This may cause some argument, which is what I want. My friend wants to purchase a travelling home. I have a caravan and think it is great as once parked and set up, you have the advantage of using the car to visit places nearby without having to undo all the work setting up. Another friend has a motor home and he thinks its great. The one who wants to buy is unsure what to go for. There is no family involved in taking trips away and the only other part in the equation is two dogs which he would want to take along. Convincing arguements for either would be appreciated.
We started campnig using our parents motorhome - easy to set up but the disadvantage was packing up everytime we wanted to drive anywhere. Also a lot of towns discourage travellers etc by putting up height barriers in town car parks (although I know alot of people use a coach park instead). For a family I think a caravan is best - easy to leggit somewhere in the car if the weather is foul. with a motorhome you have yet another road tax and mot. I agree with Gwil1, if you are touring and not staying in one place for any length of time then perhaps a motorhome. How about you and your mate letting your friend have a look in both your outfits and go from there?
We started with a caravan then went to a trailer tent and now back to a caravan. While I would like a motorhome as I prefer to drive rather than tow, I cannot justify the extra expense. A brand new caravan would cost an average of £12000, a brand new tow car probably around £15 - 20000. A new motor home is likely to set you back £60000, and you'd still need a car to use for the rest of the time. The advantage is that the depreciation of a motorhome is considerably less than that of a car and caravan. That said, We have a second hand car that cost £1500 5 years ago and a caravan that cost £2500 last year. Car is a 1993, caravan is a 1992. Total cost of £4000. My dad bought a motorhome three years older and paid £6500, also needs to tax insure and MOT a car in iddition to the motorhome. I couldn't justify (or afford) the extra cost for the convenience of not having to tow. However, I would feel safer driving a motor home than towing a caravan, but that's probably just because I have a lot of experience driving vans and am relatively inexperienced at towing.
The cost of a motorhome is prohibitive, plus the ones I have seen inside at shows I didn't like very much, they all seemed to look old fashioned, then as said, there is the extra tax and insurance. Give me a caravan any time. Now if money really was no object then I might think differently.
We started with caravans, then moved onto motorhomes for 8 years. We are now into our 7th year of going back to caravans, and have no regrets.
Our greatest objection to the motorhome was that you are always living with the cab. And running costs just driving around on holiday were considerable. Plus the problem of finding somewhere to park. Then there was the risk of theft; most thieves are aware that ther are goodies to be had in motorhomes.
Caravans located on good campsites offer greater security, more space and comfort (with awning). And the solo vehicle gives better access to out-of-the-way places at a much more economical cost in fuel.
But I am not decrying motorhomes. These are our findings based on our own personal experience, and we find that a caravan suits us best.
You pay your money and take your choice; it's up to individual tastes.
pros & cons to both wat is best we started with a caravan when we had kids .they eventurly grow up and do there own thing so we bought a motorhome and love it.we never have a problem going out for the day as u dont have that much to put away with a motorhome. and wats wrong with using your van for everything we do &we are old plodders now with a big six berth motorhome each to there own just think it all out before u decide
ps dont foreget to talk to your partner and c wat they want
If I'd have had £50 or £60K then I wouldn't be pulling a van it would be a MH for me!
But...and it is a big BUT...the thing that I think is tops with caravans is if you don't use one then it won't cost you anything, (apart from storage if you have have to.) A MH needs taxing, and its MOT every year.