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Hi, we have never camped before in our lives!! Last year we were supposed to camp at Santa Pod at the Performance Vauxhall Show, but, after buying a tent (just a 4 man thing) and looking forward to it for weeks, I managed to break both bones in my arm in the first few hours of being there. So we ended up spending the night in the hospital before having to make a sharp exit to go home (they wanted to operate in Bedfordshire, 400 miles from home ) Anyway, the point is we have never had any experience of camping. But last year we bought a Mitsubishi Shogun 2.5  from a bloke who had a caravan and Adam got talking to him about it, he was telling him how great it is to be able to go where you want, when you want. This appealed to us and although we got rid of the Shogun 2.5 for a 3.0L V6 on LPG, the idea of getting a caravan stuck with us. we didn't want to spend too much on one, as we don't know if we are going to enjoy it yet, so just kept an eye on ebay, they were all going for daft money, then we found one in our local Ad Trader, looked great, price was good, so we bought it. Now we can't wait to get away in it,we were planning on getting away before now on a practice run, but what with the weather and Adams shifts, it's not been possible. So the Matlon Meet on the 21st April will be our first time away, I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to it now. So I hope that is the first of many weekends we get away this year.

Sorry this post is so long  But you did ask

Hi all i think most of us did the tent thing first just like us then came the caravan warmer and a proper tv with dvd player...........

We started in the 70's with an  old pop-up roof VW camper,only 6volt electric system, but we liked it and so bought a nearly new VW Sundowner. We had a great few years in it until the boys were about 4 and 5. They slept in the bunks formed in the pop-up roof above the main bed. One morning I woke up with a real shock, the van appeared to be leaking!!!!! The wife and I were getting wet from the constant drip coming from above. Fortunately the van was not leaking but it was our youngest son having a leak!!!!! I was not amused.

After that incident we bought a 60's 4 berth Sprite Alpine C and towed it with the VW but we never used the camper again. And I'm pleased to say my son has not peed on me since.

I started caravanning with parents many years ago,then went camping after getting mariied - couldn't afford a caravan then. We had a family, and then decided when they were both very small, and we had the storage space, to progress onto a caravan. That was over twenty years ago, and haven't looked back.

We had a folding camper and got fed up with worrying about packing away wet, and the setting up.

The caravan we first bought was lightweight and could be towed by the current car and was affordable. 

We wished we had borrowed the money and bought what we really wanted as a year later we replaced the car and the caravan and lost a packet on the caravan!

my parents had a caravan at Skegness in the 40`s and early 50s and apparently when I was born my cot was an open drawer. they progressed to a tourer (their first was a Berkeley Messenger) and have always had one since, as have I since I married.(I have had 2 trailer tents and 8 caravans)

Regards Robin

I've never stayed in a caravan. We bought ours last week, so even now I'm still a caravan virgin!

I hate camping in tents, and OH loves it, so we wanted a compromise. I've had so many great campervan holidays before, but a caravan seemed like a far better option for us.

Can't wait!

wanted to rent one for a long weekend, but the cost was so much, we paid only a small amount more and bought a good, but very old van.  Water pump was a black bulb on the floor that you pushed with your foot.  No hot water, shower, or loo.  You know the sort of thing.

Loved it.  Saved up and got a "modern" 2nd hand van - all mod cons.

Loved it, and had 3 new vans since.  Sometimes spend more on fuel for just the two of us (and dogs) touring Europe, than it would cost to fly somewhere for a hol, but much rather take the caravan.

Michael

Oh was in the scouts for 38yrs. We met 16yrs ago, pulled me into it as well then we left. bought a tent and went every weekend untill it got too cold. toured the whole of the coast. Took us 4yrs to do and loads of fun, then bought an old bedford cf then a tent, then a tourer but we had no tow bar and left it static on a site, back to a tent, then a static. We never wanted to tow anything, wanted more comfort so went for next best thing to a caravan, a motorhome. Joined UKCS attended a couple of meets and decided we were a bit tied with the motorhome as i like to set up and leave everything out. Also not so easy to park and manoevre in some of the small towns. So here we are swapped the motorhome for a Bailey senator. LOVE IT. More comfort, more room, and the Grandchildren love it too.

Lesley