Advice on what to buy please
Hi
we have decided to make the move from motorhome to caravan
we have a budget up to 20k
6 bunk needed 2 adults 4 children
not sure what to buy
not sure to buy a new basic or used high spec
weight not really a problen
any advice ?
Comments
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This may not be much help, but a lot of dealers are trying to clear 2016 stock at big savings, so check out what they all have left for sale and push them on price because they probably need space for 2017 stock. I would think that there is some quite new top of the range vans for sale at what you have to spend, and most will have had the little job's done that come with most UK built caravans. Good luck and enjoy what ever you buy.
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Hi guys you don't say how old your kids are but for four bunks I personally recommend the Lunar Quasar 546 which is what we have, two bunks either side at one end with a door so you can close it off and enjoy the parents end with two long singles/one big bed and kitchen & shower/loo in the middle. I personally don't like the triple bunk arrangement where you have three (with one on the floor) one side and a single the other. Like CGB says above, look around now. We bought our 2014 brand new, unsold stock in May 2015, with a whopping discount and good trade in on our old one and still got the full warranty as it had not been sold before, other than to the dealer who purchased a bulk lot.
A good source of info is www.caravanfinder.co.uk as you can search by layout.
Good luck
Alison
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I think there are often really good bargains to be had on nearly new or the previous year's models as has been said. You stand to lose so much more on a new van and there's every chance any teething troubles will have been sorted out on a used model.
As for layout and brand, that's really a matter of personal choice.
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Depending on kids ages and when you'll be using, do consider whether you need 6 bunks. There are 5 of us but only have a 4-berth as the boys (16yr twins) sleep out in awning. On the odd night we really need to use the van a sleeping mat on the floor does the job!
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To my mind the six berths with a lounge at the front for the adults and two bunks and another dinette at the back which converts into a bed and bunk is the most workable option. You get a central toilet which can be a bit tight but with six aboard you presumably will use the site facilities more and the kitchen tends to be squeezed in.
Currently these can be bought as an Adria Altea Severn, Bailey Pursuit, Swift Freedom Sprite and Challenger and Lunar Venus.
The level you want the caravan is up to but the Adria and Freedom are basic. The Sprite, Pursuit and Venus a bit more upmarket and the Challenger mid market but that is possibly going to exceed your budget.This layout prevents you having to walk past the sleeping children to go to the toilet and gives you good seperation at night.
There is not a lot between the Sprite, Venus and Pursuit so you would need to see them and make your mind up. To me the Pursuit is the least workable having no partition between front and back though.
There are other options from the various makers though so you really need to see what you feel suits you best.
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Hi
Thanks for the feedback
think i have narrowed it down to 2
elddis 866
http://www.elddis.co.uk/elddis/avante/avante-866
or the swift 590
https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans/swift-challenger
what do we think
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If you look at some of the other threads there appears to be a problem with some elddis caravans - personally I would avoid them like the plague but that is because a friend has had a problem and it may just be one model. I looked at a smaller challenger today and liked it a lot.
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Personally I would go for the Swift from those two, like Pippah, but remember the Sterling is exactly the same caravan but with a different interior if you like that better.
We have had six different caravans all different makes and while it was a few years back our Eldiss was probably the worst built and the only one with any serious problems. Practical Caravan run a readers survey each year and Eldiss are consistently bottom by a clear margin and they have had considerable trouble with cracking panels according to the forums.
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I wouldn't buy anything made in this country, without first getting a habitation report done (including new-12 month)
Too many reports of faults, damp and exceptionally poor after sales service. It's a sad reflection on the industry, but one that is true.
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whats best then
6 berth
any help would be appreciated
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I spent nearly 2 years researching and visiting many different dealers and shows, some more than once. I lost count of the thousands of pages/blogs i read along with conversations with many caravanners and service engineers.
I was taken aback by the honesty of some fellow members I spoke to on sites and how much information they gave me (in particular with defects and faults)
And then there was the Caravan Clubs' own awards. I followed their recommendation of Adria.
However, this does not mean it's the best. That decision is down to personal choice.
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I can see a glaring problem with the Elddis - it is 8ft wide !!! I didn't realise they had started making the wide vans as well as Adria, but I would not in all honesty recommend one for touring in this country. The trouble is they feel so spacious but the practicalities are not there. The Swift is the layout we have and is much more practical, giving you the separation at night when the kids are in bed and access to the loo without worrying about waking them up.
Go round the dealers and get in them - check the build quality. Caravan Finder will tell you where the nearest dealers with these (and other same layout) are to you, now you have done your homework it is time to actually look inside them. Also I assume you have considered where you are going to keep it ?
Alison
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Since '89 we have owned 5 new UK 'vans and 7 new German 'vans, we have recently returned from living in France and decided to purchase a top of the range Coachman VIP ( if this is as good as it gets for UK 'vans) it's going next week, we've put a deposit on another Hymer.
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The new Adria is 8 ft too bit silly for this country nightmare on country roads.
That is rubbish about Elddis though we bought our 2005 when a year old from a Dealer it had had its first service and no problems we still have it no problems. Excellent Caravan. You will find though with any make there are rogue vans. Baileys are known for damp. Friend has Lunar and had problems. Same with cars often get a rogue one .Name any make and someone will say they have had problems with theirs or they know someone else who has It would not stop me from buying an Elddis but not a new one as a new van looses so much money as soon as you take it out the showroom. Sure the Germans have rogue vans too.
Have anything you think of buying looked over by an expert. If you are thinking of a used Elddis it won't be 8ft wide as only just been introduced. We have been caravanning for over 40 years and never had a dud caravan..
DianneT
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Dianne....OP is changing from Motorhome to caravan, so like many of us, including anyone who has ever driven a motorhome or delivery van, 8' does not pose a problem, even on country roads! The problem arises with the drivers who either, do not have the skill to navigate them, or the patience to do so.
My point about getting a habitation report is extremely valid and you confirmed this in your recommendation.
The fact remains, however, that quality issues with caravans are far too widespread even with modern build technologies. All vehicles have the ability to provide us with huge amounts of pleasure and even greater disappointment when they go wrong. The old adage 'They don't build them like they used to' comes to mind when discussing caravans.
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8' does not pose a problem,
One problem is however that the outfit is not 8' wide. The cars towing mirrors stick out beyond the caravan width. his could well add 6'' either side of the caravan width. Our road outside is only 5m (16' 5'') wide. I know of a number in the county that are.
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How about hobby they look nice
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There is no best six berth as it all depends on what you want. If you have four children then I like the layout I suggested earlier in the thread but there are others which work for many people. If you have a mix of young and old you can get two bunks at the back and a dinette that converts to bunks in the centre which helps if the older ones go to bed later. I am afraid that you simply have to decide for yourself which layout suits your needs.
As for makes you are more or less forced to buy British. Very few continental firms produce a six berth and I doubt most would be suitable. The Caravelair models sleep six but only seat four. In the UK that is useless in my book. The only other six berths I can find are from Weinsberg and the layouts are distinctly odd assuming you can find a dealer.
That leaves only the UK builders and although you do have to check them out thoroughly the number of seriously defective ones is low but they do get the publicity. My advice would be to look round and see what suits you and basically if you like it go for it.
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Sorry forgot Adria but their Altea is very basic and the others are very heavy and 8 ft wide which would be daunting first time. They have a good reputation but came third behind Sprite and Venus in this years PC customer satisfaction survey which might suggest standards have slipped but I do no know for sure.
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Very happy with our Bailey ranger 550/6, the layout suits us and its not too big. They are also at a reasonable price second hand, parts available. I cannot fault this layout. We dont make up the front double, the bench seats are long enough to sleep on
The kids love the bunks, the side dinette means the kids can get out of bed and eat without the need to make up a table. Brilliant I think.0
