Price: £13980 MPTLM: 1392kg

Series 6 Senator Vermont
The overall winner of our rally tourer review is the Bailey Series 6 Senator Vermont. It is well designed and equipped, offering outstanding value for money. Quite apart from the usual equipment necessary for year-round rallying, the price tag includes AL-KO's all-singing, all-dancing ATC stability control and the Tracker stolen vehicle recovery system. Had these last two features not been included as standard, we would have been hard put to differentiate between it and Fleetwood's 2008 Meridien 480-2. In addition, Bailey's bodyshell warranty is for six years, as opposed to the five years from Fleetwood. So, although the £13,980 Vermont costs £485 more than the Meridien, we believe this Senator offers better value for money.
 • Full write-up and pictures in the Awards issue 2007.

Price: £14995 MPTLM: 1350kg

Avocet Champaign
The Avocet is the smallest of Avondale's top-range 'bird' models that have been so popular with both ralliers and non-ralliers over the years. It's a two-berth which has been around for long enough to prove the quality of its design and build. That said, it isn't the lightest of tourers, despite its internal length of only 4.88m. But then, not every two-berth of this size is equipped with a 113-litre fridge or real wood fronts to the lockers, never mind all the other items which are standard in this range. The Avocet is a caravan for confirmed rallying couples who want the luxury of a washroom with one of the largest wardrobes you are likely to come across in any caravan. For a tourer of this size Avocet is anything but cheap, but we know it certainly appeals to those enthusiasts who are prepared to pay the price for what they want.
 • Full write-up and pictures in the Awards issue 2007.

Price: £11495 MPTLM: 970kg

Ariva
What better two-berth for the couple who want to continue touring without tugging a heavy van, than the Lunar Ariva? It's a lightweight, narrow, two-berth which has been part of the Lunar line-up for more than ten years, probably because it has everything necessary to make year-round rallying a pleasure. Despite being less than 3.63m long and 2.6m wide, its standard features include a gas/electric water heater, shower, swivel toilet and blown-air space heater. Other thoughtful additions are double-glazing, flyscreens and blinds, a tilt-and-slide rooflight, and a spare wheel – the sort of equipment that would only have been found in top-of-the-range vans less than 20 years ago. Other models have come and gone, but the Ariva goes on – a sure sign of its popularity.
 • Full write-up and pictures in the Awards issue 2007.

Price: £12295 MPTLM: 1365kg

Series 6 Pageant Champaign
Our choice of a van for a young couple with two small children – or a couple without kids – is the Bailey Series 6 Pageant Champagne. It is loaded with all the goodies you'll need for a weekend rally without electric hook-ups. In addition, we consider Bailey's six-year bodyshell warranty against water ingress and delamination to be extremely important for ralliers, who use their vans far more than most other caravanners. The sleeping arrangements in the Champagne comprise either two single beds or one large double at the front and a single with a bunk above it in the dinette. Other features worth noting include the superb rear washroom, and a well-appointed kitchen, with a 117-litre fridge and a full oven incorporating a grill and a four-burner hob. This is truly a rally caravan for all seasons.
 • Full write-up and pictures in the Awards issue 2007.

Price: £13995 MPTLM: 1555kg

Challenger 520
The Swift Challenger 530 has lots in common with the Pageant Champagne – the same layout and four berths including a side-dinette bunk. Having said that, the Challenger's MTPLM is 1555kg – 190kg more than the Bailey – and its £13,995 price tag is £1700 more than the Pageant's. With the two rivals having such similar equipment, it's difficult to understand why their weights and prices should be so different. On the other hand, there's no doubting Swift's popularity with the rallying fraternity, many of whom are dedicated to the brand. For those who aren't committed Swift followers, the choice between the Challenger 530 and the Pageant Champagne will probably come down to three factors: price, whether their towcar weighs enough to be a suitable match, and whether a buyer likes its looks.
 • Full write-up and pictures in the Awards issue 2007.