Swift Basecamp
Discussion
Dragging a mobile rapeshed around behind the car does nothing for me. And that's before you get anywhere close to starting with the 'itinerant community' references.
But this is kinda neat?
https://www.swiftbasecamp.co.uk/discover-basecamp
I've been threatening for some years now to indulge in a motorhome of some kind. Possibly even building my own (paying someone else to build it to my spec!)
But the level of thought and detail in the Base Camp^ is pretty impressive! And I like the 'compact plus tent' approach.
Does the PH TC&M community know of any other manufacturers who have similar/comparable models?
But this is kinda neat?
https://www.swiftbasecamp.co.uk/discover-basecamp
I've been threatening for some years now to indulge in a motorhome of some kind. Possibly even building my own (paying someone else to build it to my spec!)
But the level of thought and detail in the Base Camp^ is pretty impressive! And I like the 'compact plus tent' approach.
Does the PH TC&M community know of any other manufacturers who have similar/comparable models?
Yep - given that it is clearly being marketed at 'sporty couples', a cleverly designed (and secure) bike mounting system would have been a great optional extra.
I've been reading up on it some more this afternoon, and it seems that they are also marketing it at people with quite small cars. It doesn't weigh much and has a very small payload. (just over 100kg)
I've been reading up on it some more this afternoon, and it seems that they are also marketing it at people with quite small cars. It doesn't weigh much and has a very small payload. (just over 100kg)
Balmoral is being ridiculously PH by suggesting that it's a 'crappy budget caravan' because it is clearly everything but. The thought and attention to detail is bleedingly obvious. And deriding lifestyle is bizarre - lifestyle sells everything these days, and there are key things such as a large fridge for such a small overall unit, which play straight into the appeal for the kind of people who might be interested in this.
As I said in the OP, my starting position is that I wouldn't be seen dead dragging a caravan around with me, so telling me that I can have a big one for a fraction of the price is of no value whatsoever. Even photos of caravan interiors - with their puffy soft furnishings and garish covers - make me cringe. Maybe I was murdered in one in a previous life.
And eighteen grand doesn't buy anything in the campervan market. I did quite a bit of analysis regarding a self-build and any which way, the budget came out around £30k.
I'm not saying this Basecamp thing is the perfect solution to anyone's holidaying requirements... mine included... but I did just think that it made a significant break - from a concept and design perspective - from the traditional UK caravan market.
As I said in the OP, my starting position is that I wouldn't be seen dead dragging a caravan around with me, so telling me that I can have a big one for a fraction of the price is of no value whatsoever. Even photos of caravan interiors - with their puffy soft furnishings and garish covers - make me cringe. Maybe I was murdered in one in a previous life.
And eighteen grand doesn't buy anything in the campervan market. I did quite a bit of analysis regarding a self-build and any which way, the budget came out around £30k.
I'm not saying this Basecamp thing is the perfect solution to anyone's holidaying requirements... mine included... but I did just think that it made a significant break - from a concept and design perspective - from the traditional UK caravan market.
Balmoral said:
Sorry, I retract crappy.
Manufacturers across Europe have budget vans that don't carry the traditional British caravan interior decor baggage (which is pretty much a thing of the past anyway). Much more expensive models in the Swift range (and from other marques) can be had for far less, particularly at the end of the season run out as next years models hit the pitch. It didn't seem good value to me. I appreciate V8 doesn't really like caravans, so I can see the appeal, I do actually quite like it. Swift look to be copying the original Basecamp with this, same target demographic.
Manufacturers across Europe have budget vans that don't carry the traditional British caravan interior decor baggage (which is pretty much a thing of the past anyway). Much more expensive models in the Swift range (and from other marques) can be had for far less, particularly at the end of the season run out as next years models hit the pitch. It didn't seem good value to me. I appreciate V8 doesn't really like caravans, so I can see the appeal, I do actually quite like it. Swift look to be copying the original Basecamp with this, same target demographic.
Fair comment.
Balmoral said:
Very smart. $36,000 (c.£27,000) though.Reading through the various pages about the Airstream, my eyes fell on this image. Before I'd moved to read the caption I had a 'Eureka!' design moment: these little caravans should have super-strong cables - secured to the chassis - which can be pulled from an aperture to allow bikes to be locked to them overnight.
ETA: That exchange rate pricing^ tells too simplistic a story. Airstream Europe charge €53,897 for it
Edited by V8mate on Tuesday 9th January 14:25
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.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.
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...
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
)Output Flange said:
Balmoral said:
considered an Eriba, but had the same mental block with pricing (It's how much? ).
I had the same thought. But, when you look at the residual values the actual cost of ownership looks like it will be pretty low. ).The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
Output Flange said:
V8mate said:
That is certainly a really important factor. I saw a very smart 2004 Eriba in eBay for £12,995. Barely dropped 50% in 14 years!
The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
From what I've seen, Airstreams and Eribas seem to have strong residuals, and pretty much nothing else really does.The subject of this thread - as it is the different proposition I keep suggesting - has no such basis or track record upon which to plan!
I don't think there's anything about the Basecamp in particular that would make me think it'll perform differently.
Would you be hiring a caravan or motorhome anyway? Does saving that cost influence your decision? We had a week's motorhome hire planned for this year that would have cost £1300. That saving alone is worth a couple of years in depreciation costs!
At the moment, we tend to go to a place with bikes etc and rent a property, so this would replace that... £60-80/night cost, but hopefully opening us up to more interesting location opportunities.
I'm really crap at including residuals in financial decisions though. I absolutely and fully understand how car leases work, for example, but am one of those dummies who can't look past the 'yeah, but after I give it back I have nothing' issue. So, equally, when I buy something, I never think that I'll own it for x years, then sell it and it'll only have cost me the usage/depreciation. I always buy the whole thing assuming that I'll take it to the tip when I'm done.
That approach - which I realise is unhelpful - means that I have to see value in the whole purchase price. And why this toy struggles to make sense at seventeen grand.
Chicken Chaser said:
richardxjr said:
I'm target market for the BaseCamp - first time vanner, active bicyclist who travels around doing outdoorsy stuff. Kid and dog too.
Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
I'd take lightweight over luxury if the option was there. Are we the target demographic if we've got kids?Figured If I'm going to drag a shed around it may as well be the biggest luxuryist thing I can fit on the car. And half that budget please.
Why would buy a £17k caravan that only slept 2 and then go and buy an expensive awning to sleep in? I might as well just buy an air tent and trailer, or an Opus.
(At £990, bespoke doesn't come cheap, however!)
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff