We've decided with 2 small children that our folding camper is too small so want to sell it and get a caravan. Seems like what we're looking for isn't out there! We nearly bought a Knaus Sudwind(spelling?) but then found out it was just a bit too heavy for our car. We've a Mazda5 and I think it tows up to 1400kg. We would like fixed bunks and permenant dining area with double bed as well. Most seem to have a convertible diner and I can't be doing with faffing about with bunks and we really wanted kids at opposite end as smallest is a pain at bedtime.
Looking at used vans around £4000, any ideas gratefully recived.
Thanks
Just to clarify, do you mean fixed bunks and a fixed double bed, or seats that convert into a double bed? And the dining area, for two or all four of you? (Im thinking this is a tour bus!)
Have you tried caravanfinder.co.uk? You can check all the layouts there.
The only van I've seen with fixed bed AND fixed bunks was German, a weird layout and weighed lots (as you've found out), so no, your perfect van doesn't exist.
There are several layouts/manufacturers with fixed bunks but you'll have to make the double bed out of the lounge, I'm afraid.
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
We have an Adria Altea 502DK which has fixed bunks at the back, a side dinette and a front dinette that we leave made up as a double bed. The unladen weight is 975kg with a payload of 225 kg which gives an MTPLM of 1200kg. Ours is 2005 and we have had it for 3 years - its been a great van for our family of 2 kids + 2 adults. Might be worth having a look at the Adria Altea 'vans, they are lightweight and well built.They do seem to hold their value pretty well so not sure what you would have to pay for one.
Sorry, yes I know I'll have to make double dinette up not expecting fixed double too!but it would be nice to have the option of leaving it up on the odd night and still have other dinette like the Altea ones.
The knaus was fixed bunks at front end and a dinette beside them that sat 3, maybe 4 at a push, side kitchen and bathroom and then at the back another dining area that made a double or large eating area.
I think I actually like the weird german layouts, they just seem the most sensible but as I've found out the tend to be heavy!
Will look at Adria ones, think I seen one before that looked right. guess I just need to get over the campers fixed beds and still having seats!
We have a 5 berth with seating/dining areas front & back that both make up double beds plus pull-out bunk at the back. We hated having to make 2-3 beds up every night so now we make the back one up, the kids go to bed there & then when we're ready for bed we move the kids to the front (whilst asleep) & they spend the rest of the night on the front seats as 2 singles. Much easier!
Quote: Originally posted by lostscot on 10/10/2010
Sorry, yes I know I'll have to make double dinette up not expecting fixed double too!but it would be nice to have the option of leaving it up on the odd night and still have other dinette like the Altea ones.
The knaus was fixed bunks at front end and a dinette beside them that sat 3, maybe 4 at a push, side kitchen and bathroom and then at the back another dining area that made a double or large eating area.
I think I actually like the weird german layouts, they just seem the most sensible but as I've found out the tend to be heavy!
Will look at Adria ones, think I seen one before that looked right. guess I just need to get over the campers fixed beds and still having seats!
Take a look at the Adria 542DT or 542DK. the DK would be probably best if you don't mind a small bathroom otherwise we have the DT. We leave the side dinette up all the time and you can sit 4 around it ie 2 adults and 2 kids(ours are 8 + 11) The dinette is wider than most. The bunks are huge,the DT bathroom is big(great for getting changed in is ample for one adult to shower down two kids)
We have a Bailey gt60 that's a 6 berth even though there's only 4 of us. it has front dinette that makes a double, and a rear bedroom that has 3 fixed bunks and a side dinette that'll seat 3. It Is a brand new one so out of your budget but if that layout suits you could look for a bailey pageant bretange, or a ace courier, these are a little older so may meet your budget.
we have just put our bailey ranger 470/4 up for sale.we are looking for around 3800 for it.It has seating area at front that converts to double..and also twin dinette that converts to bunks.on a night you can draw the curtain round the bunks so it helps the little ones settle more.The van has an end bathroom too which is really handy when getting changed.We are also including a full awing with the sale which is a really good canvass pyrimad.it also has the aqua roll and water pump and waste hose connectors..the awning ifound helps a great deal when you have small kids..as mainly you can use the awning to watch tv..etc when the kids are asleep on a night,,just plug a small heater in and away you go!!.I have just upgraded my van to bailey 6 series this weekend,,and my old van is great!! send me an email if you want to see some photos,,,it just might be the van you are looking for ...simonsamp at aol.com
Thanks but not quite ideal, plus we are having a child from Cherynobyl stay for the next 5 summers so would prob be a better idea to at least have a option of another bed somewhere
Quote: Originally posted by samp5679 on 11/10/2010
we have just put our bailey ranger 470/4 up for sale.we are looking for around 3800 for it.It has seating area at front that converts to double..and also twin dinette that converts to bunks.on a night you can draw the curtain round the bunks so it helps the little ones settle more.The van has an end bathroom too which is really handy when getting changed.We are also including a full awing with the sale which is a really good canvass pyrimad.it also has the aqua roll and water pump and waste hose connectors..the awning ifound helps a great deal when you have small kids..as mainly you can use the awning to watch tv..etc when the kids are asleep on a night,,just plug a small heater in and away you go!!.I have just upgraded my van to bailey 6 series this weekend,,and my old van is great!! send me an email if you want to see some photos,,,it just might be the van you are looking for ...simonsamp at aol.com
Thats what we did all last summer jeyess..as our awning(full awning) also had an inner tent and it worked out just fine for us.The large end washroom is fab for when u want a little privacy to get changed and ready too
Hope you manage to find the perfect van lostcot..we have found ours now :) but it came with a huge price tag (compared to our other van)...but soooo worth it as i thought i was in heaven with a brand new van this weekend just gone..the new van has a fixed double,twin dinnett and seating that converts into a double at the front so it would suit your family to look at vans with that lay out..understanably you are on a budget so have you considered looking at the sterling europa models,,they have twin dinnett seating into double beds and 3 bunks ...we saw some for around 5-6 grand when we wr out and about searching for the bailey..im sure if you look at older models you might find one of those within your price range....good luck anyway...my caravan search headache has gone now (3 months)...phew!! and i dont envey you yours..as it is a nightmare finding the perfect van
Further to my previous,sorry I didn't notice your budget. You could try the 542UK. They to back to 2006. We had one and were very pleased and again the side dinette is a good size. You may be able to get one of those now that winter is coming.
Quote: Originally posted by lostscot on 10/10/2010
Sorry, yes I know I'll have to make double dinette up not expecting fixed double too!but it would be nice to have the option of leaving it up on the odd night and still have other dinette like the Altea ones.
The knaus was fixed bunks at front end and a dinette beside them that sat 3, maybe 4 at a push, side kitchen and bathroom and then at the back another dining area that made a double or large eating area.
I think I actually like the weird german layouts, they just seem the most sensible but as I've found out the tend to be heavy!
Will look at Adria ones, think I seen one before that looked right. guess I just need to get over the campers fixed beds and still having seats!
Hi Lostscot,
You are quite right the layout of fixed double & fixed bunk does not exist in a British caravan, we tried for a year to find one but aapparently us Brits don't like/ wouldn't buy that layout so they don't make one!
The only van to have that layout are the Europeans, the Knaus Sudwind is one, we have a Burstner Belcanto 540TK but that is too heavy & new for your price range, the other options in that layout are the french Caravair range which are lighter but not sure on age. We ended up buying a brand new one in 2007 althought it is a UK spec as we couldn't find a second hand one for love nor money.
If you have set your heart on that layout you will need to search for European makes specifically and maybe its worth a try looking at Calais Caravans as they usually sell a lot to UK buyers.
Good luck with your hunt - we haven't regretted buying ours even though we have lots of comments on why we have a weird german van lol!
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Topic: maybe our perfect caravan doesn`t exist!
