Caravan advice needed - layout and carrying bikes etc
Discussion
I seem to have bought a very fine tow vehicle - a Disco 4 - so it seems eccentric to keep our motor home as well, much as we love it.
We need beds for 5, presumably in bunks for the kids, winterisation, solidly built but not necessarily plush. We're an outdoorsy bunch and would put kayaks on the Disco roof and bikes (I assume) on the van. Basically I'm after a mobile bunkhouse.
Where should I start looking?
We need beds for 5, presumably in bunks for the kids, winterisation, solidly built but not necessarily plush. We're an outdoorsy bunch and would put kayaks on the Disco roof and bikes (I assume) on the van. Basically I'm after a mobile bunkhouse.
Where should I start looking?
Not sure you can carry bikes on the back of a caravan and even if you could they would totally trash the weight distribution! Some caravans have a garage, effectively the bunks lift up to create a storage space, buts its limitde in size and still at the back so affects weight distribution. You'll probably only get 2 bikes in it.
It is possible to carry the bikes on the back of the car, does depend on your nose weight though, or inside the van where they can be placed over the axle, although need to ensure they are wedged so they dont move.
As regards sleeping arrangements how old are the kids? My daughter at 13 is now too old and big for the top bunk which is a bit annoying. Might get a bedroom for the awning!
It is possible to carry the bikes on the back of the car, does depend on your nose weight though, or inside the van where they can be placed over the axle, although need to ensure they are wedged so they dont move.
As regards sleeping arrangements how old are the kids? My daughter at 13 is now too old and big for the top bunk which is a bit annoying. Might get a bedroom for the awning!
Disco will have a nose weight limit of 150kg. Most caravans are about 80kg max.
Some vans can take a bike rack on the back, or as we did, Fiamm do one for the A frame. The only down side to that is it restricts your turning circle.
Buy Practical Caravan mag, it has all the layouts listed in the back. Decide what you want, fixed bed, large washroom, etc and pick the best that suits. Remember your Disco will easily tow anything with its 3.5 tonne limit so I would suggest looking at Swift or Eldis twin axle vans. If you don't mind looking a bit 'fairground' Hobby make some smart kit.
All depends on your budget really. Here's my Rangey and Swift built Sterling Eccles...
Some vans can take a bike rack on the back, or as we did, Fiamm do one for the A frame. The only down side to that is it restricts your turning circle.
Buy Practical Caravan mag, it has all the layouts listed in the back. Decide what you want, fixed bed, large washroom, etc and pick the best that suits. Remember your Disco will easily tow anything with its 3.5 tonne limit so I would suggest looking at Swift or Eldis twin axle vans. If you don't mind looking a bit 'fairground' Hobby make some smart kit.
All depends on your budget really. Here's my Rangey and Swift built Sterling Eccles...
Funnily enough, i'm looking for a 5/6 berth at the moment, to carry 4 however, I'm towing with an Accord Tourer so nose weight I believe is 75kg. I am tempted to buy another VW T5 as a passenger/mobile garage for the bikes but as i'm on a post '97 licence, it means I've got a max all up weight of 3500kg.
As it is currently, that allows me 1400kg for my van and looking for a 5/6 berth with that weight limit is a bit, well, limiting.
Layout wise, it seems that there are 3 options which I think would suit a family all of which have double dinette and fixed bunks.
1 Typical 6 berth with rear door, rear bunks (some have 3 bunks which may be of use to you?) which are 6' in length and side dinette
2 Front door beside front seating area with rear corner washroom, rear bunks and a central dinette
3 Front door beside front seating with small dinette on one side and bunks on opposite with washroom across rear.
I dont think the 3rd option would be any good for you, as I think they're probably for younger/smaller families.
All of those were on a single axle, I know that the double axle options are a little greater, but essentially the layouts are just bigger.
I too would be interested in hearing what other families do for van layouts, as I'm going from living with 3 in a VW Transporter to living with 4 in a Caravan.
The bike transport thing i'm interested in as this Estate is useless in carrying bikes and kids. I can do one but not the other. I could stick them on the roof but rather they go inside (particularly if i'm doing NSL in the driving rain as it tries to enter every bearing)
As it is currently, that allows me 1400kg for my van and looking for a 5/6 berth with that weight limit is a bit, well, limiting.
Layout wise, it seems that there are 3 options which I think would suit a family all of which have double dinette and fixed bunks.
1 Typical 6 berth with rear door, rear bunks (some have 3 bunks which may be of use to you?) which are 6' in length and side dinette
2 Front door beside front seating area with rear corner washroom, rear bunks and a central dinette
3 Front door beside front seating with small dinette on one side and bunks on opposite with washroom across rear.
I dont think the 3rd option would be any good for you, as I think they're probably for younger/smaller families.
All of those were on a single axle, I know that the double axle options are a little greater, but essentially the layouts are just bigger.
I too would be interested in hearing what other families do for van layouts, as I'm going from living with 3 in a VW Transporter to living with 4 in a Caravan.
The bike transport thing i'm interested in as this Estate is useless in carrying bikes and kids. I can do one but not the other. I could stick them on the roof but rather they go inside (particularly if i'm doing NSL in the driving rain as it tries to enter every bearing)
As others have said, your Disco will tow anything you care to throw at it. Bikes can be spread between back of car and roof rack with canoes on caravan roof.
For chouice of 'van the NEC show is next month, worth going to look at new and also talk to dealers about what they have, or are expecting in stock s/h. Bear in mind a lot of new 'van buyers will be trading in, so could be some good deals going. I wonder if there's a For Sale noticeboard at NEC?
For chouice of 'van the NEC show is next month, worth going to look at new and also talk to dealers about what they have, or are expecting in stock s/h. Bear in mind a lot of new 'van buyers will be trading in, so could be some good deals going. I wonder if there's a For Sale noticeboard at NEC?
For living layouts it might be worth looking at the Swift 590 style layout. We've a previous version and it works well with four, can't see why it wouldn't with five, the smaller kids in the bunks, elder one on the dropped down rear table bed and you still getting peace at the other end of the van with the front converted to a large double.
As for carrying Kayaks and five bikes, I think you might find the world of touring vans comes with a requirement to be able to live with compromise along the way and suspect this is where you may need to draw a line. Sure you could probably carry five bikes in the van, but the interior is going to get trashed and/or dirty very quickly and you will very quickly run out of payload weight within the max permitted weight of the van, whether they are all inside or you manage to get a couple on a rear mounted rack.
In theory (though I've no idea on the dimensions of a Kayak), it might be more feasible from a weight perspective to put the bikes on the car and put a Kayak in the van through the front window aperture? Might need a van with a large one piece front window for that to ever maybe work, and it still isn't going to keep the interior very clean! The Sprite Freedom 6TD has the large front window though the interior fittings are pretty basic when you start to look.
As for carrying Kayaks and five bikes, I think you might find the world of touring vans comes with a requirement to be able to live with compromise along the way and suspect this is where you may need to draw a line. Sure you could probably carry five bikes in the van, but the interior is going to get trashed and/or dirty very quickly and you will very quickly run out of payload weight within the max permitted weight of the van, whether they are all inside or you manage to get a couple on a rear mounted rack.
In theory (though I've no idea on the dimensions of a Kayak), it might be more feasible from a weight perspective to put the bikes on the car and put a Kayak in the van through the front window aperture? Might need a van with a large one piece front window for that to ever maybe work, and it still isn't going to keep the interior very clean! The Sprite Freedom 6TD has the large front window though the interior fittings are pretty basic when you start to look.
ALY77 said:
In theory (though I've no idea on the dimensions of a Kayak), it might be more feasible from a weight perspective to put the bikes on the car and put a Kayak in the van through the front window aperture? Might need a van with a large one piece front window for that to ever maybe work,
I put a 10ft kayak in my Eriba after i decided to buy a new one whilst on holiday 
Bill said:
The NEC is a bit of a trek (Is it worth a weekend??), are there any decent shows down south? There's one of in Romsey in March but it just looks like a few local dealers.
We are in Sussex and went up to the north west when we bought our current van. There is a far greater choice of dealers in Manchester and up in to Lancashire and they are cheaper than down here.www.caravanfinder.co.uk lets you find caravans by layout. I have carried bicycles in our van, but you do need to find a way to brace them to stop them moving.
I bought my MH from Preston, so I'm not too concerned, but the NEC is 3.5+ hours away and we'd be taking the kids so I need to be sure it's worth it. 
The Swift 590 mentioned looks a good bet, thanks. And comes ready for a bike rack on the rear...
I know I'll need to compromise but I don't know enough to know where that compromise will come. Our MH suits is perfectly as it has a massive garage under the rear double bed, but even then we're limited to inflatable kayaks.
The Swift 590 mentioned looks a good bet, thanks. And comes ready for a bike rack on the rear...
I know I'll need to compromise but I don't know enough to know where that compromise will come. Our MH suits is perfectly as it has a massive garage under the rear double bed, but even then we're limited to inflatable kayaks.
Chicken Chaser said:
Sounds like you need a van + caravan OP, chuck all of the recreational stuff into the van and keep the Caravan for living stuff. Its certainly what I'm thinking about.
I looked at vans, and bought a Disco. 
Plus, I suspect the bikes will occupy the entire boot.I figure the kids bikes, totalling 30kg max go on the back of the van, the adult bikes totalling 25-30 kg go on the front and the kayaks which are 20kg each go on the roof of the car. I'll admit renting kayaks when we get there might be where the compromise comes.
I have 3 kids and used to take 5 bikes plus small kayak.
Caravan was a Bailey Pageant Provence Series 5 which we had from new.
It was ok when the youngest could use the bunk but when he got too big the eldest went in the awning.
We put bikes on the roof ( a pain when we had the XC90) and kayak in the van.
If you could get a van that you can fit a cycle rack to that would be ideal.
Caravan now up for sale, kids not that interested any more and we fancy a place in the sun.
Caravan was a Bailey Pageant Provence Series 5 which we had from new.
It was ok when the youngest could use the bunk but when he got too big the eldest went in the awning.
We put bikes on the roof ( a pain when we had the XC90) and kayak in the van.
If you could get a van that you can fit a cycle rack to that would be ideal.
Caravan now up for sale, kids not that interested any more and we fancy a place in the sun.
Bill said:
The NEC is a bit of a trek (Is it worth a weekend??), are there any decent shows down south? There's one of in Romsey in March but it just looks like a few local dealers.
The Southern Motorhome show in Newbury in May or there's several other shows throughout the summer that might be useful for you?https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/shows/
If you do think of the NEC, Premier Inn are offering rooms from £29 a night, though bet the offer doesn't apply when you wan to go
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