Caravelair Alba 497 Family: 7 berths
Caravelair has been building caravans in the entry-level segment since the 60s. Last year, the French manufacturer introduced the Alba, a series that will have a second family caravan from model year 2020. In this caravan test more about the Caravelair Alba 497 Family, a lightweight caravan with 7 sleeping places.
Caravelair has a background in aviation: the first caravans date from 1962, when they were designed and built at the aircraft factory Sud Aviation - you can still recognize a piece of an aircraft wing in the logo. The caravans are known for their low weight, so that they can also be towed by smaller generations of passenger cars. For example, the smallest Alba – model 390 – weighs only 730 kilos.
Exterior
The news about the Caravelair Alba 497 Family is hot off the press. According to the specifications, the caravan weighs just over a thousand kilos empty - still a decent weight for a caravan with a total length of 670 centimeters. You can load it up to 1.300 kilos, which means that you can even hang this family caravan behind a modest car.
The outside of the caravan reveals that we are dealing with a real family caravan, recognizable by the three windows one above the other in the left side wall. The bottom two windows are built into a large service hatch (105x105 cm): if you fold up the partial bunk bed inside, you can transport children's bicycles here. The 30 mm thick walls are insulated with high-quality moisture inspection.
Living, eating, sleeping
The Caravelair Alba 497 Family is a spacious family caravan with a fixed double bed at the front, a dinette in the middle of the caravan and a bunk bed with three beds on top of each other, against the left side wall, at the back. If you convert the dinette you have two extra sleeping places for children, so in total you can sleep two adults and five children here. Opposite the dinette we find the kitchen with a three-burner gas stove and a large refrigerator. At the back of the caravan, opposite the bunk bed, there is a large toilet room with a sink. The Alba 497 Family is a decorated version and that is because the caravan is equipped with all kinds of luxury packages. Such as the Primavera package, which also includes the large front window of the caravan and the 15 cm thick comfort mattress on the double bed.
The Alba is also equipped with the Ambition package, which includes a Trumatherme boiler (5 liters), hand shower, extra reading spotlights in the seating group and the fixed bed, a screen door and a 30 liter waste water tank. And as if that weren't enough, the French manufacturer also includes a Travel-plus package, with stabilizer coupling and shock absorbers, an extra service hatch plus a spare wheel and spare wheel holder in the drawbar box.
Installations
The caravan has a Truma heating, Trumatherme boiler and a 150 liter compressor refrigerator with freezer. Due to the special construction method, Caravelair gives a 3-year manufacturer's warranty and a 7-year warranty against moisture on all models.
Conclusion Caravelair Alba 497 Family
The 497 Family is the latest model in the Alba series, introduced last year. With seven sleeping places, it is an ideal caravan for large and blended families. A small downside is the loading capacity - heavy items such as the awning must therefore be transported in the car. Are you going out together or with a small family? There is an Alba from 12.695 euros.
PLUS MINUS
+ equipment and finishing
+ price
– loading capacity
Technical information
DIMENSIONS
Body length, with drawbar: 500/670 cm
Width: cm 230
Height: 258 cm
Headroom: 195 cm
SITTING & SLEEPING
Number of sleeping places: 5+2
Bed sizes
fixed bed: 210×140 cm
dinette: 170×100 cm
bunk bed: 3x 185×85 cm
WEIGHTS
Empty weight: 1.030kg
Max. permitted mass: 1.300 kg
Load capacity: 270 kg
Price from €17.995
More information: www.caravelair.nl
Caravelair offer
Are you looking for a Caravelair caravan? We have many for sale. Curious? View the Caravelair offer here. Or check out a few others first caravan testing.
