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Subject Topic: Help - 4 berth fixed bed options Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonTTurtle
07/4/2013 at 10:15pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Abbey Safari 495 View TTurtle's Profile View Profile   Reply to TTurtle Reply   Quote TTurtle Quote  
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Hello
After our caravan was fire damaged in storage we're now unexpectedly in the market for another caravan. This has led us to rethink the layout for us and our 2 children (9 and 6) instead of bunk beds.
We have decided to go for one with a fixed bed at the back. Also as you walk in door there is seating to left and low-level surface to right. We know the following do this arrangement: Swift 540, Abbey 495 and Bailey Senator Indiana. (Although latter doesn't have enough headroom for someone 6" 2'.)
Are there any other models that do this layout?
Thanks

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Living the dream!


Personmurano
07/4/2013 at 10:31pm
 Location: whitstable kent
 Outfit: sterling eccles sport 584 freelander 2 View murano's Profile View Profile   Reply to murano Reply   Quote murano Quote  
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We currently have a 2008 swift 540 we love it, but there is only us two now as DS no longer comes. For us as a couple it's a fantastic van , I can't fault it.
We looked at the bailey pageant burgundy, that's also nice and room and good height , but the swift had the better of the finishes, also the swift charisma 555 was another contender too.

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"I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.


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PersonTTurtle
07/4/2013 at 10:35pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Abbey Safari 495 View TTurtle's Profile View Profile   Reply to TTurtle Reply   Quote TTurtle Quote  
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I've always liked the look of Swifts and the quality inside. What sterling would be equivalent layout?

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Living the dream!


PersonTTurtle
07/4/2013 at 10:37pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Abbey Safari 495 View TTurtle's Profile View Profile   Reply to TTurtle Reply   Quote TTurtle Quote  
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Also you say Bailey pageant had decent headroom? Do bailey change head height on each model?

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Living the dream!


Personmurano
07/4/2013 at 10:59pm
 Location: whitstable kent
 Outfit: sterling eccles sport 584 freelander 2 View murano's Profile View Profile   Reply to murano Reply   Quote murano Quote  
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I think sterlings equivalent that age is the elite onyx I think, I'm not sure if bailey changed the head height on different models, but we are both only 5'9 so head height wasn't a big concern, but it seemed on par with the swift.


-------------
"I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.


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Personmurano
07/4/2013 at 11:05pm
 Location: whitstable kent
 Outfit: sterling eccles sport 584 freelander 2 View murano's Profile View Profile   Reply to murano Reply   Quote murano Quote  
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One thing I will say is that I was worried about a fb encroaching into your living space (we had only had side dinettes before this) but surprisingly it doesn't, I would of liked a bathroom at the back like the swift challenger 570, but at the time we had a different vehicle and it meant towing at 91% and although that's not illegal, we like to stay as near as 85 as we can, but anyway ,not having the bathroom at the back means that the bed is further to the back of the van which does give you more living space.
We love ours and our really pleased with it.

-------------
"I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.


Personsavanne1
07/4/2013 at 11:52pm
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have you thought about where you will sit in the evenings once your children have gone to bed? I am presuming they will be sharing the front double and you will have the fixed bed. We sold our first fixed bed van for this very reason but have gone back to one now our daughter is older and goes to bed later.
We have a Pageant and the head height is excellent, the Pageant Sancerre and Burgundy Series &'s have the layout you like.

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PersonRizzo
08/4/2013 at 9:20am
 Location: Southampton
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570SE & Kuga 2l TCDi View Rizzo's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rizzo Reply   Quote Rizzo Quote  
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Good decision, I expect the kids are getting a bit big for bunks now.  I agree with Savanne about them going to bed before you, also once the kids get older they don't want to get up in the morning! I would go for a double dinette with the bathroom in the middle. If you still have it when the kids no longer come you can use the back beds as a made up double.

I have only seen the layout you mention once and that was a Fleetwood.


Personjohnbow
08/4/2013 at 11:58am
 Location: banbury oxfordshire
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Look at the lunar lexon 560, 2011 fixed bed from back wall, 2012 from sidewall. I have a 2011 great van but due to Iill heath am having to sell it. It will come complete ready with every thing included.


PersonRichl812
08/4/2013 at 1:09pm
 Location: Cambridgeshire
 Outfit: Disco5 & Elddis Crusader Supersirocco View Richl812's Profile View Profile   Reply to Richl812 Reply   Quote Richl812 Quote  
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We have this layout in the single axle Elddis Crusader Aurora and for that layout you usually end up with a side end bathroom that is small ...

If you use the toilet and shower then best try and go for a model with end washroom


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PersonTTurtle
08/4/2013 at 1:33pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Abbey Safari 495 View TTurtle's Profile View Profile   Reply to TTurtle Reply   Quote TTurtle Quote  
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Thanks for all the answers. We'd put the kids in the fixed bed so we could still have a seating area in the evening. We're used to that bed from the fixed bunks layout we currently have. If we were in France then the bed stays down all the time so we could nab the comfiest bed then.
Never use the shower on the caravan so not concerned about the size of that. We used to have an Eriba so anything bigger than the washroom on that is luxury.
I would have a look at your van johnbow but it'll be out of our price range at that age.
Anyway will have a look at some of those models mentioned. Keen on the Swift to be honest. Always liked the look of them and they seem to get decent reviews for build quality and reliability.

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Living the dream!


Personmurano
08/4/2013 at 2:20pm
 Location: whitstable kent
 Outfit: sterling eccles sport 584 freelander 2 View murano's Profile View Profile   Reply to murano Reply   Quote murano Quote  
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Regarding the shower toilet thing, I've used the shower in our swift if we are on CL sites, and it's really quite good, that was my biggest concern when going from end bathroom, but it is very useable, and tbh, most campsites have good showers, the loo is more than ample. Have to say the mattress in the FB is so comfy, better than my bed at home.
Not had anything to complain about with the 540, it's really roomy and I think exceptionally well built. This is our third swift all have been good, and we have had other makes before that, and when looking i always look at other makes,but for the past few years we always seem to sway towards the swifts, we love them.

-------------
"I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.


PersonLandy-Trax
08/4/2013 at 7:51pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Buccaneer Schooner View Landy-Trax's Profile View Profile   Reply to Landy-Trax Reply   Quote Landy-Trax Quote  
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I can't fault our buccaneer schooner for space. The fixed double can be closed off to give privacy and a large area for the two of you at the front of the van for the evening. Huge end bathroom and dressing area. The only thing I've found is that not everybody likes a twin axle but to be honest it's a dream to tow and we wouldn't consider a single axle again for a long time!



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