Having bought firstly the right caravan for our family of three, then totally the wrong caravan for our family of four, I think I know what our next van needs - but the shortlist that I've identified doesn't match this year's budget as all the vans on there are too new for my pocket. That's not too big a problem as I can live with the wrong van for another year, but I'm surprised I've found no older vans for the list and wonder if I've missed some obvious candidates?
The criteria are
MTPLM 1500 or below
Single axle
Fixed double bunk (not triple) pref with windows
Separate shower, not wetroom
Front seating that can be used as two adult singles
And my shortlist says
Bailey Olympus 540/5
Elddis Avante 554
Bailey Pegasus II Ancona - no, has triple bunks not double
Sterling Europa 565
2005 sprite musketeer - but toilet beyond shower, not separate and ?no window for bottom bunk
Swift challenger sport/sterling Eccles sport 565
Swift charisma 565 2011 onwards for double bunks
Lunar quasar 546/6
New sprite major 6/sprite major 6 TD
Are there really no older vans with this layout or was it only "invented" in about 2010?
Finding front seats long enough to use as singles was a problem we didn't manage to solve.
What about some of the Adria range? They are fairly light at around 1300kg, I know there are a few with triple bunks but there must be some with doubles but again the front beds will probably be too short.
If your prepared to substitue your fixed bunks for a rear dinette that can be left as bunks during the day, and forego your separate shower for a wet room, you will find plenty of older ones available.
Our 2006 Lunar Zenith had this layout, and worked really well.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Our 2005 Challenger 490L has an L shape dinette at the rear with a bunk above the longer seat. The two front seats can be used as two singles or made up into a double. It also has a moulded shower cubicle in the washroom. The weight is just below your 1500 kg maximum.
Doesn't quite meet all your requirements, but the pre-2009 Sprite Major 6 had double bunk across the back of the van - there was a small 'light tube' in the roof for the top bunk, but no window at all in the bottom... it also had more of the 'wet-room' for the shower so may not be what you're after.
Post 2009 I think it went to the triple bunk arrangement for a few years.
Series 6 or 7 Bailey Senator Arizona. MTPLM 1500.
Front seats over 6' long. Side dinette makes pair of bunks, window along side. Rear washroom with seperate shower. Seems to fit the bill. We had a 2005 series 6 until a couple of years ago...........Mick
Tbh I think you will struggle. We didn't buy until we fell in total love with our Bailey because it has exactly the right layout for our family. To date we haven't seen anything to beat it and it was the first, so far as I know, with all the constituent parts of double not triple bunk and good usable bathroom. I would say nearest would be a 5 berth with a separate shower. There is an older bailey (might be a Provence) with a good family layout.
Thank you all! We really don't want a dinette with retractable bunk, partly because we can't travel with it up and made, but also because there's usually cupboards above the bunk so our eldest finds it claustrophobic and she can't sit up in bed and read (and there's no way the Two Year Old Terror is going up there :-)
Rob and Tina - I do keep looking at Adrias as they feel like a very good van for the price but I can't find one that combines the bunkbeds and separate shower :-(
Romany Girl - sadly it looks like I might have to do some compromising on what I want but our current van has a wetroom and I really dislike it, it's one of the main reasons for the layout not working for us.
Ronni54 - I keep pondering the end lounge layout, but with a boy and a girl they'll not sleep together for long and then we're back to the retractable bunk issue :-(
Paul B - that sounds very similar to the layout we have now in our Compass 556. Whilst the bunks are fab, the wetroom idea is just not going to catch on in our household - the smaller the space, the more likely it is that all four of us will attempt to be in there simultaneously, and the combination of sink and toilet lying beyond wet floors, and a pulldown sink over the top of the loo .. it's a recipe for chaos :-)
MickeyB - the Senator Arizona would be perfect if it wasn't for having retractable top bunk over the dinette, rather than the larger sized fixed bunks. It sounds very similar to the layout of our old Lunar, which worked perfectly for three of us but not for four.
Fee Fi Fo - I'd had a look and the measurements looked like they'd be ok (OH is 5'9) but it would be something to check more thoroughly. And yes, I agree that the layout is perfect - I'm just amazed it was never done earlier!
Hi White Rose,
Might just have spotted the perfect 'van for you. There is a Geist AK565 for sale on eBay. Item no: 181347656674 on for £6.5K.
Being a Geist owner, I can wholeheartedly vouch for how brilliant they are. It has fixed double bunks with windows, a separate shower and MTPLM of 1460. The two front beds are I think 6ft long. It's also single axle.
Thank you Jennifer - you are a superstar! I had spotted one of these last year but totally forgotten about it till now!! That looks like every box is ticked :-)
Oh :-( it's sold and the front seats aren't long enough to make two singles - darn it! Now, would making up a bed every night be the lesser of all the possible compromises ...
We make up our bed every night and ok it so a little chore but it can also be a bit of a giggle ;) we have made a topper out of piece foam and a duvet cover. We roll that out and it is the equivalent of a sheet, the just sleeping bags on top of that. Easy peasy. For me I would much rather compromise on that than some of the other things.
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Topic: Can you add to my list?
