The Caravan Club – September 2019

http://www.camc.com 75

T

here are numerous reasons why you might

want to buy a bigger caravan or motorhome.

A n a d d i t i o n to t h e f a m i l y m a y h a ve m a d e t h i n g s

m o re c ro w d e d , yo u r k i d s m i g ht r a p i d l y b e t u r n i n g

into teenagers, or perhaps the grandparents now

fancy coming along for the ride.

My children are growing up fast and I often

wonder whether we should take a leap and invest

in a bigger caravan or look at other sleeping

options using our current set-up. Just to set the

scene, our daughter Emily is now 15 and likes her

sleep and her own space, while 11-year-old Daniel

wakes up early and jumps around like a puppy.

A NEW CARAVAN...

We own a five-berth Bailey Orion 460 caravan,

which contains bunk beds, a dinette that converts

into a single bed and a front dining area that

transforms into a double. There is generally plenty

of space for our family of four, but now the kids are

September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine

Sammy Faircloth needs more room – should she invest in a

new ca rava n or u se a n aw n i n g to create more l iv i n g space?

DID YOU KNOW?

The ‘Practical Advice’

section of the Club

website contains a wealth

of expert information. See

camc.com/advice

older and taller we find that the bunks aren’t the

best option any more.

I recently researched new caravans and fixed

beds – bunks, singles and doubles – are clearly

very popular in leisure vehicle layouts at the

moment. Dinettes – which traditionally offer great

daytime ‘living’ space but can be turned into a bed

at night – are becoming harder to find. That’s

a shame because not only is a dinette incredibly

useful for mealtimes, it is also a great place for the

kids to play board games and have a bit of their

‘own’ space.

F i xe d b u n k s te n d to b e m a d e w i t h yo u n g

children in mind – in some caravans they can be

l e s s t h a n 2 f t w i d e – s o f i xe d s i n g l e b e d s e i t h e r s i d e

of a central corridor may be a better option for

bigger kids and teenagers.

I love the concept of fixed double beds, but

sometimes they can make access to the

washroom difficult at night. Think carefully about

PRACTICAL FAMILIES

your choice of layout if you have children

o r ex p e c t g u e s t s to s t a y o ve r, p a r t i c u l a r l y i f yo u a re

a light sleeper!

My advice if you are looking to upgrade – take

the children with you and get them to test the

sleeping arrangements.

An awning can

dramatically increase

your living space;

dinettes are great in

the daytime (below);

fixed double bed

option (bottom)