Moving from a Motorhome to a Caravan

[anonymous-user]

We are rearranging our fleet a little bit as my wife wants a new car and I was wondering what peoples experiences are of moving from motor-homing to caravanning?

The plan is to replace my wife's ancient Lexus is200 with a slightly less ancient Lexus GX470 (her choice not mine)

This one in fact
https://www.otomoto.pl/oferta/lexus-gx-gx-470-v8-f...

Its basically a Landcruiser Prado with a 4.7 V8 petrol engine (that will be converted to LPG)

Now this got us both thinking, We could get decent money for our 1993 Hymer which we could use to buy a lightly used Fendt twin axle caravan such as this (with a little cash injection)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-FENDT-650-MAYFAIR/...

Most of our motorhome trips are from Poland down to Croatia or to the South of Italy and we would like to be able to go for longer than a week or 2 but with our current motorhome its a little cramped and a little bit uncomfortable for such long trips.

Motorhome currently averages around 15-17L/100KM and my best guesstimate is that the GX470 would probably use about the same albeit LPG as opposed to Diesel which is frightfully expensive in Italy. We would have more living space and a more comfortable place to sit on the way down and no doubt a more comfortable place to sleep whilst away. Obviously I would have to take my B+E licence as this outfit would be just under 4.5 tonnes.

Doing things this way its one less vehicle to tax, insure and MOT

Are there any more drawbacks, Is this the right thing to do? The more I think about it I think it is but I love the convenience of the motorhome however it would also be nice to have newer accommodation and a more comfortable place to sit whilst on the road.

Also are twin axles more stable to tow? (this was one of my only fears having had a bad trailering experience when i was younger)

[chopper602]

CDB1983 said:

Motorhome currently averages around 15-17L/100KM and my best guesstimate is that the GX470 would probably use about the same albeit LPG as opposed to Diesel which is frightfully expensive in Italy.

Remember though that you probably won't get a lot more MPG for the rest of your motoring (when you aren't towing), which depending on how many miles you do would be something to consider.

The length of the outfit would be something else to consider and you'd get charged more on toll roads or ferries.

(I've never had a caravan, but after years of camping went straight to a 7m motorhome and love it and I wouldn't change to a caravan)

[oblio]

...and you won't be able to use Stelplatz/Aires/other countries variants either, with a wobblebox.

[surveyor]

yes twin axles are more stable...

The main advantage is obviously being able to seperate your tow vehicle from your accommodation.

[anonymous-user]

Theres a lot more than expected to consider, MPG isn't too much of an issue with the vehicle when not towing as we work from home so don't need to commute and once on LPG it should be reasonable in terms of running costs. (my LS430 uses 12.5L/100KM/23 MPG on gas at 25p per litre in PL and around 40P Per litre in Germany and Italy so it works out quite economical financially)

Motorhome given its age needs quite a lot of preventative maintenance and has 6k service intervals which a caravan wont i'm also constantly worried about breaking down which I wouldn't be so much with a Toyota truck (probably totally unfounded)

Use of free Aires is a big bonus with the motorhome, Are you allowed to sleep in a caravan in German service areas etc? We don't really wild camp and only really stay off site when travelling between 2 destinations. Usually sleeping in a truck stop and then a regular service station in Italy or the Czech republic.

More to the point can you sleep in a caravan whilst still attached to the vehicle and without its legs down?

Its a twin axle we will be after then, Is snaking that much of a problem? I've seen that ALKO can fit some sort of stability control to these vans for around 500 GBP.

B+E licence is a bit of a worry.

I am wishing we could afford a bigger and newer motorhome but house has to come first

Any van recommendations? I've for some reason totally ignored the UK built vans after hearing horror stories about damp ETC but they are considerably cheaper than the German marques.

[anonymous-user]

Motorhomes are cool.
Caravans are for aholes and s.

HTH

[surveyor]

keirik said:

Motorhomes are cool.
Caravans are for aholes and s.

HTH

Dick HTH

[anonymous-user]

surveyor said:

keirik said:

Motorhomes are cool.
Caravans are for aholes and s.

HTH

Dick HTH

Cock. Your turn.

Btw your sense of humour is awaiting collection.

[surveyor]

keirik said:

surveyor said:

keirik said:

Motorhomes are cool.
Caravans are for aholes and s.

HTH

Dick HTH

Cock. Your turn.

Btw your sense of humour is awaiting collection.

Were you trying to be funny? You need to try harder.

[chopper602]

CDB1983 said:

Use of free Aires is a big bonus with the motorhome, Are you allowed to sleep in a caravan in German service areas etc? We don't really wild camp and only really stay off site when travelling between 2 destinations. Usually sleeping in a truck stop and then a regular service station in Italy or the Czech republic.

More to the point can you sleep in a caravan whilst still attached to the vehicle and without its legs down?

As far as I know, caravans are excluded from Stellplatz. Have you tried walking around a caravan without the legs down? It bounces all over the place!. I know you said about sleeping, but it's not going to be pleasant!