Looking for a bit of advice. After a few years of camping, we're seriously considering moving up to a 'van. There are 3 of us, daughter is only 3, but OH's daughter (14 and tall!) will occasionally be coming away with us (how long this will continue for is unknown! Teenagers!).
A dealer recommended moving away from a fixed double, as we'd need to make up the lounge for the little one each night and then go to bed. So I was thinking bunk beds? Or would people recommend fixed singles instead? I don't mind us sleeping on the double at the front. A 6 berth with fixed bunks and a table for the kids also appeals, but is it worth compromising on the size of the bathroom?
And would you recommend a new entry level van, or a 2nd hand slightly better model?
Tow car is a 2 litre Audi a4 avant diesel, so decent enough but too small for twin axles (I think!).
We moved from a 4 berth fixed double to a 6 berth with bunks, this really works for us when we have up to 4 grandchildren with us as the van has the rear dinette which provides a separate area for them. The previous van with fixed double and rear washroom left very little space in the van for daytime use, and as the dealer has said, we had to use the front seats as single beds at night. Check around local dealers to find a layout that works for you and then find a good deal as most places will soon be clearing stock for the new models.
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Quote: Originally posted by ENOCH on 14/8/2015
We moved from a 4 berth fixed double to a 6 berth with bunks, this really works for us when we have up to 4 grandchildren with us as the van has the rear dinette which provides a separate area for them. The previous van with fixed double and rear washroom left very little space in the van for daytime use, and as the dealer has said, we had to use the front seats as single beds at night. Check around local dealers to find a layout that works for you and then find a good deal as most places will soon be clearing stock for the new models.
Thanks Enoch. Your van is one that has caught my eye - are you happy with it then? Any problems to report?
We have a fixed bunk 'van (Bailey Bregatne) and love the seperate area for the children. We have a triple bunk and I would say as the children get older (ours are 7 & 9) we can see problems occuring with the gap between the bunks as there isn't a lot of space. The later models of this layout and the newer versions with the corner bathrooms have 2 bunks and I would think this would be better for a 14 year old.
Hi Ginger FiFi, we have had the van for a year and apart from a couple of minor faults on collection and having the heating system altered, (various threads on Swift talk), the van has been trouble free all year. The previous van, an Eldis 540 spent more time with the dealer than with us.
The van layout really works for us and the grandchildren love the bunk beds and the fact that they have their own area. Take your time to decide on your van choice, visit as many dealers as you can and try to get a package including everything you'll need to get you started.
We had camped for years until 2011, decided to try a caravan and now we use it all year round.
take a look at Adria if you go with a bunk layout. Their bunks are much wider and longer than all other uk brands. Also i would avoid triple bunks, our kids hated them. Cant sit up in bed to read, can't play on bed, bang head every time they wake for the loo....