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Renault Midlum
Page 47
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Renault's contender in this group is fitted with a GRP cab roof extension on top of its rear extension.The inside of the extension moulding is cream, with a grey cloth roof lining matching the original trim.The colour scheme is pleasing but shows marks easily, as we discovered when swatting an annoying flying thing.
The extra height doesn't incorporate a second bunk on this version, which makes it a doddle for a six footer to stand fully upright. Storage includes a fully trimmed full-width locker with two lockable lids (thoughtfully with identical keys).The lockers are rattle-free but there are no divisions or ridges inside to prevent things sliding around.You also get two extra lights and a storage net on the rear wall.Topping it all is a manually operated glass hatch whose noisy closing spring will win no friends in a truck park at midnight.'There's a roller blind but no fly screen, hence that little stain mentioned above.
Overall, the cab extension is a well executed idea; our only real criticism is that the horizontal(ish) ledge above the join would be much more useful if it incorporated a lip to provide yet more storage. Below the extension all is standard Midlum. Like the Daf, the single mattress, trimmed in pleasant blue-grey fabric, has cutaways at the ends to clear the seats, but with the seats tipped forward they don't intrude significantly on the sleeping experience.'The mattress is nice and firm, plenty long enough and just the right height to sit on.The high-back seats will only partially fold, limiting their versatility.The engine
hump space in front of the bunk between the seats looks flat and inviting, but there are nasty lumpy bits under the covering which are uncomfortable on bare feet.
The bunk area is rather lacking in accessible controls but that's not too much of a handicap. Although the radio is mounted above the screen in front of the driver, it has a half hour turn-off timer control.
Similarly, while there are no lights in the lower bunk area, the original interior lights can just be reached from the bunk.The Webasto night heater controller is ideally located on the side wall near the sleeper's head. The grey curtains provide good opacity —Velcro seals the join in the middle of the screen, but there's no matching Velcro to fasten the ends to the wall.As a result, it's a bit of a
balancing act to stop light creeping in.
Although the French are renowned for drinking coffee and smoking heavily, only one of these vices is well catered for. There are two large ashtrays and a smoke alarm, but no cup holders.
In fact, apart from the floor there's a general lack of flat surfaces.There's a storage "dent" on the dash top (it slopes forward at 300 so most of the contents fall out) and space on the gear lever/brake console for a phone and small change. Larger items are better catered for: there are three good sized storage boxes under the bunk with the two original over-screen lockers.
On the whole, the Midlum sleeper is a good design but with a bit more thought, it could have been great.