Chausson Welcome 76

VIVE LA DIFFERENCE

Words and photos by John Page

Whilst my French dictionary tells me that Chausson is the word for slipper, instinct suggests that something has been lost in the translation. Strange, although you can’t deny the word slipper is synonymous with rest and relaxation. The company has been in existence since 1903 in various automotive roles including coaches and in 1980 the first compact camper conversion was exhibited at The Paris car Show. Forward then to 1984 with a Citroen based Acapulco Motorhome. 1997 heralded the introduction of the Welcome range of Low Profiles of which 30,000 left the production line. Our 2009 Welcome 76 is the latest of the marque, made available for this test by Midland International of Coventry a company with a campsite adjoining the sales operation located in a beautiful part of the world awash with history and castles. Essentially, Welcome 76 is a medium size 2/3 berth Low Profile vehicle with a fixed bed. Nothing remarkable there, the type is possibly the most popular Motorhome on sale in Europe so there is bags of competition. At first glance the layout appears to be conventional with lounge/diner to the front, galley ‘midships and en-suite bedroom beyond. Look again though to see that the washroom is behind rather than to one side of the fixed bed and it is this along with a number of other features that makes our model 76 special.

Construction

A close look at the bodywork, all of GRP, shows large radius corners where the sides meet the roof and a clean well finished look to the complete shape. Checking out the body panels a 42mm thickness for the walls, 54mm for the roof and a 64mm floor depth are notably better and therefore more effective than the average figures. A low set integral entrance step needing no slide out addition makes sense and the door and its hinges are well constructed. Exterior access doors for the various stowage compartments are as robust as the wall surrounding them and all shut with a satisfying clunk. Immediately above the entrance door a control panel of lucid information indicates that mains power is connected, the state of both batteries and water tanks plus the on/off for lighting and the water pump. No need for a teach-in it’s all blatantly obvious. Midland International’s contribution to the specification includes an Alpine 103BT Bluetooth CD Receiver with USB, iPod controller and iPhone facility. The TV you’ll have to buy yourself but everything is there to accept a flat screen set. Moorea is the exotic description of the fabric in three shades of grey, actually a tasteful change from some of the wilder colours currently in vogue and restful with it. A small but important detail concerns the emptying of the waste water tank where the outlet is helpfully located at the back of the vehicle rather than to one side. Typical of the Chausson practical approach.

ON THE ROAD

Another day, another Fiat – Conquerors of the Universe, well not quite but rumour has it they have about 70% of the European Motorhome market taken care of. Who else has gone to the trouble of a factory exclusively for making purpose built Motorhome chassis? Enough already, it’s a decent piece of kit on which to build a leisure vehicle – in this case it’s the wide rear track version with Motorhome suspension including anti-roll bars at both ends, the super easy working cab seats and, 130bhp of turbo diesel motor under the bonnet. There has never been a smoother Motorhome gearbox to play with – smooth changes all through the ratios and the speeds. Also a smooth but firm ride quality that simply refuses to lean or roll on the bends.

Noises off were non-existent once the hob splash back had been anchored. Birmingham and Coventry are linked by the A45, a part dual carriageway road that has more speed limit changes than a roller coaster. The surrounding Warwickshire countryside though with its rolling hills is sometimes stunningly beautiful, especially in the spring. Off the A45 we took the amazing A429, a straight as a die switchback towards Kenilworth and its Castle, a noble but most attractive ruin. Looking for a shot with the Castle in the background we somehow missed the entrance to the car park and found ourselves heading into the countryside in the wrong direction entirely until we had space to turn around. Thank you Fiat for the tight 14.28m turning circle.

Technically impressive considering the 76 price tag is the ABS – Anti-lock braking system, with EBD – Electronic brake force distribution and, cruise control helping to avoid stiffness of the right leg on longer trips. On winter trips the additional heater operating from the engine and installed under the driver’s seat supplies extra warmth through the normal ducts to the living quarters.

ESSENTIAL LIVING STYLE

With the weather giving us a cloudless sky and temperature briefly touching 16oC there was every reason to open both the skylight and the Heki roof light to flood the interior with sunlight and fresh air. Just yards away a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was hacking out a nest, and although they didn’t perform for us we were told that on most days several Buzzards regularly illustrate what they can do with a decent thermal almost directly over the campsite. Odd isn’t it, as a Southerner one inevitably associates this part of the world with industry and in truth a Jaguar plant is less than a mile away, but mother nature here is actually the dominant presence. Where was I? About to twist the cab seats around smoothly as a knife through butter to complete a lounge/diner of good if not noble proportions. The table we discover slides easily every which way before locking and then can be raised or lowered electronically at the touch of a button!

All wall surfaces are in a warm brown wood effect with a smooth surface ceiling that is washable. Superb deep roof lockers have robust hinges and simple locking mechanisms that absolutely refuse rattle or fly open on the move. The numerous drawers and locker doors all have this reassuringly sturdy feel about them. Raising the bed on its gas struts for access to the stowage space, service of the heater and to check the batteries, is also effortless. One mains socket for the TV was fine although another for kitchen appliances was placed a little awkwardly close to the sink. A clever and companionable seat plan makes it possible for up to five to sit around the table without feeling cramped. Then in travel mode the L-shaped corner seat reverts to become part of the safety belted twin seat. All highly ingenious and simple in practice.

SLEEPING

This is where the logic of placing the washroom behind rather than to one side of the bed proves its worth with a supremely comfortable bed. And dimensions of a maximum 1.37m (4’6”) width and 1.93m (6’4”) length are luxury indeed. Floor to ceiling his and hers wardrobes and a small vanity unit fit neatly along the nearside wall without restricting access to the washroom. And so given the size of the bed, the quality of the mattress, six capacious roof lockers plus good lighting and ventilation it is difficult to find fault with a bedroom that is one of the best of its type. A curtain encloses the bed but not the washroom and up front in the cab the inclusion of a free running curtain together with screens for the windscreen and side windows makes a complete job of privacy and thermal protection. Make up of the third bed using the table and side seat, too often a pig’s breakfast, is made relatively simple with  the electric power to position the table as a bed base. Assuming a well-trained grandchild sleeping there breakfast or at least tea in bed for the old folks ought to be on the cards.

THE FOOD MACHINE

Spread over drawers and  lockers at  floor and roof level, along with 175-litres of fridge space, the capacity to stash away all the tackle and raw material is indeed generous. Placing the oven above the fridge is far from ideal although in  this case Dometic have improved the situation by hinging the oven door at the top to make the loading or unloading of the oven a whole lot safer than the alternative. Worktop area is adequate rather than generous with a neat waste container built in. Ubiquitous SMEV make the deep sink and the hob unit: Messrs Truma the dual gas/electric heater for hot water and space heating. Kitchen aromas will be taken care of by the two-way, two-speed roof fan/vent nearby. Opening the fridge/freezer door from its right hand side makes the interior properly accessible when the chef is juggling everything to produce another culinary masterpiece. You can’t have everything though so the detachable sink drainer has to rest on part of the hob when it is switched off.

WASHROOM

Here is the other benefit from this floor plan – a genuinely roomy washroom with a fashionable circular shower cubicle, with ample floor space surrounding the new larger type loo, and a vanity unit arrangement with space to put the paraphernalia of packets, tubes and stuff needed to help one face the rigours of modern day camping. A super spacious roof locker is a gem complete with a sliding door mirror and there is also a dish for the soap. Does that seem obvious? You’d be surprised to learn how many makers ignore such obvious necessities. Ventilation is sophisticated with an ingenious vent directly above the shower and a decent size fly screened window handy when you need to wash off the dog or the mountain bikes.

STOWAGE

Like most things in this pleasant Motorhome considerable thought has been applied to what and where space is needed. For instance the large space under the bed, also accessible from outside via a practical size flap, the Truma is really  getatable for any attention that might be necessary and the same applies to the leisure battery. On the outside also at the offside rear is a neat vertical locker that could accommodate skis or, with shelves folded down, places to stow boots and other outdoor tackle that you don’t want to scrabble for. In the cab, three compartments above the windscreen can swallow all the gear to keep handy but invisible. Roof lockers in abundance, nooks and crannies in the cab, and a big hole under the side seat close by the door; this machine has got it taped.

Summary

Pretty good all round and apart from its good looks, it is the detailed thorough attention to building it right in the first place and paying attention to how it will all work in practice. I also learn from this enthusiastic M.I. Chausson dealer that when and if spares are need, they are forthcoming promptly. You might well have gathered that our opinion of Welcome 76 is favourable and you would be correct because it was a real pleasure to use and compleat in the best sense of that word. Oh yes there’s plenty of competition but at £41,957 this vehicle has a standard of design and practical application that should enable it to hold its own comfortably.

TECHNICAL DATA

Vehicle specification: Chausson Welcome 76 three-berth Low Profile Motorhome

Price of vehicle tested: £42,950 on the road

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Midland International Motorhomes, Wall Hill, Allesley, Coventry, CV5 9EL. Tel: 024 7633 6411

CONVERSION

Overall length: 7.23m

Overall width: 2.30m

Overall height: 2.76m

MPTLM: 3500kg

Payload: 420kg

Construction: all GRP exterior with foam insulation

Fresh water capacity: 140-litres

Waste water capacity: 109-litres

Gas storage capacity: 2 x 13kg cylinders

Auxiliary battery: 100aH

Refrigerator: Dometic 175-litre fridge/freezer

Water and space heater: Truma Combi 6EH for gas and electric power

Lighting: combined halogen spotlights and fluorescent fittings

Upholstery: Moorea three tone grey fabric

Other equipment fitted: Alpine CD/Radio, driver and passenger airbags, remote locking for cab doors, cruise control, cab air con

BASE VEHICLE

Type: Fiat LWB dedicated Motorhome chassis cab with wide rear track

Power unit: 2.3-litre, four cylinder turbo diesel

Maximum power: 130bhp @ 3600rpm

Maximum torque: 320 Nm @ 1700-2500rpm

Transmission: six-speed manual to front wheels

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking: Dual circuit, servo-assisted system with ABS to all wheel discs

PERFORMANCE

Fuel consumption: 28-34mpg

Maximum speed: 85mph approx

Comfortable cruising speed: 65-70mph