If I was to cave in to my dd's imploring me to get a caravan, and thus extend our camping season, would it be realistic to get one in acceptable condition for under £1K?
And, hypothetically of course, if I was to be looking for such a caravan, is it like tents in that 2 berths isn't really enough for 2 people? Or can I go ahead and look at 2 berths, confident that we would be comfy?
I'm not even going to ask whether I, a middle aged overweight, under-tall woman could manage whatever needs managing because I reckon I've proved my worth with my tents!
We got our 1991 4 berth, with motor mover, awning, waste and fresh water hogs, plates, cutlery, pans, pots etc etc etc for £1200 so yes I think you are being realistic!
There are four of us including a 17 yr old and a 9 yr old oh and two jack russel's, we manage in a 4 berth.
Have a look at a few and see what suits you best, a 2 berth would be a double but probably 2 singles that convert.
But before going to look get a damp meter to make sure there's no nasty surprises.
we have a tiny 12 foot long 2 berth and its plenat big enghe for me and hubby and were not little people and if you add an awaning you can stick a few more people in there if you want to. my mum and dad had a 2 berth maraurder and they my hubby me and 3 little kids ahve stayed in it 3 in the van the rst in teh awaning and we could all sit round the table to eat. We ahve just given up camping in a tent and hubby and me struggled for room in a 7 man big frame tent but the carvans pleanty cos all your stuff away in cupboards
------------- Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice
i have to say i havebeen dead against having a caravan and struggled with the tent for a few years being ill. but we have had the van a month now and been away 2 1/2 weeks in it allready and love it i dont miss the tent at all and the joy when we whent camping and it was chucking it down so we just droped the caravan legs ahd a brew and waited for teh rain to stop before putting the awaning up no more fighting to gte a tent up in the rain
------------- Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice
Quote: Originally posted by bakers-cottage on 02/8/2010
We bought our first caravan a year and a half ago it cost us £157.00 from ebay!
A 2 berth Abbey 212GT and its still going strong now! During this time we have done very little to it apart from new curtains, apart from the shower, everything works fine and its plenty big enough for two people.
So much so, that due to alot of different factors we are downsizing and going full time in this van on the 1st september !!!!! (how scarey is that)!!!
As regards the berths. It really depends on the occupants. Some of the bunk beds are really quite flimsy. Ours is a 5 berth with double dinette. The two doubles are fine, but I wouldn't want to put much weight at all on the bunk bed, especially as the double bed is right below it.
The side bunks look a lot more robust, but the size of them really does limit them to children.
The double beds are sensible sizes and the one in the front is usually practical as 2 singles if you don't want to put it up or the kids don't want to share a double.
The other thing with a couple is that if you get a 4 or 5 berth double diner, you don't have to put the bed up and down every day as you leave the front dining area assembled and use the other double as a fixed bed.
The flip side of that is that 2 berths are lighter, smaller and therefore easier to store and in less demand, so used prices are lower.
We had a 13ft 2 berth as our first caravan and it was lovely. The huge front seats made up into an enormous kingsize bed. On the 2nd night there was 1 adult and 4 children sleeping on the bed. It was a bit of a squeeze but with caravans sometimes you can say its more berth's rather than less lol.
Good luck as 2 berth caravans have loads more storage in them than a 6 berth 'van!
Yup, in caravan terms, you can trust the 2-berth description to mean 2 will be comfy...however, be aware that a caravan (without an awning) generally has less interior space than an equivalent tent (although it is a much warmer and cosier interior ).
Just make sure you have a car up to the towing and you have space on your drive to store it because storage otherwise will be a minimum of £200 a year (if you're lucky - average is more like £400).
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
I am not in the market for a caravan as we are happy with our Rapido Folding caravan, but it is interesting to see how inexpensive some are.
I live too far away to be popping over to get one anyway. I noticed the original poster was from Cheshire so South Manchester wouldn't be too far to look for her ideal caravan.
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: Hypothetically...
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