Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by weegmack on 16/9/2014

---

Ooo it's a hard decision isn't it?


We had the caravan when our girls, now teenagers, were much younger. It was great. We didn't go abroad but had lovely holidays. It's great to site the van, set up the awning (with the odd argument) and then have the freedom to explore with the car. The whole thing was much cheaper than running the MH.

---

Quote: Originally posted by Wendyhouse on 16/9/2014

---

Quote:True !!! but if your set up on site and have to pack everything away just to go for a pint of milk and then try parking in town with a 7 meter coach built .
Many car parks have height barriers .

Neil & Lena, guess we will just have to agree to differ. We have a 6.4 motorhome and seem to manage. I suppose it is question of how you use it. Takes less than a minute to 'pack up' and we have managed to park in every place we have visited, including some pretty scary Cornish, Welsh and French villages.

---

Quote: Originally posted by dinkum on 17/9/2014

---

My vote goes with camper van or small motorhome towing a caravan. see photo on my profile.
Reasoning? Camper van is small enough and eco enough to use every day. Useful for day trips etc especially if retired like we are. caravan comes in on site with better wc/shower/cooking. It's effectively two rooms on wheels. Going to the beach for the day? Camper van. Simples. We don't all need huge twin axle caravans or motor homes. Done that, got the tee shirt etc. As life changes. Change with it. We did use sports car and small tent recently for a short while, when moving house. twas brilliant!

---

Egbert I feel your pain we are in a very similar position. We did own a very old MH in the past for a short while.

We had to change our car recently so bought a car that could tow and we were adamant that we would get a caravan but now we have veered back to maybe getting a MH

For us towing is a possible deal breaker, but cost would be the deal breaker for owning a MH. A 10k Van would be considerably better than a 10k Motorhome, then we started thinking long term. Say we wanted a really decent tow car such as a Disco a low mileage one will set us back around 25k to tow a nice twin axle van that say cost 17k. Thats 42k and in very decent MH territory.

(Edit: take out 6k for a small car and thats still 36k and still in decent MH territory although agreed you can get a 3k car and a 2k caravan but you can also get a 5k motorhome)

Our car use each week is pretty much the school run and other short runs doing that in a Disco would be overkill and we do not live in Chelsea, we could get away with a fiat 500. With the extra cost of running a Disco vs the cost of running a fiat 500 we could pay the extra MOT/servicing etc that comes with the MH or hire a car for a week when on holiday.

Our time away will be mainly weekends/rallies but we may have a longer holiday but we don't like being confined to one site for two weeks. I would be very reticent to go abroad with a Caravan but wouldn't hesitate or worry to do it in a MH.

A big pro for us as we have two kids is turn up, handrake on, beer/wine out.

It probably does not help much but only you can answer the MH vs Caravan question both have pros both have cons and if you are anything like us you will know in detail what each pro and con is but your own personal situation is unique to you.

Quote: Originally posted by Nosaj on 18/9/2014

---

Egbert I feel your pain we are in a very similar position. We did own a very old MH in the past for a short while.

We had to change our car recently so bought a car that could tow and we were adamant that we would get a caravan but now we have veered back to maybe getting a MH

For us towing is a possible deal breaker, but cost would be the deal breaker for owning a MH. A 10k Van would be considerably better than a 10k Motorhome, then we started thinking long term. Say we wanted a really decent tow car such as a Disco a low mileage one will set us back around 25k to tow a nice twin axle van that say cost 17k. Thats 42k and in very decent MH territory.

(Edit: take out 6k for a small car and thats still 36k and still in decent MH territory although agreed you can get a 3k car and a 2k caravan but you can also get a 5k motorhome)

Our car use each week is pretty much the school run and other short runs doing that in a Disco would be overkill and we do not live in Chelsea, we could get away with a fiat 500. With the extra cost of running a Disco vs the cost of running a fiat 500 we could pay the extra MOT/servicing etc that comes with the MH or hire a car for a week when on holiday.

Our time away will be mainly weekends/rallies but we may have a longer holiday but we don't like being confined to one site for two weeks. I would be very reticent to go abroad with a Caravan but wouldn't hesitate or worry to do it in a MH.

A big pro for us as we have two kids is turn up, handrake on, beer/wine out.

It probably does not help much but only you can answer the MH vs Caravan question both have pros both have cons and if you are anything like us you will know in detail what each pro and con is but your own personal situation is unique to you.

Post last edited on 18/09/2014 17:08:56

---

After 5 months away and driving all over, you can always spot the MH folks standing outside campsite waiting for a bus.....as we drive into town. Or as a cpl "asked" at one site...can we bum a lift. Oh and dont miss that bus as the next one is in 2 hrs time, miss the last bus back, at 8 pm, then what.

I minute to pack it all away, yeh right. And when you arrive back late at night, unpack again/re hook up.....sure.

But the great thing about a MH is you can save a few quid by parking in Aires....and to use on buses you'll need.

Oh and driving/towing I averaged 30 mpg BUT without the caravan, it was 50! Thereby we stopped at ACSI campsites 1/2 hr out of towns in beautiful countryside vistas and it cost maybe 5/6 euros worth of diesel to drive and park, as opposed to 3/4 euros EACH, both ways to bus.

To sum it up, ioho, we noticed that MH folks stayed put at a campsite far more than caravaners did.

Choice is yours, explore or read a book under  your awning.