Well went to look at a caravan today and bought it ,its a swift challenger 530 2005,the wife fell in love with it straight away, any one got any views on this model ?pick it up in a few weeks cant wait.
Quote: Originally posted by mines a carling on 23/1/2010
Well went to look at a caravan today and bought it ,its a swift challenger 530 2005,the wife fell in love with it straight away, any one got any views on this model ?pick it up in a few weeks cant wait.
Hi - we have one of those! We are just thinking of changing ours as our 13 year old now finds the side dinette bed a bit narrow for him. If it weren't for that, we would be keeping ours as it is a lovely, classy and comfortable van. The end washroom is great - although I have to say that the warm air heating never really reaches the bathroom effectively on electric hookup (although I am told it would work better on gas).
I love Challengers and would have another tomorrow if they did one which was the right layout for us, that also wasn't too heavy.
we used to have similar...a Sterling Emerald 520.....worked for us with our daughter right up till she was about 21, even though she had to curl up her legs!!
We have the Charisma version and we love the layout too. Our 13 yr old sleeps on the side dinette (when he isnt in his tent!) and we took the top bunk out to make it a bit wider for him, End bathroom and large kitchen workspace were deciding factors for us and we havent regretted it.
This is comforting to hear, we pick up our 2010 Challenger 530 next month. Interestingly we have gone from a fixed bed layout to this layout to give us the huge end bathroom that SWMBO craves, and I have to say I was easily swayed.
I really love the Swift Challenger 530 - but I am disappointed that Swift no longer fit the more expensive straight-sided windows with smooth flush-fitting alu frames like our current van has.
Our next van will have those wonky-sided, bulging windows that all Swift Group vans have changed to now and that is a big detraction in their appearance to my thinking. Just something I will have to learn to get used to, I suppose.
Every time I look at newer vans, I can see attractive new features, but I can also see where the penny-pinching and weight-saving has been achieved!
I actually never noticed the windows so it can't have bothered me that much. OH loves the shower and space that you just don't get with a single-axle fixed bed layout. Our 390 porch awning looks like it will be a tight fit up to the front window but we are sure it will be fine. The front locker also looks spacious compared to our previous van so that will come in handy. We should be picking it up late Feb.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 24/1/2010
When the kids 13 put 'em in a pup tent. In a couple of years they won't come with you anyway.
Good advice for most people, but our lad has Type 1 diabetes and is on an insulin pump - which can require blood tests and other attention during the night. Not only is it therefore impractical to have him sleep in an awning or tent - he is also likely to have to be dragged caravanning with us for some time yet, as he can't readily be left with anyone else or left alone. No doubt he will become independent eventually, but in the meantime we need to consider a caravan sleeping arrangement that includes him. I don't suppose he would have enjoyed being in an awning at New Year much anyway!!!
Quite right! And they don't all refuse to come when teenagers. Our daughter came along with us right up till she was 20 and in 3rd year at Uni. Only for a week to Orkney, but she still enjoyed it.
Even now she is almost 25 she likes to join us if we are somewhere interesting, last year she came to London for 5 days. This year she will join us in Norway for 3 weeks. So we do still need to keep a bed for her.
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Topic: swift challenger 530
