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ask about the 500/5 bailey they have double beds at both ends and a small bunk if required.we like ours very much.£10.000 should get a near new or new if you barter

http://www.bailey-caravans.co.uk/ranger/layout.htm

Hi Pager33

We just px'd our Bailey Ranger 500/5 for a Sterling Europa 530.

Although its a similar layout, and we loved our Bailey, the Sterling swung it for us (and we only went to buy 2 recliners) because it has things like removeable carpets, fitted microwave, and a seperate shower cubicle, all things we had on our list of must haves as we also have a young family.

We have a daughter (7) and thought as we will have her with us caravanning for at least another 9 or 10 years we'd push the boat out and go the extra to get exactly what we wanted.

The seperate shower alone is a godsend with our daughter, as site showers can be too hot or too powerful, we can just give her a quick blast and stick her straight to bed The microwave is brilliant, we didn't think we'd use it much, but use it all the time. And removeable carpets means the floor just takes a quick sweep and its clean.

Although you won't go wrong with the Bailey, and they hold their price (we only lost £400 in 2 years), I'd have a serious look again at the Sterling, its well worth the extra.

HTH

Paul

Hi...we have an Avondale Mayfair 6 berth (2004) with 2 fixed bunks at back, wetroom to one side, side dinette that makes into 2 bunks and a HUGE bigger than kingsize bed at the front.

It has the usual, blown air,fab cooker, h&c water.  Infact we love it to bits!!!!

Its light to tow 1350 fully loaded and a single axle.

We have 4 kids...14...11..10...6 (and a mutt) and it suits us down to the ground!!!!

We got it a year ago last March and paid 10 grand for it from Lowdhams in Huddersfield near to us, but have seen them for about 8k now.  Bit of a bonus for us as it came with a motormover,cd player,curved arm cushions, heki light,omnivent and lots of extras cos it was a special edition made for Glossop Caravans.

If you shop about you could get a stunner of a van for not much money.

Happy shopping and happy caravaning for the future.

Rach

Quote: Originally posted by Fat Bum on 05/9/2007

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Pager33
Biosdoctor is wrong, Bailey Rangers DO have removable carpets - that is one of the reasons we bought ours as we considered that important.

And although the Bailey does not have a microwave it is only an added option on the sterling for an extra £300! Given the fact that the Sterlings are £2000 more in the first place this makes the Baileys much better value for money.

Fat Bum

Post last edited on 05/09/2007 16:58:51

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Hi Fat Bum

I can assure you our Bailey Ranger did not have removeable carpets, the new Series 5 have, they also have that huge single front window, and no window in the door. The microwave is an extra in the Sterling £130, but our dealer gave us it as part of the deal, as he did the alarm and CD/DVD unit. It also comes with other things that are extra on the current Bailey such as spare wheel, alloys, etc.

As I said our Bailey was fantastic, it just didn't tick as many boxes for us as the Sterling, which is also 2 ft longer than the Ranger, wider than the Ranger, has a seperate shower (which we never used in the Ranger) and suits us better than the Ranger which is why we part exchanged our Ranger.

You bought yours for reasons you "considered important" I was simply trying to point out to Pager33, exactly the reasons why we as a family, considered spending the extra for the Sterling, which to us is better value for money as it does what we want.

Surely "better value" is relative to the use of the caravan. If you buy a caravan which doesn't do the job but is cheaper is it really "better value" or false economy?

Or should we all be buying Goings because they cost less?

Cheers

Paul

Quote: Originally posted by pager33 on 04/9/2007

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Had nearly enough of tents and started looking at vans, we are a family of 4 with kids and 11 and 8. Like the Sterling Europa 530 but its £13000!! Can anyone suggest any vans with a similar layout, we want central washroom with beds at both ends, not bunks as kids growing quick. Dosent have to be new, would prefer a couple of years old. Dont want twin axle either. Thanks. Budget £10000

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Hello here is my advice.

We camped for years then bought a caravan then change it 10 months later and then changed the 2nd one 10 months after that all at our expence (they give you nothing in PX).Before you buy look at what you want from a caravan, do your children want their own space not just from you but from each other ? Do you mind making up beds each night ? will the van grow with your children (i.e are the beds big enough) I could go on & on

1 Make a list of everything you want

2 See as many vans as you can, take in some caravan shows, look at layouts on the web, just do as much research as you can and above all make sure the whole family like the van. It can be very expencive if you get it wrong.

3 Shop around, see who are doing the best deals, and make sure that if the best deal is far away that they either let you go to a local dealer for your service or they agree to pick it up and return it free of charge.

Think about your long term needs, if you like the out door/camping life and it is something that you know you will be doing for a long time consider increasing your budget to get what you really want (if you can) look for show/ X demonstrator vans, we got ours for over £4k less with a full warranty and it was the van we wanted, I know quite a few people who have got some real good deals at the NEC.

And if you get your dream caravan, Dont, I repeat Dont ...ever look inside another van untill you are ready for a new one, cause there is always a better van around the corner.