Tomorrow we are off to a few local dealers in search of our first van. This fantastic site helped me choose a tent a few years ago and i am now back for advice on upgrading to a caravan.
We are a family of 5, three girls aged 9, 7 and 6. We have a Seat Alhambra 1.9 130 bhp diesel car - kerbweight 1806kg and a budget of around 8.5k.
My main question is do i look at a 'one berth bigger' than the size of our family as in tent selection or will a 5 berth work for us. Am nervous about buying too big a first van as i have never towed before!
A 5 berth would work OK. Ours is 5 berth with the seating area at the back converting to a double bed with a pull-out bunk over the top. Front seats convert to a massive double bed or can be used as 2 singles.
It really depends on what you want from it though. We're looking at changing vans for various reasons & will be buying a 6 berth with fixed bunks even tho there's usually only 4 of us (sometimes 5 if we take DS friend). We just want the luxury of not having to make beds up every night.
The 6 berth we're looking at is actually slightly shorter & lighter than our current 5 berth so it doesn't always go that more beds means bigger/heavier.
Try to get yourself onto one of the club towing courses then you'll be confident to tow anything & size/weight need only be considered in relation to your car, not your personal towing ability.
Finally, when you're looking at vans sit down in them & think about what you do in the day & for eating arrangements, will you use an awning, what would work best for sleeping. These are all things that I can only visualise properly when I'm actually in a van & can see the space and any restrictions. Try to take all 3 girls with you as well so you can see what a van would be like with all of you in it at once.
I think with a family of 5 the standard 5 birth layout would be perfect, better than a six birth as your 3 daughters will have their very own bedroom at the back and a nice size dinette/gamesroom during the day.
I know what you mean about choosing a bigger birth with a tent, but in a caravan a 5 birth is a five birth. Some 6 birth + tents are only really suitable for 4.
We are a family of 4 and purchased a 6 birth for our first van which we are now in the process of changing for a 4 birth.
Id go for this layout which all the manufacturers do and for 8.5k you will get a fantastic van...take a look here
Our first caravan was a ranger 550/6 and there wasn't any privacy in that there was just a curtain across the bunks. But we changed for a Ranger 540/6 a couple of years ago and this is great for our needs and should work well for you - separate room for the girls at the back - 3 fixed bunks and a little "lounge" area for them to sit at. Have a look at one if you get the chance
I was going to suggest the same too the triple bunk layouts sound like they would be ideal for you, lots of makes are doing them now, Bailey, Swift and Adria to name but a few.
Hi, we have had a good few hours at Leisure Sales at Sandbach looking at loads of layouts. Triple bunks seemed good but slightly out of our price range. Conventional 6 berths, that we were most interested in last night (before ever going in one) seemed dark at bunk end and kids would have to be split- one on side dinette. Up to now we are leaning towards the 5 berth for our first van, i know we will have to make up beds but after years in a tent this seems quite easy. We also liked the fact that girls were all together, windows on 3 sides and a great area for them on an odd rainy day!
Think we may be making progress, we really liked an Elddis Odyssey 505. Another week spent trawling the internet me thinks.
Really enjoying our search.
Got to say again what a fountain of knowledge this site is but its costing me hours of sleep!
We upgraded from a large tent four months ago and got an Adria Altea 542 dk. We also have 3 kids - 11, 8 and 5 and so we were attracted by the separate rear bedroom, with 2 fixed bunks so went for the 6 berth in the end. You can either use the rear dinette/ lounge area by day and make up the 5th/6th bed at night or leave the bed/s up by day. It is fab having a separate room at bed time for the kids. We also looked at the Bailey Ranger 540/6 but found the Adria better value for money. It took us so long to decide to take the plunge having been tenters for such a long time but it was so worth it in the end! Good luck and good hunting.
Quote: Originally posted by chrisandwendy on 08/1/2011
hi there with 4 girls maybe you should be checking out which caravan has the biggest wardrobe and somewhere for the shoes to go
good luck with finding your caravan i love that part right up to the point where all caravans start to look the same!!!!
Hi corkycat, on the lighter side, 1 toilet, 4 girls, one man,you will be very lucky to see the inside of it never mind trying to use it,park near amenity block will save you long walk . All good advice in above posts, very good luck in your search,when you find the van you like, always try and get a few extra things thrown in,as they say - you dont ask you wount get, Good luck .
PS (word of caution) when you get your van and all your equipment,Stay away from accessory shops, as caravaning can be very adictive.
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Topic: 5 or 6 berth HELP
