Used Caravan - where to start?

[Paul_374309086]

We are half considering a used caravan, we had one 4 years ago for a few months but it was unfortunately written off after the side colapsed.

We would need at least a 5 berth and will be towing it with a Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi.

Because of two younger children (5 & 7) we would ideally want a sepereate seating area at each end away from the cooker rather than a built in master bedroom.

We don't know where to start with selecting a van, yes we could pop around a few dealers but I would much rather understand the differences/makes etc first. (e.g in the caravan world what's a Robin reliant and what's a Rolly Royce)

Can anyone suggest makes/models that may be of interest?

Advantages/disadvantages of twin axel vans (Is it just a case of length?)

 

[Cockovan]

Hi Paul,

With 2 children why do you need a 5 berth?

Towing with your Peugeot will limit your maximum towing weight to 1250Kg, assuming you believe in the recommended 85% ratio for a tower with limited experience. This almost totally elimintes any thought of a twin axle.

As far as makes go you will find people who rave about a particular make, but for every one of those there will be someone who would never ever buy another one of them.

Layout ideas are personal and will change as you and your family grow older. We started with a double dinnette layout as you suggest, when we had 2 children but you could have fixed bunks, single seating and put up bunk and so on. I would be inclined to look at a dealers yard and at least get some ideas of what feels right for you.

Budget is another thing, what you can afford can influence what you can look at ranging from

 

[Paul_374309086]

Hi Alan

Two younger children and 1 older one (Almost 14), we also have a 18year old but he is in the British Army and extremely unlikely to holiday with us again (Could always sleep in tent/awning if req)

Agreed, with a bit more investigation twin axle is out. So probably a 16-18ft van as 85% or kerb weight is 1343Kg.

To be honest a bunk bed may be unusable if none of the kids want to use it!

How big are some of the double beds on the some of the 4 berth vans, could 3 children comfortably share one bed area?

Do some 5 or 6 berth vans come with an extra lower bed or just bunk beds?

We would probably want to spend

 

[Royston]

Hi Paul,

A Bailey Ranger model 500/5 has the layout that you require, it also has a MTPLM of 1250 kg, so you could safely tow with your car.

Royston

 

[Cockovan]

Hi Paul,

I understand the need for a 5 berth now.

Re: bunk beds we found ours used to fight over who had the bunk but all children are differnt. It is unlikely that a double bed is big enough for 3 to sleep on a regular basis (and you could fall foul of the law if the children are differnt sexes).

As Royston suggest the Ranger could fit the bill, but other manufacturers produce similar layouts in similar sized vans. As you have a budget a lot could depend on what you can find that fits all your requirements.

As to different manufacturers, for every person who swears by one another person will swear at them.

Personally we start with our budget, weight limits, then layout and then see what we can find that fits these and takes our fancy, possibly trading one dealer off against another to get the best price and extras thrown in.

Good luck,

Alan

 

[ValA.]

Buy a Practical Caravan magazine - there are pages of all the different layouts - you can look at them 'on paper' and shortlist those which seem to suit you. Then there are listings of caravan manufacturers, listing their models and what layout a particular model has. Once you've a better idea of what layout you like the look of search this out at dealers or locally through second-hand ads.

The new Sprite range has a five berth, and a six berth - end bunks, and side dinette - converts to bunks, plus front dinette double - and looks lovely and 'modern' in its furniture and upholstery. Have a look at them - they're lighter weight than a lot of vans too, and you may be able to pick up one second hand somewhere. Bailey Rangers are lighter weight too, and I think they do a six berth.

 

[ValA.]

Paul - have you looked at the Buying pages on this website - select 5 birth, and you've a choice of 71 models - you can have a look at them in some detail - and see if anything suits. Saves hours of travelling around dealerships and gives you an idea of what is on the market, and what price.

 

[Tapestry]

Hi

As a family of 5, 2 adults, 3 kids, we started off with A Swift Allouete 5 berth, it had 2 dinettes, 1 at the front and an L shaped dinette at the back. The back converted to a double bed with a bunk above. There are other caravans with this layout. This worked very well for us. The kids had their own space at the back, comfortably sitting 3. They played games, drawing, eating etc, if needed.

Last year we changed to a Bailey Pageant Bretangue 6 berth, with fixed bunks at the back, a seating area at the side and front. We really like this layout. Our sons sleep on the bunks at the back and our daughter sleeps on the bunk made using the side dinette. Each child has their own space and privacy. The Bretangue has an useful cupboard at the end of the fixed bunks, useful for storing toys. There are other caravans with fixed bunks at the back that are lighter to tow. A friend has the Bailey Ranger 6 berth and really likes it.

The side dinette in a 6 berth, with fixed bunks, will not be as big a seating area as a 5 berth caravan with twin dinettes. The side dinette of our Bretangue seats 2, sitting opposite each other. The side dinettes of other fixed bunk 6 berths do not vary that much in size. We use a a full awning for trips of a week or more and a smaller porch awning for weekends away.

There are advantages and limitations to all caravans and layouts. Our advice is to look around dealers, look at the different layouts. Let the kids try the bunks, open all cupboards etc. Set yourself a radius of miles from home or storage location (if you are storing the caravan away from your home). Look at the dealers within that radius. Dealers have internet sites, look at what they are advertising on the internet. Phone the dealers to ask what they have or will be having in. Our caravan and awnings were bought from different dealers.

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