My wife & I are mid 60's and have holidayed under canvas since ever. We're keeping the tents but considering going to the dark side: either trying a caravan or a camping van. (Shock, horror!)
Either way it's got to be one we can afford, but it's got to have a loo in it. Either way it's hoped to make setting up and packing up easier, with no wet canvas, and to be kinder to my wife's back.
We can see that a motorised van would be great - lots of friends love them, though it does mean that any day trip out means taking the whole thing wherever you go.
A caravan means no need to do that, but does need towing to whatever site you're on.
If it's a caravan, I'm more attracted to something approaching a micro-van, to be a lighter tow.
Either way, we plan to hire a van (maybe one of each sort ) for a weekend trip. And we intend to visit the NEC show next week.
Either way we fear losing that lovely freedom of being in a tent rather than a box.
But you, reading this, have already been there and have experience - helpful comments will be welcome, please :-)
Thanks.
(Tempted to post a similar message on the camping van forum, see what replies come up there!!)
you could try a folding camper.. easy to tow.. easy to erect and maybe a bit tent like.. :)
trog
ps.. my son has just bought a large 6 berth one.. i was rather impressed with it.. he has gone from a large caravan (too much trouble to tow) to a large tent (too much trouble to put up) to a large penine folding camper..
We had a folding camper and have tented prior. We loved the folding camper but it is a bit of work to put up and put down.
We moved on to a caravan and have not looked back. Everyone has their own preference and I do understand the canvas thing but really Do not miss it. As for the motor Home, if you can have a little scooter to visit locations with great but if not I think your point of pitching up when you want to explore is why we went the caravan route.
Maybe as you say hire both and see what suits.
We took our folding camper to south France and it was the stop overs of unpacking and packing up that finally made us change to a van. We have never looked back, still have that same freedom and the family love the caravan, and towing is really not a problem. A few easy trips and your get into swing.
Best of luck and I hope you find the right unit for you to go and explore!
Try the trailer tent section for lots more info about folding campers. Perhaps not as convenient or warm as a caravan but, for us, we get a lot more space, some home comforts (fridge and ready made beds!), without the worry of towing a caravan or having to pay for storage. Highbridge caravans have lots of examples on their website and I expect Pennine (main manufacturer) will be at the NEC too.
Start from the basis that a secondhand caravan towed behind the car you already have is always going to be more cost effective than a campervan or motorhome & then choose what you actually want within your budget.
A caravan is mechanically simple. A 1990 caravan bought off ebay can be cheaply made as reliable to tow any distance as a new one. Just a service & new tyres does the job. A 20yr old VW camper in good nick will still cost you £10k & you need confidence in your mechanic to drive that long distance.
We've had them all, tents, campervan, motorhome, trailer tent, caravan. Changed them at varying times according to our needs/wants/circumstances at the time. We have toured (extensively) with all modes and been sited on seasonal pitches. Currently we are on a seasonal pitch on a site and location we love and have signed up for another year. We still scoot about, we have a tent and go away with that when we fancy a change. So for us it is an ideal set up.
However, we have been thinking recently about getting another campervan - our best holidays travelling Europe was with the campervan. We loved it, only reason we changed was we got a grandson and it suited better to have a caravan.
But, and it is a big BUT, if we get another campervan we will be keeping the caravan. I love being able to nip up to our site on a Friday after work and having everything set up and ready - it's like having a holiday home. And we do so almost every weekend for the 8 month season.
Thanks for all these replies! Much wisdom & experience here :-)
Subject not closed - feel free to pitch in (sorry, no pun intended!!) with more.
Meanwhile, on the motor van forum someone mentioned that damp is a perennial problem with caravans. I plead ignorance - is this when storing them unused, or what? And is there an answer?
Best wishes & thanks again!
the answer is check before you buy.. much is written about it.. its water ingress (leaks) that left unnoticed turn to wood rot in the caravan structure..
Best you can do in the first instance is what you're already proposing - get to the NEC, have a look inside some and see what feels right.
I was also nervous about towing and wanted as small a caravan as possible or even a folding camper. But because Rose was also involved in the selection, we got quite a large caravan with a separate shower in it. However, towing is a lot easier and less nerve-wracking than I had expected and I really don't notice the length all that much - the width is more of a consideration.
Also consider what car you own or are prepared to run. It doesn't have to be as big as a tank but if it's Ford Focus-size or smaller you'll be really limited as to the size of caravan you can safely tow unless you go for a micro-tourer or folding camper. Having a camper van or motorhome means the expense of running another vehicle but might be the option for you if you don't want to change your car.
You'll need more than a VW camper to get a toilet and a VW will be rather cramped.
I suggest a small 2 berth caravan with end washroom such as ours, a Bailey Pursuit 400-2 or Orion 400/2 as it was called with earlier models.
You have to make the bed up at night but we just use them as 2 singles meaning we can go to the loo in the night without climbing over the other. We tow it with our Peugeot Partner and it is very easy to tow.
The end washroom is superb with toilet, wash basin, shower and wardrobe. We store all our clothes in there and use it for changing etc. Good kitchen, heating etc.
will give you an on board fridge and toilet. Only cold water though. The Riva Dandy uses insulated PVC instead of canvas as the normal trailer tents and folding campers do. This makes it warm in winter and cool in summer and can be packed away wet and left wet. A canvas FC will require opening up to dry out. They do take a bit of getting up and down though.
Another option is a folding caravan such as a Gobur. Expensive and not as well equipped as a normal caravan but easy to tow and store.
I tow with a Ford Focus 1.6tdci. My caravan is a Swift 2 berth, with all the usual stuff, fridge, shower, cassette electric flushing loo, wardrobe and storage, central heating,full cooker/oven etc...etc..and I am towing at 83%.
Your choices are fewer but there are vans out there and still being produced that don't need a large car to tow it. Less choice if you want a 4 berth but still do-able.
Edit..and my van is 15ft long..
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
Meanwhile, on the motor van forum someone mentioned that damp is a perennial problem with caravans. I plead ignorance - is this when storing them unused, or what? And is there an answer?
Best wishes & thanks again!
Post last edited on 30/09/2016 14:16:04
By 'motor van', are we talking eg VW camper type, or 'motorhome'? If its the latter, it is going to be no more immune from damp than a caravan. But it will be a whole lot dearer to buy.
If its the 'campervan' type, it may be damp-free to a point, but will still cost more than a caravan, and have half the space.
I think it depends on whether your going to use it summer months only or all year.
Long dark nights sat in a small camper van ,not very relaxing ( been there and done it) lounging even in a small caravan like what we have is a lot more comfy, and a doddle to tow.
But next year we intend to use the partially converted van along with air drive away awning in the summer months to get away for the odd night. Lot less hassle we thinks and basically camping with the van as a bedroom.
Touring and over night stops in the warmer months ...camper van.
Longer stays and all year use caravan . Thats the way I see 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: Caravan or Camping van?
