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Now 'the girls' are no longer coming with us on a regular basis we have decided to downsize to a single axle van with a fixed bed.

The following are the models that we are looking at and would greatly appreciate any input from you all.

Swift Charisma 555

Lunar Zenith GTE

Eldis Avante 544

Ace Jubilee Aristocrat

Bailey Pageant Burgundy

Abbey Vogue 495

Any comments gratefully received or any suggestions that we may have missed. Weight is not an issue after the heavy girl we have now.

We are going to Blenheim at the weekend for the CC Rally so will probably have a good look round and I believe Campbells are going to be there with the Eldis and some others.

Sue

wooo it would be the Abbey for me all the way - but then im biased

Love the end washroom and love my Abbey !!!

Sue,

What about the Bailey Indiana, same layout as the Burgundy, but in a wider body plus more goodies, there's some great deals about on the series 5 at the moment as the new series 6 comes out in July.

Sue Wigan,

A friend of mine has recently taken delivery of a Swift Charisma 555 and to be honest it is beautiful, it has and end bathroom/shower, fixed bed and is extremely spacious. I am not being biased as I do have a caravan that is part of the Swift group but it really is a cracking caravan.

He "traded in" his Coachman Camara (5 berth) for the Charisma and thinks he has made a good choice as it has many "extras" that are not in the Camara. He also finds it a lot easier to tow for some reason.

Jamsie

We have the Bailey Senator Indiana - got it second hand off ebay and we love it.

It is the perfect caravan in my humble opinion.

Haven't had anything go wrong with it, it is warm and cosy, loads of storage, nice comfy fixed double at the back and two singles for the boys at the front, feels more like an upmarket hotel room to me than a caravan - probably because of the width and it feels lovely and spacious.

Would heartily recommend it.

We've got a series 5 Bailey Senator Arizona. Went for the Arizona cos the front bench seats are 6' 2" long and we leave them made up as twin singles. Use the side dinette for eating but still put the backrest cushions on the beds during the day, they go in the wardrobes of a night time. Find this is ideal for just 2 of us as one doesn't have to clamber over the other during the night. Also for the same purpose, the spot lights with the dimmer switch is ideal. Island bed would be nice but do like end washroom with lots of space which we really need as oh is disabled. I don't think anyone can say which is best, it's whats good for you that matters..Mick

We've just got a Bugundy and so far we are very pleased, couldn't afford the £2000 extra for an Indiana, its the same layout and it really gives a sense of space.

 We prefered the exterior of the Abbey and the Swift but for the same money you get so many extras in the Bailey and after all you spend most of the time looking at the inside rather than the outside.

 One thing I will say when we sat in the front corners of the Vogue and the charisma as you do to watch t.v. we found, because of the sloping front, your head touches the curtains and we aren't tall. In the Burgundy, this wasn't the case.

 At the end of the day it's a matter of choice i.e interior colours e.t.c.

Have a look at the Cristall Moorea 530EW.

We had the Swift Charissma and have just changed it. The bed was difficult to make and I got fed up of other half waking me up whenever he crawled over to the loo if you see what I mean.

About a year ago I passed the comment that the end bathroom with a large shower(as we had in our abbey) with twin fixed beds and side saddles would be ideal but thought this would mean a twin axle which we did not want.

We were wrong, the Cristll Morea 530EW is exactly what we wanted, single axle and we love it.

However be warned, if you should take the plunge and order a new one, the van in made by a German manufacturer in Belgium and it would appear that TV arials are not fitted as standard on continental vans but the points are - soooo-- on Saturday, having picked up the new van, sitting on a site near Leak about 100 miles from home and switching on the TV ---- need I say more?

We are now having the arial fitted and I have to say the van is built brilliantly and we love the layout.

Thanks a lot everyone, will certainly 'take on board' al the comments, have never seen a Cristall so will add this to the list, sounds a bit sad but really enjoying all the looking and umming and erring!

We have made the end bed up in our Trekker and intend leaving it made up for the weekend so will see how that feels.  Whatever van we get will be for about 5 years til we retire then (allegedly) OH wants to get a motorcaravan so we can travel round a bit but the thats a whole new story!

Thanks again and any more comments welcome please.

Sue

Hi Sue

don't know if it's of any interest but my parents are retiring from caravanning and selling their 2003 fixed bed Abbey Aventura - 318 model, owned from new and with full service history, porch awning and fitted with a remote control power motor mover. If you want more details I could email them to you?  

Hi Sue

We purchased the Abbey Vogue 495 in Feb of this year and find this a great van. loads of storage and very easy to use. The only thing that worried my wife when we bought the van was the shower/toilet compartment as we had an end bathroom in previous van but since we used the Abbey all fears have gone and we are both very happy indeed with the van. Hope this helps.