Swift Basecamp
Discussion
chasingracecars said:
Our swift has been fine. Albeit second hand, maybe all the problems have been fixed?
Not sure if everyone respects the fact that to keep weight down things are not as robust as in the home.
Haven’t looked in new vans for a couple of years now but didn’t like the gloss look Swift went for a while a go.
From what I’ve read, and speaking occasionally to owners, it seems that the build quality of older campervans is generally better than new ones. Not sure if everyone respects the fact that to keep weight down things are not as robust as in the home.
Haven’t looked in new vans for a couple of years now but didn’t like the gloss look Swift went for a while a go.
That's one of the least bad caravans I've seen. I guess there might be a niche of people that don't want/need a big car (or to daily drive a campervan) for Mon-Fri and want something comfier than a tent for the weekends.
Can't see it displacing the campervan for outdoorsy types though, not least because you can do cheeky overnights in a carpark. Handy especially if you arrive late after a long drive up.
Good to see more of this sort of thing though - even in the campervan world, most are stuck firmly in "traditional" layouts and finishes (because I'm guessing their conservative middle-aged customers are the ones with the money to spend) but there's a few like Amdro doing different stuff.
Can't see it displacing the campervan for outdoorsy types though, not least because you can do cheeky overnights in a carpark. Handy especially if you arrive late after a long drive up.
Good to see more of this sort of thing though - even in the campervan world, most are stuck firmly in "traditional" layouts and finishes (because I'm guessing their conservative middle-aged customers are the ones with the money to spend) but there's a few like Amdro doing different stuff.
sjg said:
Good to see more of this sort of thing though - even in the campervan world, most are stuck firmly in "traditional" layouts and finishes (because I'm guessing their conservative middle-aged customers are the ones with the money to spend) but there's a few like Amdro doing different stuff.
Yep. Was exactly the point of my OP: just good to see some innovation.Balmoral said:
The build quality of an Eriba is pretty good, however they are tiny caravans with almost no equipment and nothing special either inside or out, they serve a niche, but in my opinion are massively overpriced based on what they actually are in terms of size/quality/construction.
I have a 2004 EribaNo water ingress at all for 13 yrs old van
Hob
Fridge
Heating
Toilet
Sink
What else do i need? If i need to carry bikes the Eriba can be fitted with a bike rack,which on the Swift you cannot as the door is in the way.
As to construction you need to see how they are built, unlike the sandwich stuff that others use the whole van is built on a welded box section,heavy but very strong.
The other bonus of the Eriba is the residuals.
I dont see any difference in these so called "lifestyle" vans other than £20 quids worth of lashing eyes and a bit of clever marketing for the hipsters.
They are still a caravan.
bristolracer said:
Eriba stuff
Yup, I understand and appreciate all that (I did actually nearly buy one last year), and the strong residuals do offset the high initial price, but they just seem so expensive to me, particularly when you're on the lot and you go from a bare tiny Eriba into a big plush fully loaded Challenger for the same sort of money.
I like the Basecamp, and I would have been the target demographic had I not had kids with bikes to carry and an active outdoor lifestyle. No good for 3 (almost 4 in a few weeks) so we ditched the campervan last year. And this year we've bitten the bullet and bought a caravan. No small little lifestyle vehicle but a 5 berth Bailey Pursuit. It's not full bells and whistles but its got a lot more than we're used to. I've only towed it once and it was a bit worrying to begin with being 25ft long but I think we will be ok. Looking forward to taking it out with our new addition in about 6 weeks!
Finally got to have a look around a BaseCamp at a local dealer last week, after months of relying on others' views 
I wasn't disappointed; it delivers exactly what Swift claim.
The reference to a budget hotel is not one I'd deny; in fact, I think it's a compliment. Swift have taken a Premier Inn approach to the product's brief. This isn't a caravan in the traditional sense. Its only similarity is that it's a box you tow. This has been keenly tailored at people wanting a lightweight and more comfortable existence to a tent to accompany outdoor pursuits.
This means that the list of features is the important stuff for people who may have been hiking, biking, rowing etc: physcial access, internal and external showers, good heating with remote control, functional interiors which are easy to keep clean, large beds and a very spacious kitchen to prep a decent post-exercise meal.
The feeling of space inside was amazing for such a little box, especially when sitting at the table. With large windows on three sizes and the high roof, there was no feeling of being in a small shelter at all.
So did we rush to the counter with the credit card? Not quite yet. It was, in fact, a weird psychological block which I'm sure will steer others to more traditional caravans or compact caravans, and that's the relative price.
It's £17.5k list (plus another grand for the awning if you have kids or want storage space). Which might have been fine, until you see a Swift caravan, three times the size, next to it for £22-23k
I'm certainly not tempted to trade up; I made clear in the OP that I have no interest in caravanning, and taking the opportunity last week to look at their full range hasn't changed that. They still make me shudder.
But it does leave me feeling that Swift has rather cynically decided that the target market for the BaseCamp also has more money than sense. Which is a shame, as I think they sell a shedload if they were a few grand less.
I wasn't disappointed; it delivers exactly what Swift claim.
The reference to a budget hotel is not one I'd deny; in fact, I think it's a compliment. Swift have taken a Premier Inn approach to the product's brief. This isn't a caravan in the traditional sense. Its only similarity is that it's a box you tow. This has been keenly tailored at people wanting a lightweight and more comfortable existence to a tent to accompany outdoor pursuits.
This means that the list of features is the important stuff for people who may have been hiking, biking, rowing etc: physcial access, internal and external showers, good heating with remote control, functional interiors which are easy to keep clean, large beds and a very spacious kitchen to prep a decent post-exercise meal.
The feeling of space inside was amazing for such a little box, especially when sitting at the table. With large windows on three sizes and the high roof, there was no feeling of being in a small shelter at all.
So did we rush to the counter with the credit card? Not quite yet. It was, in fact, a weird psychological block which I'm sure will steer others to more traditional caravans or compact caravans, and that's the relative price.
It's £17.5k list (plus another grand for the awning if you have kids or want storage space). Which might have been fine, until you see a Swift caravan, three times the size, next to it for £22-23k
I'm certainly not tempted to trade up; I made clear in the OP that I have no interest in caravanning, and taking the opportunity last week to look at their full range hasn't changed that. They still make me shudder.
But it does leave me feeling that Swift has rather cynically decided that the target market for the BaseCamp also has more money than sense. Which is a shame, as I think they sell a shedload if they were a few grand less.
Although I will sing the praises of my Eriba to anyone who is bored enough to listen.........
It has to be said,that unless storage is a problem, there isn't really any reason to have a small caravan.
You hitch it up and you move it, to where it stays. If its 10ft long or 22ft it really makes no odds.
It will be interesting to see how many basecamps they sell when as you say a 2 grand more buys you the full pie key experience.
It has to be said,that unless storage is a problem, there isn't really any reason to have a small caravan.
You hitch it up and you move it, to where it stays. If its 10ft long or 22ft it really makes no odds.
It will be interesting to see how many basecamps they sell when as you say a 2 grand more buys you the full pie key experience.
P.S. If you want to save a few quid over the Basecamp there's the similarly styled Adria Action. It's even got 'Action' in the name so you can reinforce how cool you are and definitely not an actual caravanner.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
After many years of owning campervans I've been thinking about buying a caravan. A small van would suit us and I like the look of the Basecamp. I'm 36 and earn ok But there is no way I would want to pay £17k for one and I don't know anyone my age who would. Maybe when the mortgage is paid off I might consider it but by then I'll want something more comfortable.
I can't see them selling many, which is a shame because if it was 10 years old and £5k I would be very interested along with quite a few others I know. I think we will go for a kip shelter or to be more precise a kompakt 300. You can pick up a 2008 for about £5k if you can find one for sale. Basic but that's what we want.
I can't see them selling many, which is a shame because if it was 10 years old and £5k I would be very interested along with quite a few others I know. I think we will go for a kip shelter or to be more precise a kompakt 300. You can pick up a 2008 for about £5k if you can find one for sale. Basic but that's what we want.
snake_oil said:
P.S. If you want to save a few quid over the Basecamp there's the similarly styled Adria Action. It's even got 'Action' in the name so you can reinforce how cool you are and definitely not an actual caravanner.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Same RRP as the BaseCamp... and there are some dealers out there discounting them to £15,995 too.https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
V8mate said:
It's £17.5k list (plus another grand for the awning if you have kids or want storage space). Which might have been fine, until you see a Swift caravan, three times the size, next to it for £22-23k
And at the end of the season, there will be at least price parity too. We are limited for space (access lane too narrow for a regular caravan) so considered an Eriba, but had the same mental block with pricing (It's how much? 
). I built a camper-van out of a minibus instead.Balmoral said:
V8mate said:
It's £17.5k list (plus another grand for the awning if you have kids or want storage space). Which might have been fine, until you see a Swift caravan, three times the size, next to it for £22-23k
And at the end of the season, there will be at least price parity too. We are limited for space (access lane too narrow for a regular caravan) so considered an Eriba, but had the same mental block with pricing (It's how much? ). I built a camper-van out of a minibus instead.I like that they run low-profile and then utilise a pop-up roof, and the interiors are good quality, well thought through and very comfortable.
But they're still the caravan I don't need in my life.
I'm not partisan - neither is better than the other. My only caveat is that people don't compare them as such, but respect that they service different requirements.
I see the Basecamp as value at £12,995 (including the 'plus pack', which is a ridiculous 'optional extra', as without it you've pretty much bought a Keter shed
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