The 2011 ABI Westwood static caravan reviewed

It is some time since we reviewed an ABI static caravan so it’s appropriate that for this review we have chosen the company’s top of the range Westwood caravan which has undergone a complete revamp for 2011. It is a 42ft x 13ft single unit caravan built on a fully galvanised heavy duty chassis and has uPVC cladding as standard with oak grained timber cladding as an option. French patio doors in the end wall of the lounge and uPVC double glazing are also included as standard.

The door into the static caravan leads directly into the dining and kitchen areas about halfway along the front elevation. Immediately on the left as you enter is an attractive extending dining table with four matching chairs, whilst to the right is a built-in fridge/freezer followed by a dishwasher. A washing machine is offered as an alternative to this latter item.

As you would expect in a top of the range caravan like this, the cottage style kitchen is very well appointed with regard to both standard equipment and the amount of storage available. Major features include a porcelain Belfast sink with a Victorian style pedestal tap, and a built-in hearth and over mantle housing a large twin cavity oven and a five burner Wok hob with electronic ignition. A microwave is also standard and as always, there is an extractor above the hob. It is also worth mentioning that very unusually, a clock has also been included as standard. White cupboard doors and draw fronts contrast the woodgrain finish of the base and wall units, the latter having downlights on their undersides supplementing the downlights in the vaulted ceiling. The floor in both the kitchen and dining areas is vinyl simulated quarry tiles.

A large archway from the kitchen and dining areas leads into the lounge. Taking up just under a third of the caravan’s floor area the lounge comes complete with a settee/sofa bed – increasing the sleeping capacity from four to six – and two armchairs, plus a freestanding display cabinet, a glass topped coffee table, and a TV cabinet in the corner of the room. On the back wall is the fireplace which incorporates an electric fire. Panoramic windows at the end of the caravan’s front and rear walls combine with the French doors to make the lounge light and airy. Lighting is via a four branch pendant ceiling light and two wall lights – one either side of the fireplace.

Going through the door from the kitchen, the first room of the left is the shower room. This has a large shower cubicle with a double hinged door next to which is a vanity unit with a large circular ceramic washbasin and modern mixer tap mounted on its top. Next to the vanity unit is the low level toilet below an obscure glazed window. In the corner of the room, next to the toilet, is the cupboard housing the gas boiler supplying the hot water and central heating for the caravan. An extractor fan is also a standard feature in the shower room.

A door on the right at the end of the corridor leads into the second bedroom. This has twin 6ft 3in x 2ft 3in beds behind which are two very attractive two tone padded headboards. Above the headboards is a row of wall cupboards spanning the width of the room whilst opposite the foot of the beds is a small dressing table with a curved front, adjacent to a wardrobe. On the wall above the dressing table is a 13 amp power point and a framed mirror. The wardrobe has two doors of equal depth reaching from the unit’s pelmet down to the dressing table top. Below the right-hand door are three drawers.

The second door at the end of the corridor leads into the caravan’s main bedroom which, together with its en suite bathroom takes up the full width of the Westwood. The bed here is 6ft 3in x 5ft 0in (kingsize) and has masses of storage under the lift up mattress. Behind the bed is a two tone padded headboard in the same style as those in the second bedroom. And also like the second bedroom, there is a row of wall cupboards above the headboard. Either side of the bed is a bedside cabinet each with a twin power socket on the wall above it.

Opposite the foot of the bed is a dressing table incorporating three cupboards plus a drawer and a stool. Above the dressing table is a unit containing a shelf, mirror, and downlights. At the other side of the doorway is a large double door wardrobe at 90 degrees to a second two and a half door wardrobe running along the back wall to the en suite bathroom. Below the half door are three drawers. Thus overall, this bedroom had a huge amount of storage.

In the corner of the bedroom is the en suite bathroom which is large enough to take a full size bath with mixer tap incorporating a handheld shower head. Next to the bath is a vanity unit on top of which is a large circular ceramic washbasin and mixer tap. Above the washbasin is a framed mirror, whilst on the opposite – end wall – of the caravan is a low level toilet with a concealed cistern. Again, as in the shower room, an extractor fan is standard. But neither the bathroom nor the shower room have tiled walls.

Vaulted ceilings and domestic style doors are standard throughout the caravan which also has full central heating with thermostatic valves to all the radiators, making the Westwood an all year round static caravan. It is also worth mentioning that a Jacuzzi bath is an optional alternative to the full size bath.

Main features

Heavy duty fully galvanised chassis

Family shower room

En suite bathroom

Dishwasher or optional washing machine

Large fridge/freezer

Domestic style doors throughout

Verdict:

The ABI Westwood packs in a lot of features as you would expect from a top of the range static caravan.  With its well equipped kitchen, spacious light and airy lounge, luxurious main bedroom the Westwood still represents good value for money. It can sleep up to 6 in comfort. A running theme throughout the caravan is its masses of storage space, making it also highly practical.

Specification

Type: Single holiday caravan

Standard: EN 1647

Size: 40ft x 13ft

Bedrooms: 2

For further information: ABI (UK) Ltd., Swinemoor Lane, Beverley, E. Yorks., HU17 0LJ. Tel: 01842 678000. Fax: 01482 887009. Email: [email protected] Website: www.abiuk.co.uk

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