so what model / lay out is yours.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

well we've got a 2 berth 12 footer, classic layout 2 6 foot seat /beds, drawers under
front window rear corner toilet and kitchen under back window. also had use of dad's
van 15 foot sprite musketeer, twin dinnette both make doubles across van, roomy
in day but miss longer seats to relax on in day.

looking for a bigger one now, wish list is twin axle well why not with a t2. cant decide
between rear bathroom which seems to offer big family lounge, side diner and kitchen
versus 20 foot twin dinette on basis litle one has her own area to play and sleep and
we dont disturb her either as much.

what ever happened to the 2 door vans so reasonably common in 70s. last 2 aware
of were besscarr 600glx and the 184 carlight commander. seems neat idea for foreign
touring supose spare door way could alway be a storage area. handy at home for
storage as can park close to a wall and still get in other side. wonder if would be
feasible to convert one of the l shaped lounge van with deep window to a door, anyone?

[zippy656]

we got a 23' single axle 5 birth Bailey discovery 400 ( there cheap one )

one double bed and 3 SINGLE beds at the back, one bunk bed. and a single.

they did do this as a 6 birth, but very few about..


on front dinner, rear side dinner.

mid ish side door. next to kitchen shower toilet central


( spelling checker on and working )

Zippy

[P40MRT]

We've got a 2004 Abbey Archway Royale 520. It's a GRP walled, cassette windowed dealer special four berth single axle with a large end washroom.

Dale

[tezzer]

we got a elddis advante 524 2001 model, rear bathroom, 4 berth with side diner,
single axle, :thumbs










tezzer

[dinky]

Bucaneer elan 14 same layout as rbrt ,we use it all year round,not bothered about a bit of snow.

[iandouglas]

SWIFT CHALLANGER 2 1991 2 BERTH END KITCHEN FRONT SEATS MAKE INTO A DOUBLE BED OR LONG ENOUGH TO SLEEP ON AS SINGLES 7FT LONG.VERY COMFORTUBLE, BOX WITH 3 DRAWS IN BETWEEN BEDS WITH ROLL OUT SLATS FOR MAKING INTO A DOUBLE BED.
UNDER FLOOR HEATING HOT AND COLD WATER .BLINDS AND FLY SCREENS 5.8 MTS 19ft INCLUDING A FRAME .TOP OF THE RANGE WHEN NEW .STILL DRY, BIT HEAVY TO MOVE ABOUT.
rgds.iandouglas

[(RIP) PLANK]

I remember 2 door caravans rbrt, i had one with the second door opening into the toilet compartment, so probably worht making sure it was locked ;) i never used it just bought it and sold it, I cant remeber what make it was now.

Another advantage would be the ability to put the awnign on either side and still walk into it from inside the caravan? what do you think?

or maybe two awnings at once fo rthose in need of extra room?

I have an awnig phobia myself, but it is worth remebering the awing code:

first argue like mad things while putting the awning up as it is traditional

then sit back smuggly and offer pearls of wisdom to others while they argue over their awning :lol

I have two abi's at the moment one 4 berht one 5 berth both late 90's one 98and one 99 one is a dalesman 520ct (I think) and the other a ****star (again i cant remember) of if remeber correctly, but i dont keep them long so this could change at any time

[Paul]

At the mo we have a 1997 Avondale Avocet 2 berth single axle, with end wash room, on board water tank, blow air thing, Been lucky with it only had 1 owner from new and spent a mint looking afer it, got 2 awnigs with it but not used them yet.

[Jocky]

Hi mate upgraded or Bailey Pageant Provence S5 5 berth in Sept for a S7 Limousin TA 4 berth with rear washroom and fixed bed and its brilliant:D

Miss the L shaped lounge that we had in the Provence, but you've got more room in the Limousin anyway and the fixed bed and end washroom are brilliant:clap

:splif

[(RIP) PLANK]

Cosmic, i think you have the best view on htis, get a caravan that you aren't in debt for, and arent affraid to use for fear of damaging it, and get out ther and enjoy!

have you ever noticed the amount of new and virtualy new carvans that stand on peoples drives most of the year and hardly ever seem to move?

[zippy656]

belive me thats not for the want of trying.. didnt do much last year. but this year hope to do a lot more tugging..



of the caravan befor you lot start on me....

[chunky]

We have a 2008 Sprite Major 6 decided to take the plunge and buy new after we had an ABI Daystar 2 berth with the kids sleeping in the awning. The Sprite has twin fixed bunks at the rear and a set of fold up bunks at the side with seating at the front what we find is one of the best features is the side loading door at the rear were we can put the bikes and stuff while travelling. Must admit buying the first van was the best thing we have done as we all enjoy it especially the kids.

[NEDDY]

we have an abbey piper 14.5 exec It's old It has a wee dining room which turns into double bed and a full length bunk that pulls out kitchen and bathroom in the middle at either side and sitting area beyond which is another bed heating ,telly,3way fridge and gas mantles ,we hope to get more fun out of It this year(only joking about the gas mantles )

[fingers]

hi m8 its fingers
we have a 2008 compass 550 length 21ft
fixed bed (iland bed layout)

[wildbri]

we have an old abi dawnstar which we have had for years, we use it constantly, either in the garden or touring at home or abroad which we do for five months of the summer. Its getting a bit old but is comfortable just like us! last year I fitted an on board water tank which has been a great success. When the kids were small we had a 1957 sprite alpine which had a door on either side very useful with children and as the sun moves around. We dont like awnings but we do use a sun awning regards........... bri

[(RIP) PLANK]

Wild Bri, 5 months in the caravan I can beleive, but five months in the summer? come on, five days perhaps and 3 of them raining LOL :thumbs

Cosimic, the one thing i couldn't do without in a caravan is decent heating, it is a must if you use sites with no mains power available, but i suppose if you use hook ups it doesn't matter so much.

I find the idea of being comitted to the same caravan, or car, or anyhting really, for the lenght of a finance agreement scarey, and maybe that biases my judgment a little, I hope i have not upset any new caravan owners, as i'm sure it must be great, that brand new feeling.

But i am just not a finance person, and i'm too mean to part with the cash :o

[(RIP) PLANK]

They all drive down to me for thriftyness lesson's! lesson one, dont drive so far to be told not to spend so much money on fuel :lol

[willow]

We've got a 2004 Abbey Archway Royale 520. It's a GRP walled, cassette windowed dealer special four berth single axle with a large end washroom.

Dale
did yoy buy it from archways i Rushden?

[willow]

plank I have an old caravan that has heating hot shower and loo cost me nothing.
Someone left it on my land said they dont want it any more and i could have it for £150.00
What do you think should it go or should it stay for one of you lot to use:lol:lol:thumbs

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

think narrowed it down to something old and luxurious

bessecarr, buccanner. maybe a loaded lunar,swift or elddis.

looking at 4 single beds ie long bunked twin dinettes unless
can lay my hands on a double doored bessacarr. theres one
on the bay at moment but horshams a bit of a drag...from sy.

[Bibio]

We have a 99 Swift Challenger 520SE 4 berth ,end toilet ,

Have travelled all over the Highlands with it, great for fishing trips !.

John

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

plank I have an old caravan that has heating hot shower and loo cost me nothing.
Someone left it on my land said they dont want it any more and i could have it for £150.00
What do you think should it go or should it stay for one of you lot to use:lol:lol:thumbs

left on your land and they want you to take it off their hands, right?

i'd sugest what with storage costs they owe you, or give it and call it
quits?

[P40MRT]

did yoy buy it from archways i Rushden?

Sure did - about 18 months/2 years ago. They're the biggest dealer near me (not a fan of their other branch (Riverside) in Stony Stratford.

Dale

[Jocky]

Wild Bri, 5 months in the caravan I can beleive, but five months in the summer? come on, five days perhaps and 3 of them raining LOL :thumbs

Cosimic, the one thing i couldn't do without in a caravan is decent heating, it is a must if you use sites with no mains power available, but i suppose if you use hook ups it doesn't matter so much.

I find the idea of being comitted to the same caravan, or car, or anyhting really, for the lenght of a finance agreement scarey, and maybe that biases my judgment a little, I hope i have not upset any new caravan owners, as i'm sure it must be great, that brand new feeling.

But i am just not a finance person, and i'm too mean to part with the cash :o

Plank, no offence taken.
Got a new van, well it was when I bought it in Sept 08, traded in an 05 to get that.
Thank god no debt or finanace:thumb2 as I would still have my old Lunar Arianne If I couldn't have afforded a new one:clap

I would rather have an old Nissan 4x4 to tow it with no finance either:lol

I used to hate paying up cars, I could never get it paid before 18mths when I got fed up and wanted a change, so stopped doing it:thumbs

:D

[(RIP) PLANK]

plank I have an old caravan that has heating hot shower and loo cost me nothing.
Someone left it on my land said they dont want it any more and i could have it for £150.00
What do you think should it go or should it stay for one of you lot to use:lol:lol:thumbs

Willow, I like the new avatar! I too have an old caravan gained in virtualy the same way, some one left it on my friends drive and she aquired it and i gave her £150 and keep it for cuppas on cold mornings, though my two 'middle' kids have stayed in it several times. SO i vote just keep it!

[zippy656]

left on your land and they want you to take it off their hands, right?

i'd sugest what with storage costs they owe you, or give it and call it
quits?

sounds like a good idea to start from,

or charge them £150 to take it to the scrap yard,

or as rbrt say call it quits..


sounds good if its towable and useable..

zippy


PS yep like the avatar too

[(RIP) rustygates]

Hi all,
We have a series 5 bailey vendee with rear fixed bed across the back and a side washroom and goin out this w/end with it

[AndyK]

We've got a 2003 Swift Charisma 570. Nice 6 berth van. That's the reason I got the Terrano, I think my 1.8 Zafira auto would struggle a bit!!!
Also got a 1990 Swift Challenger 430/4 Anniversary model if anyone's interested or knows anyone who is after a smallish 'van.
Rejoined the Swift Owners Club and started rallying again after a 5 year layoff.

[mir60899]

Elddis Jetstream GT. 1998 model, 'L' shaped front, 2 seat diner over n/s wheel, rear kitchen with toilet/shower on o/s from wheel to rear of van.

Steve

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

thanks for the replies guys, just being nosey. bit like a virtual walk round the site
seeing what folks have and why, looking for neat accessories whilst trying not to
make it look to obvious. well its what we do on real caravan sites and rally fields,
well i do anyway.

despite watching a few twin doors, starting to realise with a tot on board that a
twin dinete layout will work better. we've got a pop up cot for her and it will sit
sturdier on a double bed/pull out than a single berth. also at one end if can be
closed off we can relax and make a bit more noise or entertain than constantly
walking past her on a middle of van bunk layout. perhaps a layout more suited
to teens when a big rear bathroom will come into its own. the latter is a feature
i do like but as not a big fan of showers in vans likely to just become another
storage area.

Sooo. seen a swift 640 conqueror salon, where rear seats are L shape, reckon
will make a nice square of floor to play on or have her tots size chair and table
in. grosses in at 1600kg which is just about within 85% of t2 and look a proper
monster rig. spotted a '95 from a dealer at 4k, reasonable/thoughts??

[Muzz]

Hi Rich.

18 month old still in a travel cot i'm surprised;) She won't be in it for much longer so no need to worry.

One of the best thing we bought was a little kids chair like the top of a high chair. It folded up small and was easy to store and you could strap it to any style of adult chair. Fantastic bit of kit for the caravan and for visiting friends etc. Also for when you eat out and no high chairs available.

Don't ever worry about the decor of the caravan kids will always find a way to re-decorate for you;)

[zippy656]

argos did a bed guard. we had one for our first caravan , needed a little work, as bunk wasn't as wide as a bed. but very easy to do.


Zippy

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Hi Rich.

18 month old still in a travel cot i'm surprised;) She won't be in it for much longer so no need to worry.

One of the best thing we bought was a little kids chair like the top of a high chair. It folded up small and was easy to store and you could strap it to any style of adult chair. Fantastic bit of kit for the caravan and for visiting friends etc. Also for when you eat out and no high chairs available.

Don't ever worry about the decor of the caravan kids will always find a way to re-decorate for you;)


suppose not, that was last summer mind is quite petite, think someone gave us a bed guard had wondered if could rig up in van or make own.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

We've got a 2003 Swift Charisma 570. Nice 6 berth van. That's the reason I got the Terrano, I think my 1.8 Zafira auto would struggle a bit!!!
Also got a 1990 Swift Challenger 430/4 Anniversary model if anyone's interested or knows anyone who is after a smallish 'van.
Rejoined the Swift Owners Club and started rallying again after a 5 year layoff.

Always fancied a Swift, as kid parents had an astral but they hankered after a swift with
its light weight design, and those deep windows front and rear to see thru on the road.

few years back my dad bought a rapide, which was one of last square fronted swifts
and still offered that great thru vision, shame it had damp so was sent back and replaced
by the sprite. Mrs's parents had a swift 2b til recently and we had several good hols in
it. reckon the OC is pretty big, trawling their site other day mention of a 300 outfit
rally and now covers swift group brands, seems funny that many of other marques I
like belong to them now, abbey, bessacarr etc. even ace parents had an ace static at
one point.

Seems good idea joining an OC, another source of cheap holidays and rallies to
compliement Caravan Club.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

oh well, commited to a beautiful abbey spectrum 520 t/a 99my.
twin dinette layout, hoping that is gvw of 1660kg will be ok for
the t2. should be around 85%, doesnt appear to have a stabilizer
hitch so will see how get on and taking alko off lunar, more so can
trade for a winterhoff type if need be.

going to be a cheap skate and try to mod lunar's awning as a giant
porch for my new tupperware stately home. lol. if not will flog and
get one of these curved light weight jobs.

[Jocky]

Glad you've made your choice:thumb2

What size awning does your new van take?

I've got a good Bradcot I need to sell after getting new van (1008cm) if you or anyone needs one that size!!!!!!


:D

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Cheers Alan. dunno in short, not sure needs a full size for us yet, but certainly
like the overgrown porches. thinking back to 06 rally that tubbs and fingers
had. dad in law has a 2 panel version but with a 20footer would go for 3 unless
go for a pdq type travel with in rolled up type. searching web for specs now.

printed off abbey oc application, fair deal £12 for year and credits towards
rally nights.

a pal has also joined us with yorkshire friendly ralliers as an xmas gift so plenty
to got at. already planning first weekend away shake down.

also looking at security, wheel clamps. motor mover? maybe and how best to
jack it up for wheel changes and on sloping sites. as ever all info welcomed.

[dinky]

There is a place in Castleford that modifies awnings,if you want will find out number.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

ta Dinky, would appreciate that, seen awning rail strips in towsure book. thinking more
mod van with an extra down rail mid way. then again might look crap and better selling
it and getting a light weight job.

[R3M]

At the moment I have a decrepid ABI Award Tristar from 1989 I think. Its the one with the blue window tints anyway. My dad had it and dragged it arround with a 4.2 (diesel) Patrol. It then went to my sister and sat on a farm getting damp for years. I then took ownership of it, sorted out the damp and am in the process of re decorating it.

Only one large problem. It's a 4 berth, front double and a set of mid bunks. Rear kitchen and toilet area, a decent enough design but here is the problem. I have 5 kids!

Once I have decorated it (probably in spring) I will sell with the view of getting an Avondale Argente 650 - 6 (I think the model is) this is the 6 berth with 2 sets of bunks at the back which can be shut off from the rest of the van and a double at the front. Still not enough beds I know but I have an awning bedroom for me and the missus.

Before you all say I know Avondale have gone bust, but I can't find another van on the market with this layout. If anyone knows of one out there please let me know, but the two bunks need to be collapsable to seats so I can feed the tribe.

I also lived in a Target 5.70 for six months about 10 years ago, this had the same layout as the Avondale but a lot older and made from pig iron. My dad's Patrol dragged this arround for my first trip to Hereford

[R3M]

Oh I forgot to mention the Target 5.70 was the family holiday machine for years, about 20 - 15 years ago and was origionaly dragged by a 1985 (B) reg Patrol 3.3 which had bull bars on the front and back (the only car I have seen with rear bull bars)

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

hi r3m,

6 berths with rear 4 berth 'bunk room' include swift conqueror 650 and certainly
a lunar, ask davemud.

alternatively there are those 6ers with rear baths, fixed bunks to offside and a
dinette with optional bunk above to near side. which is a neat design but kitchen
is quite small though does have second worktop over firdge opposite.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

well got it home tonight, feels quite light for unladen of 1366 or so, certainly 4 of
us pulled into garden nose first seemingly more easily than the my dads sprite of
1000kg gross! and looking at it side on not even that much longer, maybe 5 feet
or so. Bit wider though may need some better mirrors but theres a great view thru
the van as well.

[zippy656]

hope yo uhave great time in it mate..

we can see trhough ours too. id miss it if i could. dont forget to LOCK it up well.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

hope yo uhave great time in it mate..

we can see trhough ours too. id miss it if i could. dont forget to LOCK it up well.

thanks mate, had already bought clamp and lock nuts, put them on as soon as legs down.
the coupling is like a commercial 50mm, really HD, integral lock and a ball that swings up to
fill coupling. Taken jockey wheel off and set factory alarm. Padlocked the garden gate.

So fingers crossed, after that its insured wont let it rule my life.

[zippy656]

weve got a post its locked to via the ball as well. still got ours so all is well

[Stoph]

oh well, commited to a beautiful abbey spectrum 520 t/a 99my.
twin dinette layout, hoping that is gvw of 1660kg will be ok for
the t2. should be around 85%, doesnt appear to have a stabilizer
hitch so will see how get on and taking alko off lunar, more so can
trade for a winterhoff type if need be.

going to be a cheap skate and try to mod lunar's awning as a giant
porch for my new tupperware stately home. lol. if not will flog and
get one of these curved light weight jobs.

Ah what a wise choice!! Bought our 98 Spectrum 620 last sept and pleased so far, tows very well even without stabiliser, same size as your 520 and similar layout too... L shaped lounge at front that makes into huge double then 4 bunks at the back or 2 big singles with a nice sliding door to shut the little darlings away at night.
Awning size is huge... 1065cm and the one we bought weighs 65kg all in.... ouch!! Lots of space when up though.... not had any major problems with weight although needed 4wd when collecting from the farm where it lives this morning in the rather slippery snow!!
Enjoy.....

Chris