No matter why you want a lightweight 2 berth caravan, there are plenty to choose from. But which lightweight 2 berth tourers are the best?
Here are the best 2 berth caravans under 1000kg:
- Swift Basecamp 2 SE: 932kg MiRO
- Bailey Discovery D4-2: 884kg MiRO
- Bailey Pursuit 400 (2017): 965kg MiRO
These caravans are all the best lightweight 2 berth caravans under 1000kg for different reasons. I’ll take a closer look at each one and list their pros and cons, which should help you choose the best one for your needs. Let’s start with the cool Swift Basecamp 2 SE.
Swift Basecamp 2 SE
The Swift Basecamp is an interesting caravan. Most caravans tend to put luxury higher up the list of priorities than practicality. However, the Swift Basecamp 2 SE seems to be different. The designers of this caravan seemed to prioritise practicality before anything – which is a good and a bad thing.
The Swift Basecamp 2 SE has a MiRO of 932kg. It’s a very light caravan, but it still contains everything that you need. The funky and functional design is very unique, but it reaches the intended target audience very well. Here are some of the key pros and cons of the Basecamp 2.
For a lightweight caravan, the Basecamp 2 SE has a capacious kitchen with everything you need. The kitchen contains a grill and oven combination, a 3-burner hob, a fridge, and plenty of worktop space. There’s everything here that a budding chef needs. There’s also plenty of storage, with two overhead lockers and plenty of drawers and cupboards maximising the space available.
The furnishings in this caravan are much more comfortable than they appear. The quirky design makes them seem functional primarily, but you’ll find comfort in sofas/bed.
There’s plenty of storage in the Basecamp 2 SE, much more than you will find in most caravans of this size. In the place of traditional lockers, the Basecamp 2 SE has canvas bags with zips. Handily, these bags are removable and you can fit more in them than you would fit in a locker. You can also raise and secure the bases of the seating, enabling you to store bikes and other big objects underneath. This is another excellent feature that the intended target audience will appreciate.
The main thing that lets the Basecamp 2 SE down is the small washroom. Some may not see this as a particular issue, but this is more akin to a wet room than anything else. Although the shower head is movable, you feel like you’re stumbling around the toilet when you’re having a wash. I, along with many others, prefer a washroom where the shower is in a separate cubicle rather than directly next to the toilet.
The intended target audience of the Basecamp is sporty, adventurous people using this as something as a ‘base’ to return to after adventures. This caravan obviously doesn’t expect its users to spend a lot of time lounging around the caravan. This is the perfect caravan for the target audience. And considering its weight, that’s why it’s one of the best lightweight 2 berth caravans.
Bailey Discovery D4-2
The Bailey Discovery D4-2 weighs just 884kg ex works and has a MTPLM of 995kg. It’s a particularly light caravan, so it’s towable with smaller cars. In addition, it’s easy to tow for people without years of towing experience. It’s the ideal starter caravan.
The Discovery D4-2 has a good-sized kitchen with all the appliances you need, including:
- Combination oven and grill
- 3-burner gas hob
- Stainless steel sink with cold and hot water
- Fridge with freezer compartment
- Overhead lockers
- Worktop space
In the kitchen, the hob has a cover as does the sink. This gives you more worktop space should you need it, as does the fold down worktop extension next to the 3-burner gas hob. The overhead lockers are ideal for storing everything from cutlery to spices and so on for cooking.
As you can see in images of the D4-2, there are numerous overhead lockers for storing your belongings. In a small caravan, plenty of storage space is a must. Bailey have really optimised the design of their smaller caravans to offer plenty of storage space. Furthermore, there are cupboards and drawers galore in this model.
At the rear of the caravan, there is a corner bathroom containing a storage cupboard, sink, integrated cassette toilet, and shower. This is one of the areas of the caravan that disappoints in my opinion. This is another washroom where there simply isn’t enough room to get washed for most people. On the other hand, will most people be using site facilities rather than those in their own caravan anyway? Depending on your requirements. this might be unimportant.
The Bailey Discovery D4-2 is currently available for £16,199. At this price, considering how light it is, it is a brilliant caravan and one of the best 2 berth caravans weighing less than 1000kg.
Bailey Pursuit 400 (2017)
Another lightweight caravan from Bailey is the Pursuit 400 (2017). The Pursuit range was updated for 2017, with this caravan one of the tourers updated. New features were added, while the weight was kept low.
The Pursuit 400 (2017) has a MiRO of just 965kg. That’s incredibly low when you consider how good this caravan actually is. This is one of the best 2 berth caravans under 1000kg for several reasons.
Starting off at the front of the caravan, the Bailey Pursuit 400 has an excellent lounge area that is more than big enough for two people. In this caravan, there is more than enough space to entertain guests should you wish to do so; quite the marvel, considering this caravan is designed with only two users in mind.
Despite the lounge area being relatively spacious for a small, lightweight caravan, it seems bigger than it is for two reasons: light furnishings and several large windows. There are three large windows surrounding the lounge area, which ensures the lounge is well-lit. Furthermore, there is also a sunroof above the lounge to further brighten things up. At night, you will benefit from spotlights above the sofas that can be adjusted as needed.
The kitchen of the Pursuit 400 is remarkably high-spec when you consider the price tag and the weight. In the kitchen, you’ll find:
- 3-burner hob
- 103L fridge
- Oven and grill combination
- Microwave
Older versions of the same caravan didn’t feature a microwave as standard, so this is a nice little extra. You’ll also find that worktop space in the kitchen is plentiful, relative to the size of the caravan. Worktop space can be extended, as there is an extension flap that folds up as needed. The only thing that lets down the kitchen is a lack of storage space, which is a given considering the size of the caravan. Obviously, you would have an extra locker if it wasn’t for the microwave that now comes as standard.
In my opinion, one thing really sets this caravan apart from competition of a similar size and weight: the remarkably large washroom for a caravan of this size. A washroom such as this is quite rare in small, lightweight 2 berth caravans. Rather than simply being a wet room, there is a comfortably-sized separate shower cubicle. This is separated from the rest of the washroom by a door rather than simply a shower curtain.
The lack of storage is perhaps the only disappointment here. Bailey had to take a hit somewhere to integrate a good-sized washroom. In most caravans of this size a sizeable cupboard would take up space that the washroom uses in the Pursuit 400. I think a big washroom is more important than lots of storage, but that’s just me. If you’d prioritise storage over a good washroom, this caravan might not be the one for you.
Which Lightweight 2 Berth Is Your Favourite?
The caravans I’ve mentioned in this blog post don’t feel like they’re missing important features because they’re lightweight. That’s why they’re the best 2 berth caravans weighing less than 1000kg.
Which of these caravans is the best in your opinion, and do you think you’ll be purchasing one of these? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
