Been camping for a few years now, dreaming of buying a caravan. Moved to the darkside this year and bought a caravan.
Not what its cracked up to be, if you ask my wife. She hates it at moment, going to give it another year see if things change. She dreads it every time we go away in caravan. The going to storage to pick it up, never relaxes when driving incase it gets blown over, trying to reverse it onto a pitch and leveling it (lots of arguments), she feels the need to clean it properly every time we pack up, then you still have to empty all the clothes and food when you leave it. We've been in the tent twice this year and she enjoyed it alot more.
Kids couldn't care less if we are in a tent or van.
Me, well i just hate putting tents up, but majority of times with the caravan i put an awning up and i hate that too.
Wife will probably win, might try a motorhome if we ever get enough money, in 30 years when we retire.
But we give it a go, will let you know next year if we have a caravan for sale or not.
3 hours to put up our tent and fill it with the gear. 20 minutes to unhook and level a caravan, and put the kettle on .That's just about the differance.What about the the bit before and after that? The worry of getting your van from the storage area,and taking it back, towing the van in heavy traffic on the motorway. The sad thing is being restricted to 50 MPH on all roads other than the motorway, even with a small trailer (which most caravaners do on average i would say about 4 times a year)Getting bogged down on the site and having to be towed off when most tourists aren't used to towing.The cost of buying a van,and of the depresheation when coming to sell it for anewer model, of mainaining the van,storage,It was a bad summer this year for tenters and there were times i wished we were in our static, but i think there are more things that tick my box for camping more than touring with a caravan. My gear is safely stored in the attic till next Easter ,and the trailer is used for other things.But each to his own ,may we all have a better summer next year may the sun shine on us all.
------------- Corpogreen esq
dead horse
and
donkey buyer
The worry of collecting our van from storage and back is non existant. 5minute drive to storage the owner pulls the van out and locks it up ready for us to unlock hook up and go, literally takes another 5 minutes. On return we un-hitch lock and drive away, owner lives on site and puts the van away for us. All this at anytime of the year.
Towing a van in heavy traffic is easy, not a problem at 50 to 60 mph usually 60mph to keep gradually passing HGV's. On B roads its usually pork pies that hold us up on Sundays! You cant do much more than 50mph on my local roads in a car. Anyway whats the rush? It only takes 20 minutes to set up.
Most sites have hard standing now so getting bogged down isnt an issue and even if it was the site tractor or 4x4 pulls your van a short distance so you can hook up.
One big bonus to US is the the ease of it all and no more drying out at home and packing away, very little to pack when we go because when were out we always slowly stock up for next trip and bedding etc and beds are fixed.
Yes the cost of a van, storage, depreciation and sevicing does cost, but if you can afford it then why not! Each to his own! Done camping, hotels, package tours, back packing, statics, holiday cottages, caravanning, camping again and back to caravanning and as a youngish family we love caravanning more. We did enjoy camping, and I recommend that everyone if they can have a go at it all. Especially before judging others.
I find it funny that some campers will instantly sl*g a caravanner off! Yet most caravanners were once campers!
Lets remmember were usually all in the same field, so lets just get on!
Quote: Originally posted by corpogreen on 02/10/2007
The sad thing is being restricted to 50 MPH on all roads other than the motorway, even with a small trailer (which most caravaners do on average i would say about 4 times a year)Getting bogged down on the site and having to be towed off when most tourists aren't used to towing.
Not to mention all the extra fuel consumed - camping in a tent is far greener imo.
Most of our freinds in the C&CC have campers, trailer tents and caravans there arent many of us tenters left in our local clubs,but we all get on with everyone, that's why the club is known as the freindly club cause it is .All of us have differant ideas of how to enjoy ourselves. All i was implicating, john+caz was that when we finish camping thats it till next year, everything is stored at home, and there was nothing till next easter.You have a caravan and if you wish can caravan 52 weeks of the year in comfort thats the big disadfantage we have with a tent. Being a camper and having a van on a permanant pitch 6 miles from home ,we can use our caravan in the winter months but cant tour. i dont sl*g off anyone as i have always said each to his own
------------- Corpogreen esq
dead horse
and
donkey buyer
We had done 11 years of tenting and had some great trips some not so good, but we have recently bought a caravan, for all the same reasons as above drying sodden tents, going out in the rain to use the toilet ect. but two things swung it for us was the fact that I have arthritis in my spine and was finding sleeping on the ground ( with airbeds ) very bad, getting down was ok-ish after a few stellas, but getting up was very hard.
And we loved the idea of going away all year round. We were never game enough to camp all year round. We are off to Hailing Island on the 12th of Oct, and booked in for a NewYears rally in Cheltenham cant wait.
So enjoy your tents and caravans because its each to your own in my book.
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: farewell
Exactly right corpogreen - each to his own. 
