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rlen99.

Thanks for your encouraging response.. are you sure it was the computer and not operator error... normally is in my case!!

 I hope and think we've made the right choice.. the van looks fabulous, everyting we have aspired for in two previous caravan ventures. Maybe looking to go cross channel to the Vendee for the summer weeks, will hit the south coast in the UK in the spring for a week just to get used to it.

Fun assured.

Thanks again, will let you know how we get on

What age approx do you think the bunks will be suitable up to? We have 2 boys aged 13 & 11. Like the look of this layout, but worry that thatbunks might be outgrown too soon? What do you think?

Just had email back from Bailey

"Thank you for your email regarding your Bailey Pageant Bretagne

I can confirm that the maximum weight of the bunks in your tourer is 11 stones.

I trust this is of assistance"

They are 6' long and 1'11" wide.... guess this will dictate your view and the relative size of your boys.. hope this helps it sure does me and will allow us to go ahead with the purchase.. thank you for your observations.. made me think for a while

Tayorst - Have  you seen the Series 7 Loire?  We have recently 'upgraded' from a tent and have 12 year old twins (boy and girl).  They are too big for bunks (daughter being 5' 6" already) and sleep really comfortably on the front sofas - one each as they didn't want to make up the double and share!  We have the fixed bed at the back and we also have the small dinette area which we can use in the mornings to sit at and have coffee, read newspapers, etc, before the kids surface from their pits.  This also gives us the option of them having friends in the van if they want to. 

We put a lot of thought into the layout we needed when we bought this van and think that this is definitely the best option for us.  It's a really spacious van and we love it.

midge21 - Thanks, yes we have seen the layout of the Series 7 Loire, and really do love it. Our only concern is the size of the van. We currently have a folding camper, and to go to a twin axle is a bit scary! Having said that we haven't seen it 'in the flesh' so maybe it is not as scary as it seems :-)

In looking at the layout we thought that we would do as you do - the kids could go on the front sofa's without making up the double, we can have the fixed bed, and there's still somewhere to sit in the morning. We have now ruled out the bunk option for the kids - we need a van that will suit us whilst ever the kids are still with us &* they are both growing rapidly!

How do you find the size of the Loire for towing, manouvering, pitching etc. Am I worrying unnecessarily about it being too big?

I have to confess we've only been out in it 3 times so far.  We've never had a caravan before so we are still really virgins!  All we had towed before was the trailer containing our camping equipment.

We tow it with a Nissan Navara and OH was a little nervous at first but has found it OK.  It is long but we usually jump in with both feet and as we have never experienced towing a van before we are managing so far - that's the royal 'we' of couse!  As for pitching, we have put it on standard hard standing pitches and it has fit with the awning, although parking the truck next to it was a little tight.  Manoevring on to the pitch has proved tricky, but again lack of experience hasn't helped.  It is booked in for a motor mover to be fitted soon. 

We can't recommend this model more, even the kids love it and before we bought it they were saying that no way would they enter a caravan as they are for old people!  That must mean that we now officially old when in our mid 40s!

Ok update.Purchased the Bailey Bretagne. Was a couple of dints in the panels when we arrived, but all seems well, albeit its been on our drive a week. Had a note from the dealer this morning advising that they has a bed stay in stock for us, which was a surprise as we hadnt checked that, thus didnt know it was missing!! upon so doing they were right it is missing, guess this at least validates that they PDI'd the van? Anyway its on its way, shouldnt be a problem to fit it I hope? Just a little worried reading all of these stories about Bailey Panels cracking >2005MY, will keep my eyes firmly peeled.

Smiffy99 your a top man. Thanks