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Hi all

I'm normally over on the camping under canvas section of UKCS but we're considering buying a caravan so hope you can help me.

It’s a minefield out there in caravan world, we’ve bought the magazines and we’ve visited a few dealers and have a few things that we know we like and don’t like but am still not certain about a few things.

Could you let me know your thoughts/pros and cons on the following:

• Fixed bed v make your own up every night
• End bathroom v middle bathroom
• U shape, side by side (not sure what this is called) or L shape lounge
• Full awning v half awning

Things we think we want but could be wrong:

• 4 berths min
• Fixed bed
• End bathroom

Things we don’t think we want:

• 2 single seats opposite kitchen
• Bunk beds
• Cupboard type toilet/shower

Sooooo if anyone could can give us some valid points to consider that would be great – much appreciated

Quote: Originally posted by Woofers on 26/8/2010

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• Fixed bed v make your own up every night (Fixed Bed)
• End bathroom v middle bathroom (Matter of choice but you lose space in the middle with a centre one)
• U shape, side by side (not sure what this is called) or L shape lounge (Definitely not L shape. Nowhere to put table and uncomfortable)
• Full awning v half awning (Porch awning and then we don't put it up very often)

Things we think we want but could be wrong:

• 4 berths min
• Fixed bed (Not much good if you have kids)
• End bathroom (Matter of choice)

Things we don’t think we want: (How many are there of you?)

• 2 single seats opposite kitchen (Does give more space)
• Bunk beds (If you have kids it saves space)
• Cupboard type toilet/shower (Definitely seperate shower, the other type soaks everything)

Sooooo if anyone could can give us some valid points to consider that would be great – much appreciated

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I think you have some compromising to do!!!!!!!

Hi Woofers! As you probably know we just bought our first caravan - we have two kids so its the make up beds & bunks for us, but I have to say if it was just us we'd definitely have the fixed bed & 4 berths to give us extra living space.  End bathrooms tend to be a lot more spacious too.

When we were first considering a caravan a lovely couple at Wooda (Hello Dave & Joan if you come on here) showed us around their van and it was really lovely.  It was this one (pretty much what you think you want although they aren't making anymore of them):

http://www.bailey-caravans.co.uk/images/reviews/200707-SS6-Wyoming-Caravan-magazine-test.pdf

Hi Woofers

This is a difficult one, as it is purely a matter of personal preference and we all have different requirements.  You are doing the right thing nosying round the dealers to see what you like and dont like.  It is important to get the right layout for you.

You dont mention kids so I assume its just  you, hubby and assorted canines! You will need an awning for the dogs (somewhere to feed them, dry them off even if they sleep in the van at night.) Porch type awnings come in all sizes these days,not just tiny ones and are easy to throw up. However, knowing you, you may well need your canvas fix and prefer a full awning!

As for the van itself, try looking at it from a different angle. You have got to try and imagine yourselves actually living in it.  What type of sites will you be using?  Do you think you might like CL/CS's?  If so, facilities in the van will be important.  Will the dogs be in the van?  Floor space might be an issue if so. My personal bugbear is kitchen space, some vans seems to have no work space at all, I know you can cover the sink to make space, but I find I often need access to the sink while cooking.  So kitchen workspace is important to me too. A microwave isnt, takes up storage space, adds weight, and I would need a stepladder to use most of them!

Making the bed up at night doesnt bother us, but I know its an issue for some.  I guess in an ideal world, if it was just us and no kids, we would have a fixed bed, full sized lounge area at the front (with the chest of drawers, not wraparound seating), and an end bathroom.  Having had an end bathroom in both our vans, I cant imagine being without one now,  and those "loo in a cupboard" showers dont appeal to me at all.

As this would involve us moving house, it will probably be a two berth but still with that precious end bathroom!

Having said all that, we presently have a 4 berth side dinette, so that son has somewhere to sleep inside if the weather is bad. Otherwise,he is in his own tent. I have a huge kitchen area and a full bathroom, Suits us perfectly.

We have a fixed bed, which is great, as it's mainly for husband and myself, and I often like to go to bed before him, so with a fixed bed I can do this.  If we take the grandchildren, we let them have the fixed bed and we make up the settee into a double bed, so that we can watch the telly whilst they sleep.

With regards to end or middle bathroom, again it's if your going to be having people, you don't want friends going through the bedroom to get to the loo at night,

With regards to the cupboard type shower/loo.  This is what we have and it's fine, because mainly we use the site showers but we always use the van loo.  The reason for using the site showers is because you don't have to clean it, and dry it out, and you don't have to bother getting the water and then refilling it again afterwards.

As Annie says it is purely personal choice depending on your life style really. Some will tell you which is best but none are "best" just different.

We would like a fixed bed but don't want to lose all that space or go to a bigger van so we have a make up bed in our U shaped living room. We like the end bathroom as it is big & easy to use. It also creates a separate room if you need one. Our previous van had a side bathroom which was too small really

We use a porch awning which is plenty big enough for 2 but four would probably be sqeeze.

Have a good look round some and talk to campers on site. I think most people enjoy showing off their van.

When we bought our previous van we thought we needed a 4 berth but the was only ever 2 in it so our current van is a 2 berth. Depends if you have dependent children really.

If you want a fixed bed and end bathroom then you'll probably need a twin axle, there are a couple of makes that do it on single axle but you lose all your worktop space and get short front seating which I think is too much of a compromise.

I personally wouldn't go back to a "make up" bed as I often go to bed earlier than Hubby & it's also nice for an afternoon kip.

We've got L-shaped lounge and love it, there's plenty of room to get 6 around the table if needs be and when the table's away theres a lot more floor space for the dogs (although they're often spark out on the bed!), I don't like feeling "closed in" with wardrobes/cupboards around me and the L shape gives a big airy feeling, some makes however have a more sloping front window and so can be awkward for tall people on the seat along the front window so try various makes.

We're at Pillaton too for the meet so feel free to come for a nosey round.

Thanks for the detailed replies everyone - thats very helpful, we've lots to think about

I'll read this out to OH later and that will prepare us for the weekend when we'll go viewing again  

There will only be me, OH and our 2 dogs but we still like a fair amount of space if possible.

We would have an awning, probably the full canvas type (I still want to feel like I am sort of in a tent a bit lol), I've heard the full ones are a bit of a nightmare to put up though.  Even a dealer told us they take 3 hours to put up!  Thats nearly as long as our tent!

Are there any good dealer websites you would recommend? I've exhausted the ones near me (I've also looked at Highbridge and Raymond James)

Ester and Andi thanks for the offer of a looksee at Pillaton - we'll definately take you up on that

I'm also a bit worried we could end up buying a stolen one or one thats damp - do I need to ask for HPI and CSI or something?  Is there anything we can do to ensure all bases are covered, as much as anyone can?

Thanks again everyone - most helpful

Quote: Originally posted by Woofers on 26/8/2010

We would have an awning, probably the full canvas type (I still want to feel like I am sort of in a tent a bit lol), I've heard the full ones are a bit of a nightmare to put up though.  Even a dealer told us they take 3 hours to put up!  Thats nearly as long as our tent!

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Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 26/8/2010

All UK vans from 1992/3 onwards are CRIS registered a quick check with them will relieve your mind about being stolen or money owing on it.

Regarding damp, buy yourself a damp meter and use it everywhere - around windows, under seating, in the bathroom, in cupboards (especially in kitchen cupboards)

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Three hours for an  awning?  Poppycock.  Took us an  hour and a half first time wrestling with a full size awning and we'd never even put a tent up before.  You'd be looking at 20-30 mins tops after the first time I reckon. Especially with  your tentage experience.

Have you found the Caravanfinder website yet?  Loads on there, and you can search by layout.  Alot of videos too.  Useful for research purposes.