Verdict
The Morello’s loadspace makes it a versatile ‘van, while the long wheelbase and short rear overhang make it a potential towing vehicle, too. Build quality, from its carpeted lounge area to the fit, finish and durability of its furniture, is also faultless.
Pros
‘Open to the elements’ feel with L-shaped lounge
The down lighters over the passenger door
Deep cupboards
Passenger seat footrest.
Cons
Narrow kitchen
No freestanding table
Living
The lounge is formed with the seating in an L-shape. The moveable seat backs up against the driver’s side wall, tight to the fixed corner seat. It can be locked in place by lifting the corner cushion and screwing a T-handled bolt into a captive nut in the moveable seat. If it’s just two or three people dining, then this is as good a place as any at which to sit and eat: an L-shaped table leg fits through brackets on the front corner of the moveable seat and through the brackets on the underside of the table top.
There is a choice of two table tops to suit the number of diners (table top storage space is in the wardrobe).
Making space for a further two diners is quick and easy once you’ve had a bit of practice. Unlock the moveable seat by releasing the T-handled bolt, turn it 90º to face forward, and then lock it into place. The cab seats swivel to form two extra seats and the table is erected as before.
It’s not perfect, though. For a start, the four (or five) diners will have to compromise their comfort a fair bit. Those in the two cab seats will find themselves reaching down to the table (and may struggle to get their legs under it), while those in the moveable seat may find the table at chest height.
When carrying passengers, the moveable seat should be facing forward, but make sure it’s locked into position with the two ratchet bolts under the seat cushion. To do this, lift the front edge of the seat base cushion and prop it open with the stay. Then, it’s just a question of pushing and pulling, by fractions, to position the seat so that the bolts sit directly over the two stainless steel rings in the floor. Then, wind both ratchet handles until the seat is secure. There’s a three-point inertia seatbelt, for the right-hand passenger, and two lap-restraint belts. When not in use, all the belts pack away into the bed box.
The onboard electrical system is managed by a complicated-looking VB03 control panel, just above the fixed rear seat, on the front face of the wardrobe. You can use it to select which one, or both, of the two leisure batteries you use to power your internal appliances – it’s amazing the level of control available from the push of a button or two.
Also from here, you can switch individual lights on and off and alter their brightness, you can control the heating and hot water power source, select the overall temperature and check the water tank levels. Not only that but there are buttons for ‘cab demist’ and ‘engine pre-heat’ for quick getaways on cold mornings. Add the stereo on/off control, and more, and it’s all quite mind boggling.
If you select the diesel-fired heating option, the Eberspächer hydronic heating system kicks into action. The heater sits beneath the vehicle’s floor, on the driver’s side, and provides thermostatically controlled blown-air heating through the rear outlets and the heater outlets on the cab dashboard. It also heats the water as you drive, so you’ll arrive on site with a full tank of hot water.
If you like to read in the evening, the dimmable (non-fluorescent) lights, two reading lights over the cab seats, and three well-placed plug sockets throughout the ’van, should meet all your mains needs.
Kitchen
While many current van conversion layouts force the designers to save space in the kitchen area, the Morello has more space and facilities than are available in some coachbuilts.
There’s a huge worktop with a marble-look surface along the passenger-side kitchen unit, and a Dometic fridge sits beneath a Smev four-burner gas hob, with an oven and grill between them.
Three strip lights run the length of the kitchen unit, so the lighting is brilliant, and an Omnivent fan overhead takes away all the cooking smells.
The vegetable basket and plate rack can be stored in the sink while on the move. Explore the plentiful lockers and cupboards and you’ll find a teak chopping board beneath the drainer, and a moulded cutlery tray fixed to the underside of a shelf so you can store items around it
– a simple but brilliant idea that maximises every square inch of space. Other little touches, such as a kitchen roll holder and a moulded crockery rack, add that extra homely feel.
Washroom
The washroom door opens inwards, which is handy if someone gets caught short while the cook is preparing a meal in the kitchen, but you can also use the back door to enter the washroom. Everything is moulded plastic throughout, with a washbasin, mixer taps and a shower outlet.
There’s one eye-level toiletry locker and another, below the basin, for storage. A rooflight floods the area with light, and a shower curtain pulls around to minimise spray. The Thetford swivel toilet completes the fittings here.
Beds
The Seitz S4 windows are double glazed with integral blinds and flyscreens, and the cab windows have insulated silver screens for warmth and night-time privacy. The Heki 3 rooflight also has an integral blind and flyscreen.
The rock-and-roll double bed is a breeze to make up from the L-shaped lounge layout. First, release the T-handled bolt beneath the rear seat cushion, then pull the seat away from the side of the vehicle. Hold the top of the moveable seat backrest with one hand and, with the other, lift the front of the seat, then pull it forwards. The seat and backrest flatten, and together with the rear seat make up the double bed. Then, just push the flattened bed back against the wall and refasten it to the fixed corner seat.
Storage
You can remove the lounge seating altogether to maximise storage space, and the lockup box under the passenger-side cab seat. Apart from that, there is an ample amount of storage space in the kitchen, but the area beneath the seat bunks is also ideal for bedding and smaller bags. The large wardrobe comes with removable shelves to make a very flexible arrangement.
Technical Specifications
| Payload | 400 kg |
| MTPLM | 3300 kg |
| Shipping Length | 6.00 m |
| Width | 2.05 m |
