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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.).
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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,
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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
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"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.
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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
 
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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
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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 |
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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.
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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! |
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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. |
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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.
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