Hi new here

[Jim_374361976]

Hi all , i expect to be posting quite a lot on these forums in the coming months.

We are looking to move up to caravaning after many enjoyable campng trips.

Still love the trips away but the putting up and packing away of the tent is becoming a pain , coupled with the uncertaincy of the British weather.No more shivering in sleeping bags with hats on

Looking to buy a van sometime over the next few months for use in 2010 so aim to gain as much advice as poss beforehand .

Unsure of whether to buy new or used at the moment ,there will be mainly me and the wife with the occasional trip with the daughter so prob looking for a lightweight 4 berth, her indoors is insiting on a fixed double bed.

Any advice or tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Jim

 

[RayS]

Hello Jim welcome aboard to the mad ship caravanning !

The terms "fixed bed" and "lightweight" don't fit very well together, so I suggest you first get to know the car weight / caravan weight ratio thing (not law but sense, particularly if you are just "converting") and see what your towcar is capable of. Look at the Beginners section of this website and also think about joining one of the major clubs. I'm a long time Caravan Club member so can only speak of what they offer, but there's a wealth of information available.

PC magazine has floor plans of most of the new vans on the market and the maker's sites can (mostly) be identified from the Buying New section.

Go to some of the larger dealers and just have a look round - imagine living in the vans for some time and try not to be too influenced by the gimmicks.

Unfortunately I don't think there is a website into which you can insert all your "must haves" and "would likes" so it means a bit of work. Don't forget too that - like buying a house - you should always leave a contingency for the "extras" that don't come with it.

Top among these for me would be a motor mover. A fixed bed van is likely to be quite heavy - say over 1000kg - which is not the thing you want to push on gravel or wet grass, plus a mover will save you from having to reverse onto the pitch etc. Allow about

 

[Jim_374361976]

Hello Jim welcome aboard to the mad ship caravanning !

The terms "fixed bed" and "lightweight" don't fit very well together, so I suggest you first get to know the car weight / caravan weight ratio thing (not law but sense, particularly if you are just "converting") and see what your towcar is capable of. Look at the Beginners section of this website and also think about joining one of the major clubs. I'm a long time Caravan Club member so can only speak of what they offer, but there's a wealth of information available.

PC magazine has floor plans of most of the new vans on the market and the maker's sites can (mostly) be identified from the Buying New section.

Go to some of the larger dealers and just have a look round - imagine living in the vans for some time and try not to be too influenced by the gimmicks.

Unfortunately I don't think there is a website into which you can insert all your "must haves" and "would likes" so it means a bit of work. Don't forget too that - like buying a house - you should always leave a contingency for the "extras" that don't come with it.

Top among these for me would be a motor mover. A fixed bed van is likely to be quite heavy - say over 1000kg - which is not the thing you want to push on gravel or wet grass, plus a mover will save you from having to reverse onto the pitch etc. Allow about

 

[Jim_374361976]

Thanks for the reply

I have already taken advice on the car / van ratio thing and have been advised that i have a max MTPLM of 1400kg obviously less is better.

Visted a couple of dealers at the weekend and saw a few fixed bedders within this range.

Lots of research to be done .

Jim

 

[forestgump]

hi small light 4 berth fixed bed its got to be sprite alpine 4 or bailey ranger sprite is my fav