We tent camped for years before moving up to FC's. After 6 happy years with a Pennine, Conway and finally a Combi-Camp we decided it was time to move onto caravanning and get the benefit of all year camping. Having researched various outfits we shortlisted an Adria, Elddis Xplore and Bailey Orion and finally took the plunge with the Orion 460-5. Very compact, easy to tow and accommodates 2 adults,3 kids & hound who so far all fit but the eldest will soon be venturing out on her own so more room for us. We purchased a porch awning Sunncamp Ultima 180 (£118), an extra aquaroll and aluminium rotary drier (£23.99 argos reduced from £38.99). Took it to Bath, Woodbridge, Kelling Heath and now venturing further afield with a Scottish tour. To date very happy fingers crossed and touch wood!
We had a tent for years, then upgraded to a FC in March 2012, we had 5 weeks camping in the FC during 2012 and amazingly not one wet pack despite the awful summer we had. In Aug 2012 we had a look at some 2 berth caravans and decided to take the plunge and bought a 2005 Lunar Quasar 462. We loved the FC but love the caravan more. We've had 7 holidays in the van this year and another week planned in Sept to Watergate Bay, Cornwall. The caravan bug is an addictive thing. Happy hunting for the right van.
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Had a Countryman for just over a year and wet packed nearly every trip. Now have a twin dinette caravan and love it. Yes we now have to pay for storage and fuel consumption is a bit higher but our van is less than 1500 so not too bad. It's lovely being able to get packed and ready night before leaving and overnight stops are a doddle if you want to tour. We have two awnings and take which ever is appropriate. There are lots of second hand ones out there. No regrets from the change and now do winter trips in comfort.
Quote: Originally posted by Rachieb on 23/8/2013
oops we appear to have purchased a caravan ! said we would wait til we sell the FC .... but couldn't resist !
picking up " Avril" Avondale Golden Mayfair 510/5 2001 on Wed,can't wait
Storing it literally 2 mins drive away for £37 a month which is way cheaper than I thought it would be, and we get our drive back again !
So last trip in the FC this wkend
Post last edited on 23/08/2013 18:13:21
We switched from Pennine Fiesta to Lunar Ariva 2 berth although much more room in the FC when it gets more difficult to help Bob to pull it down is just one of the reasons for changing as it was time for us to. Enjoyed camping under canvas again, but time to change for us rather than give up everything that does not equate for us at all.
Enjoy yourselves, its is very hard to stop getting things once you have decided to change its the bug that gets into you. Then off you go and get it as you have done lol
if you ever miss canvas. then you could always spend a few nights in the awning whether tucked inside a tent or not. my teenage kids stay in the awning as we have a sleeping annexe as they prefer to sleep longer than me and my hubby and we quite like not having them around for our first cuppa of the morning in our caravan. (love you kids)
Quote: Originally posted by Lou15e on 01/8/2013
Just one note in case anyone else is looking at this and considering FC/caravan etc - we never ever took down the inner lining or inner bed tents of our FC, we never had to and were told not too - it only took us maximum 10 mins to put the entire thing up so you dont have to take down the lining which, once when I washed it took absoultely ages to put back up.
You need to unhook the inners on many fcs if you pack up wet though, don't you? We had several tts and fcs and the wet packs needed to be between the beds and the canvas, which could only be done with the inners down.
Quote: Originally posted by kawasakiversys on 24/8/2013
if you ever miss canvas. then you could always spend a few nights in the awning whether tucked inside a tent or not. my teenage kids stay in the awning as we have a sleeping annexe as they prefer to sleep longer than me and my hubby and we quite like not having them around for our first cuppa of the morning in our caravan. (love you kids)
We do this regularly - in fact, we sleep in our awning annexe whenever it is warm enough. Queen size double height airbed in a 3 man inner, fixed bed and cool or make up the caravan bed and have to climb over hubby to get to the loo - no contest really! Because our van is on a seasonal pitch, the awning, annexe (and bed!) stay up all season. At the end of October, we take them down and move back into the caravan for the winter/spring.
We changed from a fc - missed the space but not the wet pack-ups!