BUYING OUR FIRST CARAVAN

[Dawn4]

Please can anyone help us, we are looking for our first caravan and have managed to narrow it down two. We are looking at 2003-2005 5&6 berth Bailey Rangers and also 5&6 berth Avondale Darts could anyone please advise of the good and the bad of these caravans or advise us on any other 5/6 berth caravans upto mptlm of 1300kgs. Many thanks.

 

[Mike_5041089]

Dawn - Do have young children? If they are of toddling age consider where the entrance door is in relation to the kitchen. Do you have to walk past the kitchen to get to the lounge area? Will the kids potentially catch their heads on saucepans etc, or their hands on hot oven doors? Is the shower/toilet easy to use for children? Are the bunks safe and easy to use? Are there dividing doors/screens to separate the children from you at bedtime? Can the kids get in and out easily? Do you intend to use well equipped commercial sites or just CL's?. I have assumed you have children as you're looking at 5&6 berth vans. Whichever van you get, make sure there's a warranty especially against water ingress. Both are good vans. Enjoy choosing.

 

[Dawn4]

Dawn - Do have young children? If they are of toddling age consider where the entrance door is in relation to the kitchen. Do you have to walk past the kitchen to get to the lounge area? Will the kids potentially catch their heads on saucepans etc, or their hands on hot oven doors? Is the shower/toilet easy to use for children? Are the bunks safe and easy to use? Are there dividing doors/screens to separate the children from you at bedtime? Can the kids get in and out easily? Do you intend to use well equipped commercial sites or just CL's?. I have assumed you have children as you're looking at 5&6 berth vans. Whichever van you get, make sure there's a warranty especially against water ingress. Both are good vans. Enjoy choosing.

hi mike thanks for the reply, we do have a toddler, can't decide 5 or 6 berth, still looking.

 

[Nige-Jane]

we have three children and choose between these two vans earlier this year, we choose the dart as a dealer special because it wasthe same price as the standard van but much better spec, cd, omnivent, alko hitch, external power point, the later is great with kids as they can watch tv or use playstation in the`awning well out ofyour way when you are cooking.slightly smaller size makes our life easier getting it on our drive. well pleased with ours

 

[mrssamanosuke]

hi dawn, i would also recommend the dart ours is a 2004 model dealer special the layout is ideal for the kids they love the bunk beds at the back and on the bttom bunk we have a bed guard that makes it very safe so the little one can't roll out at night we also looked at 5 berths but we did not want to be making the kids beds up every night so we chose the 6 berth.

sharron

 

[Dean_5040281]

Hi,

We have a 2004 Bailey Ranger 6 berth and think it's the business, even nicer when someone with a 6 berth Dart looked at our's and prefered it. To be truthful there's not alot between them, I personally think the Bailey looks alot more modern and a better design, our kids (7&4) love it so does the dog (rotty). It has a low weight and is a doddle to manoeuver and tow. Whichever van you choose you'll love either.

Dean.