Touring Caravan

Elddis Avante - Club 505

Year: 2009
£8,495
Berths: 5
Length: 5.60 m
Width: 2.24 m
MIRO: 1292 kgs
MTPLM: 1498 kgs

This is an example found on a North of England dealer forecourt in 2021

Avante 505 offers a family lots of space, since the surge in used sales the price has gone up now to around £8,500, 2021

Typical tow car: Ford Edge

Layout: Front end dinette, side kitchen, side washroom/wardrobe with rear end double dinette

Pros: Spacious tourer for a family, great kit, double dinette layout which means rear end can be left as a double bed if desired.

Cons: Tip up wash basin in washroom, fixed cassette loo, no window in washroom.

Look out for: Cracking GRP rear panel, Thetford digital fridge not working, spongy floor in kitchen area.

Front lounge is spacious but can also be used as twin beds or a large double bed – check seating for support

Extra equipment? Good spec look for an extra mains socket added or Gas BBQ point or Truma awning warmer.

Jenkinson’s opinion:

The Avante was launched for 2000 to compete with Baileys then top selling Ranger, but by the time it came on the market it was definitely up market though still an entry level line up. In 2007 they added the Club badge to give it a little extra lift. The 2009 range offered a variety of layouts the 505 being a popular one in the family buyer stakes. The double dinette layout with central kitchen and washroom struck a chord with those wanting a layout where the kids could have the rear section to themselves.

The Avante 505 came with Truma blown heating, microwave and oven plus Status TV aerial. Now used the 505 has now been targeted by those wanting a family tourer with good storage and general build yet remaining under 1500 kgs MTPLM. Seating is comfortable but again at this age support will not be the best but perfectly useable. The side washroom is limited with space due to the wardrobe size but its fine for emergency use. At less than £9k it makes a great used buy-check for the Compass Corona 505 to same van almost but slightly different in style.

Kitchen is well equipped – check for creaking floor/spongy feel in this area too. Rear dinette will seat four with ease, check the rear fold up bunk bed is all okay and not broken

How to find a good one

The 505 is a family tourer that may have in its lifetime had some heavy family use. I say check the floor for delaminating i.e. spongy feel under foot, its repairable but a dealer would sort it. Check for any interior damage generally caused by kids such as crayon marks and food stains! Check the rear folding bunk works and hasn’t been damages and that the cushions for it are present to.

Check tires for age and also the alloys for damage too, also check the spare wheel is still under the van in its carrier. Make sure you look for any visible exterior damage such as scrapes and dents plus look for any cracks in the rear panel or any damp in rear corners also check the loose fit carpet is stain free too and of course service history and if any re-sealing has been carried out plus a warranty from a dealership.

Ropers have a 2009 for sale for £10,995 (March 2022) https://www.ropersleisure.co.uk/shop/caravan/2009-elddis-avante-club-505.html