I'm currently a tent camper and to be honest have very little hope of ever getting the OH to aspire to towing but I live in hope. I would be looking for a family van and like the fixed bunks at the back for my DC (1&6yrs). OH and I would be suited to the double at the front but on occasion I thought it might be nice to invite my sister along. Are there any vans like the Lunars / Adrias that have the bunks and dinette at the back that could make up into a small double for the odd night that me and the OH could use, allowing my sister some privacy at the front of the van? We've obviously never towed before so I wouldn't want anything monster heavy either! Any responses / links / pics very gratefully received!
Whenever we have 'extras' we put up an inner tent inside the awning. This, for us, has been the best option.We have a 4 berth caravan,and now we are down to the two of us most of the time and would still use the inner tent option for visitors. Hope this idea helps. I would go for a caravan that would suit your needs for the majority of the time, rather than the odd occassion.
Quote: Originally posted by nanashirley on 22/7/2010
Whenever we have 'extras' we put up an inner tent inside the awning. This, for us, has been the best option.We have a 4 berth caravan,and now we are down to the two of us most of the time and would still use the inner tent option for visitors. Hope this idea helps. I would go for a caravan that would suit your needs for the majority of the time, rather than the odd occassion.
Shirley
Completely agree, or we have a £30 pop up tent we put behind the van if we have some stowaways come with us
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
We have the new Adria Altea 542DK the rear dinette next to the fixed bunks makes up into a double bed, it's a bit of a tight squeeze but we have used it successfully for a few nights, if you were going anywhere for any length of time the Awning extension/ tent is the best option!
Avondale did a 5 berth with two doubles and a single bunk over the rear double. The Ulysses had this layout as did one of the Darts, but I don't recall the number of the Dart.
Thanks Bossynix, I didn't realise the Altea did make up to a double at the back. I think I just assumed it was an adult single with little bunk above. Still won't be the ammunition required to sort my OH out but I do love to look!
We have lunar quasar 615-6. Fixed bunks at rear left, rear right dinette set up permantly as a bed, above that we have have a fourth pull out bed, for when needed. All seperated from the main van with a solid sliding partition. So self and wifey have own space etc at night. Works really we1l for us and although twin axle its only 1360kg unladen.
There was an intresting one in the Caravan Club mag a few months ago. Cant remember the make, but it had std double at the front, & doubles either side at the rear. Compromise is obviously the bathroom (shower over sink type affair), but think it was pretty light(ish).
We had the 2 long bench seats in our Avondale Leda Malvern which could have 2 bunks over them. If you are buying a 'van that you hope will last you a long while i'd go for one that is going to "grow" with you. You may not need a 6 berth but you may find it handy to have them. Your kids will want to bring friends along at some point and if you've already got a 6 berth you will be able to accomadate them as well as anyone else in your family who wants to come.
For me versatility is the key when buying a 'van. My dh and i were really tempted by the 4 berth fixed bed Ranger but it wasn't as versatile as the 6 berth. We've been away with 7 of us as dh prefers to sleep in the awning. We may not have been able to do that with the 4 berth though i'm sure 4 kids could have squeezed into the big front bed lol
Be aware that with single axle multi birth vans, the bathroom and living area can suffer. Unfortunately there is a defined amount of space.
We had a 6 birth Pageant S7 Bretagne and while the living space was great, we just couldn't live with the wash room, it was a bit of an expensive mistake. The shower appeared fine for a quick test in the dealer, but in use one you are wet and have the curtain sticking to you it was a nightmare.
There is only three of us, but we thought it would be great to have the extra beds when we had friends along. However the restrictions are there all the time, so we are now back in a 4 birth van that is the same size as the 6 birth one. If we need the extra space, we have an awning with a sleeping pod.
What about a folding camper? More like your tent as it has a canvas top half, but you can get models with 3 double beds, a loo/washroom, oven, electric heating, (small) inbuilt fridge etc. Pennine group sell a Conway or Pennine branded FC & mayve your OH would be happier towing the smaller lighter trailer than a full blown caravan. I owned one for a while and loved it! We changed to our current van so we vould camp in nasty weather more comfortably but for space and the 'real'camping feel we couldnt fault our lovely FC
------------- Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!
I do like the look of the folding campers, doit, but wanted to extend our holidaying season for longer than about 8 weeks in the so called summer months!
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Topic: 6 berth with 2 doubles?
