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Tomorrow we are off to a few local dealers in search of our first van. This fantastic site helped me choose a tent a few years ago and i am now back for advice on upgrading to a caravan.

We are a family of 5, three girls aged 9, 7 and 6. We have a Seat Alhambra 1.9 130 bhp diesel car - kerbweight 1806kg and a budget of around 8.5k.

My main question is do i look at a 'one berth bigger' than the size of our family as in tent selection or will a 5 berth work for us. Am nervous about buying too big a first van as i have never towed before!

Any help would be brill.

Thanks

A 5 berth would work OK.  Ours is 5 berth with the seating area at the back converting to a double bed with a pull-out bunk over the top.  Front seats convert to a massive double bed or can be used as 2 singles.

It really depends on what you want from it though.  We're looking at changing vans for various reasons & will be buying a 6 berth with fixed bunks even tho there's usually only 4 of us (sometimes 5 if we take DS friend).  We just want the luxury of not having to make beds up every night.

The 6 berth we're looking at is actually slightly shorter & lighter than our current 5 berth so it doesn't always go that more beds means bigger/heavier.

Try to get yourself onto one of the club towing courses then you'll be confident to tow anything & size/weight need only be considered in relation to your car, not your personal towing ability.

Finally, when you're looking at vans sit down in them & think about what you do in the day & for eating arrangements, will you use an awning, what would work best for sleeping.  These are all things that I can only visualise properly when I'm actually in a van & can see the space and any restrictions.  Try to take all 3 girls with you as well so you can see what a van would be like with all of you in it at once.

Happy hunting!

Ours is a 6 berth with only 4 people, but we love the bunk beds at the back to save us making them up each night.

We have a side diner that converts into 2 more beds and we just leave this as a permanent diner.

I think the bigger the better for more space and luxury. My last van was 4 berth and we hated making up the beds.

hi there with 4 girls maybe you should be checking out which caravan has the biggest wardrobe and somewhere for the shoes to go

good luck with finding your caravan i love that part right up to the point where all caravans start to look the same!!!!

I think with a family of 5 the standard 5 birth layout would be perfect, better than a six birth as your 3 daughters will have their very own bedroom at the back and a nice size dinette/gamesroom during the day.

I know what you mean about choosing a bigger birth with a tent, but in a caravan a 5 birth is a five birth. Some 6 birth + tents are only really suitable for 4.

We are a family of 4 and purchased a 6 birth for our first van which we are now in the process of changing for a 4 birth.

Id go for this layout which all the manufacturers do and for 8.5k you will get a fantastic van...take a look here

Thanks for great advice we received last night, packing girls into car and are off to have a first proper look at 11am. Will let u know what we found!

Thanks Mark and Alison

Hi,

Our first caravan was a ranger 550/6 and there wasn't any privacy in that there was just a curtain across the bunks. But we changed for a Ranger 540/6 a couple of years ago and this is great for our needs and should work well for you - separate room for the girls at the back - 3 fixed bunks and a little "lounge" area for them to sit at. Have a look at one if you get the chance

Hi, we have had a good few hours at Leisure Sales at Sandbach looking at loads of layouts. Triple bunks seemed good but slightly out of our price range. Conventional 6 berths, that we were most interested in last night (before ever going in one) seemed dark at bunk end and kids would have to be split- one on side dinette. Up to now we are leaning towards the 5 berth for our first van, i know we will have to make up beds but after years in a tent this seems quite easy. We also liked the fact that girls were all together, windows on 3 sides and a great area for them on an odd rainy day!

Think we may be making progress, we really liked an Elddis Odyssey 505. Another week spent trawling the internet me thinks.

Really enjoying our search.

Got to say again what a fountain of knowledge this site is but its costing me hours of sleep!

Thanks again.

Mark

This is a good site to look at layouts, etc.

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/vandata.htm

Quote: Originally posted by chrisandwendy on 08/1/2011

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hi there with 4 girls maybe you should be checking out which caravan has the biggest wardrobe and somewhere for the shoes to go

good luck with finding your caravan i love that part right up to the point where all caravans start to look the same!!!!

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Hi corkycat, on the lighter side, 1 toilet, 4 girls, one man,you will be very lucky to see the inside of it never mind trying to use it,park near amenity block will save you long walk . All good advice in above posts, very good luck in your search,when you find the van you like, always try and get a few extra things thrown in,as they say - you dont ask you wount get, Good luck .

PS (word of caution) when you get your van and all your equipment,Stay away from accessory shops, as caravaning can be very adictive.