Verdict
There’s a vast range of campervans out there, in many shapes and styles, but the award-winning Dreamer Living Van from Rapido really does stand out among the crowd. There’s plenty of space for occupants to stretch out and relax, and the ‘van is well geared for four-season touring, even if you’re planning to stay off-grid. The UK-friendly touches make this camper even more appealing.
Read the full list of Motorhome of the Year 2020 winners
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Pros
Good size double bed
Roomy interior
Cons
None
Be honest: when you took a look at the name of the van conversion that we’re reviewing here, did you think “Dreamer? Who are they?” If you did, you probably wouldn’t be alone; but that’s a shame, because Dreamer – a sub brand of popular French manufacturer Rapido – offers a range of attractive campervans for a reasonable price.
One of the latest to emerge from the company’s Mayenne HQ is the Dreamer Living Van, which was designed by Rapido along with input from UK dealerships. The result is a campervan that’s ideal for the UK market, offering a rear lounge, plenty of interior space, and right-hand drive. It’s so suitable for our shores that we recently named it our Best Rear-Lounge model in our Motorhome of the Year awards for 2020.
From the outside the Dreamer looks tall, thanks to that raised roof line and the choice of Fiat’s Ducato Heavy chassis; it’s easy to step up into the ‘van though, due to the electric step, and it pays dividends with the amount of headroom on offer inside.
Turn to the left and you’ll see this ‘van’s USP: that rear lounge is made up of two good-sized sofas extending forward from the double doors at the back. A table stands between the two – there’s plenty of room for four people to dine in comfort – and a neat back-board cushion can be placed across those rear doors, which looks smart and makes the lounge U-shaped. The lighting in this area is excellent, and there’s a bracket above the end of the offside sofa where a TV can be affixed.
That’s not the only place to relax in the evening, though: up front is a dinette (featuring two seatbelts) that also has a table, with an extension, so that four can dine here when the cab seats are swivelled. It’s an arrangement that allows for plenty of flexibility.
In true campervan style, parallel to the side sliding door is a kitchen unit; and this example is well appointed. There’s a large stainless-steel sink, a double-burner hob, a spice rack, a cutlery rack and a 90-litre compressor fridge with freezer compartment. British models were due to get an oven as part of a UK pack at the time of writing, but you should check with your dealer. Either way, storage space here is good, and there’s plenty of room for the chef to work.
Some campers of a similar size suffer from a dearth of space in the washroom department; but not so the Dreamer Living Van. It employs a clever system used elsewhere in Rapido’s lines called Modul’Space; this arrangement sits the wardrobe (in effect) inside the separate shower cubicle. When you’re ready to ablute, you simply press a button and the whole wardrobe (complete with contents) swings out and around to leave a good-sized shower space. It’s a simple but practical idea, and an ingenious use of space. Of course, that’s not all: across the corridor is another section of washroom featuring the toilet and handbasin – there’s plenty of room here for your morning ablutions.
The Dreamer Living Van is a four-berth – there’s a good-sized double bed (1.86 x 1.65m) that can be made up using the cushions of the rear lounge. But we reckon that most buyers will use this as a luxurious two-berth: and that’s where this camper’s strongest hand lies. Above the front dinette sits a double bed (1.9 x 1.3m) that can be dropped down easily; it’s a comfortable place to sleep, and the inclusion of USB sockets means that you can keep your phone to hand overnight, too.
Elsewhere, the kit level is pleasingly high: Truma Combi 4 diesel heating will keep you warm no matter what season it is, there’s a second leisure battery fitted as standard, the waste-water tank is insulated, and the cab wing mirrors are heated – all of which means that you’ll be all set to take a long trip during the colder months.
There’s a vast range of campervans out there, in many shapes and styles, but the award-winning Dreamer Living Van from Rapido really does stand out among the crowd.
Technical Specifications
Payload | 371 kg |
MTPLM | 3500 kg |
Shipping Length | 6.35 m |
Width | 2.05 m |
Engine Size | 2300 cc |