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 Topic: Decision Made - Sort of
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23/9/2019 at 8:25pm
Location: Barry (Not quite the island)
Outfit: Bailey Platinum 642
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After several trips to various dealers, we have made some decisions:
1. We would like a caravan (B&E test and lessons booked)
2. Fixed twin beds would suit us as a family
3. We like the Bailey layout
The only question left is which one, as it is our first van?
Currently, we are looking a square fight between a Phoenix 642 (New), or a 2018 Unicorn Cadiz (S4).
Phoenix has some drawbacks, such as no external BBQ point & socket, no window on the stable door, no dual fuel hob, plus a few more bits. However these are all mitigated by dealer specials, which have all of these as upgrades to the standard model, and there are some heavy discounts to be had to clear 2019 models. But it still has the Truma blown air heating instead of the Alde wet system. And we can always upgrade after if we wanted to after this van an the kids are a bit more grown up.
The Cadiz has everything we want, but we could be waiting for the right age/price model to come along for ages, knowing we couldn't afford new. Would the Alde system make that much of a difference to make us wait? And where would we go from there? Which would be the better investment, if they both cost c£18k?
What would you do?
Thanks (and sorry for the ramble)
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2019: Hurn Lane CAMC, Cirencester Park CAMC & Lytton Lawn
2020: Brecon Beacons CAMC, Bladon Chains CAMC, Brecon Beacons CAMC, Les Iles (Normandy), Easter Compton (BOC Rally), Deanwood (BOC Rally), Abbey Wood CAMC
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27/9/2019 at 6:24am
Location: Liverpool
Outfit: Swift Challenger 560
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As far as choosing a heating system goes, the most important thing to ask yourself is when are you going to use the Caravan? If you plan to only use it from Easter to October as many people do, then the blown air heating will be absolutely fine. However, if you plan to caravan right through the winter, then the Alde is much better. We have Alde heating in our Swift Challenger and this year, I don’t think we had it on from about May through to the end of August. The first time we had it on was last weekend. However, we use the caravan all year and will be very grateful for the Alde heating from now on.
As far as a dual fuel hob goes, don’t let that affect your decision. We thought it would be great but again, we have had our caravan for 18 months and haven’t used the electric ring once! We do very little cooking inside, we prefer to cook outside so the electric ring is a bit redundant. Also, you need to be on a site with a decent electric supply or the ring will trip the site electrics anyway!
Our previous 2 caravans were Bailey Orions which was the entry level Bailey at the time we bought them. They didn’t have any fancy bits, they were just great little vans. When we bought our current van in 2018 we decided to go for a higher spec van but to be honest, there isn’t very much on the new van that makes it any better than the old ones apart from the Alde heating which is great in winter!
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Pixie
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29/9/2019 at 4:18pm
Location: Barry (Not quite the island)
Outfit: Bailey Platinum 642
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Well, we have made a decision, and acted upon it.
We've gone for a dealer edition of the 642 Phoenix, so it has little bits of the Unicorn that we like, but significantly cheaper than the Unicorn, albeit with the Truma heating. As we have nothing to compare the Truma to, i'm sure it'll suit our needs for at least the next few years. We also know exactly what the next step is. We found that the Cadiz we really wanted was just that little bit out of our price range, and there were lots of bits of the older Cadiz's that we weren't keen on. It's a 2019, so brand new, as they are clearing their stock for the 2020 and also came with a heavy discount and they're fitting a mover for free.
Thank you for all your input, i'm sure i'll have plenty more questions to come when we get our hands on it.
So excited to get started now!
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2019: Hurn Lane CAMC, Cirencester Park CAMC & Lytton Lawn
2020: Brecon Beacons CAMC, Bladon Chains CAMC, Brecon Beacons CAMC, Les Iles (Normandy), Easter Compton (BOC Rally), Deanwood (BOC Rally), Abbey Wood CAMC
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 via mobile 19/10/2019 at 8:59am
Location: Ayrshire Scotland
Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645
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As has been said, the type of heating is probably dependent on the use of the caravan. But also the length of the van too.
My last van was an Ace twin-axle, used all year round, with Truma blown-air heating, and it was awful. My next and current van is again a twin-axle, again used all year round, but with Alde heating. It is like night and day!!
However, with a smaller van and used only between about April and September, you'll be fine with Truma heating.
It also depends on where you are in the country, there can be a fair difference between Scotland and the south of England re temperatures!!
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David.
I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!
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