Swift Basecamp Buyer's Guide

Try before you buy? Swift Basecamp Caravan Hire

Considering buying an award-winning Swift Basecamp Caravan?

Most pages about the Swift Basecamp for sale are written by dealers. We’re not a dealer. We own and operate Swift Basecamps for hire — three of them on the road right now — and we’ve spent enough nights and miles with them to give you the version of this guide that nobody trying to sell you one will write!

If you’re researching Basecamp because you’re seriously considering buying, this page covers the four current models, the spec details that actually matter, the issues we’ve run into with them, and a comparison with the Airstream Basecamp (which a surprising number of UK searchers end up here looking for).

And at the end, an honest suggestion: if you’re about to spend £20,000+, it’s worth spending four days in one of ours first. Find out if it works for you and your camping style. 

Swift Basecamp Caravan

The Swift Basecamp is Swift Group’s compact “crossover camping vehicle“, in their words, and a fair description. It’s a touring caravan built for people who don’t want a touring caravan. Lightweight (from around 1,043 kg MTPLM in current spec), short (5.1 m), distinctively styled with the graphite “bumpers” and Scorpion alloys, and aimed at active outdoor types — cyclists, climbers, paddleboarders, festival-goers, walkers — rather than the traditional caravan market.

It launched in 2017, received a significant refresh and SMART 3 timberless construction in 2021, and now comes in three body sizes (Basecamp 2, 4, and what was previously Basecamp 6 — see below) plus a Plus trim that adds extra equipment.

It tows easily behind a small SUV — we’ve moved them with cars ranging from a Fiat 500X to a larger SUV. The rear-door-only entry is the design’s most divisive feature: brilliant for loading mountain bikes, less brilliant if you’re used to side entry.

The Swift Basecamp range — which model is right for you?

The honest version: most people who think they need the bigger model don’t, and most people who think the smallest will find they want a touch more space once they’ve actually slept in one. This is exactly why we recommend trying before buying.

Here’s the rundown:

Swift Basecamp 2

The two-berth original. Front seating converts to a 6’5″ × 6’0″ double or two singles. Single internal layout, compact footprint, easiest to tow and store. We run two of these (one in our Lux specification), and they’re the model we hire most often to couples and solo adventurers.

Best for: couples, solo trips, people whose tow car is on the lighter end. Our take: the layout works if you’re outside most of the day. If you’d want to spend a rainy afternoon inside playing cards, the 4 is the better choice.

Swift Basecamp 4

Front double bed plus a side dinette that converts to two bunks. Same external footprint as the 2 — Swift achieves the four-berth by reconfiguring the interior, not extending the body. Still tows like a 2.

Best for: families with two children, couples who want guest space or a dedicated dining area. Our take: this is the most versatile model. We hire one, and it’s booked solidly through summer. The bunks are best suited to children under about 11; teenagers will outgrow them quickly.

Swift Basecamp 6 / Basecamp 3

Basecamp 6 was introduced in 2022 to accommodate up to six people in a longer body. The Basecamp 3 (added to the range more recently) splits the difference between the 2 and 4, with three berths: a single bed plus a front double layout.

Important note from WildernX: We don’t currently run a Basecamp 6 in our fleet. If you’re set on the largest model, the honest answer is that we can’t let you try one before you buy. What we can do is put you in our Basecamp 4 for a weekend so you can experience the layout, materials, build and towing characteristics — and most families who do that decide the 4 gives them what they need without the additional length, weight and cost of the 6.

 Swift Basecamp Plus

The Plus trim adds the upgraded options pack — typically things like alloy wheels, additional graphics, premium upholstery and equipment upgrades. The 50L variant adds 50 litres of additional onboard water capacity, which matters if you camp off-grid.

Best for: people who’d otherwise spend the money on after-market upgrades. Worth it if you want the spec; not worth it if you’d rather put the money toward a better awning.

Swift Basecamp reviews

Basecamp has consistently scored well in trade reviews since its launch. Practical Caravan, Caravan Magazine and Out and About Live have all rated it highly for towing characteristics, build quality and the cleverness of fitting genuine four-berth accommodation into such a compact footprint.

The renter’s perspective is more interesting because it’s less filtered.

Recurring themes from our customers:

• The build quality and fit-out feels more premium than the price suggests
• Towing is genuinely effortless, even for first-timers
• The rear door is a love-it-or-hate-it feature — most people end up loving it once they’ve used it for a real trip
• The shower works but is, as expected for the size, compact
• The kitchen is more usable than you’d guess from the photos

What we’d add as operators: the Basecamps we run hold up well to repeated hire use, which is a much harsher test than private ownership. The interiors look new after multiple seasons. The Whale heating is reliable. The Swift Command system (app control of lights, heating, and location) works as advertised when set up correctly. So our used Swift Basecamp caravans still look great after multiple hires, which bodes well for purchase.

Common Swift Basecamp problems (the things sales pages don’t tell you)

This is the section a dealer can’t write honestly. We’re not selling you a Basecamp, so here’s what we’ve actually noticed running them:

1. Payload disappears faster than you expect. The standard ~150 kg user payload sounds generous until you load an awning, a full water tank, bedding, an outdoor cooker and a couple of bikes. The MTPLM upgrade to 1,300 kg is worth budgeting for if you’re going to carry kit.

2. The compact footprint cuts both ways. Easy to tow, easy to store, easy to manoeuvre. Also: not much room to swing past someone in the kitchen. If you’re planning to spend whole rainy weekends inside as a family of four, the 4 will feel small. If you’re outdoors most of the day, you won’t notice.

3. Rear-door entry takes adjustment. Loading the kit through the back is brilliant. Climbing past the kitchen to reach the bed in the dark, less so. Most people adapt within a trip; some never quite love it.

4. Awning options are limited to Vango. The curved roof rules out standard rail-mounted awnings. If you already own a £600 awning from a previous caravan, it won’t fit. You’re committed to the Vango Airbeam ecosystem.

5. The flagship spec adds up. Basecamp Plus + 1,300 kg MTPLM upgrade + awning + graphics pack + motor mover takes the on-the-road price meaningfully above the base figure. Worth pricing the full configuration before you commit.

6. Resale market is healthy but not enormous. The Basecamp holds value well — it’s a desirable model — but the secondhand pool is smaller than for traditional Swift ranges, so you may wait longer to sell.

The honest conclusion: none of these are deal-breakers. They’re trade-offs of the design, and they matter to different people in different ways. The only way to know if any of them matter to you is to spend four days in one before you spend £20,000+ on one of your own.

Swift Basecamp vs Airstream Basecamp — what’s the difference?

A lot of people who search for the Airstream Basecamp in the UK actually want the Swift one.

Here’s the quick clarification:

Airstream Basecamp is an American-built compact travel trailer — with a riveted aluminium body, a distinctive silver finish, a premium price (typically £45,000+ shipped to the UK), and very limited UK dealer support.
Swift Basecamp is British-built, fibreglass-skinned, half the price, and supported by a UK-wide dealer network.

If you’ve fallen in love with the Airstream look, only the Airstream will do. If you’re drawn to the compact-adventure-caravan concept and the Airstream came up in your search, the Swift Basecamp is probably what you actually want — and it’s the one you can realistically buy, service and resell in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

What car can tow a Swift Basecamp?

Most modern compact SUVs and many estate cars are rated to tow a Basecamp 2 or 4. A reliable check is to enter your registration on towcar.info, which shows your car’s specific towing limits and noseweight. As a guide, you want a kerbweight of around 1,500 kg for a comfortable 85% match with a standard-spec Basecamp 2.

Should I buy a second-hand Swift Basecamp?

The Basecamp holds its value well, so used examples aren’t always the bargain you’d hope for. Anything pre-2021 will be the older construction (before SMART 3); anything 2021 onwards is the current build. Get a full damp report regardless of age, check the Whale heating fires up properly, confirm the awning is included, and verify any MTPLM upgrade is recorded on the V5C. Or — and this is our usual suggestion — try one of the current models in our fleet first, so you know exactly what you’re comparing against.

What size awning does a Swift Basecamp take?

Vango makes two bespoke Airbeam awnings for the Basecamp: the RVA1 (smaller, single-arch) and RVA2 (larger, with sleeping annex option). Standard rail-mounted awnings won’t fit the Basecamp’s curved roof.

What’s the difference between Basecamp and Basecamp Plus?

The Plus is the higher-specification trim, typically alloy wheels, premium graphics, upgraded upholstery and equipment add-ons. Worth the difference if you want those features as standard rather than as after-market additions.

Is the Swift Basecamp worth it?

For the right buyer, yes. It’s a well-built, easy-to-tow, distinctive caravan that opens up active outdoor trips that a traditional tourer makes harder. For the wrong buyer, someone who wants the maximum space and comfort of a conventional caravan, or who’ll rarely use it, there are better-value options. The honest way to find out which group you’re in is to use one for a long weekend before you decide.

Ready to find out if a Swift Basecamp is right for you?

Two ways to take this further:

Try one for a long weekend. Book a Basecamp 2 or 4 from our fleet and find out for yourself whether the layout, towing and lifestyle suit you. Four-day minimum hire, awning option included, delivery available within 100 miles of Dereham.

Talk to us about which model is right for you. No sales pressure,  we don’t sell caravans, we just know them. Contact us, and we’ll help you work out whether the 2, the 4, the 6 or the Plus is the sensible answer for your family, your tow car and the trips you actually want to take.

Either way, the worst Swift Basecamp purchase is the one you make before you’ve slept in one.

View secondhand or used Basecamp Caravans for Sale – Autotrader