Caravan V Motorhome
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Hi WTG, I wish I could just quote your relevant last paragraph ! What a forum.
I have only been able to travel the world because I didn't spend £50,000 on a new Motorhome, or on new cars and caravans. And I needed time too - time every winter when other people were sitting it out in refugee camps in Spain. I couldn't have done those things as well . We didn't have money or time for both. It really was one or the other for us, and we chose to see the world rather than visit campsites or Aires.
But I know you are a traveller too and I am sorry you have had to race home. I hope things work out. Good wishes to you.
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62 post and a lot of hot air and red herrings. In reality. If you can afford the costs, there is only one drawback and that is not having a car once on site and that is the only difficulty. It is more of a problem in this country than others so if you are happy to work around that problem, by what ever means, go for it.
peedee
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as above, as we spend more time 'away' than at 'home' the MH comes into its own, with 'alternate transport' nor really an issue....we can use the van easily to move where we want to but also have electric bikes to fill the gaps...
in the UK, its (slightly) harder work to get about but not sufficiently so to make us consider towing a caravan....the benefits (for us) of simple touring 'over there' far outweighs the perceived advantage of having a car in the uk....
if we only toured in the uk and we were less able to get about, 'perhaps' things might be different.....but i guess if it ever came to that we might go even smaller with a PVConversion or not bother at all....
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Oneputt, I'm not using the term 'paraphernalia' in a derogatory sense just in case anyone thinks I am but as a catch all for items required for a particular day out. Also I meant 'car' not 'van. So if all you need is a handbag and camera, binocs for a day out, that's fine by me. As I suggested, we needed more than that for a day out when we caravanned and from more recent casual observation, so do some others. The reduction in a paraphernalia was one of the reasons we changed to a motorhome. You are right that you would need more factual information and even if you did go for a motorhome, there is much to learn before buying.
I don't believe caravanning is better or worse than motorhoming. They are different. It's whatever meets personal needs. For me, I couldn't store on our drive a caravan and towcar [I don't have/need a car] but I can park my 6m long A-class motorhome [interior space 10sqm + drop down double bed] there. In the small caravan, we developed and maintained the habit of putting everything away after use. I like the panoramic windscreen and the heightened driving position of my motorhome. It also gives me more interior space per metre length than our caravans.These are legitimate advantages for my needs but I'm not Linfield!0 -
We have done both, caravan for 17 years and MH since June 2016. They are both different but also the same. Different for us because we visit places en-route more and instead of going out for the day we now just travel to the POI then move to a site nearby instead of going back and forth to base (caravan site). We do stay on site for a few days and when abroad on the main holiday do 4 or 5 day stays intermingled with a few nights at different places en-route.
I believe there is a myth that a MH is quicker to set up or put away than a caravan. If you arrive on site with full tank of fresh water and empty grey then yes just pull onto pitch plug in EHU if provided and job done, but at some point you have to empty grey tank and fill fresh but instead of doing it daily you maybe go a couple of days but then it takes longer as you have 100l instead of 40 to fill/empty, the toilet of course is the same, so assuming you arrive with full fresh and empty grey you then have to fill fresh and empty grey on leaving.
Overall we prefer the MH life and moving from site to site as everyday is an adventure, when abroad the aires are fantastic and allow us to visit places and stay so we can eat out and have a beer or 3 without driving, and on general we are not going back and forth up the same road every time we go out.
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I believe there is a myth that a MH is quicker to set up or put away than a caravan.
But you do not have to fetch and carry fresh and grey water quite so often and nor do you have to unload and pack away water containers and pump connections or wind legs up and down. Leveling can be a bit of a pig compared to a caravan but choosing the right pitch and with practice it gets easier and of course there is an option to fit hydraulic leveling if you so desired which alleviates that chore. If you are not towing a car or putting an awning up there isn't the need to unhook and park the car and vice versa and the wind out awning can be deployed in minutes if required at all and not half to one hour as with most caravan awnings.
peedee
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Fetch & carry water?, not on serviced pitches
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The reasons why we decided to stay with a caravan and not change to a motorhome are:
Cost : New caravan £20,000, new motorhome £50,000. We need to have a car of a reasonable size for all the non-holidaying times.
Space - caravan has far more living and storage space. The tow car also provides storage.
We've never seen an internal layout that we could live with longer term.
We don't like the idea of shutting off the main front window and cab side windows at night or on very cold days with thermal insulation pads thereby shutting out the daylight and the view out.
We enjoy driving to 'off the beaten track' places which are very frequently down narrow lanes unsuitable for most motorhomes.
I don't buy into the idea that it is easier for a spur of the moment getaway for a holiday with a motorhome. Our caravan is ready to go with the exception of fresh food, bedding and clothes, all of which would be needed to be put into a motorhome. I can't see any difference between the two.
I also consider that a caravan is easier to get level on a sloping pitch having watched the performances of some motorhomers having to put ramps under at least two of their wheels. With a caravan it is one wheel only.
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I also consider that a caravan is easier to get level on a sloping pitch having watched the performances of some motorhomers having to put ramps under at least two of their wheels
You mean something like this John
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, wow, you own a Moho that fills & empties all of its own tanks, brilliant EuroT👏🏼👏🏼0 -
Err, of course, it's not just a pitch it's a C&MC pitch old chap
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does that happen with a MH? if so I could be tempted
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Linfield
Not sure if this has been suggested but if you can get to the NEC in October it would be a good opportunity to have a good look round a whole selection of motorhomes of all different sizes and types and of course you can also nip into a few caravans to compare notes. It won't prove beyond doubt that one is better than the other for you personally but it could help decide one way or the other. Perhaps something equally important is how you other half (if that is relevant) feels about it. You do sometimes encounter the situation where one partner is very enthusiastic for a change but the other half just goes along with the idea. However in time this can cause problems as I have witnessed on other forums where brand new motorhomes appears for sale because one half of the couple didn't like it.
David
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Apologies to EuroT, it was to PD
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I'd love to say yes HD but it was just me trying to multi-task, I knew I should've taken my chewing gum out before posting
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+1 lol
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Cyberyacht, hope you are both pleased with your purchase, enjoy!
We have now clocked up many miles visiting dealers. Have bundles of brochures and looked at MHs of all shapes and sizes.
We very much appreciate your feedback. Your comments have made interesting reading.
The majority of you seem to agree a MH is the better option for touring on the Continent or if there are any health issues.
We don't plan to go abroad on a regular basis and are very fortunate (at present) to be in good health.
After much deliberation we have decided to stay with a caravan - better the devil you know!
Yes David, NEC Birmingham next - caravans only - another decision will have to be made. (buyer waiting)
Thanks to all who have responded. We were keen to hear from those who had 'switched' especially if they had switched back again.
However you choose to travel, stay safe and enjoy!
Linfield
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Yes thanks for posting back
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