Verdict
Those wanting to combine adventure sports with the motorhome lifestyle might find storage here slightly lacking, but I think this is a workable, well made and extremely comfortable British motorhome, which would suit a couple on an extended trip with occasional guests.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Good kitchen workspace
Cons
- No garage
The Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo is one of five low-profiles that Auto-Sleepers builds on a Mercedes Sprinter base vehicle. Both it and its Burford cousin provide end washrooms, but unlike the Burford with its French bed, the Duo has two low-level single beds.
There are a number of motorhome layouts out there, but you will typically only see the Burford Duo’s in UK motorhomes. Does it measure up? To find out, I went to Marquis Leisure’s Lancashire branch.
Pitch and set up
These days, 7.92m is quite long for a low-profile motorhome, and the Burford looks big, with its large bonnet. Auto-Sleepers makes use of this by providing handy skirting lockers along the outside, although there’s no garage. You do, however, get external BBQ, mains and TV points.
My model came with the £5100 Premium Pack, which on the outside gets you a Thule awning, alloy wheels and a 100W solar panel.
![Cab in the Auto-Sleepers Burford Duo](https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PMH285.review_auto_sleepers_burford_duo.1702852744451-726x420.jpg)
Climb into the pared-down cab and you’ll find it also gets you a nine-speed automatic gearbox, cab air-con, a reversing camera and the Mercedes MBUX entertainment system.
Thanks to the electronic brake, the aisle is clear. The branded single-arm captain’s seats (an Auto-Sleepers speciality) swivel to join up on one level with the parallel-settee lounge.
Lounge in the Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo
The best motorhome brands will always provide a comfortable and well-lit lounge, and that’s certainly the case with the Burford Duo. Light floods through a Heki and the sunroof above the cab, as well as the large windows. At night, there’s good ambient lighting, three LEDs running down the centre of the ceiling, and six individually switched spotlights, four of which can be moved. There’s also a mains socket below the offside settee.
The TV, complete with soundbar, stands above a small cupboard next to the habitation door.
![Lounge in the Burford Duo](https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PMH285.review_auto_sleepers_burford_duo.1702852796761-726x438.jpg)
This cupboard holds the table, which slides out for easy access, although it is heavy. We’re generally not fans of foldaway tables, as they seem to get in the way more than pedestals, although the space around this one is good.
Along with Truma Combi heating, you also get Truma Aventa Plus air conditioning fitted as standard.
Kitchen in the Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo
The kitchen has a good workspace (especially if you remove the sink drainer) in front of the window and below a striplight, and this is complemented with an extension.
![Kitchen area with plenty of worktop](https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kitchenPMH285.review_auto_sleepers_burford_duo.1702852854098-726x515.jpg)
A dual-fuel four-burner hob sits on top of a separate oven and grill. There are two mains sockets and a USB port to the left of the sink – you even get an extractor fan. Opposite is a fridge and freezer, with a microwave above.
The washroom in the Burford Duo
The gangway through to the rear of this fixed single bed motorhome is step-free, with one swing door leading to the bedroom and another through to the rear washroom.
The latter houses the toilet on the offside by a clear window, and in the middle, a salad bowl-style basin with a medium-sized mirror. The door makes the shower entrance a bit narrow, while the grey tiling makes the cubicle look smaller than it is. It has two shelves, an LED, a roof vent and two drains.
Sleeping in the Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo
The fixed beds look short, but that may be because each has a cantilevered wardrobe at its foot. They are both 1.86m (6ft 1in) long.
![Single beds](https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PMH285.review_auto_sleepers_burford_duo.20240221_100205-726x417.jpg)
The room includes a branded padded headboard with four spotlights in front and ambient light all around, as well as an LED in the ceiling. There is a mains socket under each bed and more USB ports under the offside bed.
The settees in the lounge make up a huge double. The scatter cushions are so big and sturdy, you probably won’t need to bring pillows with you.
![Double bed in front lounge](https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PMH285.review_auto_sleepers_burford_duo.1702852948606-726x494.jpg)
Storage in the Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo
You get four overhead lockers here, plus two mostly clear underseat areas that can be accessed by lifting slats that stay up even with those sturdy cushions still on them. The same is true of the areas under the beds, with the offside one accessible from outside.
The main kitchen unit includes two large cupboards and drawers. There are two overhead lockers, one housing a set of branded wineglasses, but the pan locker under the oven is shallow, something to bear in mind when kitting out your motorhome.
![Branded wineglasses in overhead locker](https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PMH285.review_auto_sleepers_burford_duo.1702852854073-726x426.jpg)
The tambour door cupboard in the washroom isn’t shelved, although there is some shelving next to it.
Alternatives to consider
Coming with fixed single beds at the rear, the 2023 Coachman Travel Master TM 565 provides plenty of comfort for motorhomers and we thought it was a great debut for the manufacturer when it came out.
Alternatively, if you’re going to be touring as a family instead of as a couple, the Le Voyageur Eterna 7.0 GJF is worth considering too, providing plenty of luxury throughout and two comfortable single beds which are both just over 2m long.
Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo spec
- Price: From £112,050
- Sleeps: 4
- Belts: 2
- Base vehicle: Mercedes Sprinter
- Engine: 163bhp Euro 6.3 turbodiesel
- Length/width/height: 7.92/2.35/2.90m (25’10”/7’7”/9’5”)
- MTPLM: 4100kg
- MiRO: 3380kg
- Payload: 720kg
- Water (fresh/waste): 91/91 litres
- Leisure battery: 100Ah
- Gas: 25-litre underslung LPG tank
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Technical Specifications
Berth | 4 |
MiRO | 3380 kg |
Payload | 720 kg |
MTPLM | 4100 kg |
Shipping Length | 7.92 m |
Width | 2.35 m |