With an 18 month old son, we haven't got out in our tent as much as we would like in the last 2 seasons. While we plan to go back to camping under canvas (kids do love it), we're thinking about a touring caravan for a few years to let us get away a bit more often.
But, there is so much to think about...
Are fixed beds good?
Are end bathrooms special?
Can you sleep in an awning? I mean in a proper weather proofed way - zipped in - no wind - no bugs....
What are the "must haves" in a caravan?
Pros / cons
...any advice would be SOOOOO appreciated in this mad old dilemma!!!
We spent a good few years debating this! We have fixed beds for the kids but not for the double bed. Putting up just one bed is ok, but wouldn't like to have to make all beds all the time.
A bathroom is not essential imo. Having the toilet is very good though. We do use our shower for the kids, when it is late and just want to give them a hose down before bed. We still use campsite showers so as to not have to haul so much water about.
As for awning, think you would need proper sleeping pod thing, as otherwise no ground sheet.
Most vital thing is to start with your car. You need to know what weight you can tow. Then you can start to research caravans that come within that limit, that have the number of berth you want. Good luck.
I don't know if I'll get told off for posting this here, if it's wrong then I'm sorry but...
Have you thought about a folding camper?
They look like the bottem half of a caravan, and then the canvas tent top folds out from the top. They are much easier to tow than a caravan, and most can be stored in a normal garage, so cheaper than paying for caravan storage.
They take more time to set up than a caravan but you then have 2 fixed double beds AND a seating area that can be made into a third double bed.
My parents used to have a Conway Cruiser, and we rarely put up the awning, but if we did then at night friends used a single skin pop up tent as a bedroom, and because it was in the awning it was like a little bedroom pod of it's own.
Folding campers have fridges, sinks, cookers with a grill, (newer ones have ovens too) and larger models have a toilet and washroom. Some come with built in heaters.
Yes they do take a bit more set up time than a caravan, Mums Cruiser took about 10-15 minutes from arrive to kettle on. The awning if you decide you need it takes no longer than a caravan awning.
If, like us, you prefer camping then a folding camper can offer the best of both worlds.
Becky
------------- I wish I were a glow worm,
a glow worm's never glum.
'Cause how can you be grumpy,
when the sun shines out your bum!
We started with a tent, then trailer tent, on to a caravan. If you can, fixed bunks are better for the children, the rest in down to choice. When our children got older, they then had their own pup tents and camped outside. You can get inner tents for awnings for sleeping in.
Good luck, feel free to have a look on my link below.
I started with a lively A.B.I Daystar 2birth, with awning , annex with inner tent, a good blow up bed, so effectively a four birth. Plus the bed was big enough for us and our boy.
It was lovely change from the tent.
We have up size now to a five birth, much better for us with our new littlen.
Just got to sell out abi now.
We had a tent and took our 18mth old on hols a couple of times. That was enough to encourage me to invest in a caravan as chasing after a toddler across a field first thing in the morning was not what I planned, nor was the HUGE thunderstorm we experienced where we thought we would lose the tent but had to pretend it was fun for little one's sake....! We had the caravan seven years before trading up earlier this year to the one we have now with triple bunks for our three kids and I would not change it for the world. They have their own lounge and I have my space too along with our awning which doubles as our kitchen! Brilliant. Go for it.
------------- 2014
Easter Hols - Burnham-on-sea (7 nts)
Early May bank hol - Hopley's Bewdley (3nts).
Whitsun - Goodrington (14 nts).
August - Goodrington (16 nts).
We swapped from a tent to a van this year because we wanted to get away more often, so the van had to suit our needs without the requirement of an awning. We didn't want the hassle of putting one up or having to worry about the weather taking it down.
For this purpose I would suggest you get a van that suits your needs without an awning for short breaks but can adapt to longer breaks with more room if you add an awning.
So a van with two separate dining areas and a central kitchen and toilet. This way you can close off the children at night and still use the rest of the van. On longer stays you could put the childrens bunks up and leave them up and use the awning for daytime space.
I wouldn't be too concerned with a full shower cubicle but maybe a combined toilet shower so that you can just do a quick hose down if needed and use the site ablutions for proper washing.
My children loved the experience and felt like "proper" campers going over to the ablutions on their own.
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
From tiny tent to tiny caravan to BIG tent to HUMUNGUS caravan!!!!!
Consider your priorities, if it is to get away more often you want to consider do you want to put up the awning if it's pouring with rain or blowing a gale. Also the awning travels in the van so if you get to site and it's chucking it down you have to pull everything out of the van before you can get in.
Our tiny van was 12' and a four berth. It had a front dinette that made inot a small double then down the offside it had a small wardrobe and a long seat, the back of which lifted up to make a bunk. On the near side was the kitchen, fridge and small toilet washroom. We survived in this until the kids reached their teens then they got chucked out into bedrooms in the awning. We took the van away to week-end swimming galas without the awning and still managed 2 nights with them in the bunks.
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
This one is about the size. Back in the day the front was straight down and the gas bottles sat on the A frame so that is probably why we had this space but a shorter van.
Sometimes we'd leave the front double made up, especially if we were going out for the day, and still had space to make a snack.
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
Guys - some great info here. Issym - great advice which I think I'll print off and take with me when we go caravan shopping. Daisy Bell - you got electric hook up on that farm of yours??!!
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.
Topic: From tent to Tourer
