Hello everyone I am completely new to this so please be nice! I am seriously considering buying a 4 berth touring caravan, nothing special to start with, aiming to spend about £3000. The only issue is that I have plenty of room at the side of my house to store it securely, however the maximum width of the space available is 220cm...there is no issue with the length. Can anyone tell me should I be looking for a particular make or model that would fit this description? If there are none small enough then my dream has ended before it's even started! Thanks very much in advance. Oh and any recommendations on best models etc for that price range is very much appreciated.
Most modern vans, especially those above the base models are around 225/230cm wide which is the max to be legally towed with a standard car. Older vans tend not to be as wide. Although narrower than you space it would still be very tight. Suggest you have a look at a few dealers and take your tape measure with you. Another thing to the careful of is the space even all the way through as any slight kinks could mess the whole thing up.
David
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thank you both for your replies. David, I am probably thinking of a caravan aged about 1995-1996, do you think one of this age would be slightly narrower? There is room for extension if really necessary by removing a bit of the wall, but obviously I would only do this if after gaining some experience I found that I really loved caravanning and wanted to upgrade to a bigger model etc. I will visit a local dealer tomorrow, with they were open today!
I think the majority of vans of that age were around the 7ft wide it seems only in the last 10 years they have started to get broader in the beam, a bit like me really!
Keep in mind that you may want to get into your new van sometimes and that the doors open outwards. You do not want to be moving the van out onto the road just to get in now and again.
thanks everyone for your replies, you have all been most helpful. Azusuk1 we actually have loads of room behind the 220cm wall, so will be able to access the van no problem. There is a 1990 Lunar on sale privately a few miles away, owner has confirmed width is 7ft,so might go and have a look at it just as a starting off point. Karim we are a family of 2 adults with and one year old and another on the way so a smallish 4 berth should be fine. Thanks again for all your replies!
Just had a look at Lunar 1995 handbook, it lists all that years models. It lists a Ariva 4 at 6ft 2" wide ,Meteor and Meteorite at6ft 5" but 2 berth, all the rest are listed as 7ft 1" except Lexon at 7ft 6"
When you measure a van, don't forget to take into account things like the windows protruding out further than the sides or the marker lights. Also as mentioned earlier, if you need to turn the van at all in the drive, this will need space. Also if your drive is off cambe slightly then the van may lean slightly, so the top of it may be further over than the bottom. Will you need to get into or past the van while it is parked?