Compare two van layouts for a single

wfdTamar · Veteran Member

Compare two van layouts for a single

Woody n Sue · Guru

Well my two bobs worth to get the ball rolling
Van A seems the best to my little male mind for a single traveler for the reasons you list , but being one who likes a comfortable bed my surgestion would be that a single person will not need two couches not even sure that two people would so why not alter one of those couches to a permanent bed with a proper mattress , would this then make your choice much simpler as the other creature comforts seem a better fit to me than van B especially the dry toilet

Woody

Meredith · Senior Member

I agree with Woody that making a permanent bed up on one of the couches in the smaller van would seem to be a good idea. You could look at changing over the cushion on it for a proper mattress.

I'm guessing you are intending to stay in a caravan park in Queensland and along the way? Both vans have a very small payload, the larger van in particular, but I guess 1 person travelling reasonably lightly with empty water tank could manage it. Either van set up for free camping would almost certainly go over the ATM.

TheHeaths · Guru

Be aware that the ball weights you note for the vans are probably empty ball weights, and will rise when you load the van for travel. I doubt you will be able to load the van and meet the ball weight for your vehicle

As Meredith says, the load allowance of both is low, and will mean you need to be very careful with what you pack, and also what you try to set up for free camping (if that is your aim) with respect to solar panels or batteries.

wfdTamar · Veteran Member

Found another van which is a compromise between the two.

Type A - Geist LV485

Type B - Geist LV555

Van C - Bailey Orion 430-4
They've squeezed the seperate bed layout into the length of the Type A by shortening the couch's to 2 seaters (which does mean you can't lay on them though). The ones I found are a lot more expensive than the other two types, but much newer (2013/4 vs 2005, $22-7k vs $38-40k).

www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/detail/bailey-orion-4304-caravan-2013-model-561228

Now looking into buying new in the UK then shipping it here. Surprisingly cheap. 16,000 pounds for van (20% of that is refundable VAT), 2880 shipping and import costs. Total 15680 pounds A$28,570. Then theres converting it to Australian standards - not sure what that would cost. Drawback is no warranty. That kind of money for one 6-8 years old here. Thought you could have a holiday in it over there first.

New price in Australia is about $50-52,000.

-- Edited by wfdTamar on Monday 30th of April 2018 11:15:57 PM

denmonkey · Senior Member

As a single person who was talking into a double island bed, I can tell you I would now have much prefered a east-west bed to get the extra usable floor space.
Crawling over someone to get in bed is not an issue ...such is the shame :)

I went to a caravan to avoid the 'setup' process of previous camp scenarios.
That meant having a bed that I can crawl into even on the side of the road as a pit stop without having to set up all the time.

BUT I also like smaller sized vans with what I need in them over having a larger van just to have more space between the things I need.
So basically as small as I can get it with only the things I need.

All that said, what is it you need and what from your van ?
Is setting a bed up every day going to poop you ?

cheers Brett