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I’m just wondering why we all chose canvas over something a little more solid.

For us it all boils down to the freedom you have when camping, the sounds of wildlife against the normal hubbub of town life, the lack of a landline/mobile phone ringing every five minutes (the only way I get offered work), no TV’s, no computers (more work) in fact, no nothing!

I know this is all available in a caravan but I would be more tempted to bring along life’s extra trappings if I had one

The very first thing in the morning, when you first wake up and can smell the fresh air and dewy grass and hear the birds singing.

It's almost like being outside. Waking up in a caravan is not the same. 

I have chosen canvas over a caravan as I dont have the room on the drive for a 5 x 4.5m caravan if indeed they do make one, it has nothing to do with the smell of the grass or the sounds of the birds just space and economy

A few reasons:

1. Space - some tents are more spacious than caravans and take less space to store than a tent

2. Towing - I doubt i could reverse a caravan onto a pitch. How my inlaws get there's onto their drive I don't know

3. Money - to get a nice tent costs far less than a caravan (and i'm not rich yet)

4. Bedrooms - I can leave my bedroom untouched in a tent, unlike in many caravans where I'd have to dissamble the bed to make a seating area.

5. Variety - I have a few tents and can choose the best one for the occasion - doubt I'll ever be able to afford a variety of caravans.

Those are the main reasons for me (I'm sure I'll think of more). However (and a big however) my OH will not go away in a tent (security issues??? paranoia to me - i never take anything that expensive!) but will in a caravan, or so he says now. Until we get a metal box, I'm content to go away with friends for a few times each year whilst he is stuck in work :p

The beds! The Meh'm Sahib hates making the beds up and down each day.With the tt its not an issue. I also hated towing the 'van when we had one. Life for us is so much easier all round with the tt. It occupies a small space in the garden for storage, and can be handled so much easier.

Lots of room, footprint is as big as you would have with a 2 berth. Down Side! None.

RSM

Space certainly. In 1997 I completely restored a 1957 caravan & we had a two week holiday in it in 1998. Bearing in mind that older caravans were far more spacious than modern ones with washroom/loo/shower compartments, plus we had a full size awning (with toilet compartment in), but my hubby wouldn't go on hols in it again cos he said he felt cramped. He says that even in our small frame tent, he still feels less cramped than he did in the caravan.

My gripe was the job of making up the bed every night & then having to fold & store everything to turn the double bed back into a sofa the next morning  

I agree with others too that you feel more a part of the countryside in a tent. We've noticed that lots of caravaners tend to sit in the awning, whereas campers sit outside their tents or under a canopy, so we must be getting more fresh air than tin tenters - it must be that which addles our brains & makes us addicted to this forum