Don't forget though that a lot of 4 berth vans with an end bathroom are really 3+1. In that the bunk that folds away above the side dinette usually has a weight limit, 9 Stone in our case. So if your teenagers are strapping lads then one of them will have to sleep on the floor or in the awning.
Our kids are still young so it suits us, for all of the reasons already stated by everyone else.
We have a 4 berth with end bathroom and like the layout but have only had the 2 of us in it so far. My daughters might come away with us but we have just bought a full awning that they would stay in.
As others have said if your boys want their own space in the van then probably not for you.
Also regarding points already made regarding using site facilities, would you like the oftion to visit smaller sites \ rally where you have to use you on-board facilites? This may be a consideration also.
This is our first year and we started using the site facilities and now tend to use the van so it suits us well, next visit is to a "full service" pitch.
Wow, thanks for all your responses. It has been really helpful, knowing what everybody likes/dislikes about various layouts. Someone will always come up with something that you haven't considered.
Our children are an 18 year old son who (strangely) still wants to join our holidays, (the plan is to have an awning with an annex or a separate tent for him to sleep in), and a 13 year old girl (she's very small so a bunk would suit her fine).
We have looked at a local dealer who had about six cheaper s/h vans and initially I didn't like the end bathroom, but having looked on ebay I'm not so sure. I'm thinking now that the separate room would be useful for privacy.
We are used to using the site facilities having an f/c but I can see that on board facilities would be used a fair bit if we had them (kids being too lazy to walk anywhere, etc). However, we have friends who have never used their shower because they didn't want to get any damp inside the van - is that an issue? I can see that the side bathroom shower would be cramped to put it mildly, so it depends a lot on how much you would use it I guess.
I can see the point about people getting in the way when you're cooking with a side bathroom.
We definitely need to all four of us go and sit in some vans to see how we fill it up.
I've got another random question, but I'll start a new thread for that one.
I would add that although I would love an end bathroom for many of the reasons already given, i.e. privacy to change (only female), space to cook, etc., having the kids down one end of the caravan has certain benefits. Our 1996 swift challenger has a dividing door so you can separate the back bedroom from the rest of the van. The front seating area converts to a massive double but can be kept as two singles that are long enough for someone of about 5' 8" to stretch out on. The back seating area can be used as a single, a double, or either with a bunk.
So, even though I'd love an end bathroom, the benefit of shutting the kids away at night outweighs the advantage of extra bathroom space. In the winter, they can go one end to watch TV in the long evening while we can get on with cooking etc.
We just bought a sterling europa 540 windward. It has the side shower room / toilet and for our family of 4 we love it. The wash room is small, but it is big enough to change your underwear in privacy, and it is just about big enough to shower in too! In all honesty we pay for nice sites so use the facilities that we pay for - why use our shower when the site showers are clean and free? This 6 birth layout gives our family of 4 loads of living space but a tiny shower room but fixed bunks lol! Just choose what works for you and ignore fashion and caravan trends. Some love end washrooms. Some hate them. Be yourself and find the outfit that for you is the most convenient!!!
Hi,my ideal van would be island bed, rear washroom, L shaped lounge,but then you cant have every thing in life can you.our new (to us) van is a great compromise rear washroom three berth Swift Corniche 17/3 we love it and yes we do use the washroom a lot we have had 4 vans over 16 years of caravaning and this one beats the lot.
------------- Cheers Jim.I Reserve The Right To Be Wrong.
We've got a fixed bed, so have privacy to wash and get changed in the bedroom. We have thought about getting an end bathroom, but I think it would be a pain changing the water all the time. I think I would use a whole aquaroll just for my hair
I like trying out the campsite facilities anyway, it's part of the fun
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Topic: End bathroom or not?
