and they put it in the square box you can see. Again, looking for a maximum-fit box to slide in and out.

The passenger seat storage is accessed from the front, not from above; lots of other rear-kitchen conversions use single RIB seats, which tip forward to make it easy to access the storage.

You can see the Loc8 table in the sliding door; they hadn't supplied this before, but it's excellent for using outside under the awning. A bit trickier to get in/out than a standard conversion, because the seat is much further forward, but easy enough after a few goes.

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O/S passenger seat storage; the leisure battery is in the plastic box, and I presume more electrics on the left. This space will fit two pairs of hiking boots across the front, and nothing else!

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The table leg goes behind the driver, and the bed board down beside the O/S passenger seat.

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The table top goes behind the O/S passenger seat. Its a hell of a faff to get out, but I plan to fix it at the back, between the toilet cupboard and the back door.

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Finally, there is a safe under the front passenger seat. Not hugely secure, just a basic latch lock, and it is half-full of fuses and wires just hanging around, so I will use some carpet tiles to blank them off. Also need to put some foam in the corners to stop the rattle!

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Some storage around the loo:

1. Space behind, the hook-up cable fits here, and various other bits, mallet, shower attachment etc.
2. Cupboard in front; currently has ramps; awning tie-down kit; 2x toilet chemical bottles; tool rool.

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The rack at the back fits some food & stuff; tins, tea, coffee pods, etc. A bit of a faff to get to when the doors are closed though.

There is a gap behind the rack between the kitchen cupboard and the van side / door flare; We have an umbrella in there, plus walking poles and our pitch reserved sign pole. Could fit more long stuff in there.

View attachment 71833

Whats in the green bag?

 

[CAB]

Whats in the green bag?

Jack. They make a custom bag for it, and strap it to the pillar.

 

[Sackmycook]

Fixed my table to the rear for ease of access. I think my table must be larger than @CAB 's as it was a tighter fit getting the backets on...

 

[CAB]

Fixed my table to the rear for ease of access. I think my table must be larger than @CAB 's as it was a tighter fit getting the backets on...

View attachment 297265

I think the loo is different? Our table sits on the carpeted bit.

Too be honest, we only use it for Scrabble or Dominoes! We use a small table most of the time.

 

[Sackmycook]

Possibly different size loo cupboard. Our is the rotator version?

 

[CAB]

Possibly different size loo cupboard. Our is the rotator version?

Bench on the newer ones.

 

[Sackmycook]

Saturday night, discussing toilets !! Rock and Roll

 

[Sackmycook]

@CAB just re-read your excellent review and realised I've not been doing the beds right !
I have been rotating the captains seats before flattening, and its been a struggle with the steering wheel in the way.

Still contemplating the bolster cushions to make a double, but wondering if I can get away with using the big table as the bed board ?

 

[Sackmycook]

we weren't supplied with the extra foot board; but our dealer is having one made for us. I will post dimensions when we get it.

Did you get the footboard?
If so do you have dimensions/photo?

 

[CAB]

Did you get the footboard?
If so do you have dimensions/photo?

Yep, will do.

 

[Sackmycook]

Yep, will do.

Polite bump

 

[CAB]

Polite bump

Doing it! Sorry

 

[CAB]

250mm wide
600mm long

 

[Sackmycook]

Thanks.

 

[MrOrk]

Hi, heads up for those with a Dometic RM3310 fridge as fitted to my Vivante, if you run it on has regularly then you might come across a flat battery on your igniter! who knew.

 

[Sackmycook]

Not had a flat battery but a connector wire did come loose once, with the same result. Matches backup

 

[MrOrk]

Not had a flat battery but a connector wire did come loose once, with the same result. Matches backup

Just to clarify, it’s the fridge (I have just edited the post) and I don’t think you can ignite it with a match.

 

[Sackmycook]

Ah, thought you mentioned the gas hob....
No, don't try lighting your fridge with a match