We currently camp in a tent, an airedale 7se, which I like, but my husband is saying maybe we should think of getting a caravan for the following reasons.
1, We camp abroad so when we have been driving 4 hours to Portsmouth or Dover then 5 or 6 hours in France it's hard work setting up a tent with all the accessories (we do like our home comforts)
2, It can get cold over night
3, More comfortable beds
My reasons for staying in a tent
1, cost of buying a decent caravan
2, heat in the caravan during the day and having to cook in it.
3, costs more on the ferry, toll roads and fuel
If you have swaped to caravans or tents what's the pros or cons please?
We swapped from tent to small campervan after a trip in France where it rained non stop for the last 4 days and we were putting the tent up wet every day.
So your first 3 reasons can be solved instantly.
Next.
1. Yes it will cost you.
2. If it's hot, we cook outside with our camping stove. And our campervan opens side and back, so as cool as you can get.
3. Costs only a bit more to travel.
Other things to consider.
We use our campervan as a second car. It stands on the drive. It goes under nearly all barrriers and fits in car parks. Great for days out as well as holidays.
You drive onto your pitch, lift the roof, plug in the electric, put the kettle on, get the chairs out. Done.
Happy with a tent for a week or 2 in one place, especially somewhere we want to explore. Like franbee, however, we swapped (for us) to a small MH after 2 weeks touring Ireland with the tent. Not so much the rain, but the time it took us to pack up in the morning & set up in the evening, every day, ate into time to go walking or visit somewhere interesting.
Didn’t fancy a caravan, didn’t want to tow. But it would be a compromise between tent & campervan / Motorhome. You can hire a camper to try it out before committing, but you can’t hire a touring caravan.
I switched from a tent to a custom-converted panel van motorhome as I did not fancy towing (I did tow a small leisure trailer when I was a tenter for my gears).
I decided to switch unit from a tent to a MH as the time and efforts, and the recovery period required to set-up and pack up was getting harder and longer for me as I aged.
I opted for a MH as I did not wish to tow on my own.
My PVC MH is small, just under 6m in length, being a medium wheel base VW Crafter. It has a 2-burner induction hob, a bathroom with a flushing toilet and shower, and a decent size fridge with a freezer compartment. The drop-down bed provides me with a decent living area underneath.
There is also a wind-out awning for use when the weather is nice.
She can just about fit into a normal size parking space without causing obstructions.
Height is an issue in that being 2.5m high with the roof mounted air conditioning unit, she cannot fit into certain car parks with a height restriction.
The van is too big to use as a daily run around, and I have a small car for that purpose.
I opted for a MWB VW Crafter as I liked to be self-contained with a functional bathroom with a toilet and shower. In addition, I dislike the idea of having to make and pack up the bed every time I have to use it. Hence a smaller vehicle like a VW T5/6 would not have suited my requirements.
I can cook with the back doors opened. Tunnel crossing (I only use the tunnel by choice) is cheaper than car + caravan. Don't know about fuel cost as I used to get more MGP in my car when I was towing a leisure trailer for having a lighter right foot!
I too would suggest hiring a campervan/MH to try it out for yourselves to see if you like it.
I didn't do that, however, I did visit a number of big shows and examined quite a few MHs and PVCs to come up with my own needs and wants in a van.
Good luck!
DK
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Tents, camper-vans, trailer-tents, caravans, and motorhomes, they all have their various advantages and disadvantages.
We switched from a tent to a caravan decades ago when our kids came along, as it was much more convenient with all the paraphernalia that goes with having young kids. Those kids of ours now have kids and even grandkids of their own, so that's how long ago it was. One of the main disadvantages for us of a mototorhome (apart from initial cost) was that we would need a second vehicle for day to day use. A camper-van was fine when we were young, and in fact our first holiday in married life was spent in one borrowed from a friend, but it would be too cramped for us now.
We have stayed with caravans as they suit us perfectly. I don't mind towing as I once did it for a living. We are not in the least "flash", we don't have to have a new anything, consequently we have a 1992 caravan we bought 7 years ago for just £1,100. It does us just fine, we have not long come back from 2 weeks away with it. One of the main things we like about a caravan is that you can leave it all set up on a site and you still have the car to run around in. Nothing to unplug or stow away when we just want to nip to the shops for a loaf of bread.
Have you thought about a folding camper ? Once you get used to it they can be set up / dismantled in 10 mins or so, they have surprising room inside, they have 2 fixed beds and are much more comfortable than a tent (but not as comfortable as a caravan), fridge and electric, etc. Not as expensive to buy (2nd hand anyway), cheaper on the ferry (less height) and way cheaper to tow, also as cool as a tent inside, er, since it is a tent lol.
We've been through small tents, big tents, mobile home rental, folding campers and caravans, and while we love our current small Xplore caravan, I'd be content to go back to a folding camper if I had to. But not a tent.
We started with tents, then moved to a trailer tent and then finally to caravans. The main benefit of the caravan for us is that we can use it all year round. I absolutely love being able to go away in the late autumn, winter and early spring but it would be too cold for us in a tent.
In the summer we consider we have the best of both worlds as when we are staying on site for a week or more (like when we have been in france) we put up our awning and then have a camping stove in the awning for cooking to keep the smells and heat out of the caravan.
We think that in the UK, the caravan is much better as the British weather can be very temperamental and we were really fed up having to pack away a wet tent and then try to get it dry at home.
I agree with Arthur Dent, with a folding camper you wouldn't pay any more on the toll roads, you could use an electric heater for warmth if you have EHU, you can just put the cabin part up without the awning,ferry and fuel costs would be less and you might have to get a bigger vehicle if you buy a caravan and you still have the coolness of canvas rather than an oven. I miss my folding camper but as I am unable to help set up we now have a motorhome.
Just make sure you have room to dry the folding camper or you have room for a caravan because storage can be hard and expensive, running costs of a caravan are a lot more, insurance, servicing every year etc.
For cost effectiveness, I too would suggest a folding camper as the ideal compromise. The Airedale 7SE is a big tent, especially if it`s just the two of you. When you arrive at the end of the journey you described, you could set up the main part of a folding camper in 15 to 20 minutes and have your beds made up ready for a good nights sleep.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
we went from tenting abroad mostly to a new caravan... bit of a risk, but we love the van. My husband enjoys cars, so a motorhome ,campervan was not an option for us. Even a new caravan is much cheaper than Motor homes.
we haven't used the caravan as a direct replacement to the tent. We used to go to France in the summer holidays, instead we use it every month in the UK. yes it is more expensive on the ferry etc, and for us that would mean taking it abroad for an extended period of time eg 5 weeks to make the extra cost more palatable.
Have just returned from a11night stay in France, but that was in a friends house ,so doesnt count.
I think tenting is more sociable.If that is what you want ,but we are happy with our choice..
A wet pack,with everything but the kitchen sink was our last camping in France experience, a desire for ready assembled beds, and the knowledge that we would soon have as long as we want with no work commitments also influenced our choice.
Happy Camping
I have nowhere to keep a caravan or campervan and would not want to tow or drive one. The car is big enough for 2 people, 2 tents and their kit. it handles ok but loses the edge of acceleration and braking. Plan each move as you come to it and you'll be ok, try to avoid emergency stops.
If tired I'll throw the tent up and correct it the next day if I can be bothered.
I always pack the car the same way so the tents come out first and the kitchen gear can wait until I need it.
If camping for more than a weekend I use soft cool bags and don't bother with ice packs, for a weekend camp cool boxes and ice packs are ideal.
I use Calor Gas propane on a Camping Gaz stove in the UK and Campingaz Twister systems hike stoves with disposable cans in France (the ferries no longer allow cars to carry gas).
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Tent or caravan
via mobile 09/8/2024 at 7:29am
