Spacious caravan for couples and families - 2023 Swift Icon T4/8 from Kimberley

[@karenkouns577]

To both you and Dougal. Thanks for sharing!

[@mentonish]

Another great review, they should take note of your valid comments, all those usb posts ect

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Love my swifts. I have just bought this model & I pick it up this week. Can’t wait. We did discuss the comment about no hot plate so we are buying a lightweight single induction to solve that problem roughly about £20 to £30. 👍🇬🇧

[@andrewjditton]

If you get the table out with the chest top pulled out, it really does bring a whole new meaning to 'being sat at the top table!' ;@)

[@berniebne8243]

I'm not in the market for that sort of caravan. That said it seems to have more good points than bad. Sadly along with other builders they seem to place usb points in the silliest positions. The towel rail can be sorted, but you shouldn't have to. They found a neat solution for the table then messed up the washroom. Please continue to go on about the blue lights then something may get done about them. You look as though you need to get back to N. Uist to recharge the batteries. All the best to you & Dougal.

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Bernie! Yes, this was my last visit in a three month road trip on my way back home :)

[@paoloallen]

Great video Andrew... must admit we have a Swift van and love it... they are so well built and never let us down... cheers 'The Camp Caravanners' x

[@martingilligan]

You soon learn the way to close the truma covers is not to push it shut but put your thumb in the middle and pull out the bottom with your hand as you close them.

[@Senna-xi1gr]

As far as the usb sockets above bed I just re routed them to bed side & put a cap into the old hole . Result

[@yaminthegrey]

Hari OM hmmmm... quite like the layout, but I couldn't help but feel the build quality was a bit lacking (like that drawers in cupboards business... and what's with all the USB sockets in or near the ceiling?! I do enjoy your explorations, Andrew - and of course, the bonus of Dougal to close 😃 YAM xx

[@scottelwood8746]

Thank you for the great review. If your doing reviews I would like to see one one the TAB. We have a 2022 TAB 400 across the big pond. Thanks

[@lindakirk698]

Good review Andrew. Shame Swift haven't lowered the mtplm for modern low weight cars. This would really benefit entry class vans! We couldn't toow it. Needs a hotplate, needs vent above shower & kitchen. Silly usb placement. Our van is 6 yrs old, NOT 8ft wide and it has 3 +1 hotplate, seperate oven & grill, NO usbs (easily sorted), sunroof window at front, hecki in lounge, kitchen, bedroom & shower. It has a decent solar oanel on the roof & I'd pitch it against this Swift one anyway! Ans what's all this about leds - just shut your eyes & go to sleep! We never darken our van down fully - non of our heckis covered, not all blinds pulled down/ up. No problems sleeping

[@andrewjditton]

I can't sleep with blue lights piercing into my eyes! But yes, we're all different, hence so many different caravans.

[@hywel3143]

Hi Andrew, good to catch your talk at the NEC. Traffic was terrible on the Tuesday, so we missed the first five mins of your Grossglocker talk - sorry! I think this is a nice family van with sensible flatter lounge cushions and a pleasant light wood effect and nice, functional blackout blinds. Not sure about the make up bed, though - not flat enough and looks like it would move at night. I have a basic fix for the Dometic fridge indicator light panel which is also is my Knaus 400 LK. I just use a thin section of black electrical tape to cover all but the top power led indicator such that I can also see the indicator led immediately below, since I tend to run the fridge on full or nearly full cooling power. I also cover nearly all of the auto indicator led etc on the bottom row, but let jut enough light escape so that I can still tell the setting. I seem to have a track record of buying vehicles with leds that look inconspicuous in daylight yet look like lighthouse beams at night - remember that Lyseo 690G control panel from your Wohnfühlen winter tour?!

[@andrewjditton]

Ha ha, I do indeed! But not as much as James remembers it ;) My fix for the fridge lights is way more low-tech, I just roll up a pair of shorts and balance them on the edge so the lights are covered. But for crying out loud, why the blooming hell should be have to? Whale has developed its HeatAir control panel to light up when you hand goes near it, then it goes out. It's not exactly rocket science, eh? ;)

[@Coffeevaners]

Kimberley have for the price come up trumps im our opinion. A lovely caravan and having seen one in the flesh just 3 things we would have liked to see. The first as you said is the whale slide for gas and electric outside and for us 2nd is a toilet fill from the aquaroll rather than separate fill. Probably for 2023 even though it's lacking the 3rd point, swift command, it is the best in its class. Nice review Andrew. 👍

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks! Although the Swift Command divides opinion. As does the toilet fill... I had this in the Airstream so I needed to carry a washing up bottle of plain water to flush when using the loo on a break when towing - something I don't need to do in the Xplore. Swings and roundabouts... :)

[@davidmbell]

Lovely van, and would be a serious contender should I be in the market, decent amount of room across the foot of the bed being 8ft. Not a fan of where they’ve put the additional usb ports in the lounge, right in the middle, but I guess if two youngsters were sat there it gives them a socket each. You, like me are irked by drawers in cupboards.

[@martinkitchin6204]

Hello ! As a tall man that's a brilliant sized 2nd double isn't it 👍 I'm probably a bit odd but there's something about having to root in the wardrobe for infill bits - Jenga style - that sort of rattles me !? 🙄

[@scottwilson5426]

Always a pleasure watching ! Love the size, features even if the usbs would drive ya mad but world really like the L shape lounge but with that same draw system between the front couch (effectively underused under where the Tv would sit.albeit a little wider). I'd compromise the niggles,lights to have that layout coupled with an awning could well be sublime! Can't wasn't for the next.

[@jackmason7823]

The tv connections in the bedroom would be better situated behind where the tv would be, rather than on the front of the cupboard! Trailing wires! Thanks for another great review, Andrew!

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Jack! Yes, I 'saw' that when editing the video and berated myself for not picking up on it when I did the filming. You're absolutely right - a daft place to put them.

[@caravanstuff2827]

Nice caravan, but no manufacture should install a cooker without a electric hotplate given the price of gas these days!!.💕🇬🇧🇺🇦

[@protonneutron9046]

Make sure it comes with rock guards for the front windows

[@GaetanHobby]

Thank you Andrew for the review of this beautifull caravan. I love english caravan 👍😉 Nice french song 😆😆😆😆😆

[@andrewjditton]

Je t' en prie mon ami. Je pensais à toi quand je choisissais le chanson ;)

[@GaetanHobby]

@@andrewjditton Tu es adorable Andrew.on t adore.💖 Passe nous faire un petit coucou quand tu passe par Nantes 🙏

[@An.Individual]

21:28 Oh Hello Ladies

[@anneshirley1748]

Thank you for showing and sharing this video! Brilliant as always!! Very nice van, nice and spacious and open. The kitchen was nice also, I suppose you could tape a piece of card or something over the led lights on the fridge when you go to bed, that would be a temporary measure but something I would definitely consider! Great all the usb sockets but when will they put a little shelf or a pocket for your devices otherwise it dangles from the socket! Great review! I hope Dougal is ok if there are any fireworks?! Holly has been shaking like a leaf! Horrible fireworks, it's such a shame for pets! Anyway, take care and have a nice long rest now in the lead up to Christmas, I assume you'l be travelling down south just before to see family?! Wish them all a merry christmas from me and a happy new year too! Sending love and hugs xxx 😍🥰🐕

[@andrewjditton]

Poor Holly! Dougal is fine with fireworks. Mum bought Bradley a Thundershirt and it was quite successful! All the best. xx

[@martingilligan]

Good to see they have ditched the command panel and reverted to the same panel we had on our 2015 swift challenger.

[@1uke4eva]

Very Similar layout to my Bailey Grande Brindisi, But my Brindisi has a much nicer sofa layout and looks more premium imo.

[@martingilligan]

Dont understand your comment about the fridge led's.

[@andrewjditton]

They don't dim at night, so if you are sleeping in line of sight you get blue lights keeping you awake at night!

[@martingilligan]

@@andrewjditton how many 'vans have sleeing facilities opposite the fridge in a manner that its a problem? With the LED's in line of sight? Our Challenger 530 has a bunk opposite the friidge but its curtained off. Sorted.

[@Senna-xi1gr]

I just put cut black tape over the bright leds . No problem.

[@alexrankin2235]

Andrew, my wife always has an issue with fridge LEDs, it doesn’t bother me at night, but you’re right about them being a nuisance for a lot of people. We fold a piece of cardboard over them at night.

[@heyholetstow]

Notice you are using the DJI pocket. Been tempted to get one. How are you getting on with it? An upgrade from my iPhone?

[@andrewjditton]

Been getting on great with it, but TBH if I were you I would wait for the Pocket 3 which is due for release any time now. I tried GoPro but didn't get on with it. Deffo an upgrade from the iphone!

[@heyholetstow]

@@andrewjditton yeah, I heard it was due soon. Holding off for Pocket 3 news. Or just to get a good gimbal for the iPhone. Decisions.

[@jackmason7823]

I would also add that I don't like these layouts with my family. If the kids are asleep in the lounge area, you run the risk of waking them when coming to bed and can't use the TV/kitchen when they're asleep.

[@andrewjditton]

Agreed Jack - I think more for families with teenagers who all go to bed at the same time.

[@martingilligan]

The usb point placement is rather stupid. Why up there?

[@andrewjditton]

I'm guessing, Martin, that if you're sat at the seat using your device and wanting it plugged in... ?

[@martingilligan]

@@andrewjditton I can do that in our 'van with the lead plugged in at normal height.

[@brianknowles1727]

To put things in prospective they've cut back and put prices up ,and that's all manufacturers greed comes to mind.

[@martingilligan]

No electric hotplate on a £28k caravan? Thats a joke surely?

[@Coffeevaners]

We're not so sure that is a major issue or even a deal breaker. We have an Elddis van with 3 burner plus electric plate and can honestly say we've never used it. It's just a nice position to put pans on to cool down. Guess its how you use the caravan. We do a fair amount of off grid so for us its not an option most of the time.

[@martingilligan]

@@Coffeevaners the issue is that a caravan costing that much should give the option.