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Good evening all,

We are a family of four and trying to decide on our first caravan. So far we can only think of 6 berth caravans that would fit our requirements - either Elldis Avante 526, Sprite Quattro FB or Adria Adora 612 DT. The trouble is that all of them are too long with Avante being the shortest 7.34m (24’1’’).

Perhaps there is a 4 berth, shorter model which could fit our criteria below:

2011/2012/2010 model

4 berth, no bunk beds

Front which can be used as two singles. The size of singles must be no less than 1.80x0.72m (5' 11''2' 4''). If it can also become a double, it would be a bonus

End bedroom - fixed double bed

End washroom

Reasonably light, up to 1600kg MTPLM

Single axle

Length less than 23 feet or 7 meters

All advice is greatly appreciated.

You may be better looking for a caravan with a rear dinette that can be left made up as a 'fixed bed'. The problem with a lot of the fixed bed models is either as you have found, they are quite long, or they have chopped the front benches shorter to fit it all in. there are not many fixed bed caravans that have both a lengthways fixed, bed plus 6ft front benches and an internal length of less than 17ft, then quite a few will have skimped on the washroom size to get it all fitted in.

One of the most practical and tried and tested layouts for us was the large rear double Dinette, centre kitchen and washroom with 6ft front benches, all enclosed into a 16ft internal length caravan.

Julia  

Quote: Originally posted by Debbie T on 01/3/2012

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 Have you thought about fixed single beds and making up the front double. We have on order a Swift Challenger sport 564. The fixed singles are 6ft and 6ft 4in long.The overall length is 23ft 9in so may still be too long for you but mtplm is 1443kg You also then get a proper end washroom.You can also order the wrap around seating and take out the front chest so you will have more seating for the family(at extra cost).This then would make up a front double of 6 ft 10 in x 5 ft 3in.Lots of other manufacturers are doing this layout this year too.

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Thank you. The problem is we need a fixed bed for us as I am taller and heavier than what these non fixed beds are made for. And we also need two good size singles as our children are quite tall as well.

Going to have a look on internet for continental vans today, really struggling with UK made van layouts..

The rear transverse dinettes in most caravans are on average 7ft long, and some 5ft wide, and as far as weight is concerned, my daughter and her OH have a combined weight of around 35 stone, and they have never fallen through our rear double dinette when we owned our Avondale. 

Julia  

you are looking for exactly what we were. I dont think you'll find a fixed bed van with two long singles under 7m anyway (we couldnt). We ended up buying a fixed bed van with shorter front seats that converted to a double. It didnt work for us, kids didnt like sharing and when they went to bed the only place left for us to sit was on the bed. We sold that van (7m 14 even with the shorter seats) and have now got a Bailey Ranger 500/5 with long front seats the kids will use and a rear dinette that makes into a double.

Good luck with you search and do tell us of you find a van because I would be very interested.

Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 01/3/2012

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The rear transverse dinettes in most caravans are on average 7ft long, and some 5ft wide, and as far as weight is concerned, my daughter and her OH have a combined weight of around 35 stone, and they have never fallen through our rear double dinette when we owned our Avondale. 

Julia  

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We owned an Avondale Olympus, but that was a few years ago now, although there may be a few elderly examples still around, ours was new in 1993. The rear dinette on that van was wide enough to take a standard double mattress.

There are a few new caravans around that still have this layout, i was looking at them a few days ago, but cannot remember if it was the Eldiss or Lunar ranges where i found them 

Julia

JayEss, my husband is 6'4" and his feet stick out at the end of our fixed bed the same as at home! The fixed bed isn't quite as wide as our double bed at home though, but we manage.

Don't know of any make of caravan that do a fixed bed that cater for tall people, but we found that the island bed is best for us as his feet can just hang over the end but on a side fixed bed there is nowhere for his feet to 'go'. We're really happy with our fixed island bed. but you don't get long front seats with this layout on a single axle. Don't know wether you would on a twin axle as we never considered one.

Elddis Avante 515, two front singles 6ft x2ft 3ins or one double 6ft 9x 6ft, rear double 6ft 9insx4ft 2ins with optional bunk over.

1470kg MTPLM and 18ft 5ins internal length. Shipping length 24ft 1ins

Nice caravan, its something I would consider again if I needed to buy a family sized caravan.

Julia