When we took our tent down last year in France the fly sheet looked and felt really brittle (probably needed reproofing - not sure) but I said that we either got another new tent or progressed to a caravan and with a disabled child (now 15 yrs old and getting bigger and heavier)it would be much easier getting him into bed. So we purchased our new caravan last October. Our first trip was eventful! the usual things that people do on the first trip like not closing the drain valves when priming the water etc (or is that just us!). Our second trip last week much better! but my OH still prefers tenting(he is a scout leader!) whereas I prefer the warmth of a caravan when it is absolutely lashing it down and cold outside.The kids prefer the caravan too as they get a TV!!!
I think there is a trend yes, we have noticed much more people having holidays in the UK over the past 2/3 years. The price of going abroad with a small family is horrendous, we priced up a holiday to go abroad this year and it was going to cost the best part of £5k, just for a young family of 4. I said to my wife that i wasn't prepared to spend that on a holiday, and that instead we should bite the bullet and upgrade our camping gear to a caravan. So in Feb we bought our first caravan and awning, a lovely new coachman with awning and we love it.
There are no such thing a low cost flights anymore, which is why people are opting for a 'staycation'. Camping is accessible and affordable to most people.
I think the balance of tents to caravans will readdress again in a few years time, when the people who have plummeted to buy camping gear and tents, make the natural progression to a caravan or motorhome. We camped in tents for nearly two decades and always looked upon caravaners with a little distain. I have to say however, you cannot knock it until you have tried it, we love our caravan and would never look back now.
I know what you mean about the size of the tents though, some of them have a bigger foot print than our caravan and awning put together, they are massive! You can buy one of these huge things for less than £500.00, but i am not sure i would want to face one of the UK's coastal storms in one?!? Big is certainly not best when it comes to some of these monstrosities!
We live in the highlands and after many years camping progressed to a 30 year old caravan last year. Our tent was nothing posh, an Icarus 500 with extension, but she served us well in the Highland weather.
Our decision to change came when our 3 yr old was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and the cold tent played mayhem with blood glucose levels.
Most sites up here have a 60/30/10 split ( motor homes / caravans / tents ). The only thing I hate about caravaning is the snobbery we encountered because of the age of our van. So much so it put us off and we've stayed at home all season.
However, stuff the snobs. We've decided to take her out at the end of September for the O/H's birthday exactly 12 months since our last outing. In the tent we were away every other weekend.
Amazing how some folk can make you feel unwelcome.
------------- September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!
Know what you mean about the snobbery of some people! Due to the wheelchair we have to do things "differently", its a space thing! So when we sit outside for breakfast, etc some caravaneers look at us like we have lost the plot! Didnt you know you are supposed to treat it like your home????? Ha ha not likely! We wont take a TV becuase this is meant to be chill out, quality time together. This means enjoying where we are, our new awning will also allow us to do this in all weathers. You see some people arrive on site with enormous vans (toobig for car) and awnings and there is only 2 of them. You have to ask why? Oh yeah for some its well mines bigger than yours syndrome. We agreed when we got the vanto stay true to our lighweight camping principles, and always help and be friendly. On our last trip someone watched me for over 20mins struggling to unhitch. He came over later to tell me the secret of the Winterhoff hitch. Helpful? Sort of...........
You'll find caravan snobbery whatever you have. We had an 18 year old 4 berth Elddis that we absolutely loved and came across snobbery, we then ( needing more beds) bought a brand new 6 berth Adria........ According to some........ Cheap nasty foreign vans. But do you know what?? Like you say, STUFF THEM! What we've got works for us and we love it! Ps, we do have a porch awning which is more than enough extra room for us if we need it but we still take out our tables and chairs to eat and drink weather permitting.
I wish someone would explain the taboo table outside thing. I think eating alfresco is wonderful and we do it whenever possible. We just don't the opportunity much with Highland summers :(
------------- September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!
Quote: Originally posted by daveroughley on 16/8/2013
I wish someone would explain the taboo table outside thing. I think eating alfresco is wonderful and we do it whenever possible. We just don't the opportunity much with Highland summers :(
We have just returned from 2 weeks camping near to Lowestoft and had an Indian take away, as a treat, delivered to our pitch. We then proceeded as a family of four to sit outside on our folding picnic table to eat it. The looks we got from some people.
Ha ha.
------------- Wheres that b****y mallet?
..............
Bailey GT70 Rimini
Oh wow, is there a 'thing' about eating outside?? and im wondering about these 'drain valves' that somebody mentioned.....having only camped 4 times now (once in a tent, once in a 30yo TT, once in a 6yo TT and recently in a 19yo caravan, we are reletively new to this camping/caravanning and are learning bits and bobs every day on here..... thankfully havent come across any snobbery but i have to say that if the weather was fine i would definitely seat my family outside and enjoy our meal x
------------- Enjoyed tenting,
Enjoyed trailer-tenting,
Now loving caravanning 😊😊
You should see the looks we get! rolling up onto a campsite past all the shinny vans in a diesel corsa with fat exhaust towing old caravan I dont care im enjoying myself.
------------- She may be old, she may be rough around the edges but she is our home from home and we love it.
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: changing times
I dont care im enjoying myself.
