Caravan make and model recommendations+ Tow Car Setup for Young Family (Budget €35–40k)

[The Irish Photographer]

Hi all,

We’re a young Irish family of 5 looking to get into caravanning and hoping for some advice on what would be a safe, practical setup within our budget.

Our Family Setup:

Me (42) and my wife (45)

Three kids: 8-year-old, a 3-year-old autistic daughter, and a 1.5-year-old baby

We’re keen to explore Ireland first, and possibly the UK and Europe in future


Current Vehicles:

2023 Dacia Jogger 7-seater (can tow up to 1200 kg)

2016 Ford B-Max (used for work – not suitable for towing)


The Jogger is too limited for towing most family-sized caravans safely, so we’re planning to upgrade our main vehicle.


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Car Upgrade Plan (Budget €15–20k):

We’re considering the Citroën SpaceTourer 2.0 BlueHDi (150hp or 180hp) – seems to offer:

2,300 kg braked towing capacity (ideal)

Huge space for 3 kids, two ISOFIX seats, sensory gear, etc.

Seats can be removed, which suits us well


Are there better options we should look at in that price range (used), or is this one of the best value choices for families towing a single-axle caravan?


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Caravan We Like (Budget €15–20k):

We’ve fallen in love with the Elddis Xplore 586 layout:

Fixed rear bunks for the kids

Side dinette (with fold-up bunk)

End washroom

Lightweight (MTPLM 1370 kg), which matches well with the SpaceTourer


We’ve seen good used 2018–2020 models around €15k–€17k.
(As of today I think I rather the Swift Sprite Major 6 TD more 😁)


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Total Budget: €35–40k

Split between car and caravan. We’re aiming for something long-term that will grow with the kids and allow regular trips.


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Any thoughts, advice, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated as we are brand new to this but want to travel and show our kids the world—especially from those who’ve towed with a SpaceTourer or used a similar family-friendly layout.

Thanks in advance!

Tommy

 

[Jcloughie]

Welcome to the forum. I will not try to give advice as we have been out of things for a good while, and it has been over 40 years since I looked for a family car. But I will congratulate you you on your thought process. I feel sure you will end up with a sencible solution.

John

 

[The Irish Photographer]

Welcome to the forum. I will not try to give advice as we have been out of things for a good while, and it has been over 40 years since I looked for a family car. But I will congratulate you you on your thought process. I feel sure you will end up with a sencible solution.

John

Thanks a mill 😁

 

[Beachball]

Hi Tommy welcome to the forum have you look at a Ford S-Max that a option but i think you will get the help from others on here and put you right , so good luck in your choice ,

 

[woodsieboy]

Welcome, you have obviously given this project a deal of thought already, I can't help with your choice of car as I prefer Korean ,but IMO I wouldn't touch an Elddis product with a bargepole, check this and other forums for customers who have had issues, and by all means make your own mind up, my choice would be Swift or Adria

 

[The Irish Photographer]

Welcome, you have obviously given this project a deal of thought already, I can't help with your choice of car as I prefer Korean ,but IMO I wouldn't touch an Elddis product with a bargepole, check this and other forums for customers who have had issues, and by all means make your own mind up, my choice would be Swift or Adria

Thanks for that, and that's interesting. And why I am here for the experts advice . What kind of issues have they?

 

[GUMPY]

As an Elddis owner I will report the following faults in my 2017 van in my two and a half years of ownership.
After 6 months of ownership water leaks round the front windows, mine were fixed in time before any real damage was done.
A year later a water leak round the o/s grab handle, again fixed before any real damage was done.
Cracks in the bottom rear corners, again mine were sorted before any real damage was done, at least I hope my fix works.
I was lucky that I was in the van during two torrential downpours a year apart and actually saw water dripping from the windows so caught the leaks early.
There are also reports of cracks in the end caps at the rear although I haven't had that yet.
Other than that I like our van but I do worry about it bumping around on some of the Irish R and L roads 😉

Whatever van you get I would get a survey and damp test on it before you buy to at least allow you to know where you are starting from.

 

[The Irish Photographer]

As an Elddis owner I will report the following faults in my 2017 van in my two and a half years of ownership.
After 6 months of ownership water leaks round the front windows, mine were fixed in time before any real damage was done.
A year later a water leak round the o/s grab handle, again fixed before any real damage was done.
Cracks in the bottom rear corners, again mine were sorted before any real damage was done, at least I hope my fix works.
I was lucky that I was in the van during two torrential downpours a year apart and actually saw water dripping from the windows so caught the leaks early.
There are also reports of cracks in the end caps at the rear although I haven't had that yet.
Other than that I like our van but I do worry about it bumping around on some of the Irish R and L roads 😉

Whatever van you get I would get a survey and damp test on it before you buy to at least allow you to know where you are starting from.

Thanks Gumpy, that’s exactly the kind of detailed feedback I was hoping for.

I’ll definitely be asking for a full survey and damp test on anything we seriously consider—especially around windows and grab handles now! Appreciate the heads-up about Irish roads too... we’ve our fair share of backroad bumps where we live.
I suppose we are looking for good recommendations of vans too 😁

 

[GUMPY]

Thanks Gumpy, that’s exactly the kind of detailed feedback I was hoping for.

I’ll definitely be asking for a full survey and damp test on anything we seriously consider—especially around windows and grab handles now! Appreciate the heads-up about Irish roads too... we’ve our fair share of backroad bumps where we live.
I suppose we are looking for good recommendations of vans too 😁

Having grandkids in Ireland we visit a lot and are in West Clare as I type

 

[The Irish Photographer]

Having grandkids in Ireland we visit a lot and are in West Clare as I type

Ah very good, if you were back again would you choose a different make/model

 

[GUMPY]

Not sure what I would do.
I didn't know about Elddis water ingress before I bought this one, luckily I had a good dealer that fixed the front problems FOC after the warranty ran out.
I suspect I might go for something different but then it would mean a different car.
For me in the UK the most important thing is to get a survey and buy from a reputable dealer that will deal with any problems you might have.

 

[The Irish Photographer]

Not sure what I would do.
I didn't know about Elddis water ingress before I bought this one, luckily I had a good dealer that fixed the front problems FOC after the warranty ran out.
I suspect I might go for something different but then it would mean a different car.
For me in the UK the most important thing is to get a survey and buy from a reputable dealer that will deal with any problems you might have.

Solid advice thanks a mill 😁

 

[GUMPY]

Forgot to add it's 5km down single track roads from where we are before we even reach a numbered road😱

 

[Bluetonic]

I know it's difficult with having 3 kids but do be careful with bunk beds, they do grow out of them by their early teens.
Also, how many KGs are left to pack your kit in, sometimes surprisingly low when you start adding up what you need to take away with you.
As for a car, look in to towing weights carefully as a car may be able to tow 3000kg but this would be way above a 100% tow ratio which could mean your insurance is invalid. https://towcar.info/ is good to give you an idea.
A Hyundai i800 may fit your bill.

 

[The Irish Photographer]

I know it's difficult with having 3 kids but do be careful with bunk beds, they do grow out of them by their early teens.
Also, how many KGs are left to pack your kit in, sometimes surprisingly low when you start adding up what you need to take away with you.
As for a car, look in to towing weights carefully as a car may be able to tow 3000kg but this would be way above a 100% tow ratio which could mean your insurance is invalid. https://towcar.info/ is good to give you an idea.
A Hyundai i800 may fit your bill.

Thanks for that I will do 😁

 

[The Irish Photographer]

Having researched more today I think my new favourite is the "Swift Sprite Major 6 TD"
The kids can have their own section in the back, bathroom in the middle so won't have to tip tow past the bunks at night and also back area has a little sliding door. Our youngest is 18months so be a good few years until he would outgrow the bunks .

 

[AndrewAventura]

I think the Space Tourer would make quite a decent tow car, basically a van-derived car and they tend to be robust and stable things. I've not driven a Space Tourer, so you should maybe take this with a pinch of salt! But I have towed with a VW Transporter, and also a Ford Transit, and they were both good.

Also - have a read of this review https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/citroen-spacetourer

 

[Buckman]

According to the Honest John website the 2018 onwards Space Tourer maximum braked towing weight is 1700kg for the C4 Space tourer. The Grand C4 Space tourer can only tow 1600kg. The pre 2018 are 2300kg as per the link in the previous post, but that is reduced as you load the car.

 

[otherclive]

According to the Honest John website the 2018 onwards Space Tourer maximum braked towing weight is 1700kg for the C4 Space tourer. The Grand C4 Space tourer can only tow 1600kg. The pre 2018 are 2300kg as per the link in the previous post, but that is reduced as you load the car.

That’s one quirk that Citroen should have dropped years ago. Wonder how many have been caught out, or worse still just loaded the caravan and car unknowingly.

 

[Buckman]

That’s one quirk that Citroen should have dropped years ago. Wonder how many have been caught out, or worse still just loaded the caravan and car unknowingly.

Vauxhalls had the same issue. the more you loaded it above the car MIRO, the less you could tow. Weird but as you say probably many people never knew that.

 

[RogerL]

Vauxhalls had the same issue. the more you loaded it above the car MIRO, the less you could tow. Weird but as you say probably many people never knew that.

Vauxhall were confusing - their wording said that but the actual plated weights still allowed the full towing weight at maximum car weight.

 

[Buckman]

Vauxhall were confusing - their wording said that but the actual plated weights still allowed the full towing weight at maximum car weight.

I think it was to cover their "rear ends" in the event of a warranty claim?

 

[Mel]

Hi Irish Photographer. Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of experience and good advice on here as well as some Fred Drift as discussions wander off topic. It’s all part of the fun.
Anyway, as far as your Caravan choice is concerned, then there is no model that is fault free. Personally I would have a Sprite over an Elddis any day- indeed we did exactly that. However Swifts have their faults. The cracking of the panoramic window is well known. Whichever van you choose make sure it has a good warranty and in the case of a Swift that the warranty covers the panoramic window ( if buying new the Swift warranty covers it as part of the 6 year water ingress cover).
Also, I don’t know if you are viewing these vans “in the flesh”. Please do. Take the kids, the nappy changing bag and a picnic and have a family day out touring as many dealerships as you can. Get into a lot of different vans and actually get the kids to try the bunks; think about where your stuff will go; check that there is enough room in the bathroom to shower a child who needs help etc etc.
It is great fun but make no decisions until you can go back without the kids to hammer out a deal.
Happy Hunting and Good luck
Mel

 

[otherclive]

Just to add to Mel’s post even if the Swift log book shows service stamps the actual service invoice has to be uploaded to Swift. If it is carried out by Swift dealer then they should do this. But if it’s carried out by another service company they may not have done this. It took me six months to track down previous invoices for my last caravan as tgey had not been uploaded to Swift. Luckily I did it just in time to have a cracked rear panel replaced before the warranty expired.

 

[Buckman]

And also to be added. If from NI and value of caravan is under £30000 use a credit card to pay a deposit and also use hire purchase paying a large deposit to keep repayments to a minimum. If ROI not sure if there is similar legislation to English Consumer Rights Act or S75?