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SGH



Member Since: 27 Sep 2010
Location: Hellingly-Sussex
Posts: 1527

United Kingdom 
Caravan Makes / Models ?
Well I am selling our motorhome to move over to a caravan and not knowing anything about them was looking for some pointers on makes to avoid pros and cons etc.

So far on my list of possible contenders is a Swift Conqueror 565

Any advice appreciated.

Simon 993 Varioram - Guards Red
Defender 2.5 300TDI 110 HCP - Keswick Green
Defender 2.2 TDCI 130 HCP - Orkney Grey - GONE
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Corris Grey/Black Pack - GONE
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Montaciano Red/Black Pack - GONE
Post #160634 7th Aug 2012 9:24pm
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
Probably need a few more details so people can advisem.

New? Second-hand? How many births? Fixed bed?

Thumbs Up Our blog - http://landytravels.com/

Yorkshire Off Road Club - http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net
Post #160662 7th Aug 2012 11:39pm
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Gareth



Member Since: 12 Dec 2011
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 1038

England 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Oslo Blue
Well, I have a an Elddis Crusader Sirroco, 5 berth, twin axle. I have had it since 2006, its a 2005 model.

So far its been good, but it is fragile inside. There have been a few bits dropped off and needed putting together properly. Build quality is not very good, and some cheap materials are used. The layout is excellent, and the feel is very modern and comfortable.

It is a big van, but easy to handle with a 4wd motor mover. I tow with a D3, and whilst it can feel a bit daunting towing such a large van, it generally follows me wherever I go. You just have to be careful on tight corners as it is easy to cut off the inside and scrape a wheel, also the back end can swing wide and hit something (I hit a tree with the top rear corner on a tight corner in Spain, caused a fair bit of damage) 2021 Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE D300 MHEV
1966 S2a 109 aka Betsy
1968 S2a 88 aka Bob
2014 Jaaaag F Type 3.0 Supercharged.
Post #160668 7th Aug 2012 11:58pm
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SGH



Member Since: 27 Sep 2010
Location: Hellingly-Sussex
Posts: 1527

United Kingdom 
Looking at both new or used 4 bed with rear twins.

After having costly damp issues with our motorhome we really want something with a long warranty so new might be he better option as most give 10 year water ingress cover.

Entrance to our property is tight so have been advised a single axle with a mover would be a better option as towing anything behind my 130 will be impossible to get in. 993 Varioram - Guards Red
Defender 2.5 300TDI 110 HCP - Keswick Green
Defender 2.2 TDCI 130 HCP - Orkney Grey - GONE
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Corris Grey/Black Pack - GONE
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Montaciano Red/Black Pack - GONE
Post #160678 8th Aug 2012 6:08am
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
I don't know much about caravans but I would say get a fast one !

The silver ones look nice too
Post #160684 8th Aug 2012 6:59am
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SGH



Member Since: 27 Sep 2010
Location: Hellingly-Sussex
Posts: 1527

United Kingdom 
I like the silver ones too Thumbs Up 993 Varioram - Guards Red
Defender 2.5 300TDI 110 HCP - Keswick Green
Defender 2.2 TDCI 130 HCP - Orkney Grey - GONE
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Corris Grey/Black Pack - GONE
Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE LUX - Montaciano Red/Black Pack - GONE
Post #160692 8th Aug 2012 7:57am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
SGH wrote:
After having costly damp issues with our motorhome we really want something with a long warranty so new might be he better option as most give 10 year water ingress

After suffering damp in three different vans, we bought a Bailey Pegasus. It has a very different form of construction to other makes, not using any wood in the structure, and comes with a ten year water ingress warranty. Fit and finish quality is pretty good too.

Ours is a big 6 berth twin axle but there are, of course, other models in the range:

Click image to enlarge
 Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia


Last edited by LandRoverAnorak on 8th Aug 2012 8:08pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #160697 8th Aug 2012 8:10am
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Zagato
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Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Billingshurst West Sussex
Posts: 4990

United Kingdom 
Agree with Swift and later styling, Bailey really need to catch up before they lose market share, they were the biggest sellers over the last ten years and still maybe even though quality was average.

You need to go and have a look at some, you will appreciate those with thin cheap flapping doors and those like Coachman that have solid interiors, get a marque with the later interior/exterior styling, the others will depreciate massively. Many of the caravans share the same parts e.g. Alko chassis, axles, interior ovens, fridges, windows, fittings etc so it really comes down to build quality and design. It all depends on your budget however and you don't need to spend more than 7K to get a good van. Go onto a caravan forum to find out about Alko hitches, hubs, these big roof light windows where some leak, etc etc. Unlike past caravans these newer ones can be an expensive pain with sealed units (e.g. you have to buy a whole new hub), some of the electrics etc. Camping for me is getting back to nature, reading, playing games with the kids not having blimmen TV,s, air conditioning and having a third of a caravan as a fixed double bed Rolling Eyes The weight and complexity of it all isn't what caravanning was originally about Sad

When you have bought it sink a railway line into the ground that you can lock the chassis onto Wink

This place just down the road from me is a good place to see old and new Thumbs Up

http://www.michaeljordancaravans.co.uk/

Remember how ever expensive and cool a big caravan maybe it's still going to be naff simply because it's a caravan. I would get something like one of the Trackers Very Happy a proper outdoor bit of kit. Also spend some time on a caravan site, it's not like it used to be Big Cry Now you are into rows of vans, B-B-Q's spilling out smoke on each side, kids making a racket until 10.pm, peoples TV's/radios blaring out from dawn till past dusk, toilet blocks busy etc etc, may as well go to Butlins. You need to choose your sites carefully and book early (years in advance in some cases!). I would only take up caravanning again if I lived in Scotland or toured Europe, even the CL's are busy nowadays, unfortunately everyone is doing it Rolling Eyes .


Last edited by Zagato on 8th Aug 2012 8:30am. Edited 2 times in total
Post #160703 8th Aug 2012 8:21am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
SGH asked for caravan recommendations, not lifestyle advise Rolling with laughter As for Michael Jordans, yes, it's a good place to look, but that's about all... Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #160705 8th Aug 2012 8:29am
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10367

United Kingdom 
LandRoverAnorak wrote:

After suffering damp in three different vans,

Click image to enlarge


Is it why this one is wearing a nappy? Laughing
Post #160706 8th Aug 2012 8:29am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
Keeps the crap on the outside Wink Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #160710 8th Aug 2012 8:34am
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10367

United Kingdom 
HA, perhaps I should get one then!!! Thumbs Up
Post #160716 8th Aug 2012 9:23am
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
I would say avoid sterling and am tarring swift with the same brush.
In the two years we have ours (which is only used for shows) it has lost innumerable bits of inside trim, the oven door fell off, the shower door fell off, the glass has parted company with the shower door, the microwave nearly parted company with the microwave housing, a knob has fallen off the cooker, the shower head self destructed, the trap on the loo jammed, the loo full sensor died. That is just off the top of my head without even thinking about it. There is probably more.
The second time we took it out was to the caravan show as we were on a stand, that was when the shower, oven, heating and loo packed in. Must admit we got excellent service when we went on to their stand at the busiest time to complain.
Having said all that it is a very nice caravan and that are probably all as bad as they make them out of the caravan equivalent of monkey metal to keep the weight down so euro boxes can tow them.
Barbara
Post #160765 8th Aug 2012 3:15pm
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Glynparry25



Member Since: 16 Feb 2009
Location: Miserable Midlands
Posts: 3015

Wales 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS DCPU Tonga Green
I struggle to see any of those caravans surviving anything more than a flat piece of grass.

If I were to ever get a caravan (Please shoot me if I do) it would be one of these:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk6KJXeOM0k

Good luck with the tin box shopping,
Glyn Dog Sheep
Post #160767 8th Aug 2012 3:28pm
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ken



Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

United Kingdom 
My caravan



Ready soon :whistle:

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
Post #160770 8th Aug 2012 4:45pm
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