Caravans: What's the Point?
Discussion
Spuffington said:
Well just to add some balance - I can't see the point of caravans and more than happy with our motorhome. Can't imagine ever having anything other than a motorhome. But then again we enjoy touring and not staying too long in one place, wild camping and the lack of faff.
I'm the other way. I had a MH for ten years, I now have a caravan and there's absolutely no way I'd go back. The MH is on balance the same amount of faff, it's just a different sort of faff. For example it's more work to get it properly level on anything which isn't as flat a tennis court (assuming most don't have corner jacks like a van).Either way, the one single and overwhelming advantage to a van is having the freedom to jump into a car and clear off, and it completely outweighs everything else in my book.
Horses for courses, eh?
Good that we all have so much choice since there's rarely a one stop solution for all. Each has its drawbacks and all depends on what type of usage people want to get out of their units. For us as a family, the motorhome suits perfectly. As I've said, the wild camping is the real draw - covering lots of ground and stopping wherever we like. For us a caravan is unsuitable. But for many, their appetite is for longer stays and exploring with the car, in which case the caravan is perfect. Then there's campervans and trailer tents.
Whichever, it is, I guess we shouldn't get into a hating competition as to which is best. Best is whatever it is for that individual and their circumstances.
Good that we all have so much choice since there's rarely a one stop solution for all. Each has its drawbacks and all depends on what type of usage people want to get out of their units. For us as a family, the motorhome suits perfectly. As I've said, the wild camping is the real draw - covering lots of ground and stopping wherever we like. For us a caravan is unsuitable. But for many, their appetite is for longer stays and exploring with the car, in which case the caravan is perfect. Then there's campervans and trailer tents.
Whichever, it is, I guess we shouldn't get into a hating competition as to which is best. Best is whatever it is for that individual and their circumstances.
Spuffington said:
Horses for courses, eh?
Whichever, it is, I guess we shouldn't get into a hating competition as to which is best. Best is whatever it is for that individual and their circumstances.
As you say.Whichever, it is, I guess we shouldn't get into a hating competition as to which is best. Best is whatever it is for that individual and their circumstances.
Having gone from campervan to caravan mid season i have seen both sides of the coin.
Lets all just be happy campers,secure in the knowledge that we are not getting ripped off for poor hotels and second rate meals,knowing we can open the curtains in parts of the world we could never afford to live.
To answer the OP, another reason for motorhome/caravan/tents is that kids, and so parents of those kids, love the freedom. You can rock up at a site, open the door and let's the kids go. They can be out all day in a perfectly safe environment, making lots of new friends and spending lots of time running and playing in fresh air. They cant do that when staying in a hotel.
coyft said:
We spend about 4 months a year in our camper van. Usually made up of two European trips one in spring and one in autumn. It's amazing the places you can go in the off season, you can literally park up on a beach in the middle of nowhere and have the beach to yourself. Great for kids and not bad for the parents either.
Not sure I'd fancy it in high season on a camp site though, especially in Spain where I think it would be too hot to stay in a camper van.
In January we're off to Australia and New Zealand, two trips of about a month each. Can't wait!
may be a daft question - when you are off in NZ and AUS are you hiring a van there or shipping yours out there?Not sure I'd fancy it in high season on a camp site though, especially in Spain where I think it would be too hot to stay in a camper van.
In January we're off to Australia and New Zealand, two trips of about a month each. Can't wait!
As said, it's great that we all enjoy hitting the road, camping and the outdoor life, whatever we use to enjoy it!
Motorhomes are great if you just want to explore the landscape and are not as fussed about towns/cities and getting to know an area more intimately.
If you want to really explore and enjoy a certain area for a length of time, then I think caravans are the way forward.
I can also drive faster with my caravan than most motorhomes can go!
And, of course, the price always comes into it. Motorhomes are horrendously expensive to buy, run and own compared to caravans.
Motorhomes are great if you just want to explore the landscape and are not as fussed about towns/cities and getting to know an area more intimately.
If you want to really explore and enjoy a certain area for a length of time, then I think caravans are the way forward.
I can also drive faster with my caravan than most motorhomes can go!
And, of course, the price always comes into it. Motorhomes are horrendously expensive to buy, run and own compared to caravans.
foxsasha said:
Antony Moxey said:
Disagree. A motorhome's easier to navigate than a car and caravan, easier to reverse if need be, has better driving visibility and, I might suggest, easier to set up when you get to site. Of course it suffers the obvious disadvantage of once you get to site you're effectively stuck there unless you want to pack everything up before going off for the day,and that a car without a caravan behind it is easier to pilot than a motorhome but I don't think it's quite so simple as your 'the only time a motorhome makes sense' comment.
I've never had any particular issue manoeuvring a 7m motorhome with a 6m trailer so don't see why a car and caravan would pose a problem assuming you are going from A to B and then back to A. Setting up a motorhome of that size is similar to a caravan, the only differences being that you need to reverse and unhook the caravan and plumb water and waste but theyre not a major task. You still have to wind the supporting legs down, plug in electric, take covers off fridge vents etc with a larger motorhome. And if you are dragging a car then you've got the agro of unconnecting that, removing the A frame and the like before you can park the motorhome.Why would you choose a motorhome over a caravan to go from A, spend a week at B then go back to A, assuming a family sized van/mhome and that you'll be out and about through the week and not just stay on site?
I've not towed a caravan but don't you fit those big ear mirrors to provide visability?
Our motor home generally stays put when we get to site - we either cycle, walk or take public transport. Provisions can be bought in advance so there's no need for a car, if it's far enough that we do need a car we'll take the motorhome and park it there instead of the site previously.
Anyways, there are obvious pros and cons for both and whilst plenty have stated their preference for a caravan over a motorhome, for me personally I'd always pick a motorhome over a caravan. :-)
Antony Moxey said:
Seriously, you honestly think manouvering a large articulated vehicle (car plus caravan) is as easy as manouvering a large rigid bodied vehicle (motorhome)? Sorry, I simply don't believe that. Of course there are caravan owners who have the skills to properly manouvre a caravan, but I cannot believe it's easier. Easy yes, but not easier. Mirrors might improve visibility down the sides but there aren't (I imagine) many caravans with reversing cameras fitted.
Our motor home generally stays put when we get to site - we either cycle, walk or take public transport. Provisions can be bought in advance so there's no need for a car, if it's far enough that we do need a car we'll take the motorhome and park it there instead of the site previously.
Anyways, there are obvious pros and cons for both and whilst plenty have stated their preference for a caravan over a motorhome, for me personally I'd always pick a motorhome over a caravan. :-)
Where did I say it was as easy to manouver a tow vehicle and trailer as it was a motorhome?Our motor home generally stays put when we get to site - we either cycle, walk or take public transport. Provisions can be bought in advance so there's no need for a car, if it's far enough that we do need a car we'll take the motorhome and park it there instead of the site previously.
Anyways, there are obvious pros and cons for both and whilst plenty have stated their preference for a caravan over a motorhome, for me personally I'd always pick a motorhome over a caravan. :-)
I think it's important to make the distinction between campervan and motorhome.
I'd never have a motorhome - too big, can't be used on a daily basis, difficult to park, all the disadvantages of a caravan with none of the advantages of a car.
On the other hand, smaller campervans make perfect sense, so long as you don't expect it to be a 'home from home' - which is something I can never understand anyway.
I'd never have a motorhome - too big, can't be used on a daily basis, difficult to park, all the disadvantages of a caravan with none of the advantages of a car.
On the other hand, smaller campervans make perfect sense, so long as you don't expect it to be a 'home from home' - which is something I can never understand anyway.
foxsasha said:
Antony Moxey said:
Seriously, you honestly think manouvering a large articulated vehicle (car plus caravan) is as easy as manouvering a large rigid bodied vehicle (motorhome)? Sorry, I simply don't believe that. Of course there are caravan owners who have the skills to properly manouvre a caravan, but I cannot believe it's easier. Easy yes, but not easier. Mirrors might improve visibility down the sides but there aren't (I imagine) many caravans with reversing cameras fitted.
Our motor home generally stays put when we get to site - we either cycle, walk or take public transport. Provisions can be bought in advance so there's no need for a car, if it's far enough that we do need a car we'll take the motorhome and park it there instead of the site previously.
Anyways, there are obvious pros and cons for both and whilst plenty have stated their preference for a caravan over a motorhome, for me personally I'd always pick a motorhome over a caravan. :-)
Where did I say it was as easy to manouver a tow vehicle and trailer as it was a motorhome?Our motor home generally stays put when we get to site - we either cycle, walk or take public transport. Provisions can be bought in advance so there's no need for a car, if it's far enough that we do need a car we'll take the motorhome and park it there instead of the site previously.
Anyways, there are obvious pros and cons for both and whilst plenty have stated their preference for a caravan over a motorhome, for me personally I'd always pick a motorhome over a caravan. :-)
Apologies for misinterpreting your post.
I mean that it's not difficult to tow from point A to point B, you just drag whatever you are towing behind you. It's extremely rare that you have to reverse on route so the only time the towed component becomes a factor is when parking it at the destination. And many caravans have electric movers attached so even that one manoeuvre becomes a doddle.
In practice it's not a big deal to tow is what I'm saying
Edit: just re-read what I originally wrote. I said I had no problem manoeuvring a tow vehicle and trailer. That's true but I didnt mean it was as easy as manoeuvring a motorhome by itself. I wasn't clear though, I more meant the point above, it's rare that any actual manoeuvring is involved as the journey tends to consist simply of setting off from A and driving straight to B with no manoeuving required so that concern is generally a mute point.
I see that what I said was unclear, my apologies.
In practice it's not a big deal to tow is what I'm saying
Edit: just re-read what I originally wrote. I said I had no problem manoeuvring a tow vehicle and trailer. That's true but I didnt mean it was as easy as manoeuvring a motorhome by itself. I wasn't clear though, I more meant the point above, it's rare that any actual manoeuvring is involved as the journey tends to consist simply of setting off from A and driving straight to B with no manoeuving required so that concern is generally a mute point.
I see that what I said was unclear, my apologies.
Edited by foxsasha on Wednesday 5th October 22:17
I suppose it's hard to argue that towing is not more difficult than motorhomes simply because of the couplings - although if the motorhome tows a car then that argument is blown out of the window.
I personally find towing straightforward. I enjoy the challenge of manoeuvring. I do think that some people simply do not get reversing though. I helped someone out this summer who was failing to reverse on to a really easy pitch. He confessed he normally just used his mover, but the hill had been too much for it.
One of the things I remember is a woman and child stood in the rain, as her husband had taken the motorhome to get some essentials, before the rain started. They did not look happy.....
There is a motorhome that I would buy in a second though....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
I personally find towing straightforward. I enjoy the challenge of manoeuvring. I do think that some people simply do not get reversing though. I helped someone out this summer who was failing to reverse on to a really easy pitch. He confessed he normally just used his mover, but the hill had been too much for it.
One of the things I remember is a woman and child stood in the rain, as her husband had taken the motorhome to get some essentials, before the rain started. They did not look happy.....
There is a motorhome that I would buy in a second though....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
surveyor said:
There is a motorhome that I would buy in a second though....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Been for sale forever, that, which suggest it's either massively overpriced or nowhere near as nice as the advert suggests it is.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Suspect it's a pig to drive, harsh and unrefined. Which is a polar opposite of what the living quarters appear to be.
Certainly not the kind if thing you'd take to the Dolomites, for example.
Trabi601 said:
surveyor said:
There is a motorhome that I would buy in a second though....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Been for sale forever, that, which suggest it's either massively overpriced or nowhere near as nice as the advert suggests it is.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Suspect it's a pig to drive, harsh and unrefined. Which is a polar opposite of what the living quarters appear to be.
Certainly not the kind if thing you'd take to the Dolomites, for example.
surveyor said:
Trabi601 said:
surveyor said:
There is a motorhome that I would buy in a second though....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Been for sale forever, that, which suggest it's either massively overpriced or nowhere near as nice as the advert suggests it is.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Suspect it's a pig to drive, harsh and unrefined. Which is a polar opposite of what the living quarters appear to be.
Certainly not the kind if thing you'd take to the Dolomites, for example.
PurpleTurtle said:
surveyor said:
Trabi601 said:
surveyor said:
There is a motorhome that I would buy in a second though....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Been for sale forever, that, which suggest it's either massively overpriced or nowhere near as nice as the advert suggests it is.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KI...
Suspect it's a pig to drive, harsh and unrefined. Which is a polar opposite of what the living quarters appear to be.
Certainly not the kind if thing you'd take to the Dolomites, for example.
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff