I rented a motorhome and then bought a ...
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Caravan 
Although a long time PHer I've not posted much in recent years, but I've been drawn to this seemingly friendly corner and read loads of your buying and camping tales, so I thought I'd pitch in (groan) here too.
I'd been day dreaming about a camper or motorhome for a while. Both the wife and I grew up in families where we'd holidayed in small campers in the 70s. We've done a lot of static and house rentals in summer holidays but are now in a position to take more holidays. Well, we've got more time available but not really any more annual budget for such explorations. Older boy is off to Uni next year and the other is 5 years younger so with us a few more years yet.
Trouble is, wife and younger boy don't travel well, so they're not keen on actual proper touring. And whilst I'm a regular (bikepacking) wild camper, the wife flatly refuses to tent camp.
I took this pic during a cycle tour of the West Highlands and Islands last year. Lovely free camp spot above Shieldaig that we'd cycled over Bealach na Ba to reach. The tent is mine and what turned up next to me is what the wife would accept as her way of roughing it.
I suggested we hire a slightly more modest motorhome for a week and drive it not very far to see how we got on. We live in Sussex and so parted with £650 to hire a 2004 Hymer A class from a lady who owns two for hiring from near Gatwick. If we were to buy one then this would have been the type of thing we would buy. We picked it up and drove to Sandy Balls in the New Forest for our week.
Followed by the wife in our car. A shame, but I was sure that van had a bike rack on it, or at least a towbar, but it didn't, so these stayed attached to our car and the wife followed us down.
It turned out to be a blessing really as we now had a car for travelling about the area in whilst dodging rain showers, and the motorhome could stay pitched.
Anyway, a nice enough week at Sandy Balls led us both feeling a bit envious of the caravanners with their more space and full awnings, whilst of course having the car available.
The motorhome, for us, was a bit small. I didn't like how the cab area took up habitation space, the shower was tiny and I didn't like driving it either. It also wouldn't suit our 'park up for a week or two then go out each day' type of camping. It was too small to use as a daily so we'd also need to store it, and insure and tax and MoT it. So we parked the idea of motorhome ownership, and drove home via a couple of caravan dealerships to have a nose around.
Then we got a dog. A real muddy one. Just to make future holidays even easier, not.
So, after a few months procrastinating and web shopping we found our van. Decided to buy from our local Marquis dealer because of the 3year warranty mainly and they had this sent down from another branch. Rob Parry the sales mgr there, has been marvelous to deal with, a real enthusiastic knowledge, and we've had about 3 hours of comprehensive handover.
2009 Bailey Senator California 4berth. One owner, it seems hardly used at all. Serviced inc 3 new tyres and valeted, they threw in everything we could need. We've bought an air awning and found somewhere to store it all, and we collected it yesterday and successfully got it the 5ish miles to the storage place. First shakedown trip is to Concierge Camping in Chichester for a couple days in half term soon.
MLTPM is 1495kg, virtually the towing limit of my 1850kg kerb weight Caddy 1.9tdi. I did just have this remapped by Pendle though so it should cope fine.
Looking forward to many adventures in the Senny
Although a long time PHer I've not posted much in recent years, but I've been drawn to this seemingly friendly corner and read loads of your buying and camping tales, so I thought I'd pitch in (groan) here too.
I'd been day dreaming about a camper or motorhome for a while. Both the wife and I grew up in families where we'd holidayed in small campers in the 70s. We've done a lot of static and house rentals in summer holidays but are now in a position to take more holidays. Well, we've got more time available but not really any more annual budget for such explorations. Older boy is off to Uni next year and the other is 5 years younger so with us a few more years yet.
Trouble is, wife and younger boy don't travel well, so they're not keen on actual proper touring. And whilst I'm a regular (bikepacking) wild camper, the wife flatly refuses to tent camp.
I took this pic during a cycle tour of the West Highlands and Islands last year. Lovely free camp spot above Shieldaig that we'd cycled over Bealach na Ba to reach. The tent is mine and what turned up next to me is what the wife would accept as her way of roughing it.
I suggested we hire a slightly more modest motorhome for a week and drive it not very far to see how we got on. We live in Sussex and so parted with £650 to hire a 2004 Hymer A class from a lady who owns two for hiring from near Gatwick. If we were to buy one then this would have been the type of thing we would buy. We picked it up and drove to Sandy Balls in the New Forest for our week.
Followed by the wife in our car. A shame, but I was sure that van had a bike rack on it, or at least a towbar, but it didn't, so these stayed attached to our car and the wife followed us down.
It turned out to be a blessing really as we now had a car for travelling about the area in whilst dodging rain showers, and the motorhome could stay pitched.
Anyway, a nice enough week at Sandy Balls led us both feeling a bit envious of the caravanners with their more space and full awnings, whilst of course having the car available.
The motorhome, for us, was a bit small. I didn't like how the cab area took up habitation space, the shower was tiny and I didn't like driving it either. It also wouldn't suit our 'park up for a week or two then go out each day' type of camping. It was too small to use as a daily so we'd also need to store it, and insure and tax and MoT it. So we parked the idea of motorhome ownership, and drove home via a couple of caravan dealerships to have a nose around.
Then we got a dog. A real muddy one. Just to make future holidays even easier, not.
So, after a few months procrastinating and web shopping we found our van. Decided to buy from our local Marquis dealer because of the 3year warranty mainly and they had this sent down from another branch. Rob Parry the sales mgr there, has been marvelous to deal with, a real enthusiastic knowledge, and we've had about 3 hours of comprehensive handover.
2009 Bailey Senator California 4berth. One owner, it seems hardly used at all. Serviced inc 3 new tyres and valeted, they threw in everything we could need. We've bought an air awning and found somewhere to store it all, and we collected it yesterday and successfully got it the 5ish miles to the storage place. First shakedown trip is to Concierge Camping in Chichester for a couple days in half term soon.
MLTPM is 1495kg, virtually the towing limit of my 1850kg kerb weight Caddy 1.9tdi. I did just have this remapped by Pendle though so it should cope fine.
Looking forward to many adventures in the Senny
Welcome to the wobble box club. Prepare to get used to the quirks of such an elite club. Quirks such as becoming the entertainment for so long as it takes to reverse on to your pitch among many other too numerous to list.
Concierge camping - I assume you are breaking the other half in gently before unleashing the standard caravan site on her later?!?
Concierge camping - I assume you are breaking the other half in gently before unleashing the standard caravan site on her later?!?
Congratulations on the new acquisition. Shame you didn’t get along with the motorhome. Would’ve been nicer to drive if it’d have been a Merc chassis! 
But I know they’re not for everyone. Equally, caravanning wouldn’t do for me, but different strokes for different folks and I like that everyone is different.
Personally though, I’ve never waited around at bus stops as I always choose sites depending on what I want from the weekend. If it’s doing things and being able to visit towns or villages, I find sites which are walkable or at least cyclable. I find that a relaxing way to get around. But if I’m looking for tranquility, then I go for a more isolated site and take provisions with me so as not to have to leave the site other than for walks / hikes. But all of that aside, like you, I prefer the wilderness, so campsites really are only for when my daughter is with me or if I can’t wild camp in the vicinity.
P.S. - I’d have been really miffed if that motorhome turned up right next to my tent. Of all the places I’m sure there was to park!
But I know they’re not for everyone. Equally, caravanning wouldn’t do for me, but different strokes for different folks and I like that everyone is different.
Personally though, I’ve never waited around at bus stops as I always choose sites depending on what I want from the weekend. If it’s doing things and being able to visit towns or villages, I find sites which are walkable or at least cyclable. I find that a relaxing way to get around. But if I’m looking for tranquility, then I go for a more isolated site and take provisions with me so as not to have to leave the site other than for walks / hikes. But all of that aside, like you, I prefer the wilderness, so campsites really are only for when my daughter is with me or if I can’t wild camp in the vicinity.
P.S. - I’d have been really miffed if that motorhome turned up right next to my tent. Of all the places I’m sure there was to park!
ALY77 said:
Concierge camping - I assume you are breaking the other half in gently before unleashing the standard caravan site on her later?!?
It's fairly local and open in Feb! We joined the C&CC (and actually pursued the whole idea more seriously) purely on my ecperience of staying one night at their Dingwall club site during my tour. Outstanding and not curtain twitchy at all. Really like how they welcomed non members (at the time) and had special space for back/bike packers.Caravan is definitely the better choice for the UK, as I see it. We have a motorhome as we're spending more time in Europe and the facilities for caravans are non existent but plentiful for motorhomes. UK campsites are much more isolated too. Try getting parked overnight near a city centre in the UK. I'm parked a 5 minute walk from the centre of Seville right now, for €10 a night.
If we were spending all our time in the UK we would have a caravan instead (actually a 5th wheel + pickup, but the concept is the same). As it makes getting to places so much easier.
If we were spending all our time in the UK we would have a caravan instead (actually a 5th wheel + pickup, but the concept is the same). As it makes getting to places so much easier.
IMHO you made the right choice.
I have to agree that there is no point spening 3 times as much on a motorhome to park up on a camp site for extended periods (2+days) and putting up with not being mobile. The UK isn't best suited for MH due to sites only allowing bookings for blocks of a week and no aires type facilities. You can still do it though if you use the "wild camping" POIs)
It is completely different over the channel though and I really enjoy going from one place to the next each day with the freedom a MH affords.
I have to agree that there is no point spening 3 times as much on a motorhome to park up on a camp site for extended periods (2+days) and putting up with not being mobile. The UK isn't best suited for MH due to sites only allowing bookings for blocks of a week and no aires type facilities. You can still do it though if you use the "wild camping" POIs)
It is completely different over the channel though and I really enjoy going from one place to the next each day with the freedom a MH affords.
Shakedown going well. Very cosy. Spuffington there's a '16 Concorde on site; magnificent!
Everything seems to work fine but my clutch started slipping on the Caddy. Probably overdue at 136k tbh!
Glad I went to the effort of putting the air awning up to test too. Now I know my way around it should take no time next time and worthwhile even for just a few days.
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Everything seems to work fine but my clutch started slipping on the Caddy. Probably overdue at 136k tbh!
Glad I went to the effort of putting the air awning up to test too. Now I know my way around it should take no time next time and worthwhile even for just a few days.
simple image hosting
That is a Westfield Carina 420. I was impressed by one on display at my local Camping World for £700 then bought new off an eBay seller for £500 with groundsheet and an inner tent.
It comes complete with 2 x rear alu poles and 3 x storm alu poles which fit mid way (head height, above the windows) across the front panels, between the vertical air beams, and 4 x storm straps. Needed them too with 40mph gusts. None of these poles touches the van. Also comes with a caravan skirt and single wheel skirt.
Got it down myself whilst the missus was in the facilties, so it didn't take long at all. Reverse of putting up, which is unpack, thread onto awning rail, peg down the 2 ends nearest van, inflate the 4 air chambers (15 ish pumps by hand each, valves at the outside, bottom of each chamber), peg out, attach storm stuff.
Was still a bit damp putting away at 10am of course so I've brought it home to dry it out and pack away properly.
Edit: I've just noticed looking at pic that there's a porch canopy over the middle window. wondered what the extra hardware was for in the poles bag! We just used the pictured side entrance for this little trip so that's my excuse for not sorting that bit!
It comes complete with 2 x rear alu poles and 3 x storm alu poles which fit mid way (head height, above the windows) across the front panels, between the vertical air beams, and 4 x storm straps. Needed them too with 40mph gusts. None of these poles touches the van. Also comes with a caravan skirt and single wheel skirt.
Got it down myself whilst the missus was in the facilties, so it didn't take long at all. Reverse of putting up, which is unpack, thread onto awning rail, peg down the 2 ends nearest van, inflate the 4 air chambers (15 ish pumps by hand each, valves at the outside, bottom of each chamber), peg out, attach storm stuff.
Was still a bit damp putting away at 10am of course so I've brought it home to dry it out and pack away properly.
Edit: I've just noticed looking at pic that there's a porch canopy over the middle window. wondered what the extra hardware was for in the poles bag! We just used the pictured side entrance for this little trip so that's my excuse for not sorting that bit!
Edited by richardxjr on Wednesday 14th February 16:18
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