When we went to the NEC show we found a very distinct lack of family vans
nearly every manufacturer is now providing more of there ranges with double beds, why you cannot fold them out of the way to give more living space
There was hardly any vans with bunks or single beds at one end, and if they was they where to heavy to be towed by the family car
Has anyone else found this.
We where hoping to find a van with 4 six foot seats/bunks on the outside ends, and the usual fittings in the centre, and light enough to tow with our skoda superb but nobody makes one
------------- Autism= Awesome, unique ,Special, talented, Intelligent, Smart and Mysterious.
What about the Bailey Ranger 540/6 - two extra beds, in fact. Two at the front, three bunks at the back, and a single from the converted dinette. Sprite Major 6 is a similar layout, and there are several others.
I think the NEC show models tend to be limited - often you don't see the whole range of vans there but they are still around.
What about my Sprite Major 6 (2007)that im selling (well maybe..) Fixed Bunks at back, two seats at front for beds and one in middle converts to bunks as well ;-)
1. I'd imagine that most caravans are bought by older/retired people who don't need bunks any more and who would prefer a fixed bed (I know I would if the kids weren't around).
2. There probably aren't a huge number of families who can afford to buy a new caravan, so the manufacturers don't take them to the show. They might get a lot of people looking at them but few sales.
Then again, I could be talking codswallop - it is Friday after all....
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
Have you thought about putting shelves in the huge wardrobe Niall? At the moment we've got a very thin cheap wood shelving unit in ours where we can put a lot of our clothes. I've also got a metal over the door hanger thingy to go over the bathroom door to hang our towels on. The other hooks we can hang our coats on. Not tried it out yet but think it will work ok.
Caravan's are getting heavier and heavier which seems to mean that when you buy a new caravan you have to buy a new car. We had an avondale that was only 7ft wide and was about 1100kg and our new one is over 1300 so quite a difference. We ended up upgrading our car which with all the birthdays and Xmas coming up we probably won't now get away until next year in our 'van. Not a situation we wanted to be in but next year we hope to get away in her a lot more.
8 trips away in our old 'van last year and only 1 2 week holiday in our (bought new in July) 'van this year...
Quote: Originally posted by mrs skippy on 16/10/2009
When we went to the NEC show we found a very distinct lack of family vans
nearly every manufacturer is now providing more of there ranges with double beds, why you cannot fold them out of the way to give more living space
There was hardly any vans with bunks or single beds at one end, and if they was they where to heavy to be towed by the family car
Has anyone else found this.
We where hoping to find a van with 4 six foot seats/bunks on the outside ends, and the usual fittings in the centre, and light enough to tow with our skoda superb but nobody makes one
have you had a look at the Adrea Altea 542DT. It has very large triple bunks and a side dinette and the front makes up a double. Its very open plan and only 1300kg fully laden? It's an excellent family van with large end bathroom
It seems to me that newer vans are getting worse in terms of fixtures and fittings, our lovely old europa 500 has everything we need, but when we look at newer vans there's always something missing, no hooks by the bathroom door for coats, no wardrobe shelf or light, no outside aerial point, sometimes no fly screens, etc etc
Ok new vans have the latest fabrics and cupboard finishes but it does seem that some things are being left out, also why the hell do i want a microwave, electric hob etc when you usually only get 5amp electric in france?
It seems to me that newer vans are getting worse in terms of fixtures and fittings, our lovely old europa 500 has everything we need, but when we look at newer vans there's always something missing, no hooks by the bathroom door for coats, no wardrobe shelf or light, no outside aerial point, sometimes no fly screens, etc etc
Ok new vans have the latest fabrics and cupboard finishes but it does seem that some things are being left out, also why the hell do i want a microwave, electric hob etc when you usually only get 5amp electric in france?
I'd rather caravan designers didn't try to fit out caravans like completely finished articles and instead gave purchasers more chance to personalise their van to their tastes. I can put up coat hooks, lights and shelves where I want them, but I can't easily get rid of huge heavy mirrors or dangerously-positioned microwaves (saw some right over the hob - just asking for shorter people to seriously burn/scald themselves).
I understand that caravans at shows need to be like "show houses" - finished with fancy furnishings and all mod-cons - but the production versions need to be more basic or come with a tick-list of optional extras.
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
Did you look at the Sprite's? I think Swift had only two on display but they do have good family vans and as i have said else where, in my opinion better built than a Bailey Ranger or as well built as a Bailey Pageant.
Its almost worse than buying a house except you can have loction, location, location with all of them. No van seems to have everything on your shopping list so you just need to prioritise and try to get what best suits your needs and look at "extras" after. Our new one has no microwave - £250 from dealer as an option or £40 in Argos - you take your pick or buy a different van that has one fitted. You can pick up and fit some bits and pieces on your own - for example the dealer is fitting gas barbeque and external 230V outlet to our van - I'm fitting extra internal 230V sockets, shelving below the bed and a wet locker myself to help make up the spec we want.
Just a comment on French sites - Surely a microwave will run on a 5 amp supply as will the fitted electric ring as its usually only 800W?
------------- The things that come to those who wait, may be the only things left by those who got there first.
The Adria Altea is your answer a nice light van - 1300kg and it has double or triple full bunk layout. It is a real family van! Only downside there are not many dealers around but for us the Adria Altea is the answer!
We have just bought the 2008 double bunk model from a forum member and are very pleased with it.
hubby posted this we had a look at the sprite major which we really like but it comes in at approximately 90% so I'm not towing that hubby says its ok I don't
swilt thats what our avondales like son is too big for the bunk beds and no-one has any privacy its the first van we've had in 14 years without a rear bedroom.And with 2 teenagers including an autistic one they need their privacy and place to cool down at times believe me.
wizzo/wohnw I've had my eye on the Adria altea 542dk since last year and have told hubby thats the one I want its got 2 bunks at almost normal size and a dinette that goes into a double that means if in the unlikely event we get away ourselves we can set the double up and close the bedroom off during the day or the kids have their own space otherwise plus no carpets just a quick sweep and mop up.
'We where hoping to find a van with 4 six foot seats/bunks on the outside ends, and the usual fittings in the centre, and light enough to tow with our skoda superb but nobody makes one'
told hubby you only get these on 6 berth twin axles which are to heavy for my car which I ain't changing best car I've ever had.
------------- Autism= Awesome, unique ,Special, talented, Intelligent, Smart and Mysterious.
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Topic: Distinct lack of family vans
