I need some advice, especially from people who made the change from caravans to motorhomes.
What are the main pros and cons to buying a motorhome instead of a caravan?
We paid a visit to Chelston Motorhomes in Wellington, Somerset today and saw a superb looking Euro Yacht based on an Iveco 35-12 chassis (I know my vans!) at what seemed to be a reasonable price.
Any help and advice is very much appreciated.
------------- I've heard it all. I've seen it all. I've done it all. I just don't remember any of it.
Hi ya..If I knew you were coming this way would have come there with you...its the nearest town to me.
Have had both in my time. Caravan seems more homely because of the space. Things can get cramped in a motorhome especially if you have kids. Also I found that touring the area around your chosen campsite was hard with a motorhome and on some sites you lost your pitch as well. In a well laid out m/home ther is not a lot of difference if you discount the above. Watch the price though as many are over priced when compared to the price of a good towcar and a nice caravan. Both have advantages and disadvantages but since they are mainly something of an idividual thing its hard to list them.
Glad you went to a good seller though. Chelston have a good reputation.
No doubt others will be in soon to give their views.
I would go with what Brian has said, although we haven't had a caravan. My OH doesn't want to tow (we did that with the folding camper) so he prefers the campervan but I like the freedom of being able to go off in the car - especially as campervans tend to be quite thirsty if you should want to go off for the day. If you've got a free standing awning or suchlike, that will reserve your pitch when you go out though.
We've only got a small campervan but it's OK for the two of us and the dog - you just have to be quite organised.
It is a matter of personal taste, though. Still, it's great fun looking, isn't it??
There are some really nice motorhomes out there, if only I had the money! I saw a lovely one at Chelston yesterday. 3 axle, extra long wheel base and better equipped and more space than my house! But, at £48000 it was slightly out of my price range!
That's the only thing that's putting me off. I know for the price of a new car and caravan, we could get a really nice motorhome but there seems to be too many down points for me to make the change.
If I come across a real bargain, I might change my mind again!
------------- I've heard it all. I've seen it all. I've done it all. I just don't remember any of it.
Speaking as one who has just made the decision to return to tugging after 2 years;
The small motorcaravan we had first was great, fitted in a car park, but not enough room on board for us all when on site.
The motorhome is great on site, roomy as a caravan, but useless for popping into town (height barriers, narrow streets, parking spaces).
If you don't like your car you can change it, if you don't like the caravan you can change it, but if you don't like either the van or the living accomodation you've got to change the whole bally lot.
So be very sure before you part with your hard earned.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
Easier than towing,quicker to pitch,slighly faster,takes up less space on driveway,onboard w.c,kids argue less than in the car we have four (kids that is not cars)
Con`s
More expense to buy,not having the car to get round (but then wife can`t complain if you have a pint or two when out and about)
My personal view is it depends on what you want out of it. We have had both & I would never go back to a caravan (I would prefer a tent to caravan). Having a caravan usually means you have to plan your breaks/holidays, you find somewhere & set up your van & explore the area. I have spoken to caravanners who have to book almost 12months in advance to get on sites they want.
With a motorcaravan you can set off & go where you like & stop usually where you find a nice spot. We never book sites as a rule & for our summer break we just book a ferry, I don't know where we will end up we just make it up as we go along. When we had a caravan we were never happy staying in one place for more than a couple of days, with a motorhome / camper you can be off at a moments notice for pastures new.
To summarise it is more a personal choice both have pros & cons but it is more related to your lifestyle.
Ed's right about being able to move onto pastures new. There is a wonderful sense of freedom in a motorhome, no booking, following the good weather etc. Our 2 boys (7 & 9) love it, we're on holiday the minute we leave the drive (we stop singing the "we're all going on a summer holiday" song about 100 miles into journey!) We book a ferry in August but never any sites and manage to camp on the beach sites in bay of st tropez, on lake the shores of Lake Annecy and in some of the most beautiful and tranquil places in France. They are very geared towards campers over there and wild camping is not frowned upon! However, if you are staying in the UK then a caravan would probably do, as you seem to have to prebook six years in advance and wild camping is generally frowned upon (where's the fun in that!!) Motorhomes, I love em!
We tend to use C & C C sites & rallies a lot so don't do much pre-booking even with a caravan. I too like to wander, but I also like to explore places while I am there for a few days and found the motorhome not very practical for that.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
We have a 24ft bessacarr motorhome and have at times found parking in towns hard to say the least, but we would not change to a caravan for anything. We have overcome the problem by having an A frame fitted to my toyota. Now we can tour whenever we wish. Towed it to north wales last week (from lowestoft) and then down to south wales and home did not even know it was there. No change to fuel consumtion just a bit slow up the mountains. Go for the 2.8 engine and you will will be well pleased especially when you stop in a lay by and can have a cuppa without getting out of the car.
I am yet to see a motorhome snaking - I am yet to see a motorhome yawing - I am yet to see a motorhome blown all over the place by a speeding passing coach - etc etc ... the pleasure of the mvan ride is greater ...
and then you get to your chosen site.. turn off the engine and you're set up. With an A frame local mobility is not a problem ..
and what about the insurance? My caravan cost £480 a year, my motorhome £238 - but of course I had to tax it. (£160)
Annual caravan service say £200 all up - motorhome service £400pa - but it is a Mercedes.
Bottom line = if you can afford it and want to travel further in less time get a motorhome ... okay so whose going to be the first to email to say "I have towed to Japan & back"??.
Motorhoming & caravanning are both like the reproductive process if it hurts you're not doing it right! :>))
There is no way I would contemplate towing an A frame behind a motorhome. I like to see what I'm towing so I don't forget it's there.
Comfort and speed - maybe in newer motorhomes, but not for me in mine as I am vertically challenged and find it very uncomfortable driving a long way with my feet dangling as they don't reach the floor and sitting bolt upright so I can reach the steering wheel. Maybe power steering and a turbo charger would help, but sadly not an option within my price range.
Give me the comfort and speed of a modern motor car any time. At least I can keep up with the lorries now. And turn it round without my daughter helping with the steering if I go the wrong way.
Each to their own as they say.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
I love my little Bedford Bambi - but it's too small for us, and it meant that youngest son was sitting on the engine (under the passenger seat) and would get very hot on long journeys. Anyone else had to travel in the back which I have never been very happy about. If I was on my own I'd keep the Bambi, but having to insure & tax another vehicle was becoming expensive, plus always having to pack everything away before going anywhere off-site is a pain.
Now have a folding camper, which really is the best of both worlds - quick to put up (well it will be when I've done it a few more times!!), easy to tow and manoevre and more room.
Caravan v Motorhome really is personal preference. Although I absolutley love my motorhome (pas and turbo charged!!!) I would quite happily caravan, most of my childhood holidays were spent in a a touring caravan. Often I am on my own with the kids (hubby can't justify a 6 week summer holiday!!) so I do find it easy to just put the handbrake on, kick out the kids and open the wine! As I said before if you do like to pitch and generally stay put, then a caravan is certainly the cheaper option and the same level of comfort. Read a really interesting piece in hairdressers the other day, about a couple who took a year out and with there 6 month old daughter and motorhomed around europe.........I can dream on!!!!
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Topic: Advice Please
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