Small caravan - Making the right choice

Have a look at the Lunar Ariva.  Standard size caravan height wise, but narrow at 2.05m.  We have one because of the width restriction at home.  Internal spec is on a par with a larger caravan.  Tows well too.

I think most vans nowadays tow well providing the weights are right. when we bought first - 1970s - we'd hired for our main holiday on 3 occasions & 3 different vans and knew by then which layout/weight we wanted. (Such matters weren't as advanced then as today - 1ft van = 100cc engine was the rule of thumb!)Would always recommend 'try before you buy' as some things - caravans included, can prove to be an expensive mistake. Nowadays, you can also hire a motorhome - they offer a different style of holidaymaking - wouldn't suit us, but that's just us and what we prefer. The Club can check for you which weight van is best suited to your car. Happy caravanning in the future!

Hi Wilmslow.

we started off caravanning with a little Eldiss Explore 302. They stopped making them in 2013, but you'd get a secondhand one for around £8000, I think. The l-shaped lounge and huge front window gives great feeling of space. As you're solo (I see from another thread), then you wouldn't need to make up the bed every night, as the longer couch will sleep a six-foot tall person. A proper little wet-room gives you an acceptable shower. We towed with a Golf, and it was a breeze. The key things here are kerbweight and nose weight. Check those for your car before you consider a purchase. The Club do give great advice to members on matching. Might be worth investing in Membership (some good savings on M6 toll and ferry crossings could recoup cost). We toured Scotland, and stayed in it for 6 weeks at a time, plus border collie, so can testify to its suitability. Also did France. It was a great little van. Good luck and lots of fun.

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Have you looked st Eriba vans, they are sturdy and well designed and hold their value well. A good secondhand Eriba is worth considering. 

"Such matters weren't as advanced then as today - 1ft van = 100cc engine was the rule of thumb!"

Not to be relied upon as today I was looking in the Ford showroom in Marlow that had a Model A Ford. 1700cc = 8BHP. I would suggest that in the power output stakes you want to think in the range of 100BHP per 1000Kg MPTLM. Heavier van= more powerful engine for a comfortable tow.

I think you need to consider when, where and how you are going to use the van.  If it is the summer, in France, then all you need basically is somewhere to sleep.  If you want to use it all year round in the uk then I would suggest that a more substantial caravan would make sense.  An Eriba and Arriva might well fit the bill  

What you need to do is to make sure that how you want to use it dictates the caravan you buy.  Rather than the caravan you have bought dictating how (and where) you use it. 

Again have a look at the Ariva a lot of the atributes of a large van in a compact lightweight size, the current model won an award at the recent NEC Show as such.

Have a look at Caravalair. We have the smallest model and it's wonderful! Marquis dealerships have them.

 

Hi, we've toured around Europe for last 6 years in an Ariva 380/2. It was towed with a 1.6 Kia without any difficulty. Has a 4 ring job and a full cooker and microwave. Total laden weight was 1000 kgs. Doddle. Even has a shower. Would recommend it. 

We've just changed vans but may live to regret it!