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At the start of our third season with our campervan we feel we are outgrowing it and are thinking of moving over to a caravan.  There are pros and cons to both caravans & motorhomes and we would really appreciate some imput from caravan owners particularly if you have previously been campervan/motorhome owner.

We are trying to get to grips with weights and the size of vehicle we would need to buy but I am sure OH with have a handle on it all soon.

Also as we are a couple with three dogs I feel we would be better with a four berth, more space etc and cant imagine there is much difference in towing either or - am I right?? 

Finally seeking reassurances about towing which I have to say (as the main driver) I view with some trepidation!

Thank you for your replies in advance.

Liz

Hi we changed over from a camper to a caravan,we got fed up of having to put everything away,turn off the gas and unplug the electric before going out for the day.We've only bought a small caravan just the two of us and the dog  but we love it ,its so much easier towing hasn't been a problem.

We were torn between motorhome or caravan for a good while but really decided it for us was the fact that we go somewhere and stay on the same site for areasonable time and like to drive out for days out. So we stuck with caravan.

Had a 4 berth & changed for a newer 2 berth. They were exactly the same length so towing was much the same but weights may be different.

If you do tow and you are not 100% confident I'd say do a club towing course. Nothing to lose really. Towing is pretty easy as long as you plan ahead & remember you observations. Reversing is a little trickier but if you really struggle get a motor mover.

As far as we are concerned when we are on site it's great to get back after a day out and just have to unlock the door.

i am looking at going partially the other way, having a campervan that is big enough to tow the van. if I am away for a 1 or 2 nighter use the campervan as a lot easier to drive as opposed to towing the van plus can do 70mph or thereabouts. just somewhere to doss so thinking about a mazda bongo conversion or such like

for holidays use the campervan to tow the caravan

We also chose caravan over motorhome so we wouldn't have to 'pack up our house' to go out for the day.  That & the cost of a motorhome!

I was scared to death at the thought of towing but once I'd had a go on an easy run I was fine altho can't reverse to save my life - that's OHs job!

If we had the money I'd also like the best of both worlds - caravan for more than 2 nights away & campervan for short weekend breaks.

I think caravans take a bit longer to set up as you have to wind down the legs and connect electric, water & waste. Loading is different as you need to place heavy things over the axle to keep the noseweight correct and make the van stable when towing but you soon get used to that.

Once set up the caravan is probably more spacious and pleasant to live in. For a couple the fixed beds layouts are superb. An awning may be useful for 3 dogs.

Quote: Originally posted by mumhud1 on 25/3/2010

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Hi we changed over from a camper to a caravan,we got fed up of having to put everything away,turn off the gas and unplug the electric before going out for the day.We've only bought a small caravan just the two of us and the dog  but we love it ,its so much easier towing hasn't been a problem.

 

Post last edited on 25/03/2010 21:20:19

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I wake up early in the morning some time before everyone else, so I often drive to the nearest village for a paper and milk etc.  I then have a read of the paper.  I enjoy the peace.  If we had a MH then I couldn't pop to town.

We like to travel around the sites of the area we visit in the car. 

Also the cost of a motorhome is prohibitive.  Because of our work commitments and my wife's equine commitments, we can't go away as often as we would like and couldn't justify spending £30k+.

Some might say that you could use the MH as transport and do away with a towcar, but that wouldn't be practical for us as we need a towcar for the horse trailer.  Does anyone actually commute in a MH? 

I have done both. Started with a caravan, changed to a m/home, now back to a caravan. The obvious difference is the room you have in a caravan, that was the main reason for going back to a caravan. We bought an Elddis Autoquest 130 and although it was classed as a 5 berth we found it quite limited in space and there is only 3 of us and a dog.

 We now have an Argente 550/4 with an end bathroom, separate shower cubicle etc. and my OH loves it. Its a 4 berth.  Loads more room compared to our 5 berth m/home.There is obviously more freedom with the caravan as once set up you are free to go wherever you want in the towcar without having to set out really early to try to get the m/home parked if going to say the nearest town. Watch out for height barriers etc. Squeeze into a car sized parking space.  As mentioned before you can simply jump into the car and nip offsite if you need to pop to the shop without disconnecting the ehu etc.

As for towing, well i'm an HGV driver so I have no problems with towing but the m/home is great when travelling to the likes of France. We did the trip twice in the m/home and the fact you can stop off, get the kettle on, have a pee, wherever you are is great. Alot easier getting on and off the ferries and a lot easier to turn when the satnav takes you up a French farmers lane by mistake!

Would I go back to a M/home? Probably not. It was nice to try but an expensive try. They hold there value quite well but not when trading in. Happy with what I have now.

Paul

Firstly, I couldn't afford a motorhome.  Secondly, it wouldn't suit us.  I like to set up and then be free to use a car.    With a motorhome, if you want to nip down to the supermarket, you would have to pack up everything to use the motorhome as transport. 

You are also more restricted for car parking with a motorhome, especially if you are going somewhere where it's crowded.  Many car parks have height restriction barriers - from what I can remember, especially so on the continent.  I remember driving back to Dover and stopping at Charlville Meziere for the supermarket with a caravan.  We couldn't get into the car park because of the height of the van.  We had to 'illegally' block a delivery goods entrance because of height barriers to the car park.  What about multistorey car parks?  -  some are only just high enough for a Land Rover Discovery.

I've seen some (especially on the continent) with a motorhome towing a small car.  I suppose that is an option (don't know about the legality of it in the UK, but I suspect it would be OK), but while you are doing that, you might as well have a caravan.

It's not for us, but I can see it might suit some.  Each to his own...

WOW!!  Thank you so much for your replies so far - most of you are confirming what we have already thought - I like the idea of OH going to the shops for a morning paper!! 

I so recognise the traveller or dweller as we used to move sites every 3-4 days but now find ourselves staying longer and watching the grass grow a bit.  Like others have mentioned we can neither afford or justify the £30,000+ for a motorhome and although I dont commute in the camper it has been handy if one of the two cars has been in the garage!

As we are members of both clubs I'll tell OH to check out thier leaflets for more information.  Thankfully he is happy to spend hours researching.  He's already figured out that some manufactors make more lightweight vans than others and is looking to buy a VW Passat 2.0 TDi or similar to tow with - it's fuel consumption is good unless of course you have a better idea?!

We do seem to be at odds on the number of berths - OH wants a two and I would prefer four - as both the furkids and I would like to be able to have a friend join us for a few days sometimes. 

NAWER - dogs sleeping in the awning?????  More like the OH!!

Many thanks to all who have replied - your imput is much appreciated

Liz