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Topic: Caravan or Motorhome -The future?

Dave11

05/5/2017 at 11:44am
Location: Sussex
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Now our daughters have all grown and moved out, the wife and I are seriously looking at changing to a Motorhome for 2018 on .
Not that I really want to give up the caravan as I would still tow a small car behind the Motorhome to keep flexibility whilst away.
The concern for me is over the last few years, the car manufacturers are making their cars lighter and more importantly the government are going to be hitting diesel cars more and more with taxation etc.
We all know diesel cars for towing are far more efficient with torque and mpg and are better suited as tow cars, particularly for larger /heavier caravans.
Which raises the question, bearing in mind they don't really make petrol Motorhomes , only diesel as many are on commercial chassis /engine. Is it better to spend the money on a mid size Motorhome and small car as a runaround and for towing behind the motorhome? This should help protect residual resale value for change say in 5 years or so?
What do others intend to do when the time comes to change their larger caravan and diesel tow car?
The last petrol car I had to tow with about 10 years ago was only returning about 15 - 18mpg so didn't really want to go back to petrol power for touring?

Mick S.

05/5/2017 at 11:52am
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I just cannot get my head around towing a vehicle with another vehicle. Pro-rata, there is a lot more room in a caravan than the same length motorhome. And, you do not have to tax or mot it either!
Where is the logic of requiring a 'home on wheels' which both are, then to leave the home on wheels in situ whilst you run about in a car, unless the home on wheels is a caravan? I know loads of people do this, but i've yet to be given a credible reason as to just why.
And, this is coming from someone who has used both types units. (less the runabout with the motorhome).
The only reason i can think anyone would do it, is simply because they can.

Post last edited on 05/05/2017 11:57:03

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Mrs. Bonce

05/5/2017 at 12:20pm
Location: Luton (no jokes plea
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I wouldn't either, for all the above reasons plus if your car breaks down you still have accommodation in your caravan whilst your car is (hopefully) being repaired.

Kelper

05/5/2017 at 12:47pm
Location: Northern Ireland
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I can see some logic:

If one breaks down, then you always have the other.

One of the big disadvantages of the motorhome is the need to 'pack-up' whenever you want to 'go out' ... shopping/site seeing, whatever ... I know you can leave furniture set up ... but there will always be a certain amount of 'packing up' before you can move ... even if it's just the kettle, kitchen kit and anything else loose .. laptops ... whatever (in a caravan, you just lock the door and drive off in the car.

If you have a small car with your motorhome ... then, advantages are:

1. Can drive off as per caravan set up.
2. It's considerably cheaper to drive around in ... about one quarter of the fuel cost. And ... to partly cover Dave 11's concerns ... the small car could be petrol.
3. Handy for the quick run to the local super market/shops ... or two miles to the lake for a picnic.

I'm sure there are lots of other rational reasons, and somebody who does it, will add a host more.

shaggy2000

05/5/2017 at 1:01pm
Location: County Durham
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The only logic I can see to owning a motorhome over a caravan is if your the type of person that prefers to tour around for two weeks, ie three nights here, two night there etc.

It is possible to tour for to weeks in a caravan, but I would imagine its much easier in a motorhome.

Mike3003

05/5/2017 at 1:05pm
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Ditto Mick S. I see absolutely no point in towing a car behind a motorhome.

-------------
Not ALL Newts get p**sed.

“Semper Fidelis”

Dave11

05/5/2017 at 1:11pm
Location: Sussex
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Hi Mick S and Mrs Bonce, I think you possibly missing the point I was trying to make in regards to a possible new purchase .
To tow a larger caravan you need a relatively heavy car or SUV, these are more efficient in a diesel version.
However with the government starting to impose restrictions and heavy taxes on diesel cars and manufacturers baking them lighter, it us going to massively hit residual values of diesels in the future.
This must over the next 5-10 years take uts toll on residual large caravan and diesel cars . So would you want to buy either new moving forward or a Motorhome which is only made in diesel as far as I am aware, (if there isn't currently an alternative power for Motorhomes then it shouldn't have much effect).
If you find it more difficult to sell a large caravan or large diesel over the coming years is ut wiser to move to a Motorhome?

Mrs. Bonce

05/5/2017 at 1:17pm
Location: Luton (no jokes plea
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Well, we have just bought another Shogun as we intend to continue caravanning for as long as possible, and will probably buy another big twin axle van when we need to as we like the space and don't need an awning.

sammymac

05/5/2017 at 1:43pm
Location: None Entered
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If it's only two of you, why not 2 berth caravan and then you can have smaller petrol tow car. I wouldn't want motorhome as for reasons stated above.

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Sammymac

fleck2

05/5/2017 at 2:58pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Elddis accordo Motorhome

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Motorhomes can use the Aires. So going long distance with a caravan is more of a faff. We've got a 110cc scooter on the back which is great fun but not for everyone. I wouldn't bother towing a car.
To the op, I wouldn't worry about resale values, get what you want and enjoy life.

Mick S.

05/5/2017 at 4:26pm
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Quote: Originally posted by fleck2 on 05/5/2017
Motorhomes can use the Aires. So going long distance with a caravan is more of a faff. We've got a 110cc scooter on the back which is great fun but not for everyone. I wouldn't bother towing a car.
To the op, I wouldn't worry about resale values, get what you want and enjoy life.

A scooter on the back - i am all for, and it makes perfect sense. My own problem was, my motorhome had so little guts when it was 'loaded', that sometimes i had to vet the weight of the wifes handbag.

In reply to the OP's concerns on diesels and costs etc. You shouldnt have to look at, or be concerned with, such figures if you can lay out the kind of money a decent m/home commands.

Reminds me of the BiL moaning about the cost of tyres on his £40k car.

JTQU

05/5/2017 at 5:20pm
Location: Hampshire
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If a big diesel car is going to be hurt by taxing and restricting diesel powered vehicles, is not a much more expensive diesel motorhome likely to suffer an even worse loss of residual value?

Best financially keep what you have that already has been somewhat hurt by depreciation, till they invent a viable non diesel motorhome. Then wait till it gets well estabilshed so the risks and its cost are down.
In our case we have not enough years left so will simply not trouble ourselves with what we might lose and enjoy what we can have.

Colin21

05/5/2017 at 6:40pm
Location: East Herts
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There is not likely to be any alternative to the diesel engine in larger vehicles for many years in my opinion, and motorhomes come into that category. Petrol is not a viable option because of fuel consumption issues. The last petrol-engined large commercial vehicle disappeared decades ago, and electric is a non-starter except for cars and small local delivery vehicles.

Unless we completely change our way of life, switching all long distance deliveries to rail,and electrifying every line, the diesel engine will outlast most of us on here.

Personally I will continue with my ancient diesel Volvo and "historic" caravan, both of which have done all the depreciating they are going to do, until they give up on me completely. I am certainly not going to lose any sleep, and will continue to enjoy caravanning for as long as I can.

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Colin

Opensauce

05/5/2017 at 8:58pm
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A large motorhome towing a small car is always going to cost more to own over a given period that a large car towing a large caravan.

Ie...£25k car towing £25k caravan = £60k motorhome towing £10k small car on £2k trailer.

Grampian91

06/5/2017 at 12:48am
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If your worried about depreciation then a motorhome and car will probably be the worst case.

Motorhome depreciates and the car depreciates and you will want to keep the motorhome taxed and insured all year around.

2 lots of insurance, tax and servicing etc.

Sticking the car on a trailer, will the sites you want to use have space for your car and trailer?

If your towing a trailer would it not make more sense to tow a caravan instead?

What heavy taxes? I dont travel into the centre of London and have not noticed any increase in costs compared to a similar model petrol car.

navver

07/5/2017 at 10:04pm
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A petrol motor home is going to be awful and easily as bad as a petrol car towing a caravan. Combined weight is the same and probably more wind resistance.

The problem with towing is not so much weight as there are small caravans around which are fine for two, but wind resistance. That is the killer and the gobbler up of power.

The answer is a folding caravan. If only the main stream manufacturers will bite the bullet and produce attractive ones.

The reason they don't is because they last a long time. They want to be able to put some snazzy new graphics on every year so your shiny new van of today will look dated in 3 years time making you buy a new one.

Add to that a 10 year working life for them and they've got you right where they want you.

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