So many M/Hs now!
I think there is an invasion going on! I have noticed a massive increase in the numbers of motorhomers. Before going non EHU, we used to go to Patterdale Hall estate CL at the end of Ullswater. We visited the site while we were up in the Lakes for old time sake and for the memories. The site has been revamped completely with the hard standings replaced and enlarged and no doubt due to the horrendous flooding that took place in 2016. All pitches were taken, which is not surprising due to its location but the thing I noticed was they were all M/Hs! This wasn't the first time I had noticed a change in demographics- Throughout the summer season I have noticed more and more M/Hs on sites that were exclusively caravans at one time. No wonder the club changed its name!!
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There are certainly a lot more MHs out there now, we noticed a lot more both travelling and at various destinations in last three years. Using all sorts of sites as well.
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I believe that there is more than one reason why there are so many more motorhomes about:
- The idea of a caravanning holiday is appealing to more people than ever, but many of the newcomers are wary about towing.
- Licence limitations mean that car plus caravan are out of scope for those who who passed their B licence driving test after 1997 and would be over 3500kg with a towing outfit. They would need to go through the procedure of extending their licence entitlements to B+E, but a motorhome of comparable size may still be within the limit of a B licence.
- More people can perhaps afford to buy and run a motorhome nowadays. (My rule of thumb was always that the price of a motorhome is about 3 times that of a caravan of comparable interior layout and equipment - and that is not even taking into account the extra maintenance cost and vehicle tax).
- There is more opportunity for overnight stopover locations outside established campsites with a motorhome, especially on the Continent.
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Agree with all the above, however, I guess that many upgrading from a 'van to a MH tend to use them the same way as a caravan.
This means more MHs spend time static on sites whereas the majority used to move regularly
We had a new UK convert next to us in Switzerland. He went out each day in the MH leaving the largest pile of paraphernalia on his pitch that I have ever seen....yet all the local public transport was convenient and free!
When the subject was broached he suggested that it's the way he's always done it.
Would post a picture of his 'pile' but find the silly little images on this site embarrassing.
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We bought our MH for the very reason you mention last ocsid. Despite keeping our van at home, it was a pain in the butt getting it out and ready for just a few days away, and of course, you tend to want to get to Site and unhitched before commencing sight seeing. Likewise, you need to be hitched up and off by mid day coming home as well. Not the same with the MH, ready to roll within an hour, we stop off at places a lot easier on travel days. Also, we enjoy linear touring, rather than "hobbit" touring! (There and back again!)
We still have the caravan as well though, brilliant for long stays!
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I think it depends on where you are, we probably see more caravans in the SW, heading for the sand and sea sites. After the summer and through the winter we see more motorhomes touring around. Don't think there are more motorhomes just yet but it is gradually changing.
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for those who who passed their B licence driving test after 1997
Hmmm....
Agree with all the points but not sure how many M/H owners fall into category 2 yet....
If the average age for passing your driving test is 23, then are there many motorhome owners under 43 ??
Most that I see are rather obviously older than that, certainly on CC sites....
Although perhaps M/H's are more readily available to hire than caravans, I know that on the NC500 circuit there are plenty of rental vans being driven round by young families...
I would say a key factor for us in swapping the caravan for a M/H apart from the kids growing up and stopping coming with us was the ease of manouvering our modest size M/H onto the front garden for storage compared to the caravan....
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Agree with that as well brue. Deepest Cornwall, with its tiny roads, takes some planning with a MH, even a small one! You tend to see more folks at the retirement end of the age scale away in them as well! Even second hand they aren't that cheap for a good one.
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There are definitely more MHs on the roads down here than there used to be, no matter how far from ideal our lanes are.
However, I'll repeat a point I've made before which is that MHs on the roads are not a fair representation of proportions. In general, MHs are used for sight seeing, perhaps on a daily basis, so spend more time on the road than cvans which are probably on the road only on arrival and departure days. Now, if you could know how many of those solo cars you see tripping around had left a cvan on site, then the ratio of MHs to cvans would be clearer in terms of units on the roads. The best identifier is to look at types of units on sites.
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I agree you see many more now but for what we like and do the Caravan is best suited for us. From my observation this country is not that M/H friendly, Yes we have the sites to park and stay in but parking must be a real pain when sight seeing? especially as more and more car parks seem to have height barriers now.
Whatever you have, enjoy it
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We had a motor caravan(quite large) with family, on the pitch next to us over the BH w/end,they normally go "over there" but this year have been having staycations in the UK, but were wishing they(in this country)had an additional vehicle for transport,,as they had found it would have been far less of a problem getting around and finding some where to park ,which they did not realise was difficult at times in the Uk
There are 7 motor caravans on here now and the the only one that has left site during the day is a campervan and only one has a "tender"
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We have noticed many more MH on the road this summer, but a very large proportion of them are non UK registered.
We have a caravan and if the opportunity arises we go off for short weekend type trips, so not sure whether we are in a minority or if the generalisation is incorrect.
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Well, I think the reasons given are very succinct. Particularly the licence bit- that must be one of the major considerations. I think another reason is that the older generation has more money these days having worked hard all their lives , being undisturbed by war or political upheavals. As a generation, we have been very lucky. It's nice to see so many living the dream- that's how it's supposed to be . As my years push on I find that the thought of a M/H becomes more acceptable. We'll see , but I do love my caravan!! 😂😂😂😂
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But other points were made about seeing MHs on the road. 🙄
I think there are still more caravans on sites but the gap in numbers between them and MHs is closing.
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I've told the story on here before but for years when we caravanned I was almost a figure of fun in work........
As soon as we got our first motorhome, three different colleagues from work came round with their partners to see it and each of those has subsequently bought a motorhome....
Other colleagues bang on that when they can afford it or retire etc they want a motorhome...
For some bizarre reason nobody ever says (to me) they want a caravan. It seems that one is "desirable" and the other isn't.....
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Hi there guys,when we started our camping journey 22yrs ago it was in a folding camper after that we had a second followed by 2 caravans.then 15 yrs ago we got our first Motorhome and have never looked back .We tow a Toyota Aygo with us everywhere ,we find it much more convenient than a caravan even though we did enjoy our caravans.Couldnt go back now but it's just our preference.At the end of the day we are all enjoying the same great pastime.
Brian & Jo
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our daughter and SIL have just bought a small panel van MH.....
the reasons.....it was affordable, they could park it close by, it would be ready to go, and they would use it for weekends without having to collect (a caravan) from storage, and then think about packing it then...
they can just jump in and away, maximising their precious leisure weekends, or go to a festival, or the beach or (god forbid
) join mum and dad for a short break. 0 -
I can see a name change in the next few years then ........😜
The Motorhome 🚐 & Caravan Club 😇
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Nooooo! I can hear the grumps and moans already.
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Interesting discussion. An observation form another group I belong to the Bailey Motorhome Owners Group on Facebook with over 2000 members ( they can't all be Bailey owners as I don't think Bailey have built that number!!!) is the width of ownership. Clearly there are a large number of people who are retired but interestingly there seems to be an equally large group of between 40 and 60 who have never owned a caravan but have gone straight into motorhome ownership. Cost was always the biggest thing in the way of motorhome ownership but given the price of modern towcars and modern caravans that difference has narrowed in recent years and there are quite a few motorhome on the market for around the £40000 mark, about the price of a decent 4x4. So add on the price of a caravan of £15000 for a fairly basic one £50/55000 for a motorhome does not seem as expensive as it once was.
David
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DK raises an interesting point re cost....when 'at home' i certainy wouldnt want to be doing my daily drive to 'wherever' in a huge towcar, 4x4 or not...and our 'park anywhere' Fiat 500 wont tow much
(in reality, not actually an issue for us as we still prefer to cycle rather than drive anything if avoidable)
however, if this were also a concern for others, would they need a second, smaller, car?...
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There is much truth in what DK says, however there are very few MH owners who use their MH as a daily driver so most would have to run another car which includes more road tax, insurance and maintenance so unless your a big spender, the capital and ongoing costs probably equal out. No doubt some people will pay £40k+ for a tug but looking around sites I would conclude they are in a significant minority.
No matter how you camp just enjoy, Couldn't and wouldn't want to live without my van now.
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Reading this thread and talking about MH's towing small cars has got me thinking. I know Smart and a few others now offer a full electric car but it would be interesting to know is they can be towed and if so could this be used to the owners advantage in that, like hybrid and full electric vehicles that use a regeneration system when slowing or braking, could the fact that's its being towed be used to the same ends so when you arrive at your destination you will have a fully charged car to use from recovered energy your MH has used?
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I suppose there is an argument that one can make do with a smaller car if one has a motorhome if it is only going to used as a local runabout, but I wonder whether this is often the case. As I use my car also for long drives without the caravan, and need to sometimes carry larger items or four people in comfort, I don't think that I would drive a smaller car even if it weren't used for towing. Hence, the running cost of a motorhome would always be an expense that would have too be added to the full.
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Information from OH, not me, but you could apparently only tow an electric car at most for a few miles. they have electronic braking. However electric motorhomes/campervans are in the pipe line so there's a step forward in that direction.
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