Family Caravans

[Stephen_5133954]

Having visited the Lawns show recently I was struck by the lack of faily orientated larger caravans from some of the major UK manufacturers.

The Swift group twin axles are now only available in fixed bed versions. Coachman only has one double dinette 'van available (the Amara 505) and Bailey has no double dinettes in the Senator range.

It seems that if you want a double dinette van you are restricted to the "cheaper" or smaller ranges from these manufacturers or if you want a large van with this layout you have to look at Explorer, Avondale, Lunar or one of the other makers.

This basic layout used to be the mainstay of most ranges and has always seemed to me to be the most practical family layout as you can shut the children off at night, you can use one end as a dining area whilst still keeping the "lounge" free. You can even set up the rear dinette as a permanent bed if you want a fixed bed format.

What do others think?

Surfer Sid

 

[Viking1]

Stephen

We all so like the lay out that you are on about. Me and the wife had fix's owe hart on the Sterling Eliet Trecker (which as bunk beds on the side at the back). It would have work a treat for use has we have kids as well.

We have been looking at the Explorer Group now there top of the rage one. We like but the one thing that's put use of it and that were they put the switchers for the water and heart and battery to mains switch were litter fingers can get at them and they are on show all the time.

We mite be lucky if we can get an ex demo from so were.

Any way I thick they mite have stop make them as they cost a lot and they have all so made there caravans a bit wider as well and they are quit wait has well and if they were going to make them would have them had the new 160 litter fringe in them as that would have put more wait on it. This mite have put a lot of people of buy them and the caravan industry is get more computer.

So that mite be y .

Mark

 

[sparkes]

The Bailey Senator Carolina has twin dinettes and is a full family 6 birth van.

Funny that the sunstar has been droped by ACE (swift group). It won the family van of the year last year

 

[Guest]

Have a look at some of the continental offerings. That layout is still popular there and they do usually supply lighter weight vans as well. Of course their policy is to live as much as possible outdoors, and why not, so they don't put as much emphasisi on lounging space as may be the case in the UK. They use the van to eat, sleep and possibly wash (I mean they usually use the site facilities, not stay unclean), the rest is outside in the awning. There will be at least 2 tables, an outside cooker and of course a domestic fridge out there. If you don't believe me, go have a look in Europe.

 

[GillC1]

Stephen

I agree, I have a sterling sapphire which has, sorry had the L shape rear, this has now been replaced. Having a look at the swift group only the smaller/cheaper vans have that shape rear, i really don't want to go for a fixed bed yet.

 

[Viking1]

The Bailey Senator Carolina has twin dinettes and is a full family 6 birth van.

Funny that the sunstar has been droped by ACE (swift group). It won the family van of the year last year

Steve

I did not now that Ace won the family van of the yaer for it. I must ageary it dus seem funny.

Mark

 

[Stephen_5122599]

Stephen

I agree, I have a sterling sapphire which has, sorry had the L shape rear, this has now been replaced. Having a look at the swift group only the smaller/cheaper vans have that shape rear, i really don't want to go for a fixed bed yet.

The Elddis Crusader Superstorm fits the bill, with the addition of a very sociable L shaped front lounge.

 

[Stephen_5133954]

Stephen

You mention the Bailey Senator Carolina but this is not a double dinette van - it only has the two seat side dinette which is no good if you want to seat 4 people. The layout I am referring to is with dinettes at both ends and the washroom and kitchen in the middle.

 

[Pelyma1]

We had trouble to find the layout we want in the overall spec we wanted and ended up getting Fleetwood to adapt a Heritage for us (we wanted Alde heating not blown air) and they did a great job, although it did take some time