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Subject Topic: caravan or tent???
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27/1/2011 at 8:53pm
 Location: staffordshire
 Outfit: Outwell Nebraska xl
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Hi
Can anyone give me any advise please!!!!! We have a tent at the moment we are thinking about a caravan again!!!! would any of you go back to a tent after using a caravan?? Also can anyone tell me where I can purchase a damp meter from? Are you better buying from a dealer or a private sale??? Any other advise would be very welcome!!

Many thanks
Debbie

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Chy Charne Cornwall 7 nights August!!!!


27/1/2011 at 9:32pm
 Location: High Peak
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman SI 2017 Hyundai Santa F
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Personally i wouldn't go back to a tent. We loved our tent holidays but had too many wet soggy holidays. We love the 'luxury' of holidaying in a caravan and wouldn't go back although i still love to see what tents there are.out there!

As for where to buy, our only experrience was buying from a dealer and we were quite happy with our purchase - price and quality of caravan and service.

I believe you can buy a damp meter from DIY shops although i'm sure someone will advise if this is correct.

Hope this helps, its is our personal experience and everyone has different views of what is right.



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27/1/2011 at 9:32pm
 Location: Sitingbourne
 Outfit: baily champaign
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Hi Debbi We have gone from tent to small  caravan to trailor tent back to a larger caravan.I personaly would prefer to go back to a folding camper.I much prefer under canvas & a folding camper gives nearly all the comforts of a caravan without the costs that towing a caravan incurs. you can pick up a damp meter from most DIY stores or screwfix or from Ebay they range from £8 to up to £200.one about £28 should be do fine.Buying from a dealer gives you certain rights that you do not get from a private sale,but a private sale is usualy cheaper & you usually get many accessories as part of the sale.although you need to do very carefull research before buying.This may be of some help

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/practical-advice/thinking-of-buying/buying-a-new-or-used-outfit



27/1/2011 at 9:44pm
 Location: Wigan
 Outfit: VWSharan. Sport 442.
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We would not use a tent in the UK, (too damp, and cold), but still prefer to use a tent in Europe during Summer.

Regards,
Jim.


27/1/2011 at 10:00pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Vango Inspire 600
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We went from tent to caravan & wouldn't go back as a family although I've just bought DS (19) his 1st half decent tent (3 man Outdoor Revolution Starcamper) & I'm thinking I might have to take one of the dogs & test it out for a weekend for him once spring arrives

Our vans have come from dealers & if you haggle you can usually get some stuff thrown in plus a warranty.  Private sales are generally cheaper/more accessories but I think you really need to know what you're looking for (personal opinion) & I'm not confident we're at that level yet.



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Vanessa
x



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27/1/2011 at 10:41pm
 Location: Aberdeen
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti
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Camping for years under canvas, frame tents etc then went trailer tent which was brilliant now got our first van. Bought from a dealer, 1991 model and because of no trade in got a lot knocked off the asking price plus a 1 year guarantee and a full service before he gives it to me. Have yet to go on holiday with it but just sitting inside it at the dealership it felt that bit more luxurious. Its' a small 2 berth but feels bigger than the TT. The wife liked the 4 burner hob, grill and oven. What caught my I was the drinks unit

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Robert (BoB)


27/1/2011 at 10:48pm
 Location: sunderland
 Outfit: terrano compass omega 505
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much easier in a caravan than a tent at least when it rains we don't have to dry the caravan off ( got sick of trying dry the than dam tent )



27/1/2011 at 10:56pm
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A tent would be fine in an emergency situation, Like you where shipwrecked on a tropical island or something

but really its a totally different scene boxed up in the warm and dry Van than our poor canvas cousins on site



27/1/2011 at 11:38pm
 Location: 
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If you look at it like a hobby, its 2 different ones, like playing rugby or playing cricket. Its whatever works best for you in terms of cost or whatever ambience you wish to create.


27/1/2011 at 11:54pm
 Location: nottingham
 Outfit: Grand Canyon 8 Pennine Fiesta
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We started with a tent,but would have loved a caravan.The snag was that I was building the b****y things all day ,no way was I going to holiday in one. When I left the trade we bought a Pennine Fiesta,best of both worlds, but still got the tent.

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      Corpogreen esq
          dead horse
               and
       donkey buyer
    
      
      


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27/1/2011 at 11:54pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Bailey Maru transit mk7
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 2 years ago i would ahve said no wahy would i like a caravan but having to go caravan or give up camping we got a van last year and i love it. allways have our awaning up and the van door opne as our vans only 12ft and i like the space being used to a big 8 man frame tent butI dont think even if i could i would go back to a tent the vans my baby

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Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice   


28/1/2011 at 12:17am
 Location: OLDHAM
 Outfit: KYHAM XXL Sterling Eccles Emerald
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Been there, tent, caravan, boat, tent and now 50 / 50  both tent and caravan.  Yes they may both be called camping, but as different as chalk and cheese     As you already know     If it's got to be either / or,  then a family meeting needs to be called.   Look for a compromise tent summer, caravan winter.   You could do it the other way but   -10 degrees  in the dark in a tent , is just as bad as 30+  degrees caravan 

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Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.









28/1/2011 at 2:10am
 Location: Bolton Lancs
 Outfit: Tent & Toyota Granvia
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I have three forms of camping - tent for one or two nights, very large mpv with awning for 3+ nights and caravan the same. Obviously the caravan is warmest/driest/most comfortable, but all three each have their different merits and I'm quite happy to use any of them.

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Tigermouse


I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental


28/1/2011 at 7:24am
 Location: High Peak
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman SI 2017 Hyundai Santa F
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For us caravanning and tenting are not as different as chalk and cheese! We still  'go camping' but we have the luxury of having the caravan. We still cook outside,and spend as much time outside as possible. Even when loads of poeple ae sitting inside their caravans watching TV, we're outside!


28/1/2011 at 8:28am
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 636
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Ive done canal boating, tenting and bought the caravan last year.  I loved tenting but we did glamp it up and had every comfort available so we made it easy on ourselves.   OH despised the packing up of the car, only to unload it all again to set it up a few hours later and because we comfort camped we had a LOT of gear. 

What finished it for us was Cornwall last June, it was grim and grey and the rain just lashed down outside for days, I can still remember the darkness inside the tent in the middle of the day and the smell of damp canvas - it was the worst week we had ever experienced camping and as Cornwall is so geared up for outdoors we struggled to entertain the children.  We left a day early and we started packing up at 10am but didn't finally leave the site until 4pm, arriving home at 11pm grumpy and shattered. 

Within 6wks we had bought the caravan and have loved every minute of it, I do miss the tenting and have real fond memories of tent camping in the Vendee as the tent was perfect for the 30+degs weather we got, but I'd only swap now for that find of guarantee - however, OH wouldn't go back under any circumstance - of that Im certain!

If money was no object I'd definitely do a spot of boating again though!!



28/1/2011 at 9:08am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75
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Done camping would not go back to it!

We also go on cruises and hotel type holidays but love our caravan.!



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DS-There's more to life than football!!!



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