We are a family of 4 (2 teenagers) and two labs. We are new to caravaning and stuck as to which model to go for.
Our preferred layout is fixed bed, side dinette, kids will sleep in lounge, and would prefer a large fridge/freezer, and we are looking to travel to France & Spain.
Must be able to be towed by 2017 Kia Sportage, think max towing weight is 1500kg.
There is in my view only ONE caravan to go for, given you have a similar combination of people to me, though my boys are younger: You state: "Our preferred layout is fixed bed, side dinette, kids will sleep in lounge." Not ideal as you need a lounge area / kitchen for late night use - TV etc (tend to use headphones though) to avoid disturbing children. So here is what we did, and I knew which model to go for within a month of looking on line. I bought a 2nd hand Bailey Pegasus 546 (MTPLM 1497 kg) with rear triple bunk bedroom for the boys. Youngest sleeps in bottom bunk (in case he rolls out and falls), older one in top bunk, leaving middle bunk for storage, clothes, books, toys. Dining table in rear can be used for meals but mainly used as boys study room and play table for drawing. They have their own TV in the back room, and after their bed time, the dividing door is shut and curtained across (we added a separate temperature controlled panel heater to the rear room as Bailey heating of rear room is inefficient) and we have the main part of the caravan for our own use. We made the front area into a permanent king size bed, which we use as a lounge by day (bed is made up, we place cushions against wall for seats, sitting facing front window which fits a 42 inch TV, strapped in place permanently when travelling. Large 2nd hand awning came with caravan provides additional / main dining space, in which we have camping cupboards, camping wardrobes, 2 tables and two dog beds (for our Golden Retriever and an Alsation), chairs, table lamps, a 2nd fridge etc, all very comfy. If caravanning in winter, we move younger boy to middle bunk and sleep both dogs on bottom bunk at night, though we recently bought two heated dog beds so dogs can sleep on their awning beds even on cool nights. Bad news is Bailey have stopped making the Pegasus with separate rear room, so you have to get a 2nd hand one - they go for about £10,000 to £11,000. Bathroom is above offside wheel arch so the space here is useful for - but we take two cars and a trailer for our extra luggage when we are away for a long time; we do not travel light! Heavier items then go in the 2 cars and trailer to keep weight down in caravan.
Thanks for the response, unfortunately bunks are out of question as kids too long, think I'll have to review layout for a lighter van i.e double dinette
I'd personally look for a van that will still tick all the boxes once the kids no longer join you!! If you get an awning try and get one with an annexe option, we've gone from 2 teenagers to just 1 now but sometimes up to 3 if our daughter decides to join us with her boyfriend and they sleep in the annexe. Our son is 15 now so we know his holidays with us are coming to an end. He used to sleep on the front sofas made up as a double but now he sleeps in the fixed bed and me and hubby sleep on the front sofas that way he can stay asleep and we can get up early without bothering him!!!
I'd be inclined towards a double dinette. Front end set up as two singles and the rear a double bed. Kids up front you and wife use the rear double. When one of the kids drop out, you can swap around. When both opt out, you can leave the rear bed made up, closed off and use the rest of the van during the day.
Dogs go in the awning, or in with you when the kids flit.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Newbie Caravan Choice Advice
