HOLDSWORTH
	Romance, Rainbow & Ranger The Romance was made in three forms - Hightop, Luxury Hightop and Elevating Roof. Back to Menu What the Owners say: Romance HT2 It's a Holdsworth Romance HT2 (which we assume means High Top, 2 berth), 2.0 Petrol. We're really impressed with the versatility of the (positively tardis-like) layout: individual seats, and/or long seat along one side, or L-shaped lounge, with swivelling passenger seat at the front, with a concertina curtain dividing it from the kitchen and toilet facilities at the back that fits into a slim cupboard when not in use. (It needs to for safety, as it's next to the hob and grill.). For our use (and since I took the picture), I've replaced this with a quilted curtain that reaches down to just below the bottom of the bed base. This was for two reasons: Firstly, at night time I wanted the curtain to be temporarily fixed on the opposite side of the van (by the loo), for maximum privacy for night-time excursions. In the daytime this would be in the way of the additional worktop space, so we'd still want to make use of the storage cupboard for it. Secondly, Jazz (the dog) has decided that the ONLY place for any self-respecting dog to sleep is with his nose tucked just under the bed, and he's remarkably difficult to move when he's half-asleep, so a curtain that doesn't reach to the floor allows us privacy without chopping his nose off. Then all we have to do is try not to tread on him in the night ;-) For night time use, we can have 2 singles, a small double, or a large (full van-width, i.e. 5'3") double bed. a. 2 single beds: Flip the tops of the rear seats over onto the slide-out legs, slide the driver and passenger seats forward, wind the backs down, and then slide back to meet the rear cushions, holding them in place. NB: The front seats have two slider levers, one under the front of the seat and the other on the side. Use the front one first, then complete the move with the slider on the side. If you do it the other way round, you won't be able to reach the front lever to complete the forward slide. b. Small double bed: Slide the left hand rear seat over to next to the right hand one, adjust front seats and flip the seat tops out as for single bed, and use the middle fill-in section with the legs and cut-outs for the handbrake and gear lever c. Large (5'3") double start as for single beds, but then wind the driver and passenger seat backs up a bit. Then slot the rear fill-in into place [you'll need to make sure the left hand rear seat is fully to the left for this to fit snugly] Extend the legs on the forward fill-in section and slot into position.This section never really looks as though it fits properly, but that's the way it is. [It's as this stage that we used to keep forgetting that you need the seat backs up a bit for this to fit.] Wind the seat backs down again. Check that the seats are far enough back to trap the cushions behind in place Put the central cushions in place [the handbook recommends putting the largest one at the head end, i.e. towards the back of the 'van] It doesn't look it from the picture, but this actually makes a remarkably comfortable bed. I'm a long time a back sufferer (who works in a shop selling back-friendly furniture, so I don't put up with furniture that causes problems) and was dreading waking up from our first night in the 'van, but as it turned out I was fine. I've had far worse night's sleep in "proper" beds. We have on occasion used a mattress topper on it which certainly improves it, but it's difficult to find somewhere to store it in the 'van, so unless we can find something easier, we'll do without. So, we got as close to our dream layout as we ever thought we were likely to get ... and all within our budget. Of course, it's old (a 1987 D reg), so it has its problems - which we were expecting of course, but on the whole, we're really pleased with it. - We think we've found a bargain. Top Romance HTL She's a Trafic Holdsworth Romance HTL (High -Top - Luxury) 1984. She has a rear 'washroom' with porta-pottie, but unless you're a slip of a thing, it's well nigh impossible to get in and close the door. However, wouldn't have been without it for "night-time visits". We removed the wash basin and shower as they were never used - the kitchen sink being a mere foot away, that is if you were not on a site with facilities and needed to ablute in the 'van. So the "washroom" with porta-pottie became a very useful enclosed storage area on the left of the back-door. Opposite it is the wardrobe - another useful storage area with two sets of doors. Top half had two hinged doors; bottom half one full width flap which opened towards you giving access to the table top and stem; and boots and shoes. We found the table-top and stem less than satisfactory, so that too was left at home. Next to the washroom is the sink and drainer. Underneath are cupboards including the water tank and water heater. The water tank has no pump so has to be filled by decanting water from a water carrier into the filler located by the side -door. The water heater was soon ignored as a kettle provides as much boiling water as is needed for anything for which the small sink is used and left the tankful of cold water more conveniently for use. The sleeping arrangements seemed a bit of a fiddle at first but soon became no trouble at all. The cabin seats, i.e. driver and front passenger, are pushed as far forward as possible and wound down flat to meet the rear bunk seats. These provide either a single seat facing front each side or two seats each side inward facing. i.e. they each fold. Underneath these seats are storage lockers - ample for storing a few weeks' clothing. The cubby holes underneath on each side were very useful for providing a secure travelling space for the dogs (who don't like to be rattled around) on one side; and for securely transporting the TV wrapped in a sleeping bag on the other. Also keeps it safely out of sight. The over-cabin wide and deep shelf is extremely useful for anything needed ready to hand on the road or on site - books, maps, hats etc. It may have been intended as an over-cabin bed for a child, but I wouldn't fancy using it for that purpose myself, no matter how small the child. There was also a hammock and supports for it beneath the over-cabin shelf and above the driver and front passenger seats, each of which by night has become the foot of the single beds, either side of the central gangway. - Again we have never used this and wouldn't want to! Underneath the driver's seat is a cavity which holds the leisure battery. The remaining space in this cavity makes a very useful "secret hidey hole" for small items. Rearwards of the bunk seat behind the driver is the hob - 2 burners and a grill and beneath that the 2 way fridge. The two burners and grill I found a bit limiting at first but not at all as time went by. It is amazing what can be done and provides a great change from the sort of cooking done at home. If I had any more facilities for cooking I'd feel obliged to do as much as I do at home! The 2 way fridge is a bit of an irritant until you realise that it needs gas to get it down to temperature and then it will hold satisfactorily whilst travelling, from the battery. The red light behind the mesh gives the assurance that it is working from the switch on the dash. But the means of lighting the fridge is primitive and means lying on the floor to be able to see the pilot light, It should be visible from the vertical via the tiny mirror on the pull-down viewing chamber but you can never be sure. It's possible to keep pressing the ignition switch and failing to get it alight; also possible to do ditto and find it was alight all the time but you couldn't see it. Having a three-way fridge must be a great improvement on this. It also uses a lot of calor gas. This is probably the most irritating feature of the 'van. To the rear of the hob and between it and the wardrobe is the only "work surface" and this is very small. But part of this is taken up by the drinks cupboard with its smoked glass doors and fittings for 2 bottle and 2 glasses. Adds a civilised touch to this small area as well as being a comforting presence to have the vino so close to hand when you're preparing a meal! Below are more cupboards; one holds the calor gas container and a shelf; the other has runners and fittings to hold 3cutlery and utensil trays and "crockery". Above this are and on the opposite side over the drainer are more shelved cupboards, also with smoked glass doors. I've found the storage a strong point with this van - comfortably holds clothes and food for a fortnight at least, if you've a yen for abandoning civilisation for a time. The lack of working surface for preparing meals and for the TV is a weak point. We had to house the TV on the drainer, though I would think it could be accommodated on the deep shelf above the cabin, . The original curtains were a dismal grey and beige and didn't keep out the light. So 2 years ago I made new ones, of a red tartan, self lined and with an additional lining. A great improvement. the great thing is - the "housework" is done in no time !!! The great anomaly with this 1984 van is its "state of the art" TV aerial !!! This is mini 'ironing-board' shaped and can twist and turn as well as "up periscope" and down! Top Elevating Roof "Romance"........not quite the ideal name for a 'van when 2 hetrosexual males are using it to go hillwalking for a weekend!!! Its a 1986 with a 1647cc petrol, which performs surprisingly well for it's size. If kept in tune it is capable of cruising at 65 mph and returning between 25 - 27 mpg. The beauty of these old engines is that they are pretty bulletproof and can be kept in tune by adjusting the points, ignition timing, carb and tappets :-) The pop up top is cleverly designed, it's weatherproof and gives a comfortable double bed, which I use most of the time as it saves disturbing the lower level, making breakfast a simpler task. The seating arrangement can be either 2 single rear forward facing seats or made up into side facers. As there is usually only 2 of us using the 'van then I remove the nearside seat assembly completely (simple catch device) and use the swivelling front passenger's seat and a double seat set up to face the hinging side door. Although 18 years old the interior has held up well and is testimony to Holdsworth's quality build.I've really no gripes with the 'van.........the layout makes good use of the available space which houses a 2 hob cooker, eye level grill and 2 way fridge. Top Rainbow Like the Romance, the Rainbow was available in either Hightop or elevating roof configuration but I only have details of the hightop available. If you have and elevating roof Rainbow and would like to see it featured here then please get in touch with the webmaster via the email page To the layman's eyes, the main external difference between the Romance and Rainbow is the roof - the hightop Romance uses the hightop van with full height rear doors and the two distinctive windows over the windscreen whereas the Rainbow uses a standard roof van, standard height doors and a fibreglass hightop roof The interior has a forward facing seat on the passenger side underneath which there is a large water tank which can be filled directly with top entry or via a filler cap on the vans side. The gas bottle locker is also in this compartment and holds two camping gas cylinders which are used in sequence to power the hob, fridge and grill. There is a wardrobe at the rear of the van on the driver's side beside the 3 way fridge which has plate storage above and a small locker below. There is a double cupboard under the sink and hob at the rear of the van on the passenger side The curtains when closed cover all the windows and extend around the windscreen on a rail. The two single beds are made by sliding the front seats forward on the van rails and then the whole thing slides forward again almost up to the dashboard on a second set of rails. The seats do not swivel. The beds are approx 6ft in length and I can sleep comfortably at a slight angle (I am 6ft 2) . There is a locker under the sideways facing bench seat on the drivers side which holds the extention boards for the beds and the table top. The table leg clips into a holder in the wardrobe. There is a lift and fold compartment under this seat which also holds a Thetford Porta Potti. The electric hookup external connection flap is on the drivers side and the petrol filler on the passenger side. The electric circuit breakers are in the wardrobe. There is a large locker above the drivers compartment and one either side above the sink and wardrobe at the back of the van with shelves completing the arrangement between them. There is a rooflight with a built in fly screen towards the rear of the van and 3 strip lights , one above the bench seat, One above the sink and one on the rear wall above a mirror. There are also 2 sockets , one on the bench seat and one to the left of the hob at the back of the van. The rear doors open and the spare wheel is stored in a space beside the rear kitchen unit. The jack is under the bonnet. There is a sliding window behind the hob which is perfect for the kettle to steam out of! The van cruises comfortably at 65mph and is fairly stable even is strongish crosswinds on fen roads.The water drain tap is directly under the water tank under the vehicle and the waste water pipe is clipped up under the passenger rear wheel arch. The main access is via the sliding side door.There is a floor operated switch for the sink tap which delivers cold water only. There was an option for a factory fitted propex heater but my van does not have this. Top Ranger Holdsworth Ranger The Ranger was the only coachbuilt that Holdsworth made on the Trafic chassis, and also the only main converter to use the Rear Wheel Drive variant. Everyone else ignored this one and used the front wheel drive version. Top