David and Chrissie, a cost-conscious couple

Both in their 40s, David and Chrissie enjoy touring abroad, so would prefer a smaller caravan to keep ferry costs down and reduce stress when towing. They are happy to forsake having a fixed bed as a result. But that is just as well, because their budget of just £5000 and their smaller tow car means they probably couldn’t manage a caravan with one anyway…

1

2004 Elddis Avanté 362 The end-kitchen, two-berth layout was still going strong in the Elddis Avanté range until just a few years ago, and could well make a return in one of the brand’s ranges in future.

The russet upholstery and yellow wood colour here might be a bit off-putting, but you still get a very comfortable interior in just 3.68m internally.

That end kitchen, with its permanent drainer, along with the spacious sideboard, should provide David and Chrissie with plenty of room to enjoy all the

cuisine they come across on their European travels, and although the parallel settees work as single beds, they easily make up a comfortable double.

Price £3995

Berths 2

MTPLM 1100kg

Internal length 3.68m

Highbridge Caravans

highbridgecaravans.co.uk/ products/caravans/hccqf15 4494/2004-elddisavante-362

2

2003 Abbey Iona Vogue With an internal length of just over 5m, this is probably getting close to as large as David and Chrissie would want to go. But the extra 1.5m or so compared with the Avanté gives this similar layout just a little bit more room.

Abbey had been part of the Swift stable for almost a decade when this van was produced, but the name still held enough cachet among loyal customers for it to have survived so long under new management.

These days, there are plenty of Abbey caravans for sale. This excellent example includes a kitchen sink with a permanent drainer, and a very spacious shower in the washroom.

Price £3995

Berths 2

MTPLM 1060kg

Internal length 5.04m

Highbridge Caravans

highbridgecaravans.co.uk/ products/caravans/hccqf15 7535/2003-abbey-iona-vogue

3

2005 Abbey

Aventura 312

This two-berth, which is bang on the 85% weight limit for David and Chrissie’s tow car, has a layout you don’t really see any more these days.

The parallel settees at the front are standard, and come together with slats to make up a comfortable double bed.

However, at the back, you’ll find a corner washroom on the nearside by the door, and then the kitchen spread around the offside corner.

The washroom may appear rather squashed at first sight, but it does provide a sizeable shower, and the kitchen comes with an oven, a separate grill and loads of workspace.

Price £3499

Berths 2

MTPLM 1154kg

Shipping length 5.87m

Pearman Briggs Leisure

pearmanbriggs.co.uk/used/ caravans/abbey-aventura312-sold-as-seen-11374

‘David and Chrissie enjoy touring abroad, so would prefer a smaller caravan to keep ferry costs down’