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Subject Topic: Swift Base camp
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07/8/2017 at 10:17am
 Location: Hockley Essex
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Will do, although ours isn't scheduled for delivery until Feb/March 2018 😭 We're going to the show at the NEC in October so we're hoping to see one there.


09/8/2017 at 10:12am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Switf Basecamp Plus
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Hi All, so pleased to find this thread! We got our Basecamp Plus in June. Have used it quite a bit since then (Including taking it to Silverstone, I note someone else was there with theirs!).

We have similar niggles to some of the above posts, but nothing major and are generally thrilled. We have found that the juddering when towing goes once we hit about 40 mph!

When we go away there is me, my husband, 19 month old son and our dog. Husband and dog stay in the airbeam awning (Which we find ok to put up). I have seen updated brochures showing the clip in bedroom. I have called my dealer (Lowdhams) and Swift and neither had a clue! Does anyone know where I could purchase one from? Swift seemed to think I would need a whole new awning (No chance after just buying this one!) but I am 99% sure the 2018 model is exactly the same just with the clip in bedroom.

Happy basecamping!


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09/8/2017 at 10:28am
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Hi Chalky 2017,
I've seen the review in Practical Caravan showing the 2018 Basecamp awning with tent bedroom . I can't see any reason it wouldn't fit 2017 awning and would be nuts if they didn't sell it separately. It is disappointing that it covers the only windows in the awning, just illustrates that it is an afterthought .


09/8/2017 at 10:58am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Switf Basecamp Plus
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Hi HardyBoys,

Yes, I thought exactly the same. The windows are excellent, so blocking them will be a shame. However hubby got wet last weekend, the awninng wasn't leaking but there was moisture collecting and dripping on him. The dog also "self served" a comfort break in the night by getting under the awning skirt and wondering off. So we really will need a bedroom of some sort.

I think they ran out of time for the initial release of vans and therefore have added the pods and upped the price for the 2018 release. We have the clips in the awning so assume the pod was always meant to be there.

Thanks for your help!

Post last edited on 09/08/2017 12:22:26


09/8/2017 at 11:15am
 Location: Southport
 Outfit: None Entered
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Hi Chalky
How did Hubby get wet - was it condensation or did the roof/walls actually leak somewhere?

We used a Sunncamp Envy in torrential rain in Haltwhistle 2 weeks ago and it only leaked a little where our makeshift suckers pulled the padding into the side of the van. As the Sunncamp is not designed for the Basecamp we were expecting this.

However, I don't really expect leaking with the official awning which we also have. When we have a "lads away weekend" at Cropredy festival from tomorrow one of us is in the Vango awning and I was expecting it to be pretty water tight...


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09/8/2017 at 11:21am
 Location: Hockley Essex
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Chalky2017 I'm surprised there was that much condensation! We used to camp in a Kyham tunnel tent with an SIG and we never suffered from it.

The new Vango awning is considerably more expensive than the 2017 version so if you can just buy the clip in pod then I think you will be quids in! I think this year Swift will be a bit more prepared for the demand of the Basecamp. Although we haven't left it to chance and ordered early!


09/8/2017 at 11:43am
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Hi Chalky2017 I was at Silverstone in my base camp. Got a lot of comments from the other race goers all very positive. We have 2 dogs who have worked out an escape plan out of the awning as well. When we shut up for the night we just put something weighty on the flaps at the door and make sure all pegs are in tight. No problems since. We don't seem to get condensation but we do leave the air flaps open under the front window and a gap at each door. As for a bedroom inner, I haven't seen one at all so would be interested in what it looks like. We had noticed the plastic sleeves in the awning roof so assumed there must be something. Leaking we realised was because we didn't centre the awning in the rail so a small gap appeared on one side. We measured the rail and marked the centre to match the centre of awning....guess what,? No leaks.
Despite others having difficulties we still think this awning is fab and I can now get it up faster then some tents. I love the blow up doofers its so much easier and as always at Silverstone it was blowing a hoolie, it stood firm.


09/8/2017 at 12:03pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
View HardyBoys's Profile View Profile   Reply to HardyBoys Reply   Quote HardyBoys Quote  
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At last ! Just received the chopping board & external shower unit . Many thanks for highlighting these items were standard for 2017 Basecamp .

Just hope my visitor to our Basecamp in September doesn't get wet , will try ensure we have enough ventilation and hope our poodle doesn't decide on a night walk about !!

Happy Basecamp travels.


09/8/2017 at 12:21pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Switf Basecamp Plus
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Chopping board!?! - I didnt realise there was one, will add to my list! I made the dealer give the external shower, but he wasn't happy!

The "wet" i mentioned was more damp, than soaking wet but you could feel it on the bedding. I do think it was condensation rather than a leak, but Stainsbygirl I will follow your instructions next time we go out and see if that helps. We also did the same on night 2 with the dog and he stayed put (But barked instead when he wanted to go out, blummin dogs!). We still love the awning.

We get so many comments and so far all have been positive, have had quite a few other campers round to the van to take a look and everyone has loved it.

I just hope someone will sell me the clip in pod, as so far im drawing a blank. Will try the dealer again in a few days, hopefully they will have seen the press releases by then!


09/8/2017 at 12:24pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Ooops what clip on pod? And how do we get a chopping board?


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09/8/2017 at 12:33pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Chopping board fits over sink & is mentioned on the info , as was the external shower unit . Chuffed we actually now have them .

If anyone gets a price for the pod , let us know please .


09/8/2017 at 12:34pm
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Quote: Originally posted by Chalky2017 on 09/8/2017
Hi All, so pleased to find this thread! We got our Basecamp Plus in June. Have used it quite a bit since then (Including taking it to Silverstone, I note someone else was there with theirs!).

We have similar niggles to some of the above posts, but nothing major and are generally thrilled. We have found that the juddering when towing goes once we hit about 40 mph!

When we go away there is me, my husband, 19 month old son and our dog. Husband and dog stay in the airbeam awning (Which we find ok to put up). I have seen updated brochures showing the clip in bedroom. I have called my dealer (Lowdhams) and Swift and neither had a clue! Does anyone know where I could purchase one from? Swift seemed to think I would need a whole new awning (No chance after just buying this one!) but I am 99% sure the 2018 model is exactly the same just with the clip in bedroom.

Happy basecamping!



Hi Chalky, same as you towing - 40mph and everything is sweet! Billy Basecamp has been very busy recently, two weekends at dog shows in Kent (apart from my Jeremy Clarkson impression going over Mrs Queen's bridge) and Essex then back to Norfolk for a week's dog training, so much practice in hitching, towing, etc etc. Slept like a log every night despite some very heavy rain - have invested in a single mattress topper from Poundstretcher (£14.99) and a sort of squidgy soft duvet type thingy from Amazon on top of that - makes a lovely bed diagonally!
Have been using my Khyam screenhouse as a sort of add on, it's 3m square so has plenty of room for a chair and table, dog cage etc. Only downside is that it obviously doesn't attach to the caravan and when I'm judging I have to rope in a few friends to walk it over to the ring
My Basecamp awning will be for sale shortly as I really can't see myself ever using it


-------------
The next ex-caravan noob!


09/8/2017 at 12:37pm
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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Forgot to add haven't bothered about the chopping board tbh, but will be taking shower unit back as it broke first time of use (wetting down dog when it was a bit warm last week), part of the bottom clip broke away so it's unuseable. Hopefully there won't be any trouble!

-------------
The next ex-caravan noob!


09/8/2017 at 1:08pm
 Location: Hockley Essex
 Outfit: Swift Basecamp
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There's a picture of the 2018 awning with the bedroom pod here.

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/news/46961-new-for-2018-swift-caravans


16/8/2017 at 10:53pm
 Location: Southport
 Outfit: None Entered
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Just got back from Cropredy, and the poor Basecamp put up with three beer swilling middle aged men for three days, including showering on the solar panel alone. We had the fridge and heating on gas, but lighting and pump on battery charged by the panel. Everything seemed to be fine, apart from when I inadvertently pressed the black power switch and thought the battery had drained!

The two other guys were very impressed with the van, though the awning got very cold for the one sleeping in there. The two seats were set up as two single beds and were pretty comfortable.

I received several compliments on the Basecamp at the site and in a motorway service station on the way back.

One incident caused a minor panic for me as a new caravanner and I'm sure is mentioned elsewhere on this website. When unhitching I was a little too rough in removing the 13 pin male plug from the car socket. Unbeknownst to me the inner part of the plug holding the pins had rotated in the outer shell as a result.
This meant the plug would not fit back onto car socket when we came to set off, which in turn meant we couldn't drive on the roads without lights.
It took ages to identify the problem and luckily one of the other caravanners we talked to was pretty handy, and after much effort with a screwdriver we managed to get the lugs on the plug assembly to loosen enough to pull the male pin part out. We then realigned the tiny black locating block correctly with the outer shell, reassembled and it was OK thank God. There is a YouTube video explaining the process on a similar set up.

There is also a cheap tool you can buy that helps fix this which I've now purchased https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maypole-MP1280B-Parking-Socket-Assembly/dp/B009IF0B52/ref......... Hope this helps if you find the same problem!


17/8/2017 at 9:43pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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Hi all, I'm a complete newbie to caravans as we have always been campers but have just ordered a basecamp plus for delivery in around 6 weeks ( or so the dealer promised 😀).
Anyway, hope you don't mind but I have a couple of daft questions that I'm hoping someone could answer please.
What size tv do I need ( for the kids ) and do I need a 12v tv to run it on the solar panel and if so , can anybody recommend one?
Also, does anybody know the output of the solar panel and is it sufficient for a family if staying 'off grid' for a weekend?

Got lots more questions but that'll do for now. Thanks in advance.



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