Touring Caravan

Information for new owners

Sprite Major 4

Maker/model: Swift Sprite Major 4
£9,995
Year: 2012
Berths: 2/4
Length: 5.28 m
Width: 2.24 m
MIRO: 1147 kgs
MTPLM: 1327 kgs

Typical tow car: Skoda Karoq 1.5 petrol

Layout: front end dinette, side kitchen, full width end washroom with nearside dinette.
Pros: Light weight, spare wheel, TV aerial, sunroof, shower, oven, blown heating
Cons: Washroom feels dark and a little tight on space
Look out for: check end panels for cracking, charger can become faulty

Extra equipment? Do look for some bits left in by last owners, such as awning, towing mirrors.

Sprite Major
The Sprite by Swift is ideal for the newbie, it’s practical and has a decent spec
Sprite Major front interior
The front lounge converts to a double bed, seating retains it’s support and sunroof allows in good natural light

Jenkinson’s opinion:
The Sprite is a name known throughout caravanning circles, and that’s no surprise when you consider the name has been around since 1950. The Major 4 offered a great layout for four or two with its side dinette which can be made into a fixed bed model and left, or if you have people over to visit, this area can be put back as a full dinette area. Now the problem is, that even though this makes a good flexible layout, it’s not very popular.

The side kitchen offers a fridge, oven, grill, three gas burners and even a microwave. The front lounge is short but comfortable and I like the access flaps in the seat bases, which means no moving seat cushions around. Seat comfort is good, with support and scatter cushions. A chest of drawers adds to the excellent storage and blown air heating makes this a good all year round tourer. This is an ideal tourer for a couple, especially with the versatile side dinette / double bed.

Sprite diner
This can be kept as a fixed bed layout or can be reverted back to a dinette for daytime use.

How to find a good one
Private sales are fine but of course keep your wits about you, we say go for a dealership sale and preferably a well established one. Check out the dealership websites, looking at prices and condition. The Sprite are good tourers and apart from odd things not much goes wrong. Aluminium sides are made of a good thickness to fight dents but do check for this, also check for fading decals which are expensive to replace.

Check alloy wheels for scraping and also ask about service history and the last time it was done. Ask if it’s been stored undercover and check it is the owner’s van to sell and not stolen. Check the Vin (CRis) number and also look for tyre problems. Caravan tyres rarely wear out but they do get old and cracked. You might be able to negotiate a new set as part of your deal if they are past the use by date.

With high demand these tourers are shooting off the forecourts so it’s a case of grab one quick if it fits the bill. If a private buy, ask lots of questions and of course see what’s up for grabs in the extras department such as water container or awning.

Sprite Major bathroom
Rear end washroom is full width, its fine but natural light and ventilation relies on a small roof vent.

Andrew Jenkinson 2021

Buying a Used Touring Caravan