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We bought our first van from new  in April 07 and sold it 6 months later. We had made the mistake of chosin the wrong layout. We chose a 6 berth because we have 2 teenagers who like to bring their friends along. It seemed like within a few months the kids outgrew the bunks and said they didnt want to come away with us as much. We also found that the bathroom was very small and there was no privacy to change ect.So we went back to Lowdhams and part exchanged it for a twin axel 4 berth with a fixed bed and end bathroom. Now if the kids come with us and bring their friends..they have a bedroom annexe in the awning. We have no regrets and love the layout we have now...

Sal :-)

We kept our first van for about 2 years Bailey Auvergne, then a Bailey Provence, kept about 3 years and now a Swift Challenger.

4 years. It was a 70's van which I bought for £100 about 10 years ago. It was a 4 birth but was really tiny and had gas lights, no electrics at all and belonged to an old lady. It had been standing in the ladies garden for 2 years following her husbands death but she had owned it from new. Surprisingly there was no damp in it at all.

Several people had made offers for it but she turned them down as they all wanted it just to stand on allotments etc and she wanted it to go to a family who would use it. Most people wanted modern vans with electrics but we weren't bothered as this was affordable to us.

The kids and I got rid of the lace curtains and painted it from top to bottom inside. The kids even climbed on the roof and scrubbed the top with a scrubbing brush and I made new curtains and seat covers. It was really bright and cheerful when we finished and we loved it

We did have several holidays in it and the lack of electrics never bothered us once. We just made sure we had plenty of batteries in the radio and latern.

Unfortunately she came to an end when vandals broke into our allotment where she was stored and set her on fire. We loved that caravan so much and can honestly say we would probably still be using it now if the vandals hadn't got hold of her

We had our first van 10 months. Due to weight issues with our then towcar (which OH didnt want to change) and access issues at home, size was an issue. We went for a roomy two berth, thinking 12 yr old son could sleep in the awning when he came with us. However, during the very wet summer of 2008 he was flooded out a few times and I always felt sooooo guilty tucked up inside the van while he was outside in the elements! Many a night he ended up in our bed (luckily it was huge!) which wasnt ideal at his age. So after one season, a total rethink was needed to get the layout right.

Last spring we changed to a four berth, side dinette layout with an end bathroom, and this is ideal for us. We took the folding bunk out, making a wider single bed for son when he needs it. We like the end bathroom for changing area and so that we can stay on CLs. Also, the kitchen area is longer in a side dinette, giving plenty of work surface. Making the beds up takes less than five minutes, so doesnt bother us. Son is now 13 and has a tent outside when he wants, or if he wants to bring a friend, or bed inside if weather is bad. This also gives us a longer vanning season.

It did mean OH had to change his vectra, for an Xtrail, but he hasnt regretted it and much prefers the tow, its hilly oop north and Xtrail copes much better.

However, we have just discovered what we suspect is damp in the bathroom, in our four year old van, three weeks out of its 12month warranty!  Getting it checked this weekend, but suspect we're going to have a fight on our hands.  Gutted, cos we love this van.

An ABI Monza with gaslights cold water etc, kept it 3 years ish, had lots of fun in it.

Sold it to some folk up the road!

We bought our 1st caravan in Oct 07 and sold it in May 08.  It was a tiny 2 berth with no hot water or toilet and to use the cold tap you had to connect the wiring up to the battery and then disconnect it once you'd used the tap.  We bought it to see if we would like caravanning.  Our kids were sick the 1st time we used it and i quickly realised that i needed a toilet and hot and cold running water.  We bought a 6 berth and then a year later went and ordered the new GT60 540/6. 

She is my dream 'van and i love her to bits :)

Quote: Originally posted by secret squirrel on 08/6/2010

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We wouldn't have changed this one, but I've had 6 ops in 12 years and, eventually, making/taking down the bed and climbing over said Mr Squirrel in the middle of the night got the better of me and we bought our Sancerre last year. We will (we WILL) keep this van for a long, long time and I have banned Mr Squirrel from looking at any new vans...

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