Auto-Sleeper

Auto-Sleeper is probably the best known name in motorhome industry. So much so that many people believe that an Auto-Sleeper is a type of motorhome rather than just the name of the converter.
Auto-Sleepers have a reputation for quality of build, fittings and furniture. The interior, even in eighteen year old conversions, is usually in excellent condition. Because of this you usually have to pay a little more for an AutoSleeper.

The early Autosleeper range consisted of the RCX, RHT and RV50 models.
Later ones were the Rapport, Rimini and Recro
Auto Sleeper RCX
Top of the range was the RCX luxury hightop model which sported a water heater and shower room, the door of which opens out across the back of the van for privacy - a design which has changed very little over the years - my 1995 Autosleeper (and even the latest models) share this feature although a cassette toilet is now added.
The interior layout is typical Autosleeper with the high quality "light oak" furnishings
Looking in from the side window shows the Autosleeper flexible seating layout in dinette mode on the left.
Either one or both of the "settees" can be changed into forward facing seats if required as shown on the right (different van)
Autosleeper upholstery from this period is normally a tweedy beige as in the right hand photo but the one above has been re-upholstered to the owners taste
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Auto Sleeper RV50, Rimini & RHT
The RV50 and the later Rimini had a solid sided elevating roof which was erected entirely from the inside, there's no need to go outside to put the roof up when it's raining! There is some confusion about what is an RV50 and what is a Rimini.

I believe that the RV50 was based on the earlier "bull nosed" Trafic with the 1647cc or 1397cc petrol engine whereas the Rimini was virtually the same van but with the later "flat grill" type body and the 1721cc OHC engine. Some later Riminis had the 2165 cc petrol or the 2068cc diesel engine
There are other slight differences between the RV50 and Rimini but slight is the operative word.

The RHT was the hightop version of the RV50 and apart from the advantages/disadvantages of the hightop, it had virtually the same interior.

The seating/sleeping area in these vans is very similar in layout to that of the RCX (above) and the later Rapport but the "kitchen area" is set out differently


The RV50/Rimini and RHT are very nice vans to drive, they have (opening) windows all the way down the passenger side and three quarters of the way down the drivers side. In addition to giving the driver a good all-round view for manoeuvrability, it makes the interior "living quarters" of the van very light and airy.

 
The Rapport, which superseded the RHT does not have the "all round" windows and lost that "ethereal" effect. The RHT was, in the opinion of the author, a much nicer van.
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Auto Sleeper Rapport
The Rapport is a high top conversion with the same versatile Autosleeper seating layout as the RHT which it superceded

At the rear on the off side is a full height wardrobe with Riviera gas fire below and a sink unit with separate drainer in brown enamel rather than the stainless steel of the previous models. Above this is a locker fitted out to hold bottles and glasses.

Opposite is a twin burner hob and grill and a raised fridge. Another locker is fitted above the cooker and a locker above
the fridge holds the famous Auto-Sleepers crockery which is
still supplied with every new Auto-Sleeper. A small locker under
the fridge houses the gas control taps and makes a good shoe locker. A roller blind is fitted in order to section off the rear of the van to make a privacy area.
Later Rapports were fitted with a water heater and blown air heating.
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Auto Sleeper Recro
The Recro is a Trafic high top whose interior layout is more in keeping with traditional Volkswagen campers. All of the kitchen is fitted along the offside and benefits from stainless steel appliances which have less tendency to chip like the enamel units in the Rapport.
A transverse settee converts into a double bed. As well as the kitchen units other storage is provided under the settee, lockers above the cab and at the rear of the vehicle. A child's bed could be fitted into the high top as an option. Heating is by a Propex blown air gas heater. Upholstery is in a modern grey pattern
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