Review: Itineo PM740

Itineo is new to New Zealand, marketed here by RnRV of Silverdale, Auckland. Itineo RVs are designed by their French parent company, Rapido, and manufactured at the Itineo factory in Italy; an appealing blend of French flair and Italian ingenuity.

The Itineo PM740 motorhome reviewed here has some exciting features; twin parallel settees in the lounge, a large island bed in the rear, a dropdown bed over the lounge, and a separate shower and toilet.  It’s impressive for a 7400mm-long entry-level motorhome.

Base vehicle

The Peugeot Boxer is built on a shared platform that serves Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Fiat Ducato. There are so few differences between the three vans that it can be hard to tell them apart. The one big difference is under the bonnet. Peugeot’s Boxer uses a Blue HDi 2-litre,130BHP turbo diesel engine driving the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The motor is Euro 6D-compliant. Traction control is fitted for improved performance on slippery surfaces. Having a GVW of 3500kg means the PM740 has a Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and can be driven on a car licence.

Exterior

The Itineo PM740’s exterior is simple with intelligent detailing on the Luton forepeak, and side panel skirts making for a crisp presentation. The 16-inch wheels add to the gravitas; a 3500mm Dometic awning is fitted on the driver’s side.

The roof is sheathed with a single Polyester sheet from the top of the rear panel to the forepeak moulding of the Luton. The underside of the floor is a seamless sheet of polyester to minimise water ingress and stone damage.

Cab

The Boxer cab layout will look familiar to Ducato owners. It is exactly the same.The Boxer and Ducato dashboards and cab interiors are the same, except the Boxer doesn’t have the centrally mounted twin drinks holder found in most Ducatos imported into New Zealand. However, RnRV can have one supplied and fitted if required.

There is room for a locker and shelves in the low-profile Luton over the cab. Remi window screens were not fitted to the cab windows in the PM740. A curtain was in their place, and it was more than up to the task of providing privacy.

Central locking secures the cab doors and the double-latched leisure door. Windows and hatches are awning-hung, double-glazed and fitted with insect screens and blinds. The leisure door also has an insect screen. The window stays are secured by tightening knobs rather than random ratchet stops.

Lounge dropdown bed

Key operated, the bed lowers until the top of the mattress is 690mm below the ceiling. A ladder (supplied) is used to access the bed. Restricting the bed drop to 690mm allows room for two large lockers, one each side, on the underside of the dropdown bed. The bed itself is long (2000mm) but quite narrow for a double – 1190mm wide at the head tapering to 1050mm wide at the foot.

It has a memory-foam mattress over sprung wooden slats. Held in tracks at all four corners, the bed is very stable. Safety nets are provided for both sides of the bed. These stow under the mattress when not being used.

Dinette

Parallel seating and an off-set table make the lounge area feel spacious and user-friendly

From the cab, it’s a step down to the lounge floor, a step up to the washroom and bedroom at the other end, plus another step up to get into bed. Different to most EU-built motorhomes, this one has the dining table in the centre walkway between parallel side seats - a two-seat settee kerbside facing a single seat opposite.

With the top folded, the table is easy to walk past en route to the cab. Unfolded it becomes a large dining table that easily reaches diners on either side, catering for up to five people with ease. I like this layout. It makes the dining/lounge area much more spacious and user-friendly.

However, I did find the seats a bit too high off the floor for my short legs. During the day, windows both sides and a panorama roof hatch over the cab make the dinette a pleasant place to be. To provide two passengers with forward-facing travel seats, simply readjust the cushions, pop in the headrests, and you’re good to go.

Creature comforts

A Truma Combi 6, 6kW attends to the space and water heating needs. This recently released model saves space and is energy-efficient. Visual entertainment is provided via a Kiwisat auto satellite dish 21.5”, and 12-volt AVTEX LED TV, while a Bluetooth stereo (DVD/CD) handles the audio stream.

Kitchen

The cook can still be part of the conversation in this compact, practical kitchen

Plain and practical, the kitchen has a 360mm circular sink with a three-hob LPG cooktop alongside. The hobs have a cover, but the sink does not. Benchtop space is scarce but having the dining table close by means extra workspace is available when needed. Storage options are a single overhead locker suitable for crockery plus a cutlery drawer, two all-purpose drawers and a shallow-shelved cupboard below the benchtop.

An opening window behind the bench helps ventilate the kitchen. Lighting is courtesy of an LED strip light above. Opposite is a 150-litre two-door fridge freezer (Thetford N3150) with a locker above. The optional oven and rangehood were not fitted to the model reviewed. 

Bathroom

User-friendly in size, the toilet area is still efficiently compact

Driver’s side, the shower stall has flat laminate panel walls and ceiling, neatly sealed in the corners. The acrylic shower tray includes a convenient moulded step, a LED ceiling light, a ceiling hatch for ventilation, and a shelf for soap and shampoo. Opposite, and to the left, is the handbasin, which is set into the vanity top.

Directly below the washroom window is the toilet. Useful storage is available in the cupboards above the window and below the handbasin, and a full-length mirror has been fitted to the back of the washroom door To create an ensuite off the bedroom just swing the washroom door through 90 degrees and it closes off the kitchen. Securing the bedroom concertina door provides even more privacy.

Bedroom

A big bed, loads of storage, light, airy and spacious; the bedroom ticks all the boxes

The island bed (1970mm x 1420mm) is centre stage here. It has cutaway corners at the foot of the bed, but nothing about which to be concerned. Natural light and ventilation are provided by an opening window each side plus a hatch in the ceiling. The side windows are fitted with gauze curtains for privacy during the day.

Stopping the bed here provides room for two large lockers on the underside

Ample storage is allocated; twin overhead lockers and a hanging locker each side of the bedhead, a corner cupboard and shelves at the foot of the bed. The morning cuppa is catered for, too, with plenty of headroom to sit up in bed and a shelf each side to rest your morning reviver. 

Freedom-camp-ready

Simple decor, good garage storage and easy access via the single external step

The Itineo PM740 is certified self-contained and ready to go with 280kW of solar power panels, two leisure batteries, two 9kg LPG bottles and 100L fresh and grey-water tanks. The 1100mm-high rear garage provides room to carry those extra supplies needed for off-the-grid camping.

Verdict

Itineo PM740 floor plans

This well-built new arrival should appeal because it offers features not found on other entry-level motorhomes; parallel lounge settees, a large island bed plus a dropdown bed, and a separate shower/toilet. As reviewed, the PM740 retails for $134,990, including GST and on-road costs. 

Itineo PM740 specifications

Price as reviewed: $134,990

Including GST and on-road costs

*Depending upon the optional extras fitted. Their weight will increase the tare and reduce the payload.

Pros

• The parallel lounge settees.
• The complete freedom-camping package.
• Separate shower and toilet.

Cons

• None that I can think of.

For more information, visit rnrv.co.nz

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