As a tent camping family of four years We have just had a fantastic weekend in our brand new Sterling europa 570. The highlight of the weekend was lying in bed on saturday morning, opening curtains and watching the sunrise as the rest of the family slept. I still feel slightly disloyal to my beloved Norfolk lake tent but I now understand the appeal of caravanning over camping. Both the setting up on friday and packing up today were much less physically taxing and quicker than our camping set up. I also feel that in a weekend trip we have gained the Sunday which was always a stress and a wasted day when camping. I am happy I have joined the tin tenters.
good ,we did this twenty five years ago ,when the we had a down pour ,every time we took the tent away ,found it hard work with the children ,hope you have many happy years to come ,,in the tin tent on wheel,s
------------- May the roof of your camper
never fall in ,and the couple inside ,never fall out,
Glad you're happy with your decision. We changed to a caravan in April and have had so many good times already. The setting up & packing away still takes us hours but as you say, is less physically taxing - we stop for cuppas, or to chat to others (we go mostly on meets/rallies) and generally don't stress.
Glad you enjoyed your break. Oh and I have a regular shall we shan't we caravan debate, we have cabanon stratos trailer tent, but I think we are coming down on caravan side finally for the same reasons you state.
We changed from a Folding Camper to a caravan in August.
FC was ok but used to get really stressed on the last day away if it rained & toward the end I started to loath the whole setting up and taking down thing as we do a lot of weekends and this part seemed to eat into our time away too much & then I used to have to put it back up once home just to clean it through. OH not keen either I have since learnt!
Caravan on the other hand is fab! Had a couple of weekends away and are looking forward to an extended season thanks to solid Walls and roof. Best thing we have bought in a long time.
Yep Caravans open up a whole different experience. Especially year round caravanning. There is no season when you have a caravan.
New years day. After going to the site organised party to bring in the bells your standing outside - 8 sharing a dram with your neighbours and new found friends. You just can't beat it. Lying all cosy watching a film and having a few drinks. Not having to whisper. Yep there's a lot of positives to caravanning. Camping is fantastic but caravanning is so much more easier and relaxed.
------------- Live every day as if it's your last but not at risk to others :-)
When we first started we thought about a motorhome, glad we didn't, it would have been a nightmare every time we wanted to drive anywhere. Done tenting before but caravanning is just perfect!!!
we changed in May from tent to caravan, it's the muts nuts
you can hang your clothes up before you set off and only takes 5 mins and you can have the kettle on and relax before you have to do anything else and thats only if you want to put awning up if you dont thats it all done in 5 mins it's great.
we had our first weekend in our caravan a few weeks ago, the set up and packing up was so much easier, no rush to get to the showers in the morning, no late night treck to clean teeth with all the kids in tow, hot running water and NO AIRBEDS yippee
We moved to a van in 1982 after 7 years of camping.
We have two sets of friends who were campers who holidayed with us and saw us setting up/breaking camp and they both came home and bought vans.
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.