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quoteQuite a catch
A popular internet question is: Are Barracudas dangerous to humans? Not in the case of this example. Here, the only thing to watch out for is some serious damage to your bank balance…
You can feel the quality as well as the width in the latest line-up of Buccaneers from Elddis.
The five-model flagship caravan range really does make the most of its 8ft (2.45m) overall girth – shouting luxury from first sight of its silver aluminium sides, flush-fitting grab handles, heavy-duty corner steadies and all new GRP back panel.
There’s a twist to the L-shaped front lounge, too, where – instead of looking out via a picture window, your focus will be on a 32 inch flatscreen TV, set over swooped shelfing.
You can guess the rest of the comfort levels from here, especially when Alde’s central heating, which even includes underfloor elements, is another star feature – it even has the Load Monitor function to make sure you don’t trip out your mains electricity supply.
Even the dark finish to the furniture can’t hide the fact that this is a roomy caravan. And you can’t help thinking the leather (a £1,350 option) shown here will end up being the upholstery of choice for the majority of buyers.
There are lots of scatter cushions. Lots of daylight, too, thanks to a traditional three-window front and a fixed sunroof, then a long, opening skylight extending from the lounge to the kitchen, which has an electric vent overhead.
At the back, the extendable island bed is flanked by wardrobes and sets of triple drawers, as well as handy bedside ledges. There are sockets for a TV and same-size windows to each side.
There’s sliding door access to the en-suite facilities, with a private shower cubicle (set on the wheel arch) enclosed by bi-folding doors and tile-effect walling – but it’s a rather flimsy-to-the-touch plastic here that’s not in keeping with such an upmarket caravan.
Opposite, the toilet room door can also be used to close off the back end, while the room itself has a worktop basin with swan neck tap as well as the usual swivel-bowl toilet.
The L-shaped kitchen is spacious, too, with a Thetford Aspire 2 cooker to its far right, plus a large sink with loose cover and drainer. Drawer and locker storage is excellent, and it’s always good to see overhead lockers with easy-to-operate positive locks.
Across the corridor is a Dometic 8 Series fridge with removable freezer box. It’s set at floor level, which means the microwave oven above it is a convenient (i.e. safe) height.
Needless to say, the Barracuda is heavy. It’s slightly peculiar, too, to offer a weight upgrade of just 10 extra kilos, although it’s free.
As ever, the payload may seem a bit paltry, but this has practically all the equipment you might desire… short of a satellite TV receiving system and air conditioning (which are both on the unsurprisingly short options list).
The Thatcham Cat 7 approved Tracker Retrieve will get owners a good discount on their caravan insurance and the remote controlled automatic levelling system, with ‘Big Feet’ heavy duty corner steadies, will make those AL-KO Secure wheel locks easy to fit. No jack needed!
Even so, there’s a single feature that does stand out – and, frankly it’s one any caravan could (should?) have. It’s the open section with hanging rail just inside the door and it’s perfect for hanging your coats. Plus, there’s space for footwear below. Well, you’re not seriously going to risk spoiling that interior with mucky clothing, are you?
Verdict: Opulence unlimited from the TV to the padded headboard
Plus: Roomy, comfortable, highly equipped
Minus: Flimsy shower cubicle walls, the usual weight issues
In-a-nutshell: Purely indulgent
There’s more information on the Buccaneer range on the Elddis website www.elddis.co.uk. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page
Alternatives: Coachman VIP 650, Lunar Alaria TI, Swift Elegance 650
Buccaneer Barracuda factfile
| Model | Buccaneer Barracuda |
| Dimensions | 8.16m L, 2.45m W, 2.64m H |
| Internal length | 6.39m |
| Berths | 4 |
| MTPLM | 1,990kg |
| MIRO | 1,831kg |
| Payload | 159kg |
| RRP | from £34,844 on the road |
| Safety & security | Al-Ko Secure Diamond wheel locks, Thatcham Cat 7 Tracker Retrieve tracking system, PIR alarm, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, CRiS |
| Key options | Leather upholstery (£1,350), Fiamma bike rack (£379), bedding set (£260), additional locker shelving (£42), Teleco satellite TV system (£1,850), Truma air conditioning (£1,440), alternative upholstery (£275) |
We have owned one since Nov 2017 and we absolutely love it. Personally I’m a bit fed up with having a chest of drawers in between parallel seats-feeling very dated. This is a much more cozy layout although we did splash out £20 for a foldable footstool which is something perhaps that could be included.
The underfloor heating is amazing and will surely become the norm for Alde heating as the extra weight is negligible.
Well done Elldis for trying something new-come on UK manufacturers, dare to be different after all there’s only so much you can do with a front chest!
Thanks for sharing your feedback on your Buccaneer Al.
Me and my other half have purchased one of these and are awaiting delivery which is the 5th March. We can’t wait and we will be sure to share our honest review with everyone.
Congratulations. Hope you have many happy holidays in your new Buccaneer.
If it had a chest in the front lounge, wouldn’t it be like all other mid bathroom rear island bed layouts? Dare to be different!
I’d have one in a minute except for that L-shaped front. Pity its not available with a conventional front layout.
looks very modern and would be a pleasure to live in when on holiday travelling seems to have all you need and style
Looks a great caravan, I just wish that we could afford it. It would great sitting behind our Jeep Grand Cherokee. The only downside as it doesn’t have a front cabinet pull out table, is that the lucky owner will have to put up the full sized table.