Having spent a fair amount of time noseying around local caravan dealers' forecourts recently, I can't help but notice an increased trend in the newer vans (say, post 2008/9) toward the use of concertina doors to partition off bedroom areas, rather than sliding panels which seemed to make a far more common appearance in equivalent (and often same range) models a couple of years older.
I know concertina doors have always been around, but it seems as though a solid door is almost becoming phased out. Anyone else feel that this is a step backwards, and like me would prefer your bedroom door a little less retro and a tad more door-like?
In addition, it seems as though practically every "big" manufacturer has jumped on the bandwagon when it comes to chucking in a cheap and nasty looking venetian blind on fixed bed models as some sort of feigned attempt at a privacy blind.
Am I the only one who thinks these just look a bit naff. I personally think that it smacks of a Friday afternoon designers afterthought...
"Hmm, looks a bit dark in the middle of this new layout. Lets chop a hole in the dividing wall to let the light pass through... Right, now what...?"
I'll take the below option every time - drop-down panel that alternated between additional counter space and a solid divider. Same model van (Lexon EB), several years earlier:
I appreciate the argument is there for weight saving, however I don't personally feel that a flimsy bit of fabric, or a load of strips of tinfoil on strings, offer the same level of bedroom privacy as a solid option, and are doubtless far more prone to damage/failure.
I can't see any issue. Either way, you can still only achieve visual privacy and even what you refer to as 'solid' partitions don't really offer any more. In any caravan, every movement and every sound can be noticed by all occupants in my experience.
We are separated from our teenage son by a concertina curtain and one of those cut-outs - which allows the TV to be viewed from either end. I think thats generally what the holes are for It allows us to dress in privacy but that's about it. Every conversation can be heard.
My view is that families on holiday aren't seeking the privacy that they would have in their own homes, and that the need for weight reduction and affordability takes precedence.
Personally, your pic of an older interior looks chintzy and dated to me. Those frills on the bed and that fussy curvy headboard! What are they for?!! I prefer the simple clean lines of the newer models.
One thing I would probably agree on is that newer vans don't get any better in quality. Each time we hae changed our van for newer, I have felt that the older one was better built. New stylish features often mask that older details have been removed. Aluminium framed windows which I thought were so smart, have all but disappeared in the last few years. :-(
We've just bought a new to us swift challenger 540 2008 ( pick it up tomorrow woo) anyway we looked at loads of fixed bed models, I did notice some had wooden panels some had concertina ( our new one has concertina) tbh I don't really mind wether its wooden or concertina, like ultimates said, it's only for tv viewing and getting dressed, there's no such thing in a caravan as noise privacy, you can feel and hear every bump or step. I do agree with some of the build quality, our van we've just part exed was a 2006 swift challenger, we've now gone to a 2008 swift challenger , basically the same van different layout, apart from the upholstery difference, I've noticed that our 2006 had nicer aluminium windows, the 2008 doesn't, and a few other little things that I think are better in the 2006, they've just not put as much thought into the 2008 one, that said still can't wait to get it.
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I assume you are referring to the area at the foot of the bed as both models will have concertina full doors across the area into the bedroom.
On the top picture that caravan has a ridiculously small amount of worktop so the drop down partition is simply extra worktop, on the bottom photo if they had a flap instead of a blind it'd be touching the bedding, the hole isn't to let light through it's so the tv can be turned around and watched from the bedroom.
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Topic: Concertina/Venetian Blinds as Partitions
