Full review

THIS is right, bang, second-to-bottom in TEC’s range at £8108. So what I’m expecting is small, basic, functional.

What I get is a very nice looking fresh exterior design. The skin has a dimpled texture and the shape is curved and stylish. Even this little thing has the strong gas locker construction of all the TECs; tough aluminium bases and no door wobble.

So, funky exterior aside, what is distinctive about this caravan? The bunks convert into a garage for one thing. There’s a half height side door to the bunk area and the bottom bunk lifts up giving a huge storage area.

As you tie the bottom bunk’s base out of the way, the front of the bed frame stays in place. The side door allows you to wheel bicycles and so on into the end of the caravan without having to lift them over the frame, a melamine board which looks a bit vulnerable to breakage.

A curtain pulls across to hide everything. These bunks are full single bed size – big enough for teenagers or adults, with sprung-slatted bases.
 
This is an eminently practical caravan for storing bikes and small canoes because there is no carpet. The flooring is a cream coloured vinyl wood strip effect. It’s a sweep-clean sort of caravan, not a vacuum-and-primp-up sort of caravan.

So what don’t you get in something that’s so very pared down for weight and price? No sofa or bed springs and there are square cut cushions with hard edges and corners.

Small kitchen (the test caravan doesn’t have an oven or grill, but these will be built in for the UK). No electric heating – gas only for the Truma S3002. No shower but frankly there wouldn’t be room for one. There are just not quite enough lights – it could do with spots in the corners above the dinette. Finally, and most crucially, there is no hot water.

What it does have, is a liberal dose of stylish simplicity. It feels like a good, honest caravan, with very few frills. However, there is an onboard water tank. There’s also an absolutely huge U-shaped dinette.

I really warmed to the little Travelbird. It doesn’t have all the luxuries, but it does have a lovely shape and a good deal of practicality for a small family.

Fact-file:

Price £8108
Berths: 4
Overall length: 6.10m (20ft)
Internal length: 4.25m
(13ft 11in)
Overall width: 2.29m (7ft 6in)
Overall height: 2.58m (8ft 6in)
Headroom: 1.95m (6ft 5in)

B

•    A full version of this review appeared in the February 2008 issue of Which Caravan. To order a road test reprint contact Tina Beaumont on 01778 391187.

To subscribe to the magazine, click here.