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Caravans are tight, cramped spaces. You don't meet your neighbours because you sit indoors watching TV all day. If one person is standing up then everyone else has to sit down coz there's nowhere to go, there's literally one strip to walk up and down.

I would stick to Tenting.

Go for the caravan, but don't sell your stuff, its true you will use a lot of it for a caravan and also you might not like vanning!

We have gone back and forth lots of times, I hate towing caravans even tho I'm not the one driving, it makes me a nervous wreak, and its a nightmare if you get lost (can't turn round till you get to an island!) its really stressfull! Then there is all the expense of towing/servicing/insuring and running the thing, also the worry of damp issues and other problems caravans have, but yes they are comfy when you are on site, untill you try you don't know if you will like it or not.

We sold a 2009 caravan this year, swapped to a trailer tent which we have just sold, I am sick of losing money on units and thinking now of going back to a tent! Luckily I have kept all my gear, so only the tent I need

As others have said I wouldnt sell your gear just yet. Much of it can be used in a caravan if thats the route you intend to go. Id have a caravan but the thought of towing anything scares me plus the storage cost and nuisance put me off.

Have you thought of a self-conversion campervan ? Its my compromise- much cheaper than a MH; nothing to tow and protection from the elements.....

Don't let the issue of towing put you off.  OH & I are both 30 & I especially didn't think I'd be happy towing but we both actually loved it.  It really makes you slow down & be more aware about the road & traffic around you.  We found that cars would rush out of side streets to get infront of the 'caravan' but as long as you are aware of how other people will behave when they see you comeing, you just prepare for it & take it in your stride.

We did it with an electric handbreak which was a bit of a nightmare on hills as you are either on or off on the break, no inbetween but again we soon became masters at it & there were very few instances when we encountered any problems.  You just need to prepare in advance by checking out your route so you don't take a route that not's recommended for caravan's.

My dad did this back in the 80's, we had a sprite caravan which was towed by our 1.3 Mazda all the way from Edinburgh to Scarborough.  I was about 7 at the time but the memory of him driving up Sutton Bank shouting com'on baby to the car, will stay with me forever

You life & learn, its all an experience!

Dont do it!

There are pluses and minuses to caravans

Dont sell anything we moved up (not up in my opinion) to a caravan last year and the only thing we dont use is the tent, whilest caravans have the bonus of a bathroom a tent provides everything else. I find the caravan stuffy and airless compared to a tent so you end up adding an awning to sit out in so set up takes just as long.

You may still want an odd w/e in a tent we do.

Setting up beds at night in a caravan is a pain.

Family will in future insist on bringing a TV and laptop thats the end of jolly card and board games -well in my family it has been but then that could be due to having a teenager now.

Storage around £300 to £500 a year.

Hubby will spend hours tinkering with his new pride and joy-but then again that can be a bonus

Positives

Said teenager more likely to come because of electrical facilities.

The toliet in the night is warm pleasant and a bonus.

After our first 2 terror filled towing sessions  we have begun to enjoy the slower pace of towing.

Bad weather no longer is a problem.

People who have no idea how nice a beautifully set up tent can be stop looking at you like your insane when you are going camping and instead start making top gear caravan jokes too you

I forgot 1 other major negative when you tour in caravan instead of a tent you put weight on when away instead of coming home nice and slim from the 10,000 walks to the shower/toliet.