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Hi All

I was pretty sure we were going to take the plunge and invest in our first caravan - the Lunar Quasar 615

We need a 6 berth - 2 adults, 4 kids and a dog and have a total budget of around £15000 but are hoping to buy second hand in case I don't like it (spent a fortune on a tent and all the equipment and hated it - don't like being cold!)

Anyway, the Quasar had the perfect layout for us (we want to be able to shut the children off in their own "room" at night with a solid door rather than a curtain) but we have now found 3 other potential vans with layouts that would also work for us.

These are:
* Compass Corona 636
* Dethleffs Camper DL 520
* Elddis Avante 636

We have an MTPLM of 1700kg and will be towing with my 8 seater Toyota Hi Ace Super Custom.
Not too bothered about "top of the range" models as it will soon be showing war wounds with 4 kids bounding in and out, so entry level spec will do just fine!

Anyone have experinece of ANY of the caravans mentioned? Good points and bad??

HELP!!!! I'm now totally confused but need to get this right as it is a lot of money to spend on a mistake!!

Thanks in advance - I know I can rely on you guys for advice and words of wisdom.
LOL
Helen xx

The only way you can make your mind up is to go and look at them all.

We spent ages choosing ours and went to see each one we liked at least twice before we decided.

Good luck.

Steve.

Hi i have the Avante 630 the 5 berth model just before the 6 came out

the avante is the base model but it has everything i need.It does have the solid door to lock the kids off also the layout is ideal as the kids have there own bed and no doubles at the end it is a massive improvement on my old van a 91 swift rapide

but just have a good look round every van available :)

We looked at the Bailey Ranger 500/5 at the weekend and fell in love with it!!  They do a couple of six berths too I think.  We bought a cheap caravan to see if we liked it, well I do as I have done it before and OH has taken to it like a duck to water.  I can see us upgrading in the not too distant future!!

Have you thought about picking up a cheaper van to begin with, getting a feel for it before laying out £15,000 on something you may not like?  Another guy was on here a couple of weeks ago wanting to sell his brand new Bailey because they didn't like it and was set to lose thousands!

Ali

Looks like I'll be haunting our local dealers again at the weekend - they must be sick of the sight of me by now!

Top price we can afford is £15000 but I'd like to spend about £10000 including awning, water carriers etc... If I can be "on the road" for less than that I'll be delighted (and so will hubby!) but want to get something half decent - if I buy a shed I might be put off before I start, if you know what I mean.

Barrons had a Bailey Mars for less than £9000 new (only 5 berth and not our ideal layout but would do the job to begin with) which OH quite liked.

Think I will sit and write a list of all the "must have" points that we need and take it with me on my next caravan hunt and see which one ticks all (or most) of the boxes as suggested by Scampi.

Thanks again for the advice
LOL
Helen xx

Don't be put off if you find a bargain with a sliding door but no fixed bunks - we leave the kids beds made up all the time and it works for us.  Try second hand if you can and negotiate them down!