Swift BaseCamp

Runrig
Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
edited October 2016 in Caravans #1

Just seen this on the Swift website

https://www.swiftbasecamp.co.uk

No doubt the naysayer dinosaurs will be along to rubbish the very thought. There will be no where to fit the mattress topper and 32" TV & Sat Dish for goodness sake.
 ;)

 But I think Swift should be applauded for recognising the change that will be upon us before we know it. And the need to engage a younger clientele with ever smaller, lighter tow cars.

 Whether we like it or not, this is the future, not getting bigger
8ft wide indeed !

Well done Swift.  :)

Now, where did I leave my surfboard and bike ?

Moderator Edit:

Link now active.

 
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Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #2

    It looks good, the length is 16' so not small but good design features. I wonder what it costs?! 

    I like the S-pods too.

  • BorisSnowhead
    BorisSnowhead Forum Participant Posts: 50
    edited October 2016 #3

    Nice - this is just the sort of thing I wanted about 5-years ago when we camped but wanted a little luxury. 

    Of course now I have the caravan :) 

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #4

    I looked at them yesterday at the NEC.  It's a similar concept to the Knaus Sport and Fun. 

    There were a few toy tuggers there.  Good to see

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #5

    Did you notice the prices JayEss? They don't look cheap!

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #6

    It depends on configuration brue but they start around the £15k mark

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #7

    Thanks Jay.Smile

    The design concept has been around for awhile hasn't it but this is a better looking layout.. 

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited October 2016 #8

    It's addressing a section of the market that has been missed.

    From our point of view the Knaus does what we want it to do better but if you want or need something closer to uk spec then this is a very good option.

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #9

    Whilst not what we would want I do wish Swift every success with this for having the vision and courage to bring it to the market. How about something similar on a motorhome chassis?!

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited October 2016 #10

    I also like it. If you are a tenter then something like this would be a great first caravan.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited October 2016 #11

    Love it -- It looks great..  Will suit the outdoor enthusiast and those who tour.

    There will also be older people who don't do "that sort of thing" who won't like it. 

    K Wink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #12

    it looks great, as Jay says, similar to the Knaus....

    Swift have also pared back their campervans by offering four different layouts but in a very basic trim, allowing customers to add only what they think is necessary....

    looks like they are addressing the ever rising costs of uber-loaded vans, when the actual market for them is shrinking...

    hope it works out.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #13

    I like it. It would have suited me nicely 25 years ago. 

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited October 2016 #14

    With an MTPLM of 990kg, even maintaining 85% guidline, that puts it in the range of tow cars weighing only 1164 kg.

    There has to be scope to make this BaseCamp and more mainstream small vans like Pursuit 400-2 and Xplore 304 lighter still.

    I wonder at what point featherweight vans with a large side area will become unacceptibly vulnerable to side wind and buffeting. I trust the manufacturers are wind tunnel testing.

    But it will be this type of thing that will keep caravaning alive in the long term, not getting wider.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #15

    But will they still be leak free when ten years old?  My similar sized Eriba is. 

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #16

    But will they still be leak free when ten years old?  My similar sized Eriba is. 

    Well our much larger sixteen year old Swift (CRIS reg in the year 2000) is still entirely damp free!  The last service (NCC Approved) in 2015 showed no problems at all.

    We read so many 'damp' stories on forums, but there must be many other very happy Swift owners who have never had a problem. 

    I think it looks great and would interest both my cycling, surfing and snowboarding sons (presumably the demographic group it's aimed at).

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #17

    But will they still be leak free when ten years old?  My similar sized Eriba is. 

    Well our much larger sixteen year old Swift (CRIS reg in the year 2000) is still entirely damp free!  The last service (NCC Approved) in 2015 showed no problems at all.

    We read so many 'damp' stories on forums, but there must be many other very happy Swift owners who have never had a problem. 

    I think it looks great and would interest both my cycling, surfing and snowboarding sons (presumably the demographic group it's aimed at).

    ....i think youre right, Val...

    a blooming site more reliable than a T25 VW and a blooming site cheaper than a T5 or T6.....

    so, some of the 'chic' with a lot less cost.....just add it to the back of your 'normal' runaround....Happy

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited October 2016 #18

    It is not new but Swift attacking the Sport and Fun and similar market. We are a bit passed that but good luck to them as smaller and lighter looks one way forward.

  • Paul Rainbow
    Paul Rainbow Forum Participant Posts: 129
    100 Comments
    edited October 2016 #19

    That really appeals to me, but the cost seems somewhat high.

     

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited October 2016 #20

    Love it.

    Well done Swift!

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #21

    ABI did this sort of thing back in the year 2000/2001.

    That failed in that I saw very few, but then it might have "been before its time".

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCwRlstZSRI

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #22

    i saw it at the show yesterday, looks to be well received. actually a differet/viable alternative to a young couple buying a VW campervan and going off with their bikes/surfboards etc...

    no need to upgrade the towcar for most....

  • Gary1959
    Gary1959 Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited October 2016 #23

    Attended the NEC show on Saturday. Saw the new Swift Basecamp, ordered one, collect mid Nov. Added the Plus pack, ATC and Vango Airbeam awning. Did a trade in with our Lunar Clubman SI. From one extreme to another. Can't wait. P.S. anyone after a full awning
    from the Lunar?

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #24

    Good to hear! Hope it becomes a commercial success for Swift, just very disapointing the CC were offering a Knaus as a prize at the show instead of supporting the home manufacturers - as did the C & CC with a Sprite (albeit hooked upto a Hyundai) ......
    surely a Basecamp would have made a great prize?!

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #25

    I guess it depends what the clubs have been given to use as a prize flatcoat. 

     

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #26

    Attended the NEC show on Saturday. Saw the new Swift Basecamp, ordered one, collect mid Nov. Added the Plus pack, ATC and Vango Airbeam awning. Did a trade in with our Lunar Clubman SI. From one extreme to another. Can't wait. P.S. anyone after a full awning
    from the Lunar?

    So which graphics style did you go with?

  • Gary1959
    Gary1959 Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited October 2016 #27

    Standard graphic, others were nice but at £795 to change was a bit too much.

  • Cheesehound
    Cheesehound Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited October 2016 #28

    Hi, we also attended the NEC show, and were similarly impressed with the Swift Basecamp - if something like this had been available before now (We're aware of Knaus's offerings) we might have become caravanners years ago. We were always put off by the overly
    gilt-plated, frilly velour look of earlier British vans.

    HOWEVER, impressed as I am, I couldn't help but notice that the quoted noseweight for it is 100kg. I did a total double-take when I read this in the brochure, and thanked God I hadn't ordered one at the show, as my tow car certainly couldn't cope with that.

    Interestingly, Swift's brochure shows it being towed by a Fiat 500X, which has a maximum towball load of 60kg.

    What is going on here? - surely Swift haven't released to the market a van which no small car (and many larger ones) can safely tow.

    I did also notice Wingamm's similar offering at the show - this also had a noseweight of 100kg.

    Am I missing something?  

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #29

    Is the 100kg quoted not the max hitch weight? Undecided

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited October 2016 #30

    Hi, we also attended the NEC show, and were similarly impressed with the Swift Basecamp - if something like this had been available before now (We're aware of Knaus's offerings) we might have become caravanners years ago. We were always put off by the overly
    gilt-plated, frilly velour look of earlier British vans.

    HOWEVER, impressed as I am, I couldn't help but notice that the quoted noseweight for it is 100kg. I did a total double-take when I read this in the brochure, and thanked God I hadn't ordered one at the show, as my tow car certainly couldn't cope with that.

    Interestingly, Swift's brochure shows it being towed by a Fiat 500X, which has a maximum towball load of 60kg.

    What is going on here? - surely Swift haven't released to the market a van which no small car (and many larger ones) can safely tow.

    I did also notice Wingamm's similar offering at the show - this also had a noseweight of 100kg.

    Am I missing something?  

     

    Write your comments here...

    In common with other vans built on an Alko chassis, the caravan A frame CAN be leaded to 100kg. That's a max figure, not a requirement. So if it's hitched to a car with a lower max hichweight, then the cars limit defines the maximum nose weight allowable. 

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited October 2016 #31

    Am I missing something?

    Yes, the 100kg is the MAX hitch weight, in common with most UK Al-Ko underpinned caravans.

    With an MTPLM of 990kg, and the 60kg nosewight limit, the little Fiat 500X, will have a nose weight ratio of 6%.
    Bang in the middle of the 5% - 7% recomendation.
    And more than I achieve with my regular Bailey on my 75kg limited Mercedes. Not a problem.

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