We have a 502DK 2005 (door on the right) and yes they were made for the British market from 2006. We have had no problems with the door being on the European side so don't be worried about getting one pre 2006!
Its been a great van for us and we managed to get one with an oven fitted, don't know if this is improtant for you but we wanted one. We have had ours for 3 years and unfortunately its coming to the end of its time with us as our teenage kids are not always with us now so we have started to think about changing it, maybe next year.
I've not actually been able to see one in the 'flesh' as it where, but I know that they didn't come with an oven as standard. I thought I'd just get one of the little electric jobs.
Is there plenty of storage in them and somewhere to site a TV? I think I'll just have to stay on the look out for one.
Yes there is loads of storage. We have a flat screen TV and sit it on the front window sill. Its a shame you're not more local, you could have come and had a look at ours. Its been brought back from storage today and is sitting on our drive! Ready for going away on Friday!
We had tents before buying ours and we have loved using it. One of the main reasons we wanted an Adria was the size of the bunks - my 2 girls are now 17 and 15 and are both 5'6"/5'7" tall and have plenty of room still, also the top bunk takes a weight of up to 70kg.
I love my Altea, we had the 542 Uk which had no oven and we managed quite happily without it! We bought a Cadac and just planned our meals accordingly whilst away! You tend to lose quite a bit of the storage space if you have one fitted.
We've bought a new one now and they come with Oven's as standard and we don't use it that often particuarly when it's warm!
Second hand ones are very rare, we never managed to find one and ended up buying new on both occasions!
Yes second hand they are rare - we were lucky getting ours. As soon i found it i range hubby at work and his boss kindly let him have the afternoon off so we could go and look at it and we managed to get there within a couple of hours. As we were sat in the caravan, discussing with the salesman ,another chap came back with his wife hoping to buy it! He'd come earlier in the day and went home to get his wife and come straight back with her! Sadly for hime (but lucky for us) he was just too late! We don't miss the space the oven took up and we use it a fair bit, for jacket/roast potatoes, we cook lots of things in a roasting bag and saves mess.
been to see this one and its very clean if that helps ;o) only reason didnt buy is my oh, is set on a fixed bed..grrr. It was really light inside and felt bright and cheery and very roomy, guy seemed above board.
Ninanewtent, I saw that 'van on e-bay and after discussing it with DH I think I've discounted one with the door 'on the wrong side' due to having to manhandle it around when on site.
I will often go by myself or with my Mum who is registered disabled. I don't mind a bit of man handling for straightening up purposes (we do this with my Mam and Dad's 'van), but to actually have to swing it round 180 degrees will be a bit too much!
It's a shame though, because it does look nice!
I think I may have to give up on the idea of getting one and just go for a different van.
Mrs Q why would you have to man handle it because the door is on the 'other' side. We always pitch it the same as any other caravan - hitch to the front - by reversing it on to the pitch as normal. We never have had to 'man handle it' As i said before don't worry about the fact that the door is on the right instread of the left side. In the 3 years we've had it we have had no problems and the bonus is when in Europe the door is correct!
I think there might be an issue with some of the Club sites or somewhere like Hoburne where they specify you must pitch in a particular way. If you had to comply with a "wrong side door" van then you'd have to go in Hitch first.
A motor mover would solve that problem if you could find the pennies to get one? I know Powrtouch (Other Motor mover makes exist) did have a good deal going for installation of a Motor mover.
We tend to only sue CC sites and to date have had not problems with pitching and have never been asked to go in hitch first. We've seen foreign caravans pitched on CC sites and they have not pitched hitch first either, and thats all ours is - the same as a foreign caravan!
Quote: Originally posted by MrsQ on 16/10/2010
Hi all
I think I've sorted out in my head the layout I prefer and the above caravan is it - for the layout that is.
My car pulls 1200kg max, so it's the 'best fit'.
Does anybody know if these were made with the door on the british side? 2 pop up on e-bay and the door is on the european side.
Ta in advance.
Hi MrsQ. Be very careful with weights. Your car might pull 1200kg max. according to the manufacturer, but the clubs and mororing organisations recommend that you aim for a maximum of 85% of the kerbside weight of the car, especially if you are new to towing. Also I think (but may be wrong) that the MTPLM of the Adria is more like 1300kg, which is more than your car can tow. Now I know I don't have the full facts of your outfit, but do check all this out.
the mtplm of the 502dk is stated as 1200kg. The kerbweight of my car is 1325 or 1375 something like that so my max tow weight at 85% is 1200kg and this is also stated by the car manufacturer.
Thank you for pointing that out though, just incase there are any newbies looking and wondering what we are one about!
Regarding the manhandling on the sites where we go I probably would have manhandle due to the 6m rule. I'm in no rush to buy just yet, but over the winter would be good due to the cheaper prices.
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: wanted - adria altea 502dk
is not good !
