Marquis Majestic 504

Ideal if you’re in the market for a sweet all-rounder for a couple or family of four

The Majestic 504 is, basically, a really SoLiD Elddis Xplore 504 (as detailed in the Key Features) with lots of goodies added to the mix by Marquis.

Marquis, Britain’s biggest caravan group with 11 dealerships across the country (marquisleisure.co.uk) supplied the spiffing 504 for our Sightseers tour.

It was the perfect choice, with a huge fixed double at the back (for the editor) and a make-up double at the front (for the features editor)! It took literally three minutes to make up the front bed and Ben’s contented snoring confirmed that it was very comfortable.

The Whale blown-air heating proved pleasingly efficient, which is always good when you’re camping atop a wind-blown Moor. It took about 30 to 40 minutes to get the interior temperature right up to t-shirt heat!

Shower room

The rear-end washroom is perfectly spacious and features loo, basin and a decent shower cubicle, plus plenty of storage. It doesn’t have a window but does have a rooflight/vent.

Storage

You’re rarely short of storage with a fixed-double bed and storage underneath, but the 504 also boasts a wardrobe and loads of lockers. This makes it ideal for couples and families, even for extended breaks.

Kitchen and cooking

The 504’s kitchen offers plenty of worktop space as well as a decent-sized sink unit and three-plus-one, dual-fuel hob. Below is a compact but usable Thetford oven and grill, and a neat Dometic fridge that’s ideal for two (or four with careful packing). Opposite is more worktop and a well-sized Daewoo microwave. Add in an extendable worktop section and very good storage and you have a really effective kitchen.

Sometimes kitchen space comes at the expense of lounge space, but the 504 features two well-sized sofas that could be used by kids or smaller adults for sleeping on, without making up the front double.

Lounge and dining

This 504 has no centre console, just a fold-up shelf, so we extricated the folding table for dining on. Thigh room between sofa and table was better than most, which made dining comfortable and enjoyable for two. It will be cosy with four.

When it came to relaxing in the evening, we’d grab a couch each and watch a DVD with the laptop perched on the kitchen worktop. This worked well, thanks to plenty of well-placed plug points, which also allowed us to recharge our cameras, phones, computers and so on.

Towing

Elddis can rest safe in the knowledge that Northampton-based dealer Marquis has only added the best of specification upgrades and equipment to this Xplore 504 base caravan to enhance the tourer without compromising weight or stability.

The Marquis Majestic 504, coupled with Editor Sootheran’s VW Passat CC, towed impeccably well, dealing with the demanding Dales roads, managing perfectly well on the M6 motorway and trundling through twisty Lake District terrain with no hint of a struggle on our tour.

Having put a few towcars through their paces at Millbrook Proving Ground for the Towcar of the Year competitions, we know what to expect when it comes to stability and control on the move. Still, you can never be sure until you factor in other lorries powering past you or when you need to manoeuvre through traffic and tight spaces.

The 504’s BPW Swing Vtec chassis inspired confidence at speed or on inclines, and if you’re still not convinced, wait for the following instalment of our Sightseers tour where we take on the Lake District’s Kirkstone Pass, towing all the way!

You can see the brilliant Majestic 504 at any one of Marquis’ 11 dealerships around the country.

The Majestic is an impressive caravan in all respects: towing, sleeping, lounging, cooking and washing