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*Caravan insurance
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For big families, sleeping accommodation is only part of the layout choice factor as flexibility in use is also key. And if you need to sleep only three or four people then a six-berth caravan may still be your best option. Here are nine of the best…
Sterling Europa 565:
Europas may be in the middle echelons of price but the build quality is high - and so is the finish. Take the inclusion of positive catches on all the locker doors, for example. There are two television points, three mains sockets, and a dual-fuel hob (one mains hotplate amid the three gas burners). They also have AL-KO Secure Wheel Lock receivers, so you have the option of buying the lock itself, which will attract a caravan insurance discount.
This Europa has a lot going for it. The model is light in weight - and Europas are big on style, with pale woodwork outlined with a dark chocolate colour and upholstery that perfectly tones with both.
Fact-file:
Price: £14,554
Berths: 6
Axles: 1
MRO: 1259kg
MTPLM: 1490kg
Overall length: 7.19m
Body length: 5.50m
Overall width: 2.22m
Headroom: 1.95m
Insurance Cost: £245 *
Bailey Olympus 546:
For spec, this package is up among the best. You get the ATC trailer stability system again attracting an insurance discount, shock absorbers and a wheeled fresh water tank that goes into a hatch under the lounge. The hob has four burners and the kitchen's large rectangular sink ensures washing up lots of plates isn't a struggle. All plumbing is in-board, making this caravan suitable for year-round use. And the headroom is 1.96m
Fact-file:
Price: £14,695
Berths: 6
Axles: 1
MRO: 1222kg
MTPLM: 1457kg
Overall length: 7.87
Body length: 6.29m
Overall width: 2.19m
Headroom: 1.96m
Insurance Cost: £222 *
Elddis Avante 556:
This is another triple-bunk model, this time with front parallel lounge that gives you adult-length, single-bed options. Importantly, this model scores over most of its rivals by the presence of a rail designed for drying towels, suspended at ceiling level.
The bottom two bunks fold up to give you great storage opportunities and two of the bunks have windows. Overall storage isn't lacking although head-height lockers in this range are narrow. Under-bed lockers get front access hatches except for the rear one, which opens only from the top. You also have the option to fit the BPW IDC electronic anti snaking device.
Fact-file:
Price: £14,599
Berths: 6
Axles: 1
MRO: 1283
MTPLM: 1498
Overall length: 5.44m
Body length: 7.17m
Overall width: 2.24m
Headroom: 1.91m
Insurance Cost: £242 *
Lunar Lexon TL:
This maximum-length model is a fabulously practical caravan in so many ways. It sleeps four in full-length single beds and two more on rising bunks above the two rear settees. It has a huge kitchen in which catering for six would be easy. The shower is separate and storage is everywhere.
You have the advantage of twin-axle stability. You also get, with a tall tow vehicle, a good view through the rear window of the caravan. Unusually, the rear lounge is as large as the front. This caravan has the AL-KO Secure Receiver and the option for ATC so you could again take advantage of generous caravan insurance discounts if you pay for a few optional extras.
Fact-file:
Price: £18,395
Berths: 6
Axles: 2
MRO: 1489kg
MTPLM: 1818kg
Overall length: 7.95m
Body length: 6.27m
Overall width: 2.29m
Headroom: 1.95m
Insurance Cost: £336 *
Swift Challenger 625:
This caravan offers more flexibility of use than most other layouts. That's because, for six, you have two central bunks, two singles at the front and a fixed double. If you only have four, or three aboard, you can keep the two-seater dining area in permanent day-mode, providing a great breakfast area for the early risers. Or you can keep the lounge free of beds by sleeping two in the offside dining area.
The kitchen is big, you have the convenience of a 40-litre under-floor insulated water tank with automatic fill control system, an alarm - and five mains power sockets. The big Challenger is a well-appointed, fine family caravan. It comes with a tilt sensor alarm as standard, but to get even more big caravan insurance discounts you could choose the optional AL-KO Secure, ATC and Hal Locate GPS tracking system.
Fact-file:
Price: £17,875
Berths: 6
Axles: 1
MRO: 1283kg
MTPLM: 1498kg
Overall length: 5.44m
Body length: 7.17m
Overall width: 2.24m
Headroom: 1.91m
Insurance Cost: £299 *
Elddis Avante 626:
This caravan has a big living area with useful options about sleeping arrangements if there are fewer than six in the family. The kitchen is of a generous size but the hob has only three burners, compared with the Swift's three gas burners plus a mains hotplate. It lacks the Challenger's inboard water tank - but it's cheaper and lighter, so a better option for weight-watching families. As per the 556, BPW IDC is an option.
Fact-file:
Price: £15,749
Berths: 6
Axles: 2
MRO: 1460kg
MTPLM: 1686kg
Overall length: 7.89m
Body length: 6.15m
Overall width: 2.23m
Headroom: 1.91m
Insurance Cost: £261 *
Lunar Quasar 626:
One of this luxuriously large caravan's strong points is its kitchen. The room divider incorporates a television cabinet with metal-effect roller front. Below is the table store and, forward of it is another roller-fronted, two-shelf deep cupboard that's perfect for tall items.
Storage options are good in the bedroom, too; there's a useful six-deep-shelf cupboard just beside the vanity unit, with a cupboard beneath. Lots of good detail, then - but the real star point of this model is that it gives you berths for six and a fixed bed on twin axles within a maximum weight of only 1560kg.
Fact-file:
Price: £16,135
Berths: 6
Axles: 2
MRO: 1350kg
MTPLM: 1560kg
Overall length: 7.88m
Body length: 6.40m
Overall width: 2.16m
Headroom: 1.91m
Insurance Cost: £294 *
Bailey Ranger GT 540/6:
Sit down at the rear settee and look along the length of the caravan and you realise two things: this caravan looks more spacious than it is. You also realise that the quality and firm feel of the upholstery gives you the impression that it’s built to last. This may be in a budget bracket but quality is there nonetheless.
Fact-file:
Price: £13,020
Berths: 6
Axles: 1
MRO: 1124kg
MTPLM: 1350kg
Overall length: 7.18m
Body length: 5.41m
Overall width: 2.19m
Headroom: 1.90m
Insurance Cost: £233 *
Coachman Amara 570/6
This caravan's star feature is that it has a separate shower in the central offside compartment. The Amara is not amazingly light in weight or price - but, in typically Coachman tradition, everything you touch and see has the quality stamp. You get an extractor fan, barbecue point and Italian-styled hardwood-framed cabinetry. A very refined caravan.
Fact-file:
Price: £16,085
Berths: 6
Axles: 1
MRO: 1394kg
MTPLM: 1600kg
Overall length: 7.56m
Body length: 5.80m
Overall width: 2.26m
Headroom: 1.91m
Insurance Cost: £293 *
insurance discount, premiums based on:
2010 Sterling Europa 565 valued at £14,554, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp, AL-KO secure wheel lock (£200 extra).
2010 Bailey Olympus 546 valued at £14,695, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp, AL-KO secure wheel lock (£190 extra).
2010 Elddis Avante 556 valued at £14,599, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp, alarm system and iDC stability system (iDC standard on this model).
2010 Lunar Lexon TL valued at £18,395, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp and approved tracking device.
2010 Swift Challenger 625 valued at £17,875, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp, alarm (standard on this model) and approved tracking device.
2010 Elddis Avante 626 valued at £15,749, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp, alarm system and iDC stability system (iDC optional on this model).
2010 Lunar Quasar 626 valued at £16,135, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp and approved tracking device.
2010 Bailey Ranger GT50 540/6 valued at £13,020, fitted with hitchlock and wheel clamp.
2010 Coachman Amara 570/6 valued at £16,085, fitted with hitchlock, wheel clamp and alarm system.
All kept on drive behind locked gates at HX4 0BE. Caravanners over 30 years old, claim free for 3 years and a member of a caravanning club. Premiums include insurance premium tax at 5% and an online discount of 10% and are correct as of 14.07.10.
Source: GoCaravan
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