L or U Shaped Lounge

[Chaps]

We're in the early stages of buying our first caravan (5 Berth for 2 adults, twins aged 11 and a 3 year old) and think that an L or U shaped lounge may be for us as we like to snuggle up together to watch TV. I'm a little concerned about how this arrangement works at mealtimes and wonder if anyone can comment? We're thinking of a twin dinette layout so could always use the other end for the older 2 boys but would prefer to all sit together.

Looking at Bailey Pageant Provence, Abbey GTS Vogue 517 and Swift Challenger 490.

Also, how good are the showers in caravans these days? We think a separate shower cubicle would suit our needs best if only to provide a storage space for Dad's golf clubs!

We're thinking of spending about £10K so would be looking at nearly new 'vans but I'd like a microwave. Does anyone know if these can be fitted retrospectively?

 

[Stephen_5122599]

Hi Claire,

I have a Superstorm with an 'L' shaped frount lounge which is great for socialising, relaxing and watching TV. It gives more useable floor space which is great especially for smaller children who tend to play with toys on the floor. They are not quite so practical for dining though, so we tend to use the rear dinette for this purpose as it's easier to fit more around the table.

regards

Steve

 

[karenmshorter]

Hi there. I have a u-shaped lounge in my swift challenger and find it great for using when dining. Plenty of room for whole family. We find it more cosy and less formal for socialising than the parallel seating with centre chest.

 

[tim_5084604]

We owned an elddis avante with an "L" shaped lounge and did not find it very cosy, but if its your first van, you might not notice the difference, i can see the point about toddlers though, Tim

 

[Chaps]

Hi Claire,

I have a Superstorm with an 'L' shaped frount lounge which is great for socialising, relaxing and watching TV. It gives more useable floor space which is great especially for smaller children who tend to play with toys on the floor. They are not quite so practical for dining though, so we tend to use the rear dinette for this purpose as it's easier to fit more around the table.

regards

Steve

Really useful point regarding playspace, thanks. Really want to get this right as it's taken me many, many years to persuade my hubby to buy a caravan so want it to be perfect.

 

[Chaps]

Hi there. I have a u-shaped lounge in my swift challenger and find it great for using when dining. Plenty of room for whole family. We find it more cosy and less formal for socialising than the parallel seating with centre chest.

Thanks very much - think this is the layout for us. Cheers!

 

[Chaps]

We owned an elddis avante with an "L" shaped lounge and did not find it very cosy, but if its your first van, you might not notice the difference, i can see the point about toddlers though, Tim

Thanks for your comments - much appreciated

 

[empee]

Hi

We seem to be at a similar point to Clare and Rob - planning our first van to replace our camping equipt.

3 kids - 9, 6, 2 and the twin dinnette with L shaped lounge seems the most attractive. From previous response here I'm leaning toward a separate shower too but the only unit I'm aware of so far that provides the L shaped lounge and a separate shower is the Bailey Pageant Provence. We also like the idea of being able to close off the kids end which means a central kitchen / bathroom layout.

I'm sure there must be other layouts like this but haven't managed to get to a show yet to see and compare. Any pointers appreciated!

We hope to find something about 2 yrs old.

Martin

 

[Paul_374295069]

Hi Clare &Rob I would highly recommend U shape seating it is very comfortable for eating and relaxing.

 

[Ian_5040589]

We've had our Series 5 provence for about 12 months and are considering changing it!

The front L shaped lounge is fantastic and provides bags of room and the rear dinette is handy as you can eat up there without spoiling the front end and our little girl can sleep in it.

The plan was for our 5 year old to go in the bunk and we'd make up the rear double, thus leaving the front end untouched - making up the front end bedding on an L is a bit of a challenge). In practice there is very little space when the bunk is made up so you need to be careful when getting out of bed. As a result we've stuck with making the front double up which effectively defeats the object!

The rear dinette is relatively short so you need to make up the double bed unless you are particularly short (our 5 year old just about fits length ways).

In addition, at nearly 24 foot its a big van, although relatively light @ 1410kg.

The shower is really the sticking point. It is separate but there is little if no room to get dried off, without coming out of the wash room and into the rear dinette.

As usual its all about compromise, but the washroom is a huge compromise in this model. We previously had a Pageant Moselle with the same L shaped front but large rear bathroom and I think we miss the bathroom.

Series 5 didn't come with a microwave, but I think the series 6 does. I would think you could retrofit.

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Clare and Rob

We have L shaped lounge and don't find it as convenient for eating as a front chest parallel seat layout,you need to get the table out each time to use it or leave it up all the time, so we tend to use our awning for eating and the lounge for lounging,on the subject of seperate shower, I think Swift do a Charisma with seperate shower on the side rear dinette and built in microwave, pretty certain I saw one at Broad Lane Caravans in Alcester a couple of weeks ago and they had a similar van from Ace. Both were 2007 ans not a lot over 10 grand from memory, might pay to look on their website.

 

[Chaps]

Thanks for all recent comments. Think we're set on a U shaped layout but now looking at German fixed bunks for the extra sleeping width and I've posted on this. Thanks again to all who posted.

 

[Diane1]

Hiya, We have an Abbey spectrum 540. It L shaped lounge gives far more space and adds to the roomy feeling, without taking away the cosyness. We have had six adults and two huge mutts in there and still did,nt feel cramped. As for eating when we have guests,like most, entertaining is done in the awning but thats only when the entire family turns up, (our awning is 22ft by 8ft). We have an end bathroom but that is what we wanted as the other half is'nt dainty and needs a bit of elbow room by the sink.The shower is excellent and the water pressure is second to none.

As for the make we did like yourselves and looked at all makes and models and asked loads of questions. We were told very conflicting information. But what i started doing was not talking to the sales people, but talked instead to the workshop people. The have insight into these vans that we and sales people do not see. It could look wonderful,but what good is that if it has to spend time back at the dealers when you want to use it, all down to crappy workmanship.

 

[empee]

Hi

Little bit confused here - what is the difference between a regular dinnette (parrallel seats) and a 'U' layout - sounds the same!

Martin

 

[Chaps]

Hi

Little bit confused here - what is the difference between a regular dinnette (parrallel seats) and a 'U' layout - sounds the same!

Martin

The chest in between the 2 parallel 'benches' is replaced with further seating to create a 'U' shape (actually more of an 'n' I suppose!)

 

[empee]

The chest in between the 2 parallel 'benches' is replaced with further seating to create a 'U' shape (actually more of an 'n' I suppose!)

ahhh!

thanks for that - I always thought, looking at the brochures that the seating either side of that chest seemed to be wasted space as no-one could use it...

thanks again

Martin