Caravan V Motorhome
Comments
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That was the one thing that concerned me was the putting away of things before we went out , but it takes about 10 mins to do as everything has its place ,and we live in it quite minimal but comfortable
and at the end of the day we all do what suits each of us ,that way everyone's happy
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That pretty much sums up the difference. We have already said we would consider returning to a caravan if the 'semi static' longer stay on one site style holidays appeal for health reasons or otherwise. Having said that I would not be adverse to finding that compromise and buy that smaller PVC and then, hey presto, every base covered, they're only a tiny tad longer than a Disco, and can go/park practically anywhere. Thing is would Mrs SF be happy with me in the comfy closeness these 'offer'!
As life, always some compromise to be made.
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It is always interesting when we have this sort of discussion how there is an element of not understanding why someone might want to change. For us it was just falling out of love with towing for all sorts of reasons, from the general hassle we were feeling about the process of towing. Issues with getting in and out of the back garden and having room to hitch up. We find the motorhome much easier and hassle free that towing a caravan. I am not suggesting that having a motorhome is completely without isssues but overall we have found them less than towing. Obviously anyone thinking of changing does have to think very carefully about it as it could be an expensive mistake.
David
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you don't have the Oh and children I have
A place for everything and nothing in its place is the moto for our kids
and never knowingly put anything away is my wife's
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That was similar to my reason of changing (to M/H) was with my wife's heath it meant she couldn't help with hitching up and helping with the awning, aquaroll filling etc, so rather than give up "vanning" we looked at a M/H for about a year before changing ,looking at the parking situation when visiting places, but we soon found it wasn't a big problem , and since we have changed we have been away more , so for us it has been a good move
OK, last week when we were in the Lake's ,there were a couple of place that a car would have been a better bet , but there is always the use of hiring a car
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Hi, no we didn't ,we made such good time through the tunnel (we left at 5am)that is was a bit too early to stop , and stopped at Peterborough
But I have Google earthed it and we plan on a trip next year to Essex and Suffolk ,so i've put a note in my touring book about it , thanks
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Yes, we agree it is great to travel further afield and intend to keep doing so. Earlier this year we spent several weeks in the Far East. Last year we hired a MH to tour the Southern States of USA. However we still have much to see from Land's End to John O'Groats.
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I can't say I ever had a problem with towing per se. It was all the fiddling about at each end of the journey, getting the van on and off the drive that I found tedious. Initial impressions of driving the MH are that you are very conscious of driving a "van" and not a car notwithstanding a big white box on the back when towing. For those "Top Gear" fans who can recall Sabine Schmidt taking a van round the Nurburgring to equal Clarkson's time in a Jag, it makes me realise just what an achievement that was.
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It is also getting easier as more and more councils, especially in tourist areas realise there is a market in attracting motorhome owners to stay a while.
As far as travelling further afield is concerned, I have already been to many corners of the world and have no burning desire to visit those I haven't plus I have grown to dislike everything about flying especially economy. I much prefer the freedom and leisurely life style of owning first a caravan and now a motorhome.
peedee
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CY, keep us all in the loop with your new adventures, good luck
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We hired a motor home for a month to try and toured from London to the north of Scotland. We then brought a caravan.
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When we watch caravanners [and were once happy caravanners] go out for the day, they load the van with all the paraphernalia for a good day out. When we go out for the day from a site, we put the electric hook up away. There is nothing else out. Motorhoming is about being fleet of foot, not replicating your home life. If people want to do the latter, and I can see why, I'd recommend a caravan.
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Sorry Aspen I just don't understand what the paraphernalia is, perhaps you can enlighten us? We leave the van and I put my cameras and bino's in the car and Mrs One takes her handbag/sack and we are away.
The problem with a thread like this is many of the so called advantages are, IMO, spurious
If I was considering a motor home I would want far more factual information
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Linfield - I haven't read all this thread so it might have been said before - how is your mobility? I have seen several people who swapped to MHs and then came back to caravanning because of restricted mobility impairing their access to shopping centres and other things they liked to do. I definitely prefer getting around easily in a car and I would miss the space of my caravan I shall be in it as long as possible I think. It is so much a matter of the way you actually like to do your touring or whatever.
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A very salient point. 10 years ago at 55 I could walk for several hours. 5 miles for a pub lunch and 5 miles back was possible and enjoyable with friends. Now due to joint problems and arthritis I can stroll a few miles but not as mobile
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I cannot agree caravans are easier than motorhomes/campervans for anyone with mobility problems. I would think it is one of the driving forces of why most consider moving from caravan to motorhome. Before the advent of motormovers this was even more so.
As far as space is concerned my motorhome wastes no more space than the drawbar of a caravan and it would be even less in an A-Class. Much depends on layout and you need to look around to see what suits you best.
peedee
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yes same
and isn't having a motor home exactly replicating your home life? You have a 'car' with your front room/bedroom/kitchen permanently with you all stocked up - just like at home?
Like I said before there is no right way or wrong way, it is just what is right for you but as said factual information is good
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when we go out for the day and we like where we have arrived, we stay....we dont have to go back to collect a caravan....
and if we don't like it...we move on again, not back to 'base'......and this is how its been on this 'linear' trip....
if we want to go to 'explore', we explore the next town, region whatever and use the van, parking in town, the bikes are generally when we stay for a few days..
weve 'explored' around half a dozen different areas in France so far in over 2000 km in around 3 weeks....
but now, in Spain, I'm going to be a caravanner....parked the van, put my feet up and 'explore' a known region for a couple of weeks.....but on the way back home, we will be MHers again, making stops where it feels good and incorporating the journey opportunities into the overall trip...
both 'methods' work, but we feel in a MH we can do both...in a caravan, we think, to tour like we do would be more awkward and would push us into 'stay and drive' trips which we prefer not to do.....
lots of ways to skin a carrot
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Restricted mobility may well mean that, like me, you have a blue badge. We have no problem parking our mh whether at the shops, national trust etc, unless its a multi storey! It also means that if one of you has more energy than the other its easy to go and have a rest.
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Are you sure, JV? They are very strictly controlled these days and aren't issued in cases where mobility isn't restricted.
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Whilst not doubting you, JV, GPs have no say in the matter these days and the decision rests with the Govt agency responsible for issuing badges on behalf of the councils.
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My Mum's original assessment for her Blue Badge was via a phone call. She needs leg splints and a 3 wheeled walker or a helping hand to get anywhere, no matter how short the distance. She was asked if she could walk un-aided from x to y. Her reply was not a chance ..... she was turned down. On appeal she got her Blue Badge.
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We've done both and the move from cvan to MH was right for us but I'm reluctant to recommend either to others as we all have different requirements. Only the OP can decide what is right for him or her but I don't feel there is any demonstration of real commitment to change shown in the post. Hence, I suspect changing to a MH may not be the right thing to do for them.
Anyone who has camped in either type of unit will have a good insight into the hobby and be able to work out the pros and cons of making a change.
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