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Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 18/9/2014

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

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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

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Another one who is hesitant to to tow abroad , what makes you think it will be any easier with a motorhome .
Driving in Europe is far less stressfull than the Uk .
There is nothing hard about it , the M25 is far worse

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Well the short answer for me is the not towing anything behind me part would make me think its easier in a MH.

But that does stem from a hesitancy to tow in general more than a fear of doing it abroad. I would be just as hesitant getting on a ferry to the Isle of Wight.

Quote: Originally posted by chelseafc on 19/9/2014

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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.

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Must admit I agree the not having a car when you get on site is a big downside with the MH.

My dealbreakers:

Caravan: you have to tow it

Motorhome: initial cost and extra creatvity required for travelling once on site.

Tent: Too cold

Looks like I'm going on a package holiday to Benidorm

Quote: Originally posted by Wendyhouse on 19/9/2014

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Oh well, it appears that over the last 15 years of motorhoming around UK & Europe I have been doing it all wrong.
Apparently I should take a long time to get going and should have been hanging around bus stops and staying long term on campsites.
Never mind, not too late to learn.

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Probably. How do you get into towns etc when your campsite is a few miles outside and in a rural area?  As the vast majority are. You cant unless you pack it all away.

Thats why you have to find a campsite closer to towns/cities etc.

Awning, electrics/water etc OH and hope all the tables and chairs are still there when you get back and it didnt rain. We have had a huge American RV, a campervan and now a caravan. Tow car was 9k, the caravan 5k. Towing in Spain was a dream as was France...Germany etc, only Italy was a PITA.

Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/9/2014

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It is indeed, weegmack. After many years away from caravanning, we are now enjoying it once again. Although ours is a very old 'van, it suits us just fine, and it seems highly sophisticated after our last one which had only gas lights and no running water when we bought it.

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Quote: Originally posted by cliffystephens on 27/9/2014

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Wish I could decide to go down motor home route but your not selling it to me yet, downsides to caravanning or M Homing I think.......................

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