Hi all, debating a caravan to we can get more use in the winter months, October half term and some time over christmas and feb half term. Currently have a folding camper and although we would be warm enough in the unit chances of drying the unit out after wet pack ups puts us off so we put it away for 6 months of the year. Do many of you with kids go in a caravan at these times of year and how easy is it for your kids to make friends in the colder months?
Thanks
------------- Whitemead Easter 2015
Chats worth feb half term
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We never went far in the winter/autumn when our boys came with us . Because don't forget it is dark very early . This is our biggest dislike .Unless you go to sites with clubs etc, and they are always costly.
Advice would be buy a cheap one to try out first . Then you don't have a lot to lose. Caravans are quite expensive. They need storage and a good tow car.my husband says he would go back to a tent tomorrow but we are too old. After just changing our van I am seriously thinking about giving up completely. Due to costs. And worry.
Yet I love it and wouldn't want a different kind of holiday. If I can't caravan or camp I don't want to go.
Sorry if this sounds negative but we are having problems at the moment.
Good luck, don't sell your Penine though.
Hi upsydaisy,we have just upgraded from a tent,best thing we have ever done no looking back for us.Obviosley it comes with a more exspense,but if you weigh it all up first like we did you should be fine.We plan to go through till november,then start again in february.Good luck
Was a tenter for years, and got sick of the UK weather so went for a caravan.I got fed up of having to dry things out.
With the caravan you turn up, set up and relax!
I now go off most half terms, and a few weeks in summer.
Having been off the last 2 Februarys and last October, I would fully recommend getting a caravan.
The sites I have been on so far have been quiet with not many other kids on site but my 2 girls (age 6 and 11) love it as they have plenty of freedom.
I would recommend using sites with electric hook up in October and February as having the heating on after being out in the cold playing is such a nice feeling.
Looking to go off at Xmas , but depends on wifes holidays, as we spend so much time off in the caravan she kinda runs out of spare days to use!
We are in the same position .... looking for a van from a Folding Camper - it's not as cut'n'dried as you would think, is it?
We have worked out the true cost of a New Caravan and it's a bit scary ..... £2500 a year! This is made up of the following:-
Caravan purchase = £15000
Loss of interest on that money = £350 a year
Storage = £500 a year
Depreciation = £1,000 a year
Insurance = £300 a year
Added fuel costs assuming 3,000 towing miles a year = £380 a year
That adds up to £2530 a year - it will be more if you have to borrow the money for the Caravan ..... will be a bit less (but not that much) if you buy a cheaper van (added costs of parts which fail and wear out). Buying brand new isn't that mad really if you do the figures accurately .... and you have a new van!
Keeping the Folding Camper, however, costs next to nothing after 15 years of ownership ........ but, it's just money and you can't take it with you.
We went out twice in march this year and are planning to go for a week in October. We go with the clubs (CC, C&CC) and some of the weekend meets & holiday rallies are on full facility sites at reduced cost. It is harder for our daughter to make friends at that time of year because people can't really sit outside so much and the children don't congregate at the park. However, as she's made friends within the club its possible that she'll know someone wherever we are.
We couldn't decide whether to try New Year in the caravan on a site that we've been to (with the club) for easter but we've spoken to some people who did go and they recommend it so we'll probab;y try it this year.
I like your thinking mr ree i did the same sort of sums. Thanks for the thought everyone. We are saving up as dont want debt, if we decide on caravan then great, if not we will have a chunk of cash for something else so spoilt with the pathfinder that a good layout in caravan is a twin axle
------------- Whitemead Easter 2015
Chats worth feb half term
Clumber park may bank hoo
Creelys whit week 2015
Ardeche France 2015
£2,500 a year Our van wasn't much more than that and we could probably sell it in 2/3 years for just a little less. No interest as it's paid for, insurance £100 a year and fuel costs haven't varied greatly tbh.
We have had vans before, then tents for a few years but it's a van or nothing for us now!
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Home bird, you hit the nail on the head. We have one daughter and when it is dry and nice she makes loads of friends however recently it has rained a couple of days on our last holiday and cause she couldn't go out she never made a friend to bring back into the camper to play with when it rained, which got me thinking in winter it would be the same as a rainy day. Are you saying it is better if you go on rallies?
------------- Whitemead Easter 2015
Chats worth feb half term
Clumber park may bank hoo
Creelys whit week 2015
Ardeche France 2015
Quote: Originally posted by adandemsmom on 16/6/2012
£2,500 a year Our van wasn't much more than that and we could probably sell it in 2/3 years for just a little less. No interest as it's paid for, insurance £100 a year and fuel costs haven't varied greatly tbh.
We have had vans before, then tents for a few years but it's a van or nothing for us now!
I think you misunderstand the lost interest I mentioned ..... that's the loss of interest that £15,000 would make invested in a Bank at 2.3% Net. You say your van is paid for - well, it actually costs you around £350 a year to pay for it (as you lose interest on that money).
Fuel costs of pulling a 600kg Folding Camper versus a 1350kg Caravan with its front slamming into the air is higher than you may think.
As for getting just a little less than you paid for it in 2 or 3 years time .... well, again, I have news for you - you won't!
Yes for us it has been better to go on rallies. We have made friends with one family who we've met up with a couple of times on meets and our daughter keeps in touch with them via email. Also, if you stick with mainly one group you get to see the same faces and our DA has a strong junior group where the leaders try to get the kids together for games on the field.
Having said that, it is harder during the winter months on commercial sites to meet other people even with the club but I reckon if you don't need EHU etc then there are still field rallies where they usuall organise get togethers.(I think they don't bother on commercial sites as they expect you to make use of swimming pools etc)
Our van didn't cost 15k a lot lot less our costs for 35 nights away inc storage servicing site costs etc is 1k hardly any depreciation as van is now at that level. All depends what you want. Our 19 year old van is clean dry and warm.
Quote: Originally posted by Rob12 on 16/6/2012
Our van didn't cost 15k a lot lot less our costs for 35 nights away inc storage servicing site costs etc is 1k hardly any depreciation as van is now at that level. All depends what you want. Our 19 year old van is clean dry and warm.
This is the dilema, you see?
For just £120 a month more you can have a brand new van with all that brings to the pleasure ...... over a 19 year old van.
Storage and towing costs are constant ... Insurance is slightly cheaper on the older van.
It's amazing when you actually put the figures on paper ... that a brand new van seems the best value - all things considered. I know it seems odd - but I've done the numbers again and again and it works.
Sorry disagree our van is in great condition. Is fully paid for. 120 pcm for what 8 years you must be joking add in the depreciation. The payments alone for the year would be more than our total costs including pitch fees. I'm an accountant and the figures do work in my favour trust me.
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Topic: Debating a caravan (
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so spoilt with the pathfinder that a good layout in caravan is a twin axle
Our van wasn't much more than that and we could probably sell it in 2/3 years for just a little less. No interest as it's paid for, insurance £100 a year and fuel costs haven't varied greatly tbh. 
