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Subject Topic: Dilemma about what to change?
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10/5/2018 at 10:15am
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Cabanon & Vango
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Hello

I'm hoping to get a bit of advice here.

We need to make some changes, but can't decide what to change.

We need to either change our tow car for a far more economical one, or sell the caravan and tow car, and buy a better tent. A third option could be to site the caravan, but this would need to be on a site that isn't too expensive and we can get to within an hour

We currently have a little old caravan (4 berth Swift about 20yrs old) and we tow it with a Volvo V70. The reason we had this car is because it has the boot seats and we are a family of 6 and a large dog... we can all fit in this car. However, our two older kids are not really wanting to come with us anymore, and if they do the eldest has his own car so can drive them both. It is just too expensive to keep on the road for a couple of uses a year.

We also have a 6 berth tent, but husband isn't keen on it and if we go down the route of selling the caravan and going back to the tent, he wants to get a canvas frame tent. As much as I would love one, I just think they are too big and take too long to erect, for short 3-4 night trips.

I suppose the best option would be to find the most economical car we can to tow with, as we just can't justify keeping the tank on the road.

Just thinking on a bit... is it possible to add the car to our existing policy for a couple of weeks at a time? That way we could sorn it for the majority of the year and just tax and insure it when we are going to tow with it?
Or maybe we could hire a car/van with a towbar just when we want to go away...

I think one easy option would be to get rid of both and just go back to tents. We can then use the electric car, which is what I think we want to do mostly.

We just want the best of both worlds. To be able to use the caravan, but travel in the electric car lol.

Sorry for such a confusing post lol.



Post last edited on 10/05/2018 10:59:51

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Finally camping under CANVAS.



10/5/2018 at 11:04am
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
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Inflatable tent?

Quick and easy???


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10/5/2018 at 11:13am
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB
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Trailer tent? Folding camper?

Like a tent and like a caravan, easy and economical to tow, possibly cheaper storage costs.


Rob


10/5/2018 at 11:53am
 Location: Southampton
 Outfit: Elddis Magnum 505 Conway Countryman
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I too would recommend a folding camper, lightweight - ours is 750kg and part canvas.

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Homebird


10/5/2018 at 11:56am
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A folding camper

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Animals have feelings..

JEFF................


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10/5/2018 at 12:40pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Cabanon & Vango
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I'm going to have a look at folding campers. Our sons little Yaris would probably tow one of them as says can tow up to 900kg.
I'm not sure a trailer tent would be much different to just chucking everything in our trailer and towing it.

We are just going round and round in circles lol.

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Finally camping under CANVAS.



10/5/2018 at 12:56pm
 Location: County Durham
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The other option is a canvas bell tent, one pole and can be erected in about 15 minutes.

http://soulpad.co.uk/t/categories/canvas-bell-tents



10/5/2018 at 2:59pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave
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You seem to have a wide range of choices, and it all depends on how far you want to go with any change. Only you yourselves really know what is acceptable or not in selecting any of the choices, so asking for advice from strangers who don't even know you could be a recipe for getting it seriously wrong. Go with your own gut instincts.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops


10/5/2018 at 6:55pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Kampa Croyde 6 Air Classic
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There are some suggestions on here for towing and you mention an electric car.

A poster on here recently has an electric car, but it's not approved for towing and there is no option to fit a roof box so very limited options for taking anything other than light camping equipment away.

You can SORN the car and add it to your policy when needed, it's not actually that expensive if you add it to an existing policy. Cost me around £30 to add my old car to my new car policy for 3 weeks while I sold it on, however they won't normally add a second 'temporary' car for more than a month in any one period.

In saying that, a car is best kept in regular use, standing regularly for long periods could cause a number of issues which you don't want to discover hours from home with a caravan in tow.



10/5/2018 at 8:04pm
 Location: West country
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How heavy is the caravan?


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10/5/2018 at 8:37pm
 Location: essex
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570
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How about something like a Citroen Picasso or a Citroen Belingo these are fairly cheap to buy and maintain, either will give you loads of room for passengers and luggage. If you get a diesel it will do 50mpg or may be more on a run solo and some will be £30 tax, they have good engines too making them very reliable.That way you can keep the caravan as the tow limit will be 1300kg or more

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its our imperfections that makes us perfect


10/5/2018 at 10:01pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: ElddisAvante462 Honda CRV SE2.2 i-Dtec
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How many weeks a year do you normally camp for?

Would you be happy camping out early and late season in a tent when the weather is less than kind to you?

What if you miss the warmth and snugness of a caravan?

We are ourselves now looking at our options for when my elderly husband feels hes reached an age where he no longer wants to tow and set up the caravan.
A tent would not be an option as hes already looking at selling our air awning as the pegging out and pulling through the awning channel is getting too much for him.

Would you be able to cope with a big heavy canvas tent that can turn into a hang glider during the night, often in the lashing rain, Then needs pegging out to dry to avoid shrinkage as soon as you get home, and if so do you have the space to do so?

For us we are now thinking that a seasonal pitch would be the answer, and our adult daughter is showing an interest in learning to tow after visiting the Clubs stand at the NEC and having a taster tow demo in one of the Clubs outfits and enjoying it.

Have you considered using a storage pitch on a campsite that offers a tow on, tow off service for the times you wish to use it, With a towing service between sites if you ever fancied a change of area?

Is there a favourite area where you visit regularly which could become your base for breaks away like a mini static caravan would be? We have got our eye on a little Yorkshire farm pitch as one of our short list for when we decide to go down the seasonal pitch route.

Julia


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Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife

Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!


10/5/2018 at 10:48pm
 Location: None Entered
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trading in the car is going to have its own cost, and towing is always going to make quite an impact on MPG.

If the current car is reliable, work out your annual mileage and compare the potential savings in fuel..


you may find that a trade in just simply makes no sense financially when allowing for the cost of trade vs 2/3 years fuel cost.



what MPG does the volvo attain?

the cost of 35mpg vs 50 mpg per 10,000 miles per year is around £400 difference.



11/5/2018 at 1:56pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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There is a considerable difference in the MPG of the diesel V70 and the petrol version. I have a diesel, and I'm finding it very difficult to source a suitable tow car with the same MPG and the same comfort. If yours is a petrol one I would consider swapping it for a diesel. Mine does about 38mpg around town, or when towing our caravan, or anything up to 50mpg solo on a run. I don't think that's bad for a 2.5 litre, nearly 2 ton car with loads of room, especially as it is 18 years old and has 168,000 miles on the clock.

Also, something to bear in mind is that you can now only tax cars from the beginning of the month, so if you are considering only taxing it when you use it, that could make a difference.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


11/5/2018 at 2:05pm
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser
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The V70 may be a bit heavy on fuel but I am guessing that it is reliable and you have not spent that much on maintaining it.
Are you sure you want to sell it as buying another car could be buying problems costing you more than the difference saved on fuel?


11/5/2018 at 5:32pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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I must admit, the only reason I am thinking of changing my V70 is that I would like a car with a higher driving position, as I'm starting to struggle a bit getting in and out. I'm perfectly happy with it otherwise, apart from feeling like a change as I've had it 9 years now. Good reliable old cars, and quite economical I think, considering what they are, and superbly comfortable.

I'm quite happy with my fuel consumption, but I wouldn't want anything that was worse, especially as I see fuel prices seem to be rising again.

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Best Regards,
Colin



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