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Hi Lamps,

We've got a 2005 Bretange, we had the modification done. When we first got the van the bunk bases were solid hardboard, they re-made the bases using wooden slats which was much better. The bunk mattresses are slightly shorter than the bunk length so they don't touch the door.

I believe some people also had an extra heating duct put in the back of the van, although this wasn't offered to us.

Re the condensation I find that as long as we leave the windows on the ventilate setting at night it's fine. We don't use the heating overnight, this also helps. We camp at all times of year and to be honest with 5 of us sleeping in the van I don't really feel we need the heating at night even in some very cold weather, we're very warm in our beds!

The only other warrenty issue we had was some of the stitching on the main front seat cushions started to come undone within the first year, they were re-stitched under warrenty, and we've never had any problems since. Our van is now 3 1/2 years old. We've been very pleased with it.

Out of interest how much is the van you're looking at? Is it a private or dealer sale? Sorry to be so nosy! We are thinking of changing vans this year as we really like the look of the new Loire, hoping to see it soon. Interested to get an idea of what our van is worth. 

The only other comment I would make is to think about how old / big your children are, the bunks are great but they are not very wide and some children find them a bit too narrow. Our 11 year old son doesn't like them now as he says there's not enough room, on the other hand it's lovely not having to make up the childrens beds!

Good luck on Saturday, let us know how you get on.

Joty

Steve,

We did remove the drawers as well in our Bretange, it was just 2 screws! It certainly makes a big difference to the double bed.

Diane, we spent ages last year looking at the 620 and were very tempted by the layout, I think we will be ordering a Loire, but I do want to see one first. We did go and look at the Explorer groups version, but I hated the upholstery and the sink in the bathroom! So I'm going to wait and see the Loire in the 'flesh' so to speak - you just never know!

Our dealer says they'll be getting one in soon so I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Joty

My opinion, for what it's worth, is to go for one with the axle made to accept the Al-Ko lock. These were on the pageant range when the series 6 came in. we've got a series 5 Pageant provence & following its theft & recovery, axle alterations to accept this lock cost me a lot of money.

Quote: Originally posted by joty on 13/2/2008

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We did remove the drawers as well in our Bretange, it was just 2 screws! It certainly makes a big difference to the double bed.

Joty

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Joty,

err.....do I take it you can take the front drawers out, leaving the section in place with the pull out slats to form the double bed?? Doesn't that leave what's left looking a bit unsightly......or have I got the wrong end of the stick here?

Glyn,

The drawer unit lifts off, after you take out 2 screws one on each side. You are then left with a shelf, under which is the pull out bed slats. We then re-arranged our seat cushions. By using the smallest back cushions as a seat cushion to fill in the gap, and the bolster cushions then fill in the gaps for the back cushions. Hope that makes sense! It works really well for us, and looks fine. We've got a bigger seating area and bed. We leave the drawers at home. To be honest we could never put much in the drawers anyway, and you've still got the deepest bottom drawer. We did get a quote from Bailey tohave the 'proper' cushions made for the gap but it was something like £260! the girl at our dealers said she was embaressed to tell me how much it was!

This set up has worked really well for us.

Joty

OOOOHHHHH pleased this has come up.

1) I too have taken the drawers out, only temp over a weekend, and feel if going somehwere in summer, when you would not be using the table, it makes the bed a lot better and bigger. also the inside of the van looks bigger - though not practical for sitting on, nice to rest your legs on

2) Joty - you say bolster cushions, are these in the same pacific fabric? if so where did you get them from, I am looking for some, to go at the front near the table on my 550/6 as the little cushions aren't much cop. how muchy did they cost?? I wonder what the wrap around seating is, and what it looks like. £260 is too steep for me.

3) regarding condensation;-

A) anything that touches the walls seems to get wet.

B)I have phoned up bailey and you can buy the wall boarding extra, (I just need to go to storage to get the cris number to quote to them)as I am thinking of putting some at the pillow ends at the ends of the fixed bunks, as last time we went away, the pillows felt damp,also to make the wall boarding higher along the back of the van, as if the quilt touches above the wall board at night, it gets wet and at the front of the van, either side of the drawers, as the cushions seemed to get wet, also no air movement between seat cushions and front end, and wall gets wet and I am worried that cushions could get fusty so at the moment have some nintendo boxes wedged down there, so cushions not touching.

C) is any body else experiencing condensation drip marks on the tops / in the cupboards??? I have opened the cupboard doors, and I went in yesterday and there was a trickle of reddy couloured water in the cuboards, and drip marks in red above the fridge, they have marked the carpet!!!  not happy

Hi Norrisr,

The cushions I was talking about are rectangular ones that went at each end of the long front seats, I guess they were to rest your arms on? I'm not sure if the Rangers actually had these cushions. The 'wrap around' seating that Bailey offer are the cushions you need to fill the gap where the chest goes, whilst I'm sure they are better than the cushions we used I couldn't bring myself to pay the money Bailey were charging!

Re the condensation I haven't noticed any drip marks like you decribe on our Bretange on the tops or cupboards, I'll try and remember to have a look when we go away next weekend.

Joty

To keep moisture out of the air in ours, we place dishes of salt at each end & one on the work surfce in the kitchen area. We change the salt in these every few weeks & it's surprising how much water gathers in the dishes if we forget to change the salt regularly.

I understand there's things on the market to absorb damp out of the air but salt's cheap enough & does the trick.

Have any members found screws coming UP through the window sill/seatback/inside front of the van? we have a 2006 Pageant Provence. Just the very tip of a screw is coming up through & we found it with my fingertip when cleaning the shelf.

BB