Does anyone on the forum have a teardrop caravan? I am thinking of buying one but not sure how well I'd cope with the much-reduced headroom. Plus, having to go round the back of the unit to make a meal doesn't fill me with enthusiasm, especially as I'm an all-year-round traveller. Nipping round the back for my breakfast toast and coffee would seem a bit of an ordeal in sub-zero temperatures, or the pouring rain!
BUT I only have a small car so I'm limited as to what I can tow these days. I'd be interested to learn how others cope in these micro-units....
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 27/12/2021
Does anyone on the forum have a teardrop caravan? I am thinking of buying one but not sure how well I'd cope with the much-reduced headroom. Plus, having to go round the back of the unit to make a meal doesn't fill me with enthusiasm, especially as I'm an all-year-round traveller. Nipping round the back for my breakfast toast and coffee would seem a bit of an ordeal in sub-zero temperatures, or the pouring rain!
BUT I only have a small car so I'm limited as to what I can tow these days. I'd be interested to learn how others cope in these micro-units....
I know exactly what you mean, having to get out and go round the back to get a meal or even make a cup of tea would put me off too, especially in the cold and wet. Wouldn't a trailer-tent or folding caravan be any good? I don't think they weigh very much and wind-drag when towing wouldn't be a problem. I'd look into whether your car could cope with one of those.
TBH, id think id sooner have a tent than than a 'tear drop' van. Its a mobile bed, and not much more. And for the weight, you may as well have a camping trailer and a decent tent/gear. Or, get a 'folder' as suggested. (or a bigger car!)
Colin, thanks for your helpful comments. A trailer tent or folding caravan are the other two items on my short list. The little Gobur Carousel Slimline 10 would be ideal, being the lightest of their models. Of the trailer tents, I like the look of the Raclet Solena, but as I like camping all year round I think the folding caravan would be easier to keep warm in the cold and wet winter months.
Robert (Bob) Thanks also for your suggestions, and for the link. If I was going to settle for a trailer tent, either the Raclet, the Camplet or perhaps the Cabanon Venus would be top of my list. Folding campers... I have no experience of that type of unit, but imagine that while they offer more in the way of comfort than a trailer tent, there is still the issue around keeping the unit warm in winter, with its canvas walls.
I guess there are always compromises you have to be prepared to make, whatever unit is decided upon. In the past I've done the rounds of a number of different types of unit so I do have a bit of an idea what I want (or am able to buy, on a low budget!) So basically, now I've got a small car it's a case of something lightweight, with the minimum of faffing around to set up, and which can be kept warm in the winter!
I was hoping there would be more teardrop owners around by now to share their experiences. I haven't found any yet, nor have I seen any on my travels!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
One of my neighbours had one, and I must admit it did look fun. Maybe in my 20s I would have loved it, but not now 50+ years later. I need something I can stand up in and get comfortable. I also want to be able to get a drink or a meal without going outside, unless I'm going to a pub or restaurant.
I think the fact that my neighbour didn't keep it very long says it all.
I have a gobur carousel and can testify they are a great bit of kit, mine is the standard width, Year 2000, it has hot and cold water, toilet and heater and motor mover,I I do tow it with a vauxhall Antara which doesn’t even know it is there, takes about 15 minutes to set up excluding water, the awning takes probably 40 minutes, you don’t say how small your car is so can’t advise if it is suitable for towing the gobur, we had a pennine pullman folding camper previously which are similar weights and we towed that with a Renault dynamique 1.7 litre engine, although we did have to change down on hills it coped well enough, hope this information is helpful to you, good luck in whatever you decide on
Quote: Originally posted by kpnuts81 on 28/12/2021
I have a gobur carousel and can testify they are a great bit of kit, mine is the standard width, Year 2000, it has hot and cold water, toilet and heater and motor mover,I I do tow it with a vauxhall Antara which doesn’t even know it is there, takes about 15 minutes to set up excluding water, the awning takes probably 40 minutes, you don’t say how small your car is so can’t advise if it is suitable for towing the gobur, we had a pennine pullman folding camper previously which are similar weights and we towed that with a Renault dynamique 1.7 litre engine, although we did have to change down on hills it coped well enough, hope this information is helpful to you, good luck in whatever you decide on
Thanks for that KPNuts, I had a Gobur Carousel once, a few years ago, at the time I was touring a lot more, and attending a lot of rallies and it all seemed a bit of a faff to keep setting up and packing down: I had the Slimline to start with which wasn't too bad, then I got the standard width one which took even longer to set up because of the loo cubicle.
Things change: people change, I am much more likely to head off on my own these days and enjoy my own company so I'd be happy enough to go to one place and stay there for a week or so, so the 'faffing about' element wouldn't be such an issue. They are lovely little caravans, sturdily built, and although unfortunately Gobur don't manufacture them any more the company is still very helpful if you have any issues with replacement parts and/or repairs. My issue now is the price! The Carousels hold their values very well so probably out of my league financially for the time being.
I didn't mention my car on the post as it's detailed on my profile: it's a Toyota Yaris 1.33 VVT-i TR 5 door. It has a kerbweight of 1050kg so the towing weight of 900kg in the manual is probably 85% of that? (I'm hopeless at maths) I checked with the Camping & Caravanning Club Towing Match service which says the 10ft Slimline is a safe and legal match for my car, except the noseweight is on the heavy side so I would have to be careful of what I stored in the front box.
Colin21: Thank you also for your further comment. I agree, the ability to stand upright in a camping unit is a criteria that has become important to me too!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Freedom caravan can be towed by your car & probably best bet for yr round use. Otherwise Eriba Puck but even old ones are expensive & need careful checking for rusty subframe. Search EBay for both. Always a few on there.
OP's other post where lightweight caravans were recommended.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Quote: Originally posted by billy on 28/12/2021
Freedom caravan can be towed by your car & probably best bet for yr round use. Otherwise Eriba Puck but even old ones are expensive & need careful checking for rusty subframe. Search EBay for both. Always a few on there.
Thanks Billy, the freedom is an option I've considered but anything that is taller than the car (and the Freedom would be) will cause a bit of drag from the wind. I'm finding that the Yaris needs quite a lot of gear changes even when running solo, so I think I'm going to have to settle for a Gobur or a trailer tent, the latter option being most suitable for towing though not as cosy for winter camping. Decisions, decisions!
Now, as Santa Claus didn't deliver a new camping unit for me I will have to hope I have more luck from the Finance fairies! Last year my small pension increase was completely swallowed up by bigger bills....
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Maybe investigate a campervan with raising roof, that would then be your only vehicle? Low roof profile means you can still get under car park gantries. Drive up, hook up, hot or cold drink within 15 minutes of arrival. All year use.
It would need to have the right number of travelling seats / seat belts to be a vehicle for you to use daily.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 28/12/2021
Maybe investigate a campervan with raising roof, that would then be your only vehicle? Low roof profile means you can still get under car park gantries. Drive up, hook up, hot or cold drink within 15 minutes of arrival. All year use.
It would need to have the right number of travelling seats / seat belts to be a vehicle for you to use daily.
Hi Fiona W, Thanks. Yes you're right, ideally a campervan would do most of what I'd require, however, I haven't been able to fund the purchase of such a beast! Not one that wouldn't fall to pieces as soon as I left my driveway, anyway! Added to which is my requirement of having two fully belted passenger seats, as I'm quite involved in grandchild care. I therefore found myself having to look at vehicles that had a boot-jump set up, and that didn't really suit me.
Last year I experimented with a 'car camper' arrangement: a VW Sharan, from which I removed 4 of the 7 seats, and built a plywood bedbase. However my DIY skills didn't extend beyond that one adaptation. Also, from an environmental point of view I felt really uncomfortable driving about in a gas-guzzling, high emissions vehicle. Ideally, a tiny car for daily use would have obviated that concern, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to money. Or in my case, lack of!
So, here I am with a smaller, more environmentally-friendly car, and a frame tent which I absolutely love, once it's all set up, and the weather's dry and warm! But I really miss the all-year-round camping that I used to do when I had a Gobur previously. Sigh.
It seems to me, chatting to other campers, that lots of other people try different units before realising what they started with was, actually, the best arrangement for them!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 28/12/2021
I didn't mention my car on the post as it's detailed on my profile: it's a Toyota Yaris 1.33 VVT-i TR 5 door. It has a kerbweight of 1050kg so the towing weight of 900kg in the manual is probably 85% of that? (I'm hopeless at maths) I checked with the Camping & Caravanning Club Towing Match service which says the 10ft Slimline is a safe and legal match for my car, except the noseweight is on the heavy side so I would have to be careful of what I stored in the front box.
I think the C&CC has a lot to answer for, particularly at the low end of the scale. Its alright them saying this is ok, that car is right to tow XXX. But here in the real world with winds/hills/wet ground, the car needs to be on top of the job in all circs, not sunny summer sundays. I would fancy pulling anything outside a few hundredweight camping trailer with a Yaris.
I know just what you mean about pensions CyberCynth. Every year since I retired my pension increase has been more than swallowed up by bigger bills, and this coming year looks like being a record-breaker with both fuel and energy bills going up in leaps and bounds. Way more than my likely pension increase.
Our car is a bit of a gas-guzzler I must admit, but as we now only do a fraction of the mileage we used to do I don't worry about it too much. My one consolation is that when the caravan is on the back the car hardly notices it, and fuel consumption is barely affected. The car could cope with a much heavier caravan than ours as it is an older model which is very light when compared to later ones. A small car pulling at or near its limit will see a much bigger change in fuel consumption, especially if the car is petrol powered. Our financial position wouldn't allow us to change either the car or caravan anyway.
This may not be an option for you but have you considered upgrading your car a little ? Our Xplore 304 can easily be towed by a car with 1200 towing capacity, so it doesnt have to be huge.
Failing that, like a lot of others I would also look at folding campers although they can be cold out of season plus you've always one eye on the weather so you're not folding up dripping wet canvas (we had one before the Xplore)
Other alternatives :
A small motorhome that could also be your car eg a Berlingo ?
A teardrop caravan that you can use overnight but add an awning or tent to for longer stays and more comfortable cooking ?
Edit - I see others got in before me with similar suggestions.
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Topic: Teardrop Caravans
via mobile 28/12/2021 at 4:01pm
