Full review

White Arches’ exclusive Archway range of special edition caravans first appeared in 1993. Throughout those 21 years Archways have been based on Swift Group caravans. Today’s Archways are special editions of the Sprite range.

There are six models, a two-berth, two four-berths with fixed beds, and two six-berths. One of those is based on the new-for-2014 Sprite Quattro EW and the other is based on the Sprite Major 6 TD. That’s the one we picked as an example of the Archway range.

Its layout gives you two bunk beds and two more beds to make in a dining area alongside the bunks.   The settees are full single-bed   length. The shower room, amidships on the offside, has a separate shower. So far, so Sprite-like. And so good. But White Arches has taken this already-popular brand and made it its own, by adding a raft of extra equipment and plush fabrics which elevate the model to luxury level.

There’s more than the plush warm-fawn soft, but hardwearing, fabric, teamed with rich purple, to catch your eyes as you step inside a 21 Archway. It’s the amount of daylight in the lounge. That’s not only about the sunroof which is part of the 21 Archway additional specification. It’s because this feature is combined with one of Sprite’s brilliant features, the panoramic single-piece front window.

The lounge seems like a good place to start our look at the features that the 21 Archway gives you over and above a standard Sprite. We nestle into the two large magenta cushions (with big, bold purple floral design) and turn on the central heating…

The 21 Archway models have Truma’s new control panel, with a single rotary knob to select the functions. That accounts for £100 of the special-edition value. The fabrics add up to £350 and the sunroof is £335. Outside, two items each add £150 of value. These are the barbecue point and mains socket (ideal if you want to power a table light in your awning, for example). On top of those items, 21 Archways are equipped with the Sprite Diamond Pack; that adds £445 to the cost of a Sprite and gives you items including alloy wheels, a steel spare wheel, a microwave oven, a hitch-head stabiliser, a JVC radio CD unit (with ceiling-mounted Blaupunkt speakers) and an AL-KO Secure wheel lock receiver (you can buy the lock to fit it for around £200 if you wish).

The 21 Archway Sport 21/6BB (BB stands for bunk beds) costs £16,475. That price includes the normal retailer delivery fee of £545. If you’re comparing it with a standard Sprite Major 6 TD, you’d pay £15,935 from White Arches; this retailer’s price for all Sprites includes the Diamond Pack. So, for £540 more than the standard model, you get £1000-worth of extras.

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