Buccaneer is a brand that many caravanners aspire to owning. Originally based on an RAF airfield near York, the make goes back 57 years and was noted for its handcrafted, well-specified tourers.
In 2001 the Buccaneer name was sold to Elddis, and after a few years of getting its identity back, the Buccaneer brand became stronger in the luxury caravan market. Now a modern luxury tourer with sales success behind it, used models get snapped up quickly.
The Buccaneer range has always been kept to a few selected caravan layouts; some of these layouts didn’t always find favour with buyers, but old model names, such as the Schooner, did. Here, though, we take a look at a 2020 example of the Aruba, a family luxury tourer that can sleep up to six people.
Model history
The Aruba was designed to offer families a luxury tourer that would allow winter caravanning in supreme comfort.
Launched for the 2019 season, the six-berth tourer was designed with a rear-fixed double bed and large side dinette with kitchen opposite. The rear side wall housed the washroom and had a domestic-style shower cubicle. The front lounge, meanwhile, had parallel seating, making it a very comfortable family layout.
Our Aruba was a 2020 model, and was found in lovely condition. Even though it’s a family tourer, it showed no signs of any wear and tear, which would make it an attractive prospect if you’re buying a used caravan.
A fridge with a separate freezer and a built-in microwave above is fitted, while a full oven with a dual-fuel hob is included, too. There is a wet locker, exterior mains socket and gas BBQ point, plus an on-board water tank. The Avtex stick TV/radio aerial here had also been replaced by Telco’s equivalent to the Status swivel unit.
The model has GRP sides and is built on an Al-Ko chassis with ATC, plus it also has an AKS hitch stabiliser. With deep roof lockers and a large wrap-around dinette, it’s brimming with comfort and a full specification.
Price checker
We had a look at what’s on offer, and there is a decent choice of Arubas to be found. We found prices for a 2020 Aruba from around £27,995, which ours was priced at, up to £28,995 – so there isn’t a lot of difference in used prices.
However, we would say that any very cheap examples should be checked over, and you should ask for a full service history as it could be damp, for example.
- Aruba: £27,995 – £28,995
- Barracuda: £27,995 – £27,999
- Clipper: £27,995 – £28,495
- Commodore: £26,995 – £27,195
- Cruiser: £26,499- £28,995
What to look out for
- Working Alde heating
- Cracks on front panel
- Cracks on rear panel
- Damp, mainly in the front panel
- Any delaminating floor, especially in kitchen area
- Peeling wallboard tape
- Damp around roof vents
- Damp patches near solar panel roof fixings
- Issues with auto-steady system
- Body seal openings
Verdict
The Buccaneer line-up for 2020 was a super-luxurious range of tourers with just five layouts overall. If you’d like to buy one, do check the panels, as well as for any signs of damp or possible delaminated floors.
These are heavy tourers, so you’re into big 4×4 tow car territory – Buccaneers are great tourers to go onto a seasonal caravan pitch.
There may only be five layouts, but all are popular, and the Aruba especially makes a great tourer for grandparents who want to take grandkids away. The Buccaneers generally offer very good storage, but the Aruba does have a small wardrobe if six are on board.
These tourers still look great – if you do all the checks mentioned here, they will make a cracking caravan to own. Also, dealers tell us that parts are still plentiful, being stored at the distribution hub in Consett.
Alternative models
Check out the Adria Alpina Rio Grande; although not a six-berth, this is a luxury tourer with a difference, including its front-kitchen design. You should look for a 2023 model for around £25,995.
Alternatively, go for a twin-axle Elddis Avante 868 with a six-berth layout; it’s lighter and cheaper, but has a similar layout to the Aruba. Check out a 2020 model, with prices from £21,995 – they offer a decent spec.
Tech specs
- Price: £27,995
- Berths: 6
- MIRO: 1804kg
- Payload: 179kg
- MTPLM: 1983kg
- Internal Length: 6.65m
- Width: 2.44m
Seen at
Preston Caravans and Motorhomes, Kirkham, Preston, Lancs PR4 0XL
- Tel: 01772 685 949
- Web: www.prestoncm.co.uk
You can also see what we made of a more recent 2027 tourer, as we put the Bailey Unicorn Grande Cordoba to the test, a sophisticated family caravan with a spacious interior.
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