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Hi. I'm trying to turn hubby to the dark side but it's not an easy task! Anyway, I've found a caravan with a layout that I think would suit us and wondered if there were other caravans with similar layouts that you could point me towards please?

The  one I've found is an Abbey Spectrum 620. We have 2 kids that come camping regularly and fight like cat and dog so need to split them up. One in the top bunk and one in the dinette bunk seems a good option. We sometimes have our older son camping and so a 6 berth seems like the best option but hell would freeze over before any of them shared a bed! lol.

Hubby says he wants to stick to the tent, so I've told him he can sleep in the awning!

Any words of advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

First thought - what towcar have you to pull this big twin axle?

I am sure Swift & Sterling will offer similar layouts [same Manufacturing Group as Abbey]. Practical Caravan shows all the current model layouts but you may be looking at older models. Log on to dealers websites the good ones give lots of info. including layouts and you can specify 6 berth only etc when searching.

Try here [no connection] : http://www.highbridgecaravans.co.uk/

Your OH may be concerned about towing such a large caravan - maybe start with something smaller [single axle which would be easier to manoeuvre] and use a full size awning, perhaps with an inner sleeping tent.

Another idea would be to hire a Caravan for a week/weekend to try before you buy.

Good luck and do let us know what happens.

Thanks for reply. We have a grand C4 picasso, haven't checked out towing weights yet tho. We've both been in caravans as kids and have had static holidays, so it's not completely alien! However, I'm trying to gather as much info as I can before looking and I take your point about towing, although hubby did say hypothetically that he would rather have a bigger van than a small one!! I'll have a look at the link, thanks

Looks like all the Picasso range have a max tow weight of 1300kg, 85% at around 1100kg.

Bailey Ranger 550-6 has a  max weight of 1300kg,  1050kg empty.  Its a 6 berth with the end fixed bunks.   

 We had one (family of 4) and it suited us really well.   If anyone else came along - they slept in the awning or in a pup tent outside.

Have you looked at folding campers -best of both worlds. Fixed beds, easy to tow and sleeping under canvas. also the lay out often offers more 'living space' than a caravan and the awning can allow for sleeping spillover if necessary.

Just a thought nIna x

Hi Carol, we did speak (or slur) to each other. One of my two boys was talking to you about rugby. Someone else said about having an end bathroom and I can now see that would make sense, especially for me as the only female in the household! (didn't think of that, thought it was just a status thing to have an end bathroom, lol).

Think I'll go have a look at some for real, rather than on the net, but you've all given me some ideas so thanks. We'll be looking at used vans so I guess it's just a case of finding models that have the layout you want?

I would go for end bathroom each time, especially with kids/teens as its privacy for changing.

We've always regarded an end bathroom as a waste of valuable space!

We generally only had two children with us, with the older ones coming along very occasionally for one night. Our caravan was a 5 berth with dinettes making into doubles at both ends- with the rear one having a single berth above it. This twin dinette layout meant the girls could play with dolls etc in the rear dinette whilst we could read a book or papers in the front.

James  

Hi you will find that if your C4 Grand Picasso is a 2.0HDI you can tow 1500kg.  A 1.6HDI is the 1300 OR the old shape Picasso 2.0HDI.  I have the latter and we are changing to a C4 Picasso possibly a grand so I have these details from Citroen.  YOU will have to watch the noseweight though---the 5 seater Picasso C4 nose is 60kg and the 7 seater Grand Picasso C4 is 70kg.  It is a shame as the older Picasso 2.0HDI like we have ahs a brilliant nose of 80kg.  Citroen cannot give an explanation for the changes that is just how things have come about they say.

Happy Caravanning- could the kids (older) not go in an awning annexe in seperate rooms?

gary

We really like the layout of our van.  Its quite different to most others.  End room with long seat one side and single dinette the other that converts to either a big double bed or two single beds at night, and there are collapsible bunks above each (4 berths altogether).  We leave them made up as single beds permanently - its classed as the kids room, complete with all their paraphernalia!

Middle bit is a transverse bathroom - shower cubicle one side (admittedly not huge, but big enough for me) and toilet/sink and MASSIVE MIRRORS (not good!) on other.  There are doors to shut it off from the rest of the van, but we tend to just shut the one towards the front end and use the kids room as a dressing room (with the blinds shut of course )

Front has kitchen, wardrobe, big cupboard with shelving for clothes (yeay!), shelf for lcd tele and rest of OH's gadgets and the usual parallel seating in the front.  Both front and back have chests with pull out extensions.  Ours had a locker and socket for a microwave (the older models dont).  We bought a smart price one from tesco that fit.  The table also stores easily away. And there are pneumatic lifts under the front benches!!!

God! I sound like a salesman!  But I really love my van!  I did a lot of homework before taking the plunge (we had an old 4 berth before to see if we liked 'vanning), it was a big decision.  Luckily OH left it all up to me and went along with my decision.

We've had it since new, October 2007.  We haven't had any snags (touch wood) and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I'm happy with my decision to get it, the layout suits us perfectly - we're like a half-way house with kids in and out all the time - we just shut the solid wood door between the kitchen and the bathroom and you don't hear them - including when they wake early in the morning and we don't want to!

We don't tow (its sited) and when we have to, we use my dad's 2.8 fourtrak - our 2.0d Zafira wouldn't be able to pull her.  Don't know about the Grand Picasso (I really fancy one of those, think they're really smart).  She's 26ft.

Just do your homework before making your decision.  I will say though, that the rear bunk 6 berths are very popular.  Not so big and heavy to tow.  Everyone we know seems to be buying Bailey Ranger 550/6's, and of course most manufacturers do them, just slight differences.

Best of luck - its so exciting getting a new van!!

Oh, I forgot - its got so many lockers and cupboards that even I haven't managed to fill it yet

Quote: Originally posted by good_in_tent on 05/1/2008

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Hi Carol, we did speak (or slur) to each other. One of my two boys was talking to you about rugby. 

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