Thats a leading question! One trouble with asking it is that eveyone could give you a different answer depend on what they have invested their hard earned in. I think it will also depend on whether you intend to buy new, nearly new or an older model. Perhaps more care is required with the latter as it will depend on more things, particularly how its been looked after.
How many do you need to sleep, adults and children. What sort of budget. What weight will your car tow.
Caravans are a bit like cars. There are some absolute crackers like you see on top gear, but completely unaffordable and useless for everyday use. You need to narrow down what you're after.
if you ask , most people will give a biased opinion , best to look around the main dealers to find the one that ticks all the boxes , then go on the internet to every dealer within your reach to find the best price
hi welcome,look here for a better idea of what layout is available and he price you want to pay.with the van stick to 85% of your cars kerbweight when you buy.
Personally I don't think you have to go for a luxury make, we have a Sprite and the quality is brilliant, we have often asked ourselves why pay 3-6K more on a more expensive van when ours has everything the more expensive ones have.
When I wanted a caravan I went out and bought just that - a caravan - not a Coachman, Bailey, Lunar, Compass, etc but a caravan. I wanted something I could sleep in and cook in and was very happy with what turned out to be a 1976 Bailey Maru - well for a season anyway (kneeling to cook and wash up was a bit of a pain you see).
What I'm saying (or maybe advising) is don't worry about make, go for design - layout - but you may not get it right on your first van so don't charge in buying something you may have to keep for more than one or two seasons.
All makes of van can suffer from the dreaded 'caravan damp' - I suppose a lot could depend on what day of the week it was assembled so you are just as likely to get a good dry van from any manufacturer.
We have been looking for our first van now for approx 5 weeks. We haven't got a set make in mind, we have a few ideas of what we want but are being flexible, eg, we'd like a centre dinette and end bathroom, but we are not ruling out looking at vans without these it depends on what size is available with different layouts.
So far we have been unsuccessful in our search with a few dissappointments already, however, we have been spurred on by comments on here saying that there is a van out there for us, we just have to keep looking.
My advice is don't buy the first van you see.bide your time and have a look around.I don't know your finances but try not to buy something at the very end of its life but a van with a bit of resale value will at least give you a headstart when its time to upgrade.
------------- Those that danced were thought to be quite insane to those who could not hear the music. Angela Monet
If you are new to caravanning, then go for something old and cheap. This way if you decide you don't like it then you have not lost a fortune on it. If you go and buy the latest top of the range model and find actually you prefer the trailer tent, you need to be prepared to loose a lot of money. Inevitably, whatever you buy you will see a layout you prefer in a few months so as a beginner, be prepared to get it wrong and try to make the mistakes as cheap as possible.
First off, check what weight you can tow with your car. Any heavier you will have to change the car. Then check what sleeping spaces you need, bearing in mind that side dinette bunks are really only for children. Do you have small children who will need to go to bed undisturbed, in which case it is useful to have them at the back & you at the front. Make sure the double bed is wide enough. (We bought one with it only 3'4" wide, big mistake!)
Then look at the kitchen requirements, oven, fridge, workspace etc and imagine cooking a meal in it. Look at the washroom, will you be able to wash a small child in it if necessary.
All caravans have compromises between spaces for sitting, sleeping, kitchen and washroom within the weight. Getting a layout that best suits your individual needs requires balancing these compromises.
The side dinette end washroom layout you mention was and still is very popular. For a many they are ideal but for children you may prefer fixed end bunks in a seperate bedroom so they have their own space and are away from you in the evening.
Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 14/2/2010
One of the biggest whys that I've always asked is why do the manufacturers put the kids bunks at the end right next to the door?
Surely people going in and out of the van has to keep them awake?
Not if you ply 'em with enough gin
------------- Those that danced were thought to be quite insane to those who could not hear the music. Angela Monet
We spent several weeks looking for a caravan firstly .we decided on the layout and visited loads of dealers , we ruled out private deals as we did not know enough. We decided that our budget stretched to something a couple of years old. We eventually ended up with a Sprite Major 6 and love it.
We have used it almost every other week (up till the end of November) since buying it and whilst sorry to see our old tent go there was , for us , no comparison during our annual trip to France.
CP
------------- Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough Groucho Marx
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: make of caravan
so you are just as likely to get a good dry van from any manufacturer.
