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Subject Topic: Layout- couple and teen Post Reply Post New Topic
Personjohn inman
03/6/2017 at 5:54pm
 Location: Essex
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Hello all,

We are loving the folding camper but next year will move to caravanning for more short stays and year round trips.

Need to upgrade car when the time comes.

Specifications are we don't want anything too large or heavy. Also it'll be us and a teenager.

What layouts are best for the above and which makes tend to be lighter? Fancy a modern van with comforts.
Cheers, John


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john inman


PersonOctavia4x4
03/6/2017 at 6:51pm
 Location: Harrogate Yorkshire.
 Outfit: Skoda Octavia 4x4 & Compass Omega 482 View Octavia4x4's Profile View Profile   Reply to Octavia4x4 Reply   Quote Octavia4x4 Quote  
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Something like the link may be OK for you, a 3 berth, weight 1,450kg

http://www.leedscaravancentre.co.uk/west-yorkshire/elddis-caravans/elddis-affinity........

You could also look at the Swift Sprite range, a Sprite Alpine 4 fixed rear bed would have a mtplm of around 1,230kg - 1244kg depending on year.

https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans/sprite

Have a good look around dealers to get an idea what you need.

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Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) towing a Compass Omega 482 (2014)


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Personnavver
03/6/2017 at 9:50pm
 Location: West country
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You need to be a bit more specific on what you mean by not too heavy. 1500kg is light to a range rover owner.

Also how old is the teen and how big.

Beds 3 & 4 in a 4 berth are normally child sized and may be tight for a strapping teen boy.

Also teens have a habit of not getting up early so maybe a fixed bed for mum and dad with teen on front seats may not work if he won't budge until mid day. We found from age 14 or so they were happy in a pup tent with their own space.

End wash room will be good for privacy while dressing etc.


Personpeter1474
03/6/2017 at 10:14pm
 Location: ML9
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do not buy the van to suit the teen, as above teens like their own space. Ours thought the van was great, came once as a teen, never again. She likes her own space now.

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Peter and CofSD (Anne)


Personbofs
03/6/2017 at 10:53pm
 Location: Cumbria
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As mentioned, a pup tent (or awning tent) may be the way to go with your teen - certainly was with our lads - though it may be handy to have room for him/her inside for overnighters or in cold weather.


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Personjohn inman
04/6/2017 at 6:54am
 Location: Essex
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Thanks all, this is helpful. Don't want to buy too big a car, the smallest / most economical car possible would be the priority. Not sure what the minimum car size is for towing smaller vans. Teen will be 13, 5'2, female.

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john inman


Personwelikeourmike
04/6/2017 at 8:06am
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Hi, another consideration is whether they like to bring a friend - a 3 Berth may be a bit restrictive.

We have the same issue with a younger pre-teen. We have gone for layouts that have an end bedroom with a solid sliding door to the main compartment, so they can sleep in as late as they want, and everyone gets some privacy. We had a Burstner and now a Dethleffs that have this layout.

Shameless plug: I don't know what age of van you're considering, but the Burstner is for sale. Also light weight 1000kg max. Search for Burstner 390 on eBay or classifieds on this site for details.


PersonOctavia4x4
04/6/2017 at 8:10am
 Location: Harrogate Yorkshire.
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Quote: Originally posted by john inman on 04/6/2017
Thanks all, this is helpful. Don't want to buy too big a car, the smallest / most economical car possible would be the priority. Not sure what the minimum car size is for towing smaller vans. Teen will be 13, 5'2, female.


My caravan (2 berth) has a mtplm of 1,318kg, my estate car has a kerbweight of 1,495kg giving a tow ratio of 88%. You also need to consider engine torque mine has 320nm at 1,750 - 2,500rpm.

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Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) towing a Compass Omega 482 (2014)


Personhomebird2003
04/6/2017 at 10:25am
 Location: Southampton
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Our 16 year old likes to sleep inside the caravan and has her own bedroom at the end. We have a 5 berth twin dinette layout - long sofas at the front end which we use as singles but can be a double. And she has the smaller double which can also be a dining area. There is a bunk which can be pulled up and over the sofas which she initially used but it is quite narrow and long.

Being an older caravan it also has a wooden door that end which means she is self contained. She has had a friend to stay and its a bit cosy but never had any complaints.

The layout means that we have a small shower room but it does the job.

Ours weighs 1250kg max.

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Homebird


PersonNutkins
04/6/2017 at 11:03am
 Location: Bradford
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2 adults plus 14 year old daughter. We have a 4 berth side dinette van and it's still probably the most practical option for us. Daughters bed usually stays up for the duration of our stay and is still easily big enough. No sleep ins until midday though, not that that happens anyway...
End washroom works out great for getting changed also.

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I went to the top of the mountain...and looked over the other side!


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PersonBabyfish
04/6/2017 at 11:10am
 Location: Northants
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We can't get our 12 year old into a Pup Tent yet but God how we try lol! We have the single bed at one end (was bunks) and the dinette for us. We leave the single bed up all the time and it has a dividing curtain in front of it and all his mess is in one place. When he stops coming with us (or we persuade him into a Pup Tent)we are upgrading to a fixed bed.

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It's summer again, caravan time! Hurrah!


PersonKelper
04/6/2017 at 1:30pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
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Our daughter insisted on her own small tent from the age of 12 ... worked for all of us!

Now, she's 21, and still joins us for a couple of weeks ... and still uses the same tent ... gives us all privacy.

To match cars and vans use this site


Personsunshinetours
05/6/2017 at 11:06am
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Its finding layout that works for you. There is no weight issue based on layout as some 2 berth vans will be heavier than some lightweight 6 berth

AS your teen is only small by the sounds of it vans with larger bunks may work like the Adria 542 DK style van which has full 2ft6" width bunks and 75kg weight limit. SHe would have back of van as her own area and you have make up double at front. Bathroom in middle so usable by all or older style twin dinette van may work aswell

We moved to a fixed bed with front benches that are 5ft6 long so usable by our two (pre teens) as they stay up similar to us when away and we always use awning for sitting out etc anyway


Personandyd71
05/6/2017 at 11:39am
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I agree with the above find the layout you need then look at the specifications

importantly the weight restrictions ( as is said a plush 3 berth may well weigh more than a small 4 or 5 more sparse version) and the weight and length restrictions on the beds

never found bunks or dinnette that could work well or long term for my teens




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Personsunshinetours
05/6/2017 at 12:44pm
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Quote: Originally posted by andyd71 on 05/6/2017
I agree with the above find the layout you need then look at the specifications

importantly the weight restrictions ( as is said a plush 3 berth may well weigh more than a small 4 or 5 more sparse version) and the weight and length restrictions on the beds

never found bunks or dinnette that could work well or long term for my teens





Hi Andy
Worth checking out the Adria's for bunk sizes they are wide and long enough for most adults. The triple bunk one we had headroom was compromise, hence why i suggest the DK model which is twin bunk. The dinette for this would also be fine for three people as in OP case.

UK manufacturers don't seem as generous on their bunks widths generally



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