I suffer with bad sea sickness as a rule, I don't suffer with car sickness though which is odd. Anyhow, We were planning on getting a caravan as we have a wee dog and we also like the idea of getting away more often, we can no longer camp due to bad backs.
We have been looking around and yesterday we went out specifically to buy our van, we were sat inside a Bailey Senator for about 5-10 minutes when I had to leave as I started to feel sea sick, mouth watering, burping and then the dizziness kicked in. The van did not feel rocky at all, but I am just uber sensitive. I am gutted for my hubby and myself. The salesman suggested we try looking at Adria vans as they are a different build and perhaps maybe be more sturdy for me. We couldn't do that yesterday as I was already thrown off balance so I wouldn't have known if it was any better. We plan doing it today, but I wondered if anyone could suggest any other makes to try? Or if anyone has suffered the same thing? Its such a lot of money to pay out if I can't use it. We did look at motorhomes as another option, but we feel we don't really like the idea of going everywhere in it and plus would be a bit awkward with the dog and of course they are very expensive.
Any advice, help or guidance would be much appreciated. I am totally gutted its been my lifes dream to do this, I know there are worse things in life, but I am really upset about it.
Obviously I can't tell you what you felt but....was it possibly the 'new van' smell that affected you? I know that brand new cars make me feel a bit nauseous.
What about hypnotherapy? Just a thought as to the best of my knowledge sea sickness is a form of motion sickness and a caravan would not be moving to any real degree. Is it possible that it has reminded you of a ships cabin. And brought on the sickness psychologically?
The mind is a powerful thing
Don't go for a very big van there is always a slight movement and may be more noticeable in bigger vans also look for solid legs .I can't cope if ours is not level so maybe that was the problem with the one you looked at .Also don't forget you can have a nice awning hubby can stay in the van you can't live in awning and just sleep in van it will be fine when your asleep .
A drink may help .
I don't drink so I wouldn't know if this works .
Good luck
Have you tried seabands wrist bands they will help.
I get sicky with the "new van" chemical smell. It might also be worth taking some travel sickness pills before you viewing to test if its the chemicals in new van construction. I even get it a bit with secondhand vans that have been cleaned and filled with plastic sheeting to keep them clean
There is also a big difference between sitting in a van at a dealers and one on site, I find they do feel exposed and less stable on concrete surrounded by lots of shiny white vans. When you have trees to look at, windows open and the awning up its much better.
I had terrible claustrophobia initially with our first van, it drove hubby mad as I had to have doors and windows open at all times. Eventually I did adjust to the space. Perhaps you could hire a tourer and see if you adjust and the sickness fades. My son has recently had land sickness after being out at sea daily for his work, he has adjusted now and when it returns after a break he sees it as a cheap way to get all the sensations of being drunk without the cost :)
Also try visiting someone on site for a cup of tea in their van, see if that is different.
Are you sure the caravan was set up properly? Were the corner steadies even wound down? I would go back to the dealers & ask him to level the caravan & wind down corner steadies firmly as if the 'van was sited properly & you may find it different. Also open the windows & roof hatch & let some air in. A caravan standing on a forecourt for a while might smell a bit stale.
We are relative newbies, also bought our caravan because we have a little dog. We have been on cruises and I always get sea sick, I get exactly the same feeling in our caravan if we haven't levelled it correctly. I can tell its not level just by walking from one end to the other. Maybe you're as sensitive as me. Once we get it level, I'm ok. Going to have motor movers fitted to make levelling easier.
I agree with What a mess it's more likely to be Claustrophobia. The van won't have been moving much and you state you have no trouble in Cars. Are you under stress or worried about something at the moment?
Thanks for the replies, its definatley not Claustrophobia its motion sickness, I am suffering with bad anaemia at the moment and i'm wondering if that's not helping things.
The van we sat in yesterday was not new, it was a 2009 van, so wouldn't have been the chemical smells, it was a bailey and they seem to have thin steadies? We have been to look at Adrias today and I did feel better, but still sick and dizzy, I seemed to feel better in a 2 berth, but not sure we are ready to compromise on the space. The vans we looked at today were brand new and therefore quite expensive and much more than we had anticipated to pay for a first van So for the moment I think we need to just take a step back and see if my anemia improves and try again then, gutted but can't really afford to throw a few grand away on a "trial"
We really do like the Adrias though, they feel so much more spacious than the vans we have been looking at.
Although the new Adrias do have very strong steadies and they tend to be set further in than many other vans I really can't see this making much of a diffrence.
As mentioned above, are you sure the steadies were wound down on the van you went in and that the van was perfectly level ? If the van wasn't level it will feel strange and if the steadies are down it will wobble about.
The Adria vans are very well made and have a spacious feel. It might be worth taking a trip to an Adria dealer and looking at some second hand Adria vans. There are not many second hand Adrias around but you can get them if you look around.
I suffered the same as you when we first got our Bailey Senator Wyoming 2008, I felt dizzy, sick, eye pain and felt like the caravan was rocking. Luckily I've got used to it and the symptoms have died down. I still feel dizzy if the kids and dogs are moving around alot. I hope you can still purchase your caravan and enjoy the great adventures that await.
Quote: Originally posted by Outdoorlass on 03/7/2016
Hello all
Thanks for the replies, its definatley not Claustrophobia its motion sickness, I am suffering with bad anaemia at the moment and i'm wondering if that's not helping things.
The van we sat in yesterday was not new, it was a 2009 van, so wouldn't have been the chemical smells, it was a bailey and they seem to have thin steadies? We have been to look at Adrias today and I did feel better, but still sick and dizzy, I seemed to feel better in a 2 berth, but not sure we are ready to compromise on the space. The vans we looked at today were brand new and therefore quite expensive and much more than we had anticipated to pay for a first van So for the moment I think we need to just take a step back and see if my anemia improves and try again then, gutted but can't really afford to throw a few grand away on a "trial"
We really do like the Adrias though, they feel so much more spacious than the vans we have been looking at.
Here's hoping we can have one in the future
Many thanks
Have you thought about staying in a static for a few days , they are very nice . And although larger still a caravan . This may be a way of knowing if its size or movement . I think they still have slight movement yet would be level .
I can feel like this if the van isn't level, but it does wear off after about an hour . Could you try hiring or borrowing a friends caravan to see if it will wear off.
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Topic: Motion Sickness In Caravan Advice Gutted
So for the moment I think we need to just take a step back and see if my anemia improves and try again then, gutted but can't really afford to throw a few grand away on a "trial" 
