Hi, we are seriously considering moving from tenting to towing a caravan, hubby and i both passed test donkeys years ago, i have towed before an elddis 12ft about 20 years ago. we have both towed a trailer for camping. We have a 2ltr tdci mondeo hatch so know we have a good tow car, we are stuck on the following things
do we get 2 or 4 berth as teenagers older and possibaly with two years not want to come
have budget of up to 5,000, where do we start looking, went to a caravan place in liss and omg... the caravans were awful totally not road worthy
hubby has to work saturdays so will possibaly only be used 4 weeks a year
is it achievable with our budget to get a decent van with full awning and extras
really like the seating either end but thats not a deal breaker
please help us make up our minds one way or another
we are in no rush as holiday booked for this year, but we do have a weeks hols in october so could possibaly go away with it then
have a very large 4 car driveway so storage not a problem
thank you for any help you can give
We were in the same boat earlier in the year was about to be given a BIG 2 berth with a massive front area ( big enough for 3, that we were going to match up with the biggest awning we could ( kids in awning us in van)
this was a tow to france leave it and have it towed to from site every yr for us ( cheaper than storage in UK)
That fell through due to rot and concerns from the guy giving it to us over the roadworthiness so looked round
as I was moving from a huge trailer tent space was a premium so
went 4 berth
with awning and bedroom annexe
rationale
child 1 wont be coming next year (doesn't want to come this yr ) so the 2 sitting areas can be used as beds without reararranging for the other 2
front area big enough for 3 when rearrged for emergencies or night before leaving ( including the big one at 6 ft 4)
and when I don't have kids don't need awning unless want it. ( with a 2 berth I think I still would need it.
and I went fixed bed at back ( which will probably be out of your price range with all the other gear you'll want)
but seriously looked at end seating areas meaning one could be left up as bedroom which gives the same effect.
if you get a van big awnings can be cheap as chips on fleabay
just look out for as dry as one as possible!
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
Thanks for replies so far.
We have seen and led dis a ante Amber 525 4 berth with full awning and motor mover for 5495 , hoping to take a look at the weekend
525's are normally 5 berth I belive ( but not a lot of difference to 524
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
Hi
We were in the same boat earlier in the year.
We had enough of tenting so the wife wanted a caravan,now I've never towed a caravan before,ans was a bit worried to say the least.
We found a suitable van...now that's a story in its self,but we ended up with a Compass Rambler 5 berth 2007 Ellis's made, what we paid for it was about your budget.
As for the towing there was nothing too worry about,we have been out with our van about 5 times now and it gets easier.
Just enjoy your caravan...wish I had done it years ago.
I find it easier towing a caravan than a fully laden trailer tent ( with bike and surfboards on top of it)
did a couple of the freebie sessions at the caravan shows ( as did my wife)
and been out 4 times since (all types of roads, forest of dean and Devon narrow A roads holding everyone up through to M5 and A34 both at normal speed and sitting in traffic )
your not as tempted to go as quick and you know its there, far easier to reverse a long van than a short trailer.
Don't know how France is going to be restricted to the 90-95 kph mark when I was used to doing 100-110 but we'll see
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
We have moved from camping to a caravan this season. Our kids are 16 & 14, we went down the 4 berth fixed bed route, as it will fit us perfectly when they no longer come.
We thought it would be sooner rather than later, but they both love it in the caravan, so looks like it might take longer to get rid of them
We do use an awning with a bedroom pod for longer stay of a week+ and our son likes staying in there (as long as it is warm!)
Hi princesspickle2 I would go for 4 bed all day long you have the car to pull it Me and the wife have a 4 berth fixed bed very cosy just the two of us.You can find one within your budget try Ebay or Gumtree best of luck
I would go for a 4 berth with island bed or two singles so when kids wont go you end up with bed room and sitting room so to speak.
Try to get tail end toilet if you can usually gives bigger kitchen space.
Be careful what you buy of e-bay.
look on much beloved web site seen some reasonable priced vans on there
As many others we went from a trailer tent to caravan this year.
We went for a 4 berth with fixed bed. The rationale was that our daughter (13) would not want to come with us forever and that would leave us a hassle free camping, with no beds to make up and a separate seating area.
The first time towing the van was a white knuckle job as the dealer was only 10mins from the busy M4 at Reading and it was a windy day! Driven a couple of hundred miles since then with it and much more relaxed!
Best move we ever made, good luck finding something
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
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: help
