Member Since: 30 Apr 2011
Location: Manchester
Posts: 2302
And another point worth considering, the towing rules have changed and you can now tow up to 8ft wide, which means vans such as Hobby are now legal to tow and offer some good room, however most are used as permanent sited and may need checking before any on road useIf it ain't broke... Take it apart anyway, how else you gonna find out how it works
13th Jul 2011 10:52 pm
zook69
Member Since: 18 Apr 2011
Location: Horsham
Posts: 242
thanks for for Hobby info ... I saw a Hobby for sale on the internet last night.
I looked into it briefly and saw that to tow a caravan with a body length >7m I would need a vehicle with a weight > 3500kg.
Its funny, most of the more affordable Hobby's are > 7m !!Despite the cost of living, it remains as popular as ever!
14th Jul 2011 8:08 am
Grunders
Member Since: 30 Apr 2011
Location: Manchester
Posts: 2302
7m is the top size ones, the 650 range are as that 6.5m, which are ok to tow with a suitable car which the disco far exceedsIf it ain't broke... Take it apart anyway, how else you gonna find out how it works
14th Jul 2011 8:45 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15213
One thing you need to be aware of is that most foreign vans have their door on the other side.
No big deal there, but just so that you know when you pitch up you'll have your door facing the next vans door.
As I said, no great issue, just something you should be aware of.
Fixed bed layout is def the best for me - but that's with no kids!
Looked at some new ones this week, but at a whopping 22k that's an awful lot of money
[esp with a new D4]
I was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
14th Jul 2011 9:56 am
mark the spark
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: southampton
Posts: 2477
i would avoid the Hobby as popular with the "travelling comunity" and a few sites have signs up "no Hobby lords Wypert vans allowed" to discourage them so definately avoid. for value for money and resale Bailey takes some beating although can feel a bit cheap and chearful i have had Lunar swift and coachman and lately elldis all of which have gone downmarket build wise in last few years but generally "feel" better all personal choice
I wanted an L shaped lounge for a while and now having one can say its the worst idea i ever had totally impracticle for seating 4 if you have friends in for a drink or to eat at table with stick with traditional two front bench layouts.
For £8k you should find 06/07 private 04/05 at dealers but would recommend taking a hand held damp meter to check if buying private and have a good look , theres a lot for sale at the moment so its a buyers market
Whatever your choice you can be assured that the D3 is worlds best towcar and will tow anything anywhere with ease
would recommend ebay classifieds
happy hunting and good luck
14th Jul 2011 12:46 pm
maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
Had several 'vans in my 20+ years of tin tenting !! Single axles and Twins.
Swift Group - OK if you get a good one and all of mine were reliable.
Abbey - no problems either.
Avondale - utter cr*p. Bought it new on a Friday, went to dealer to seek a part ex on the Sunday !!!
Bailey - current van, well put together, does 'what it says on the tin'
You pay your money and you take your choice, but.......as said by others, the L-shape is a disaster. Looks really good when you are in the market but actual practicality, forget it. I know, I spent 2 years with one.
That said - whatever you decide to buy, you'll enjoy it .
Steve
14th Jul 2011 7:18 pm
slow joe
Member Since: 03 Jul 2011
Location: norwich, norfolk
Posts: 9
HI THEIR RICH.
IVE HAD HOBBY CARAVANS FOR LAST 12 YEARS 4 DIFFERENT ONES,
and would not go back to a english tourer again,
hobbys are 8ft wide high inside and very strong,
the one i have now is 25ft 720 exclusive which im now selling to get one without bunk beds as kids are grown up.
discos tow them loverly, would recconmend to anyone who wants a bit of room and comfort.
hope this helps JOE........[/list]
14th Jul 2011 9:27 pm
Dexter
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 1391
Hi, we've had a few too, my advise would be to get as big as you can - they all basically tow the same and the car can handle it no trouble at all. Twin axles tend to be more stable on the road but harder to manouvre on-site. Get as many fixed bunks / beds as practical for your family as the nightly chore of bedmaking is to be minimised wherever possible.
All makes are generally the same price for price, you get good ones and Friday specials from them all, build quality is generally average at best and expect to carry out constant running repairs as the kids will test the safe working limits of all the furnishings, daily.
Whatever you get first, you'll change it after a couple of years - that's just the way of it
We've had great holidays for the last 10 years and we're off again today for two weeks over on the West 8)
Click image to enlarge
Must get a new photo though .............................
15th Jul 2011 8:56 am
moorman
Member Since: 05 Jul 2009
Location: East Anglia
Posts: 276
Caravaning since the 1980s and would recommend you take a long hard look at caravan forums like 'Caravan talk' and 'Caravaning4U'. I have had 2 foreign built twin axle caravans which covered some 20+ years one did 14 years and never missed a beat including 2 ski holidays a year to the Alps. In March 2009 I purchased a new British built Buccaneer Caravel which on it's first holiday in France buckled and creased the side panel above and behind the door. The manufacturers were sadly lacking in customer care and when I pointed out to their visiting engineer the bowed sides and the drooping front corners he replied "that's normal". They would not give me a replacement only offering a bodge of a repair. I have since found out that a number of others of this make have suffered the same fate. The most recent I saw on the dockside at Calais last week.
Would suggest you buy a good quality damp meter and a straight edge to check for bowing walls.
15th Jul 2011 2:05 pm
z4cAtS
Member Since: 05 May 2011
Location: M4 J13
Posts: 137
Abbey
Hello,
We originally had an Abbey Freestyle 560, (also known as a 330).
This is a 6 berth with fixed bunks at the back, which would suit your kids size wise.
You should be able to find a nice one for your money.
Had Swift. Compass and now have a Coachman Amara which is a well made van with plenty of room and spec is good. L shapes look nice but as said before no room if sitting in the front window Stick to your budget and shop about will be some good deals on 2011 models as the 2012 ones will be out soon.Range Rover Velar HSE First Edition
Disco Sport HSE Lux
Evoque Pure Tech Gone
Disco 3 Metropolis gone
Freelander ES sadly gone
Ant 1963 SWB Series 2 still here
Audi A4 gone
16th Jul 2011 9:29 am
zook69
Member Since: 18 Apr 2011
Location: Horsham
Posts: 242
thanks all, some great advice.
I'm liking the bunk bed ideas.
My damp meter unfortunately says it's too damp outside (it's tipping down here today) so trips to caravan shops are on hold for today!
thanks
RichDespite the cost of living, it remains as popular as ever!
16th Jul 2011 9:30 am
robsmith
Member Since: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 2392
Its the best weather to go and look at caravans as any water ingress from above will be very much in evidence - probably more applicable to old vans than new ones, but you never know....Rob Smith
Silver rools OK
16th Jul 2011 11:05 am
Curly
Member Since: 30 Sep 2011
Location: suffolk
Posts: 687
Have any of you got any pictures of Your disco with caravan. Just interested
1st Nov 2011 2:37 pm
mik
Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Skoatland
Posts: 912
zook69 wrote:
thanks for for Hobby info ... I saw a Hobby for sale on the internet last night.
We have a Fendt 490 that we are considering selling (not up for sale yet). Same spec and layout as THIS ONE but ours is either 2005 or 2007 (I need to check!).
Would come in well under your budget - great condition, and better fit / finish than the Hobby's (IMHO) without the same "traveller" association (although this demographic do use the larger twin-axle Fendt's too ~ for the reasons I've mentioned above )
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Stick to your budget and shop about will be some good deals on 2011 models as the 2012 ones will be out soon.
)
