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Hi.

New to the forum, will be selling my trailer tent tomorrow and in the market for my first caravan.

Can anyone recommend a few good makes of caravan as obviously various degrees of quality.

Thats a leading question! One trouble with asking it is that eveyone could give you a different answer depend on what they have invested their hard earned in. I think it will also depend on whether you intend to buy new, nearly new or an older model. Perhaps more care is required with the latter as it will depend on more things, particularly how its been looked after.

David

How many do you need to sleep, adults and children. What sort of budget. What weight will your car tow.

Caravans are a bit like cars. There are some absolute crackers like you see on top gear, but completely unaffordable and useless for everyday use. You need to narrow down what you're after.

hi welcome,look here for a better idea of what layout is available and he price you want to pay.with the van stick to 85% of your cars kerbweight when you buy.

www.caravanfinder.co.uk

If you can get to the NEC in Birmingham then go there to the boat and Caravan show.

http://www.boatandcaravan.co.uk/

There you will be able to look at all manufacturers, models and accesories. You can even try out towing one. Well worth it.

First off, check what weight you can tow with your car. Any heavier you will have to change the car. Then check what sleeping spaces you need, bearing in mind that side dinette bunks are really only for children. Do you have small children who will need to go to bed undisturbed, in which case it is useful to have them at the back & you at the front. Make sure the double bed is wide enough. (We bought one with it only 3'4" wide, big mistake!)

Then look at the kitchen requirements, oven, fridge, workspace etc and imagine cooking a meal in it. Look at the washroom, will you be able to wash a small child in it if necessary.

All caravans have compromises between spaces for sitting, sleeping, kitchen and washroom within the weight. Getting a layout that best suits your individual needs requires balancing these compromises.

The side dinette end washroom layout you mention was and still is very popular. For a many they are ideal but for children you may prefer fixed end bunks in a seperate bedroom so they have their own space and are away from you in the evening.

Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 14/2/2010

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One of the biggest whys that I've always asked is why do the manufacturers put the kids bunks at the end right next to the door?

Surely people going in and out of the van has to keep them awake?

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We spent several weeks looking for a caravan firstly .we decided on the layout and visited loads of dealers , we ruled out private deals as we did not know enough. We decided that our budget stretched to something a couple of years old. We eventually ended up with a Sprite Major 6 and love it.

We have used it almost every other week (up till the end of November) since buying it and whilst sorry to see our old tent go there was , for us , no comparison during our annual trip to France.

CP