Advice on what to buy please

I spent nearly 2 years researching and visiting many different dealers and shows, some more than once. I lost count of the thousands of pages/blogs i read along with conversations with many caravanners and service engineers.

I was taken aback by the honesty of some fellow members I spoke to on sites and how much information they gave me (in particular with defects and faults)

And then there was the Caravan Clubs' own awards. I followed their recommendation of Adria.

However, this does not mean it's the best. That decision is down to personal choice. 

I can see a glaring problem with the Elddis - it is 8ft wide !!!  I didn't realise they had started making the wide vans as well as Adria, but I would not in all honesty recommend one for touring in this country. The trouble is they feel so spacious but the practicalities are not there. The Swift is the layout we have and is much more practical, giving you the separation at night when the kids are in bed and access to the loo without worrying about waking them up.

Go round the dealers and get in them - check the build quality. Caravan Finder will tell you where the nearest dealers with these (and other same layout) are to you, now you have done your homework it is time to actually look inside them. Also I assume you have considered where you are going to keep it ?

Alison

Since '89 we have owned 5 new UK 'vans and 7 new German 'vans, we have recently returned from living in France and decided to purchase a top of the range Coachman VIP ( if this is as good as it gets for UK 'vans) it's going next week, we've put a deposit on another Hymer.

 

The new Adria is 8 ft too bit silly for this country nightmare on country roads.

That is rubbish about Elddis though we bought our 2005 when a year old from a Dealer it had had its first service and no problems we still have it no problems.  Excellent Caravan.  You will find though with any make there are rogue vans.  Baileys are known for damp.  Friend has Lunar and had problems.  Same with cars often get a rogue one .Name any make and someone will say they have had problems with theirs or they know someone else who has   It would not stop me from buying an Elddis but not a new one as a new van looses so much money as soon as you take it out the showroom. Sure the Germans have rogue vans too.

Have anything you think of buying looked over by an expert.  If you are thinking of a used Elddis it won't be 8ft wide as only just been introduced.  We have been caravanning for over 40 years and never had a dud caravan..

DianneT 

Dianne....OP is changing from Motorhome to caravan, so like many of us, including anyone who has ever driven a motorhome or delivery van, 8' does not pose a problem, even on country roads! The problem arises with the drivers who either, do not have the skill to navigate them, or the patience to do so.

My point about getting a habitation report is extremely valid and you confirmed this in your recommendation. 

The fact remains, however, that quality issues with caravans are far too widespread even with modern build technologies. All vehicles have the ability to provide us with huge amounts of pleasure and even greater disappointment when they go wrong. The old adage 'They don't build them like they used to' comes to mind when discussing caravans.

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8' does not pose a problem,

One problem is however that the outfit is not 8' wide. The cars towing mirrors stick out beyond the caravan width. his could well add 6'' either side of the caravan width. Our road outside is only 5m (16' 5'') wide. I know of a number in the county that are.

 

I think the Adria Altea 542 DK Severn fits the bill pretty well and a new one comes in £4K under budget 

I've been impressed with my friends 6 berth lunar but its a 2010 model and I think the layout has changed a bit 

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

How about hobby they look nice

 

There is no best six berth as it all depends on what you want. If you have four children then I like the layout I suggested earlier in the thread but there are others which work for many people. If you have a mix of young and old you can get two bunks at the back and a dinette that converts to bunks in the centre which helps if the older ones go to bed later. I am afraid that you simply have to decide for yourself which layout suits your needs.

As for makes you are more or less forced to buy British. Very few continental firms produce a six berth and I doubt most would be suitable. The Caravelair models sleep six but only seat four. In the UK that is useless in my book. The only other six berths I can find are from Weinsberg and the layouts are distinctly odd assuming you can find a dealer.

That leaves only the UK builders and although you do have to check them out thoroughly the number of seriously defective ones is low but they do get the publicity. My advice would be to look round and see what suits you and basically if you like it go for it.