Unusual kitchen layout....help!

[Jonnywhite]

Hello, I'm new to the site and also yet to buy my first caravan. I've been looking at a few with fixed bunk beds as I have a 3 1/2 year old and another due in May so caravaning seems a logical choice. I'm pretty sure my car will tow most things OK. The reason for posting is that a few months ago I saw a caravan with a kitchen that pretty much split the van in half with the front seating area separated by the kitchen from the rest of the interior. To the right was a coat hanging space, the bathroom and the bunk beds. It was a new caravan but I can't for the life of me find it online again. I have no idea of the name or make.....

does the the description ring any bells to anyone? It looked like it might have been a good choice. I'm also considering swift challenger sport 586 and Hobby 650 KFU so opinions of those would also be welcome to a novice

thank you

 

[FrintonMike]

I think it may have been a Coachman Amara which had an l shape kitchen in the middle. I am not sure if the Vision which replaced the Amara has the same layout.

Try looking at the Coachman web site

 

[Jonnywhite]

That's it! Coachman Pastiche 2014 525/4

thank you

 

[FrintonMike]

All you need now is to see one and raid the piggy bank

 

[Jonnywhite]

Duplicate Post

 

[Jonnywhite]

Would you recommend one above the Swift or the Hobby I mentioned? I notice from their website that they also do a 560/4 with a very similar layout to the Swift

 

[Sproket]

You could have a problem legally towing the Hobby 650-KFU due to the body length.....

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/car-towing-weight-and-width-limits

 

[Jonnywhite]

Thank you, it looks a little too long as you suggest. That reduces my list to just a couple of choices then and I think I'm going for the Swift Challenger Sport. Going to look at one tomorrow to see how it feels with all of us inside it....and ask them to check my car will pull it

 

[Sproket]

I think I'm going for the Swift Challenger Sport. Going to look at one tomorrow to see how it feels with all of us inside it....and ask them to check my car will pull it

What car have you got .... make + model + year + engine size..... also on your V5 it should say mass in service ???? ..... the new challenger sport 640 has a MTPLM of 1750kg......so as a rough guide your cars mass in service needs to be around two tons..... you would not want this to happen .....

 

[Jonnywhite]

I have a 2013 mercedes cls 350 shooting brake which I think would be ok for the swift.....I couldn't get a tow bar for the Renault 5! Amazing video

 

[Sproket]

It might have the power to pull it ok but its only showing a kerb weight of 1830kg ...... what licence do you have ?

 

[Jonnywhite]

Just a normal uk drivers licence that I passed when 17 (22 years ago). Nothing extra. Do you think I'll have problems with that car and van combo?

 

[Jonnywhite]

Just a normal uk drivers licence that I passed when 17 (22 years ago). Nothing extra. Do you think I'll have problems with that car and van combo?

just double checked the manual for the 350 and the kerb weight is 1910kg

 

[Sproket]

Have you towed a caravan before ?

 

[Jonnywhite]

No, only trailers and a boat

 

[Sproket]

Do you know the train weight of your car ? how big a boat ?

 

[Jonnywhite]

Not a clue about the train weight. Boats were a beneteau first 26 (26 foot) and a northerner Viking 22 (22foot) both pulled with my old land rover defender 90 years ago.

 

[Jonnywhite]

Not a clue about the train weight. Boats were a beneteau first 26 (26 foot) and a northerner Viking 22 (22foot) both pulled with my old land rover defender 90 years ago.

Towing capacity – unbraked / braked (kg)
750 / 2,100
750 / 2,100

Perm. Gross Vehicle Weight (kg)
2,435
2,435

 

[Sproket]

With the MTPLM of the Swift @1750kg your combination will be about 91% IE: 1750kg van - 1910kg car ...... guide of 85% = 1624kg ( but its only a guide ) your train weight is the max weight of your car 2435kg + the max allowed towing weight of 2100kg set by the car maker..... train weight .....

 

[Jonnywhite]

Thanks for the info and advice

 

[MrsSorento]

hi, we have a 2014 Swift Challenger Sport 586, MTPLM 1565kg. As you can tell we tow we with a Sorento (2006 model) We love the van for its layout, we are a family of 4 including 2 young children (7 and 4yr olds) and 2 small dogs. The layout is fab for our family . The kitchen has more than enough storage and workspace. There is plenty of storage in the van for short and long breaks. The heating and hot water system is amazing. The beds are comfy and easy to put up at the front and the kids have their own fixed beds. The washroom is brill especially for little kids with plenty of room and the shower is much better than the old Charisma. They have tweaked things from the Charisma 565 for the good. If you're on a budget you could look for one of those (starting from 2011 onwards). Good luck with the search. Lisa