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Im a tenter at heart really but OH isn't - not that he doesn't enjoy it or completely throw himself into it when we camp but he works long hours and his work is based in Staffordshire and we live in Cheshire so we can't go camping most weekends without taking a days holiday as he rarely gets home before 7pm.   On top of that he absolutely detests packing up the car especially for short trips - this is partly my fault for buying every flippin gadget anyone posts on the equipment forum and dumping it on the drive for him to pack - it takes an hour into the journey for the redness in his face to subside and for him talk to me again!!!!  I can't pack for toffee so we'd just about get enough into the car to backpack if I was in charge!

He took me to the NEC last February and we were in and out of every triple bunk caravan on show and thats when he said that this had to be the future.  This is more than likely our last season under canvas as we will be most likely making the transition at the end of Summer.  A caravan will mean that we get away more, we can go away out of season and me and the kids can get away by ourselves when he runs out of hols or we can even stay at a site closeish to his work and he can commute and not go to work with a crumpled suit & get himself showered etc in relative comfort.    We've got a fairly big drive so storage isn't a problem either.

Won't be selling our tent though no chance - its going to be our family heirloom.

I agree with Tentz - when you are in France etc in a heatwave then a tent is just perfect especially canvas & it all goes in your car afterwards.

We have never had a caravan, and I did used to think they were for old people and look dull! Now, having tented a bit, I see the appeal, and dont think that at all.

However, with a toddler a tent is great as it is all on one level and they can run in and out with lots of space (in a big family tent) whereas our friend who tented with a toddler then tried a caravan found that the step was an issue as it wasnt safe for a toddler so the door had to be closed and there was too little space to run around inside and lots of things that could not be touched in close proximity (stove etc that could be accessed by climbing easily, knobs on the front etc). We are loving the tent experience. The only time a caravan looks tempting is when its dark and freezing and they look all cozy & dry inside with the light on watching TV!! In France last year we met a family with a big caravan & huge awning which seemed to work well for them & I could see the appeal. Having said that we have not considered a caravan due to the issue of storage and towing, and we like the tent experience, but I felt at times in France last year that some people with caravans felt we had a tent because we could not afford a caravan.

Love caravans, love tents.  Would like a towing van, but would find it a bit of a squeeze after the space of tenting, plus neither OH nor myself have the guts to tow it!

So we hire a Cornish static with the young folks and their partners for two weeks in summer, and the rest of the time get away in our tent.  And occasionally stay with our daughter and her husband in a van which belongs to his parents.  So I suppose we get the best of all worlds over the space of a summer.

Never been aware of any snooties, either tenters or vanners.  Always find camping folks to be very friendly and helpful.

FoO

Quote: Originally posted by 2gocampin on 30/3/2010

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Give me a tent any day over a tin snail.

I just dont get the same feeling being in a caravan than I do in a tent. For us its about the whole adventure, pitching and setting up camp is all part of it, the feeling of creating a warm and cosy environment, but a place were you can still feel part of the nature and your surroundings, tucked away from normality for a few days and back to basics.

Its escapism from today's busy life where everything is to hand and at the click of a switch. Ok we may not have marble effect worktops, or purpose made beds with mahogany cupboards or even hot running water but even the walk to the pot wash after cooking in the open air is far more enjoyable than standing over a sink like we all do at home and you get talking to some great people there who are happy to be doing the same thing as you, something different, something fun.

The sound of a zip opening onto a fresh misty morning compared to the click of a door catch just doesnt have the same effect. The sound of rain falling on the canvas in the night, the unmasked smell of fresh air when you wake and the sound of the morning chorus through the tent walls are things that you just dont enjoy as much tucked up inside a caravan and for us thats what this is all about.

 

   

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It's tent for us!

We have borrowed OH aunty's caravan before and it was ok but it wasn't really camping, in a caravan you don't roughing it at all.

Camping for us is about being a bit wild, roughing it, being close to nature, waking up to the sound of the morning chorus, the smell of the morning dew aahhh now that is camping.

Maybe when we get too old to have the energy to pack n pitch then it will be time for a caravan. 

We've tented for the past couple of years in our Outwell Nevada XL which I love cos its spacious and easy to put up but I must admit I dont love the damp nights and come then end of August we tend to pack up for the season. Also when were in our tent our two boys are awake at first light which after a late night my OH does not apprieciate and often makes for a bit of a sleep deprived grumpy old man.

We often camp with the inlaws who have a caravan which I have always coverted but OH has always refused to consider as he doesnt like the idea of towing... BUT about 2 weeks ago we were offered a caravan for £1500 and though shes an older lady is in immaculate condition so to cut a long story short after a lot of sulking on my part shes ours and this year were gonna give tin tenting a go on the priviso that if OH really hates the towing we can sell it on and not be too much out of pocket.

Must admit am really looking forward to being able to get away without the 2 hour long packing session and not having to worry about drying out an enormous family tent in a non enourmous house if we end up with a wet take down.

PS will still be lurking about on here though as the caravanning page is not nearly as lively and busy as this one!!

I have 4 tents and a little classic caravan (although haven't ventured out in the van yet - still doing her up and making her look pretty like my Mini!!)

I can see advantages and disadvantages to both - I'm definately not snooty and have no intentions of becoming so!!!
In fact I shall probably be shunned horribly by the "traditional white box" brigade when they see my little van on site!!

Just because I have a caravan doesn't mean I'm going to stop using the tents or vice versa. I will decide which unit is best suited to each trip away, based on:
a) how many people I'm camping with and who they are
b) weather conditions
c) where I'm going

Happy Camping everyone

We had a caravan about 7  years ago used it 3 times but DH hated towing.Also  we did find with caravans that including ourselves you sat in them more and watched tv etc,making it feel not as social.Also costs of storage etc do make a big differance.

Tenting feels more sociable but the setting up is daunting,tiresome and the weather becomes more of an issue. But last night i discovered TT's and FC's maybe they will be my compromise ??? i have promised to camp this year away and make our decision at the end of it.

We had a tent then we had a caravan only sold due to having to downsize our car, now we are back to a tent again but tbh its me that is the stickler i don't really care for tents and a van was a middle ground.. Seeing as i dont care for tents it was me that had to put everything away once home, air the tent etc and i felt a caravan was easier on me..

like this weekend its me that has done the packing the organising the shopping (because my husband says i'm better at it hmmmm) and it feels less of a lets just go camping!