hi, we were up at caravan brakers blanavon last week they had some nice vans in your price range,fully serviced and ready to go,have a look on their net page.
------------- its easy enough to be pleasant when the world rolls along like a song.but a man is worth while if he can smile when every thing goes f------ wrong.
I am so glad that you started this thread as we have just returned from a fortnight in the Southern Vendee in our Trailer Tent and have decided to make the leap to a caravan but don't want to spend too much on our first one.
We think we have found the layout for our family of four - the same as Tom and Aimee - and are just now trying to find the best van for our needs and budget. All comments above have been very useful
I wouldn't let the lack of an oven put you off a van.
We use a halogen oven and it's great. £30 off e-bay.
We also have a microwave but don't use it that much.
with regard to older vans ovens being rubbish.
The only problem I have with mine is its a bit small, ther than that, you just use it like a range, or older cooker, it has 3 temps, sun, hot and lukewarm, the shelf position then decides the temp you use, my van, hot, top shelf is about gas 6 sun, middle 7, top 8.
Ive done whole chickens and beef joints in it
I fitted a second hand oven to our last caravan (incidentally, I bought it from the breakers in Blaenavon Lion123 mentioned for £70)
It was fine for heating a pizza or pie etc but not really big enough to be cooking a roast dinner, nor did it have a realistic temperature setting, just low to high, no temperature or gas mark indicator. Our new caravan does have a proper oven fitted, but we have only used it once and that was to just finish cooking an rhubarb pie we bought in Tesco that was not cooked through properly.
Before we had an oven in the caravan, we couldn't work out how to survive without one, but strangely enough, now we have one we never seem to use it. It certainly wouldn't put me off a caravan. There's nothing you can cook in any caravan that you couldn't cook on a cadac.
Quote: Originally posted by LittleRuby on 30/8/2011
I was only having a nosey yesterday and spotted this van 1996 looks tidy enough but i don't really know much about vans you'd have to go and inspect it obviously but the lay out is what you're after and its under 2k?. Maybe look towards that manufactuer?
I agree.Our previous van was a mk 1 marauder 450 CT 1991.After 4 years We recently upgraded. Great van.Light,comfy and easy to tow.Sorry to see it go.Pitched next to a 450ET last week.Same basic layout but an extra bunk and better equipped.IMO well worth a look. Don't be put off by the saggy awning photo.THe Rails on Marauders are low. Pitching on ramps cures it. Good hunting
Ours has the L shape seating at the back like that one - it's great for me to chill with my book whilst OH & the kids have the TV on at the front & it makes the van feel more spacious than having seats opposite each other. Good luck with it.
I've got a 1993 Elddis wisp 300/2 and it has a brilliant oven in it. Infact it wouldn't be out of place in my kitchen, it looks that good, and it has proper temperature controls ;) It has a 4 burner hob to, which is pretty amazing for what was their cheapest caravan.
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Just to update this - we have bought a lovely van.
We looked at several. Had a very rude encounter with a bloke in Lichfield trying to palm off a bodged crash repaired van, looked at a very cheap one in Oxfordshire that was a bit damp, and one in Dunstable that we thought was a bit over-priced.
We were going to buy the Alouette in my previous post, but we were extremely lucky to buy a 1998 Swift 490 SEL that just seemed to be a cut above everything else we saw. Its dry now but has had damp in the past, but repaired to a very high standard (invisible infact). The whole fit out just seemed so much more modern than all the other vans of similar age we viewed. Bought from a very genuine bloke who is upgrading to a 6 berth. We paid £2410 in the end, and we are very pleased indeed!
Looking around it almost seems way too cheap, but we aren't complaining!
Just need to source the manuals/instructions (found most online, emailed Swift for the rest), and sort a couple of minor niggles - the bathroom door latch is very stiff, the door lock is stiff, and the cassette door lock doesn't really secure the door. Other than that, its faultless and we can't wait to get away in it!! :o)
We did nearly 1000 miles in total looking for a van, you quickly realise what you like and don't, and how well the van has been cared for etc. It was worth it in the end!!
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Topic: First timer looking for a sub £3k van
