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Subject Topic: Best family van - new to caravaning
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PersonTesad29
31/8/2014 at 4:57pm
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Hi everyone - we're seasoned campers but we've been rained out of our tent too many times so are going to upgrade to a tourer after deciding there are too many lovely places to visit to plunge for a static. There are 4 soon to be 5 of us and Having looked at what seems like hundreds of models, we thought the Hobby 720 UKfe fitted our needs perfectly. After reading up on bigger vans, in particular Hobby, it seems it's a bit too big for us to pull and I'm worried about the appeal to thieves too.
So, can anyone recommend a tourer that fits a growing family well with a good layout? Is it really a pain to make up the double bed every night rather than have a fixed? Many thanks 😊


Personmillermicm
31/8/2014 at 5:31pm
 Location: west country
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Making up beds only takes a minute. No problem but what weight can you manage? What will you tow it with?

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Steve


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PersonNutkins
31/8/2014 at 7:17pm
 Location: Bradford
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 06 - Passat Est 2.0 140 View Nutkins's Profile View Profile   Reply to Nutkins Reply   Quote Nutkins Quote  
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Think your best bet would be the Adria range of caravans. Well laid out well put together good family vans, also not as heavy as others that are a similar size.

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I went to the top of the mountain...and looked over the other side!


PersonGrampian91
31/8/2014 at 7:57pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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Insurance issues with some Hobby vans, Some sites wont allow them. Higher risk of theft.

I would stick to a UK manufactured van.

Too many people buy the biggest van they can find because they do appear to be great value.

Then you find storage an issue, Some sites only have dearer superpitches when you book.


Personnavver
31/8/2014 at 8:18pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
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Problem with fixed bed is they don't mix with kids. You have to put them to bed in the lounge then where do you sit.


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PersonTesad29
31/8/2014 at 9:25pm
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Thanks for the quick responses everyone.
We've got a Qashqui+2 millermicm so won't pull a heavyweight.
I only looked at the Adria ranges again earlier Nutkins and they do look good value so it's good to hear that.
Grampian91 - I didn't even think of the storage!
Yes navver, the biggest issue, can't wait for them to move out & we can get a fab 2 berth! Only joking 😜

Thanks again all 😊


Personcheckley1973
31/8/2014 at 10:21pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636 View checkley1973's Profile View Profile   Reply to checkley1973 Reply   Quote checkley1973 Quote  
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Adria 542 DT would be ideal. Check eBay and you'll see mine for sale. Lots of extras inc. mover ;-)


Persongreenhill
31/8/2014 at 11:19pm
 Location: Norfolk
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There are 4 of us and having looked round lots decided on a 6 berth with fixed bunks. It's best to go to somewhere which has lots of different layouts for you to look round. Make sure you are all in the caravan at the same time so you can get a feel for what it'll be like when you're all in there.

With having fixed bunks it means we only have to make up the double each evening. Our friends who have 5 kids went for a fixed bed to reduce the number of beds they had to make up. I don't know what your budget is but some of the newer models have triple bunks at the back which might work for you. When we looked round we soon decided against a 5 berth as just found it too much of a palava getting the back bed double bed and bunk out (of course others like that layout) so have a look at the get a feel for what works for you.

Caravanfinder website allows you to search by layout which you might find useful to get a feel for what's about.

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From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!


Personaudicab26
31/8/2014 at 11:22pm
 Location: South
 Outfit:  Pageant Bordeaux S7 View audicab26's Profile View Profile   Reply to audicab26 Reply   Quote audicab26 Quote  
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Get yourself to the NEC in October, there you will be able to see the various layouts on offer and work out which suits best.

I would think a twin dinette 5-berth or something with rear triple fixed bunks (Bailey Orion or Adria etc) would be a good place to start. If you can't wait for the NEC visit a few local dealers and have a look. Also look at caravanfinder online to search by layout/berth.

Whattowcar.com handy for outfit matching too...

Post last edited on 01/09/2014 00:20:16


Personandyfisher
01/9/2014 at 12:07am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Adria altea 542 dt Freelander 2 View andyfisher's Profile View Profile   Reply to andyfisher Reply   Quote andyfisher Quote  
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We have adria 542dt.   Very happy with it. Good sized bunks.


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Personclever
01/9/2014 at 12:37am
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT View clever's Profile View Profile   Reply to clever Reply   Quote clever Quote  
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Another vote here for the Adria Altea 542 DT.

Brilliant van - wouldn't change ours for anything else.

Alternatively you could look at the 542 DK


Personveema
01/9/2014 at 7:44am
 Location: Blackburn
 Outfit: VWT6 campervan View veema's Profile View Profile   Reply to veema Reply   Quote veema Quote  
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We also have the Venture sportlined version of the adria altea 542DT...we're limited to my husband's company cars, so can't pull anything heavy and this was the lightest caravan of this size we found. We love it. You can get them with triple bunks or double bunks at the back and the side dinette also converts into bunks, so potentially 7 berth.

You don't say whereabouts you are, but I can really recommend Venture.


Personsunshinetours
01/9/2014 at 11:09am
 Location: sunny south east!
 Outfit: Coachman View sunshinetours's Profile View Profile   Reply to sunshinetours Reply   Quote sunshinetours Quote  
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Another Adria fan here and we also have the Altea 542DT (triple bunk one)

You may find that the 542DK works better for you with a new baby on way as it has double bunks for older ones and the area at back can be sectioned off. Once new additions grows a little the rear dinete converts into a double bed that you could put a travel cot on top of or as they grow further obviously used as a regular bed.

Bathroom is a little bit more of a compromise if that is an issue for you
Alternatively the DT we have with triple bunks could be used with new addition being on bottom bunk once a little older and using side dinette with travel cot maybe

As mentioned get out and see a few vans in the flesh to compare layouts but fixed bunks IMO work really well for younger families


PersonNutkins
01/9/2014 at 3:54pm
 Location: Bradford
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 06 - Passat Est 2.0 140 View Nutkins's Profile View Profile   Reply to Nutkins Reply   Quote Nutkins Quote  
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Must say for 5 people i think the 6 berth with fixed bunks and dinette/double bed at the rear is probably your best bet.

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I went to the top of the mountain...and looked over the other side!


PersonTesad29
02/9/2014 at 9:58pm
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Thanks for all of your replies. We can't make the NEC unfortunately but have looked at some dealers & we're pretty much decided on the fixed bunks & rear dinette.

Now the fun of deciding which one!

Thanks again


Personjonnmedds
02/9/2014 at 10:06pm
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: 2016 Bailey Pegasus Verona View jonnmedds's Profile View Profile   Reply to jonnmedds Reply   Quote jonnmedds Quote  
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We have a Lunar Quasar 546.
It's a great 6 birth family van with fixed bunks and a dinette at the end, the kids kinda get their own bedroom. Best of all the MTPLM is just 1423kg.
Making up the double bed is ok, my wife does it whilst I take the dog for a walk lol.

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Love to tour in the UK and France



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