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Subject Topic: CARAVELAIR Antares Advice Post Reply Post New Topic
Personbriff
18/9/2017 at 9:49pm
 Location: sussex
 Outfit: Caravelair 420 (2017) View briff's Profile View Profile   Reply to briff Reply   Quote briff Quote  
Joined: 14/6/2007

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We are looking at moving into becoming Caravaners, having been happy tent campers for 30 years. We've looked at a lot of caravans over the last 12 months and despite loving the basecamp the practicalities of a fixed bed has swayed us towards the Antares 455 or 420.

So my question (before I lock horns with a salesman) is do they offer optional extras such as Solar panels and under floor heating? I know french dealers offer under floor heating and air con, but the Marquis Leisure website and brochures are scant on this information. However both do not mention solar panels, which is what excited me about the basecamp.

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I own a caravan, that makes me a grown up, right?


PersonPhishing
18/9/2017 at 11:42pm
 Location: Merseyside
 Outfit: Coachman 575 View Phishing's Profile View Profile   Reply to Phishing Reply   Quote Phishing Quote  
Joined: 26/3/2014

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The basecamp is great but we moved to fixed bed and dont regret for a minute.

Dont know what underfloor heating is, it appears to have gas heater that should really be more than enough but a £20 electric fan air heating if you use a hookup would be suitable to heat a van of that size if you want to save gas.

You can fit any size solar panel to any van. 30w for about £100 ( if you fit) with controller to keep battery topped up, to few hundred watt if you want to live off grid. Easy to fit and becoming cheaper all the time.   


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Personirvine45
19/9/2017 at 7:21pm
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterckeman Comfort with Tuscan View irvine45's Profile View Profile   Reply to irvine45 Reply   Quote irvine45 Quote  
Joined: 30/6/2010

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I have a Streckeman which is very similar to the Cavaliers. I have a gas fire with an electric element fitted. That's more than enough to keep toasty. As for the solar panel and air con for our weather???
A motor mover is far more practical I feel.
Enjoy the caravan life.


PersonKelper
20/9/2017 at 10:08am
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480 View Kelper's Profile View Profile   Reply to Kelper Reply   Quote Kelper Quote  
Joined: 21/4/2011

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Our Sterckeman has a gas heater and distributes warm air via tubes to various parts of the interior ... on the few occasions we have used it, it has been very efficient.

We don't camp in the UK, so I can't comment on camping in very cold conditions ... but would have thought that underfloor heating wouldn't warrant the expense unless you plan a lot of sub-zero outings?


Personirvine45
20/9/2017 at 10:23am
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterckeman Comfort with Tuscan View irvine45's Profile View Profile   Reply to irvine45 Reply   Quote irvine45 Quote  
Joined: 30/6/2010

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That's the same as mine. The warm air is pretty good.


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Personbriff
10/10/2018 at 4:26pm
 Location: sussex
 Outfit: Caravelair 420 (2017) View briff's Profile View Profile   Reply to briff Reply   Quote briff Quote  
Joined: 14/6/2007

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Thanks folks, I’d forgotten that I posted this, what a journey we have had in rhe last twelve months. We carried on camping this year, but still drooling over various caravans, looking at Caravelair 480, then the lunar the Venus and bailey equivalents, until the practicalities of ownership kicked in. We bit the bullet and bought a year old Caravelair 420. The reasoning being it can be towed by my modest car, we can store it on the driveway at home, and the previous owners had barely used it. All the extras I was asking about I didn’t buy them, just went for the straight factory model with a free motor mover.

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I own a caravan, that makes me a grown up, right?


Personirvine45
10/10/2018 at 5:30pm
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterckeman Comfort with Tuscan View irvine45's Profile View Profile   Reply to irvine45 Reply   Quote irvine45 Quote  
Joined: 30/6/2010

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Well done 👍 Enjoy life on the open road.


PersonFrancais
05/11/2018 at 9:25am
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Francais's Profile View Profile   Reply to Francais Reply   Quote Francais Quote  
Joined: 29/6/2008

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Yep briff, I was over at Marquis Caravans at Preston recently, and Caravelair models looked very good for the money, although I am a complete novice when it comes to caravans.

One that caught my eye was the Antares 406, and even though not a fixed bed, I could not see any reason why the double bed could not be left in situ permanently if the van was only being used by two persons , could others explain why this would not be the case.

As the layout still allowed for everything else to be used including a smallish table and seating set up, for two.

Of course the Caravelair vans at Marquis are UK specific with the door on the left, if I was ever to get one I would probably import as I would prefer the door to be on the French side, although that would not be a deal breaker if the price was right.


Personirvine45
05/11/2018 at 9:44am
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: Sterckeman Comfort with Tuscan View irvine45's Profile View Profile   Reply to irvine45 Reply   Quote irvine45 Quote  
Joined: 30/6/2010

Silver Member
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The door on the continental side can be a pain on UK sites as you may have to go nose in! And the view will be at the "back", especially if you don't put up some kind of awning.
However, I have had 2 caravans with the door on the wrong side and not found it too annoying!



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