well it all depends on you. If you think you'll be ok towing a caravan and have the storage space for it and don't want much faffing anout when you arrive on site i'd go for the caravan option. However if towing is of concern and storage space is limited and you don't mind erecting the folding camper then go with that option. Of coarse there is more to it than just that but that gives you something to go on.
------------- "You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.'" [Tommy Cooper]
A folding camper is much lighter and easier to tow than a caravan with much lower wind resistance. So if you can afford a caravan then also allow for the powerful heavy car you will need to tow it.
You will also need a device to shift it when off the towbar.
On the other hand a folding camper has dedicated bedrooms so does not need cushions and supports and bedding messing with twice a day. They also have more space once open. In practice they need about the same sort of set up time on site. The idea that you unhitch the caravan and open a bottle of wine is a fallacy put out by the manufacturers. In practice you need to unpack crockery, connect services and do almost the same sort of preparation as with a folding camper. With the camper you also need to open the roof out and tension the canvas but this is well compensated by the lack of bedmaking.
We have owned caravans, motorcaravans, tents and fc's and much prefer fc's for the above and many other reasons.
We went from tents to folding camper, hubby didn't want to pull a caravan, so we met half way, and must say its the best thing we ever did!!!!!!
We have talked and talked about what we will do next, and if we change in a few more years it will be another folding camper proberbly a Pathfinder.
We have just come back from a long weekend in the lakes with some friends that joined us, and then today my sister in law and husband came to join us and we left them there with the Crusier for a weeks hols. They have never done anything like this before and are so exited. It wouldn't suprise us if the buy one as well !!!!
Why not have the best of both worlds and go for a folding caravan. On one hand it is compact when folded down (size of a trailer), but opens out to a fair sized caravan with the advantage of solid walls and ceiling. We have a Rapido Exportmatic which even has a separate kitchen and toilet area/wardrobe space, and with the awning up it is absolutely massive. The Confortmatic is the smallest and that is quite roomy too, even more so with the awning.
We went from caravan to tent to folding camper (hard top popup type) and have to say the f/c is the favourite for practicality, ease of setting up and economy. If you intend winter camping then the caravan is the obvious choice with the extra insulation.
I bought a folding caravan last year and it is great easy to tow and so fast to put up, even the awning is easier as you thread it through when the caravan is down.
Having just returned from my first trip in my new Conway Cruiser, I would highly recommend an FC. Easy to tow, erected fully in half an hour (awning takes a littel longer). Never had a tin top. We moved up from a tent and it is the best thing we have done.
Steve
------------- Relax. You can do too much too soon.