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have just bought a caravan, had enough of the tent hope we have done the right thing, so fed up every time we go away does it rain and we end up putting the tent up in the rain and taking it down in the rain, we have never had a caravan before so hope we like it better

debs 

Had my van a year this month, last time we pitched a tent we were soaking then this guy pulled up in his caravan droped the legs connected the water and leccy and had a glass of wine in his hand we hadn't even finished, from then on i was determined to get a caravan, it's nice to watch tenters pitching in the rain for a change tee hee.

hope you enjoy the van, there is nothing like being snuggled in your bed hearing the rain on the roof plus no more 3am walkies after too much wine/ale

having said that for me anyway the tent still has its uses, like when i need somewhere to doss overnight as you can drive at 70mph with a tent in the boot, you cant with 18 feet of caravan on the back.

for me once i can afford it I can see me going down the small motorhome route, something that is big enough to doss in, make a brew in and have a loo and sink and be small enough to use as a daily driver

we have bought a bailey ranger, hubby going to put most of the tent bits on ebay soon as i cannot go back to that, really looking forward to using the caravan end of june

debs

We followed the same path as rachntex.   We started off with a small tent and just basics, but we soon added a larger tent and lots of stuff.  It took for ever to pack/unpack in the rain!  I watched a video on folding campers and thought wow that is so quick and you get proper beds.  We kept it for two summers, it was quicker at first but we too added more stuff and setting up the cupboards and other stuff in the awning took forever.  We also found that we couldn't go away with out the awning, which meant we got fed up doing it for weekends. 

On our last folding camper trip we visited a caravan show room and for the first time we looked at them and thought these are great.  Before we used to think they were cramped and not enough room.  However with the new layouts they are great.  When we got home listed the camper on ebay sold within a day.  We then ordered a brand new peggy.  It has been the best move we have every made.  We have been away for 4 trips since getting it in March.  Something we would never have done with the camper or tent.  Got 5 more trips planned for this year so far, more to be added.   We bought a porche awning (really quick to put up) and a full awning for longer trips.

It is worth going to the carvan shows as you can pick some cheap stuff or just get ideas.  I hope you have a great time.

Packing away a tent in the rain is what made us switch to a caravan.

Don't regret it for a minute!

Judders, how exciting! I can still remember when we decided it was time to change from tent to caravan. The research started as soon as we got back from France (when we made the decision) - we already knew what van we wanted we just had to find one! After about a week of searching i found one. I showed it to hubby that evening, rang the dealer next day, who said we should come sooner than the weekend! Hubby immediiately got the afternoon off work, we drove the hour or so to the dealer and bought it! It all happened so quickly! When we were sat in the van talking to the saleman a fella came in to say he wanted the van too! Thank goodness we had got there when we did or we would've been too late! And we still love our Addy!

So good luck with, and enjoy, your research, i hope you find what you're looking for!

Hi Debs,

We're picking up our first ever caravan this Friday, and can't wait :)  We've had a tent for the past three years, but decided to go down the caravan route for the same reasons most of the other replies have given.

We're staying at a local campsite for one night this Friday as a trial run, then off to a site in the New Forest on Monday for six nights.

I hope I like the caravan because we've blown all our savings on it and kitting it out

Nicky