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I've only just bought a big tent and all the kit and we've been away a couple of times. We love the campsite life and the kids have a great time but my wife is a bit of a reptile and just cannot keep warm, not just at night but in the early morning and evening. I think she'll be better later in the year but that leaves us with such a short holiday season...

She's gamely carrying on but I feel that she is not having as good a time as she could. We originally wanted a caravan but decided we couldn't afford what we really wanted, hence the tent.

However, I'm having second thoughts now and considering getting a cheaper, second-hand van. Anyone any opinions on this? Is it worth the £10k I'm going to have to spend (we'll need a new car for the van) plus the annual storage costs and insurance? Anyone gone from a tent to a van and wished they hadn't?

 we had 2 large tents before upgrading to the caravan ( first with a very old cheap one which we used for nearly 2 years)

 have to say we love it , tho i have sentimentally kept the tent 'just incase'

with our new van we have gone for more space and comfort for us middle aged softies lol, but bought a huge 3 metre awning , so the kids will have bedrooms and camp beds in there , so its still 'camping'

im sure your wife would love the caravanning, nothing like sleeping in a proper bed

We are going to upgrade this year more to extend the season than anything and also cut out the 3hrs set up of tents. We go on C&CC DA meets near to home just 2 nights kids run around the feilds for two days and love it I have Osteoarthritus in the hips and it is getting to much now and I get too cold too we are going to get one with heating just for me.

Dee x x x x x

We actually upgraded to a caravan because we (well, I) were too hot in the tent.  That was a few years back when we used to have summers!!

Anyway, 4 years on, we're on our 3rd caravan but we've had this one 2 years now and love its fixed bed layout.  The blown air central heating is wonderful and has extended our season but, that said, we'll soon be investing in an Outwell Bear Lake 6 polycotton tent.

Our caravan has to stay in storage and the nearest reasonable storage is over 30 miles away and we've figured that for last minute weekend escapes, it'll be easier just to through the tent in the back of the car.  For longer trips, we'll stick with the caravan and that way we have the best of both worlds.

Have you thought about trying camping with EHU to give you options on heating?

Good luck with whatever you do - sounds like the family enjoys it and your wife wants to continue so I hope you can find a way to do so.

Hi,

It's all down to what suits and where you can store.
We are lucky to have undercover storage nearby, so can hook up and go in 45 mins. As so far as the car, depends on what you have now. We had to upgrade the car, but as it was newer than the old one, although this is a 4x4, my running costs are no dearer.

If you can afford the outlay, then I would not consider that you should put it all down to cost differance, you need to look at it in a qualitative way ie what value do you put on ease of use compared to ease of access.
If you get away to hilly wooded camping sites, then caravaning may not be for you, but if you use the main camping sites, then I would pick the van over tent every time. I find we have a longer season oppertunity to get away for weekends, not just the two week break.
Don't forget, you can always keep the tent and take it with you and pitch it, to use as an awning and more space, till you can get a van that is big enough for your needs, at least that way you can cut down on weight and costs and get best of both worlds, till you make up your own mind.

We used to have tents and loved our campin holidays..but like your wife..i was always cold and simply couldnt sleep at night...we got a caravan and have never looked back..so much more comfortable and warm..i could never go back to a tent now....

Sal :-)

Had a tt 2 years ago and soon moved onto a caravan.  Though we like to have the awning up for extra space we don't have to.  So we can pull up, put the legs down and be inside with a cuppa withing minutes.  I'm lucky in that i have a human radiator in my dh so i could sleep in a tent and not feel the cold with him beside me.

Camping is a lovely pastime but Caravanning is wonderful... 

We've just switched from tent to caravan & love it.  It's so easy to just hitch-up & go then when you arrive, unhitch, legs down & if you can't be bothered with the awning, so what?  We didn't have to change the car tho.

Do you use enough blankets in the tent?  We used to have one on top of groundsheet, then airbed, then another blanket, then sleeping bag & another blanket on top if needed.  Coupled with the fan heater left on low we used to be roasting even in cold, wet weather.  We also used PVC backed picnic blankets as carpet to give the floor some warmth.  Cold was never a problem & I'm quite nesh.

We loved tenting but have to say the van is so much quicker/easier & leaves more time for chilling.