Hello,
After some research, we have decided the best layout to suit us is fixed bunks across the back with side dinette. The Swift Charisma 570 does this layout. Anyone know of any other manufacturers who do this layout? We liked Hymers, Adrias and Geists but they dont seem to do this so have turned back to British makes.
Thanks
We have this layout in a Sprite Major 6, we have 3 girls 16,13,11 and it works really well for us. You can use the top bunk during the day to store bedding, and on the Sprite the bottom bunk lifts to give a good storage area (with access from the 'garage' door).
We had this layout in our previous van,a Bailey Pageant Bretagne Series5. It worked well for us until the girls outgrew the bunks. It had a side dinette that converted to bunks,an offside garage door for access when the lower bunk was lifted up for storage.The washroom was small but adequate and 1409kgs mtplm which our 2.0 tdi Passat pulled with ease. Oh and plenty of storage!
We have the Abbey vogue 560se with 3 children age 3,9,11 it was the best layout for us. The older 2 children sleep on the fixed bunks and my 3 year old on the side dinette. As above we store bedding on the top fixed bunk and pull the curtain across to keep van tidy! Also have 2 dogs who seemed to have taken a liking to bottom fixed bunk during the day! Bathroom is small but that is the sacrifice you make having the fixed bunks. Lovely big bathroom at the back in my previous van but only 4 birth. You have to decide what is important to you regards to van layout. For us the fixed beds for family of 5 works!
we had this layout when we had our Ace Jubilee Courier (one for sale on here). Kids loved the fixed bunks however the side dinette was not long enough for our eldest son who at the time was 15 so we ended up selling and getting the Bailey Ranger 620/6
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
We had this layout in our last 'van - an Adria Altea 502DK. It was a great layout for us with 2 teenage girls as the bunks were a great size and took a weight of up to 70kgs.
Quote: Originally posted by mike+judi on 19/11/2011
We had this layout in our previous van,a Bailey Pageant Bretagne Series5. It worked well for us until the girls outgrew the bunks. It had a side dinette that converted to bunks,an offside garage door for access when the lower bunk was lifted up for storage.The washroom was small but adequate and 1409kgs mtplm which our 2.0 tdi Passat pulled with ease. Oh and plenty of storage!
That's the problem. You family will soon outgrow the fixed bunk layout. Whilst the bottom bunk will remain useable as they get older, the kids will struggle to get into the fixed top bunk.
We had this layout with our first van..Bailey Ranger 550/6..we thought with havin 2 kids and them wantin to bring friends away with us..that we would need lots of beds..we made a mistake...the kids grew out of the bunks before we knew it..we all struggled in the bathroom and there was no privacy to get dressed/undressed other than curtains around the bunks..we part exchanged within 6 months of havin the van from new to a 4 birth..fixed bed with end bathroom and the kids have the choice of either sleepin on the front seats as singles..makin up the front bed into a double or sleeing in the awning and we all get the privacy of a large bathroom to change in :-)
we have a bailey 550/6 and three kids...2, 10 and 14. Its a bit of a squezz but we manage, the smallest one goes on the bottom bunk ( until we can trust her on the top one) our son whose 10 goes on the top bunk but he is finding it a squeeze especially with the stupid cupboards above him ( theyve gone on newer models) and our eldest daughter goes on the side dinnette bunk. Admuittedly the van will be too small for us within a year or so but our daughter will be old enough to sleep in a pod on her own or stay home with friends before much longer and then it will be perfect again for quite a few years. To solve the privacy issue we have a curtain fixed to the ceiling across the 'lounge area- it separates the front bed from the rest of the van so that it serves as an area to get dressed in.
hope that helps!
Hi,we have the Sterling Europa 560/6, we are a family with 3 young girls age 8,5 and 2. We found that when we had to change our van due to the arrival of baby number 3, this was the best layout for us. For us now as a family of 5 it works really well.
We've got the exact van you are looking at (albeit in a dealer special edition), have three children aged 9,7 and 4, love the layout, light and airy,plenty of space and not tripping over each other even when no awning is used. The little garage at the back is a bonus too, although the oldest twos bikes are a little big to fit in there now. Its a fairly heavy van though at 1500kg so you will need a fairly hefty tug to pull it with. We have a Galaxy and the whole outfit tows lovely and stable.
Jon
------------- Are you sure you couldn't squeeze anything else in love ?