I've just re-read the original post,and have to say that Stuart's new unit is very clever. I love the option to cook outside,but best of all,not only does the 'van fold down a bit for storage,it shortens it's name at the same time! At first,I thought this was a spelling mistake,but this is Stuart,whose only error was to once think he was wrong when he wasn't.
Oh,and getting rid of his Camplet of course.Guess it took up too much space in the cloakroom.
------------- Silence is golden
Duct tape is silver
SGT, like us you appear to do much of your camping abroad. When we swapped from a tent to a campervan it was singularly to do with the dirge of pitching a tent after a long drive in scorching heat. The convenience of being sorted and ready ten minutes after arriving is huge. In its own way this is an issue for you with your chosen options
We sold our campervan last month but will undoubtedly be camping again from next spring. It's a campervan or a caravan for us. A caravan is cheaper but I'm not ready to be a white box merchant just yet. It will happen sometime for sure, but cruising to the south of France at 80 mph is a plus too. I need to chill out a bit before I'm ready for 60 mph and towing. I also love long cooking sessions outside. It's one of the great pleasures inFrance and a caravan doesn't really encourage that. So it's likely to be a campervan again for us.
Enjoy whichever way you go.
------------- John
May/June.....France
Aug.......somewhere else in France
After long thinking, and observations, campervans do appear to pose a number of problems ... most imprortant of which, to us, appears to be the problem of parking in towns and cities ... and lots of other places.
Having to semi pack up (awning in etc ...) to go shopping ... or anywhere ... does seem a bit of a chore ... and exploring little, windy, mountain roads/gorges would appear to be very challenging.
If we could afford a large enough one to put motorbikes or a mini/mini car in the 'boot' ... maybe we'd be tempted ... but the freedom of unhooking the car and having it for off-site driving, is a major bonus (not to mention the fuel costs!).
I'm thinking campervans rather than Motorhomes Kelper. My assumption is that a Motorhome is rather big beast and the campervan is a VwT5 or equivalent. Many campervaners use full height pop up tents instead of awnings as they're much easier to pitch . If its really needed ( I don't reckon it's necessary) but they can also be attached to the van very easily.
------------- John
May/June.....France
Aug.......somewhere else in France
Well, what debate, but our choice is a M/home, with a toilet for whenever we need it, and it`s heated at night, we also have a fiamma awning, that can be put away wet,and a cadac to cook in the awning, or outside if we wish,but we have a full kitchen in the van to cook on also,as for parking in restricted places, it is not a problem, as we tow a car and in the boot there are our mobility scooters, so really we don`t have any problems, we just seem to manage what ever we do in our van.
------------- Think this year is to follow old meet friends for 2014.
If you cant do someone a good turn,don`t do them a bad one,its nice to be nice you know,and little things mean much more later in life.
Pete.
Well I am considering buying a caravan, in a year or so and so far having looked at many, have decided on a used 2 year old or so, Adria SportLine PX (aka Altea Tay 432PX).
But after reading some of these posts, I am starting to wonder if owning a caravan is more trouble than it's worth?
For now though I will be sticking with the Tent, which cost me just £699 new back in 2008, and serves us well for our only holiday each year, fortnights camping in the South of France during July, and I have to say damp has never been an issue.
From what I can tell nearly all caravans have built in obsolescence, and using more plastic in them is just a way of slightly extending the life, why oh why don't they just build the things properly in the first place.
From what I have read the only caravans that are built to last are Eriba and AirStream, so it is possible.
don't be too put off. In every forum there are always a section of doom mongers. Around 18,000 new caravans are sold in the UK every year and I'm sure that many owners are happy. Truth is, we all love a moan, and how often do you see a new topic on here saying " Just here to say all's well with my van and I don't have damp".
Happy people are too busy discussing the best sites, experiences, ferries, rallies and that's why those parts of the forum are always busy.
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 05/10/2013
Travellers have made caravans their homes for decades and if they were as bad as some doom-mongers claim, thiis wouldn't be the case.
They can't get out of them fast enough....even to the extent of building illegally on Green Belt land
Quote: Originally posted by pete1946 on 04/10/2013
Well, what debate, but our choice is a M/home, with a toilet for whenever we need it, and it`s heated at night, we also have a fiamma awning, that can be put away wet,and a cadac to cook in the awning, or outside if we wish,but we have a full kitchen in the van to cook on also,as for parking in restricted places, it is not a problem, as we tow a car and in the boot there are our mobility scooters, so really we don`t have any problems, we just seem to manage what ever we do in our van.
Ah, well ... with that sort of set-up I can well understand your stance.
What's the ginormous box on the back of yout MH?
Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 05/10/2013
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 05/10/2013
Travellers have made caravans their homes for decades and if they were as bad as some doom-mongers claim, thiis wouldn't be the case.
They can't get out of them fast enough....even to the extent of building illegally on Green Belt land
Are they ditching caravans because of damp? Or just for a roomy house that will appreciate in cost over the years?
Quote: Originally posted by pete1946 on 04/10/2013Well, what debate, but our choice is a M/home, with a toilet for whenever we need it, and it`s heated at night, we also have a fiamma awning, that can be put away wet,and a cadac to cook in the awning, or outside if we wish,but we have a full kitchen in the van to cook on also,as for parking in restricted places, it is not a problem, as we tow a car and in the boot there are our mobility scooters, so really we don`t have any problems, we just seem to manage what ever we do in our van.
Ah, well ... with that sort of set-up I can well understand your stance.
What's the ginormous box on the back of yout MH?
That was on our old van, it`s a fiamma back box,all sorts went in it, our new one has a rear entry under seat storage, so the back box went whit the van when we sold it.
------------- Think this year is to follow old meet friends for 2014.
If you cant do someone a good turn,don`t do them a bad one,its nice to be nice you know,and little things mean much more later in life.
Pete.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Trailer tent v caravan
, we also have a fiamma awning, that can be put away wet,and a cadac to cook in the awning, or outside if we wish,but we have a full kitchen in the van to cook on also,as for parking in restricted places, it is not a problem, as we tow a car 
and in the boot there are our mobility scooters, so really we don`t have any problems, we just seem to manage what ever we do in our van. 
