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Been camping for a few years now, dreaming of buying a caravan.  Moved to the darkside this year and bought a caravan. 

Not what its cracked up to be, if you ask my wife.  She hates it at moment, going to give it another year see if things change.  She dreads it every time we go away in caravan. The going to storage to pick it up, never relaxes when driving incase it gets blown over, trying to reverse it onto a pitch and leveling it (lots of arguments), she feels the need to clean it properly every time we pack up, then you still have to empty all the clothes and food when you leave it. We've been in the tent twice this year and she enjoyed it alot more. 

Kids couldn't care less if we are in a tent or van.

Me, well i just hate putting tents up, but majority of times with the caravan i put an awning up and i hate that too. 

Wife will probably win, might try a motorhome if we ever get enough money, in 30 years when we retire.

But we give it a go, will let you know next year if we have a caravan for sale or not.

SP

 Exactly right corpogreen - each to his own.

The worry of collecting our van from storage and back is non existant. 5minute drive to storage the owner pulls the van out and locks it up ready for us to unlock hook up and go, literally takes another 5 minutes. On return we un-hitch lock and drive away, owner lives on site and puts the van away for us. All this at anytime of the year.

Towing a van in heavy traffic is easy, not a problem at 50 to 60 mph usually 60mph to keep gradually passing HGV's. On B roads its usually pork pies that hold us up on Sundays! You cant do much more than 50mph on my local roads in a car. Anyway whats the rush? It only takes 20 minutes to set up.

Most sites have hard standing now so getting bogged down isnt an issue and even if it was the site tractor or 4x4  pulls your van a short distance so you can hook up.

One big bonus to US is the the ease of it all and no more drying out at home and packing away, very little to pack when we go because when were out we always slowly stock up for next trip and bedding etc and beds are fixed.

Yes the cost of a van, storage, depreciation and sevicing does cost, but if you can afford it then why not! Each to his own! Done camping, hotels, package tours, back packing, statics, holiday cottages, caravanning, camping again and back to caravanning and as a youngish family we love caravanning more. We did enjoy camping, and I recommend that everyone if they can have a go at it all. Especially before judging others.

I find it funny that some campers will instantly sl*g a caravanner off! Yet most caravanners were once campers!

Lets remmember were usually all in the same field, so lets just get on!

Quote: Originally posted by corpogreen on 02/10/2007

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The sad thing is being restricted to 50 MPH on all roads other than the motorway, even with a small trailer  (which most caravaners do on average i would say about 4 times a year)Getting bogged down on the site and having to be towed off when most tourists aren't used to towing.

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Not to mention all the extra fuel consumed - camping in a tent is far greener imo.

Quote: Originally posted by snowy747 on 23/9/2007

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No reason not to do both, we do! The van will be on a seasonal pitch next year so if we want to go abroad etc we will take the Monty.

Ali

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We had done 11 years of tenting and had some great trips some not so good, but we have recently bought a caravan, for all the same reasons as above drying sodden tents, going  out in the rain to use the toilet ect. but two things swung it for us was the fact that I have arthritis in my spine and was  finding sleeping on the ground ( with airbeds ) very bad, getting down was ok-ish after a few stellas, but getting up was very hard.

And we loved the idea of going away all year round. We were never game enough to camp all year round. We are off to Hailing Island on the 12th of Oct, and booked in for a NewYears rally in Cheltenham cant wait.

So enjoy your tents and caravans because its each to your own in my book.

             Regards

                          Sue

Quote: Originally posted by fran1000 on 02/10/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by corpogreen on 02/10/2007

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- camping in a tent is far greener imo.

Most tents are made in China and brought here by huge gas guzzling 'planes. How green is that ?

Almost all caravans are manufactured in the UK so are very green.

Roy Cropper is very happy with caravans.

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This could be a good reason not to purchase a caravan

.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7K1bBhjkY

Quote: Originally posted by Safeway56 on 03/10/2007

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Roy Cropper is very happy with caravans.

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