Caravan to motorhome
Hi everyone,
I'm seriously considering trading in our caravan for a motorhome. I'm wondering if anyone had done that and has any observations and experiences they could share?
Currently our caravan is on a seasonal pitch in Snowdonia. Its increasingly my son and I who go to use it as a base for mountain biking and walking. The site is now difficult for my wife due to her MS worsening.
In the past we have toured and enjoyed that but the packing, hitching, towing ,setting up means that if we bring the caravan home we would use it a lot less than we do now.
A motorhome appears to offer a solution, literally drive off and stop wherever, ideal for long drives across Europe with no speed limit restrictions. We would use it for skiing in Austria or France (me and the boy).
The ability to transport mobility aids for my wife in the reasonably large cargo areas would a great benefit too. If we stay somewhere we want to explore, I would hire a small car locally.
As I say, just wondering if anyone has jumped over the fence to sample that grass. I've met a few who did but preferred the living space in a caravan in the end.
Regards,.....Keith
Comments
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Many of us have done it, Keith, and a few possibly for very similar reasons.
Our own reasons for change were brought on by the lessening ability that comes with age. The ease of setting up and decamping without any need to fetch and carry water are a huge bonus.
We use the MH differently to the caravan and rarely stop anywhere for more than a night or two. We do our sightseeing en route to the next site and the small PVC makes it possible to park almost anywhere. I realise your needs mean a bigger fan will be on the cards and you've already considered the hire car route. We did that once when we had a slightly larger van and found local companies cheaper than Enterprise despite the discount for club members.
I think you’ve thought out the pros and cons well so perhaps the next stage would be to look at a few with a view to seeing how your wife manages the entry and exit and so on.
Good luck.
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Hi Keith, we did consider a MH and looked at several and, although we stayed with a caravan, the next step was to have hired one with a layout we liked so maybe that is an option for you?
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As has been mentioned MH's ain't cheap !! So it might well be advisable to hire one for a while to see if it's really what you want / need. Size, as they say, is important and doubly so in this case 'cos the first 5 - 6 foot of most MH's is taken up with the engine and driving area which may not be part of the living bit.
Whatever you do finish up with you have my very best wishes for a successful outcome.
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It sure does lend itself to hopping along and one of the delights is stopping for a break with everything with you - kitchen, loo and even the bed for a rest.
They’re not cheap but not much worse than splashing out on a new caravan and towcar. Secondhand MHs are often low mileage and can be good buys. Like cars, there are often bargains if you look for an ex-dem or preregistered model.
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as others have alluded, the main 'conundrum' is balancing the compactness of a van that can be driven easily and confidently to the places you wish to visit against the restricted space that might bring when on site.
however, as you've mentioned 'long tours' in Europe, it may well be that, as with ourselves, you'll be spending much of the that time lounging/dining outside the van rather than sitting inside more (perhaps due to weather) as you might do at home.
to that end, destination areas might well influence the required size of vehicle....I'd also add that roads 'over there' are less crowded, better surfaced and generally more comfotable to use than those over here, so perhaps you may not need to get right down to a PVC size.
however, if you do, then continental versions tend to have fixed rear beds (even in 6m vans) with storage under it.
our own van is a coachbuilt, yet only 6.4m X 2.12m so similar in footprint to many PVCs yet, due to the more vertical sidewalls, has much more internal space and a fullsized Motorbike/cycle garage at the rear. a drop down bed over the cab gives four 'fixed' berths with no bedding storage issues and there are four belted travel seats. the relatively short wheelbase (over a similar sized PVC) makes for 'turn on a sixpence' manoevrability.
large water tanks, twin batteries, refillable gas etc would give you the independence to explore and double floor insulation easily copes with those proposed skiing locations more comfortably than a PVC could.
good luck with your search.
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Ah! Yes, BB, but you forgot to tell Keith he needs to win the lottery first!
My wife would like to downsize from our 8m van to a 6.5/7m one and we have looked closely at the I 144 in your marque. Because of my mobility issues we are attracted to the one level floor and wide hab’ door, but still prefer the semi-integrated to the fully integrated A Class.
I agree fully with Keith to use local hire cars. We do that and it works for us, in support of our e-bikes. One warning though about hiring cars abroad, don’t be too shocked at having to lay out a hefty deposit. I rented a car in Spain recently and paid a €350 deposit for a 2 day €90 rental, but the full amount was transferred back to my CC very quickly, so not a problem. Also, although I didn’t need it, I could have had that car for 4 days for an extra €20.
BillC
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Bill, this one at 4/5 yrs old is under £50k....not much different to a new PVC.
ok, a bit small for you but might be the sort of thing that the OP could 'compromise' with...
las it is, we definitely don't see 'compact' as 'compromise'....we've become very happy in being able to pull in to some lovely (non site) spots without worrying too much about parking issues.
good luck with your own (the OH) search....
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KeithBold, for the sort of ski ing trips to Austria and France which you mention I suggest you fly out and rent an apartment. Warmer, cheaper and more comfortable. Are you really going to leave your wife, who is sadly immobile, sitting in a Motorhome all day while you go ski -ing? I know one lady who would not be keen on that plan.
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I traded my caravan in for a motorhome and have never looked back although I did enjoy caravanning; motorhoming is just different.
You should start from looking at your driving licence(s) to see whether you are restricted to 3500kg motor caravans or whether you have a C1 or higher licence. Also, motorhomes have axle loading limitations so you can't take the kitchen sink with you; you have to pack carefully.
Read the motorhome magazines - MMM is the best seller - visit motorhome related websites such as Motorhome Fun and Out & About Live to get logical advice in a structured format which will guide you through all the issues you face. Forums are particularly good at advising how to cope with different medical conditions. There are also books you can buy but as they go over the habitation side in some detail, which a caravanner would already know, might not be worth the money.
As BB mentions, motor caravans tend to be more compact than caravans and this may be an issue for the family. Hiring a car on site is feasible but given the cost of motorhomes is already high, how deep are your pockets? And how more inconvenient would it be - more than just having a caravan?
My van is 6m long, ideal for two but although it sleeps three and can carry four, I wouldn't recommend it for three (or more). More likely a 6.5m - 7m van will balance space with ease of use.
If you are in Lancashire, then Todds at Lostock Hall, Preston, customer service has been regularly recognised for more years than I can remember so take a trip there.
Changing from a caravan to a motorhome is expensive. It will be cheaper to re-think how you use your caravan. But motorhoming ain't half good!
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We did the changeover some years ago, because of my mobility issues.
We find a Motorhome easier. At first we used some local transport and hiring cars , but now we have added a small “runaround “ towed on the back.
As said before checkout layouts, a fixed bed was our priority.
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we did the swap 3 years ago ,and never looked back ,we have used the M/H more ,as it is always ready to go ,all we need to put in are food and pants
Iv'e just had my car converted to tow behind ,so we can open up even more places to visit ,as my wife has mobility issues
I would say to the OP ,do it ,you wont regret it ,
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We came back to a caravan after 6 years with a MH. We liked it but found it did have some restrictions like sightseeing. Not all the places we wanted to go were doable with the MH. We did at one time tow a car but that in itself can also bring other issues.
I total agree with eurortraveller that a lodge or hotel for skiing would be much more suitable.
Some say they use the MH more as its always ready, well so is our caravan, like Husky we just put in some food and clothes and thats it just the same.
As you rightly say it is a big expense to make, so getting it right is important. There is a theory thst it takes 3 goes to get it right. Hiring a MH for the 3 of you may be the best thing.
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I can only offer advice from friends and neighbours who have all given up caravans, but none were tempted to get a Motorhome.
My best friend switched to cruises on European rivers in those strange long thin boats, but another preferred bigger ocean going cruises. A neighbour took a liking to Cyprus and flew out regularly to a cheap hotel there, though my rich neighbours only go to Barbados. Our cleaning lady is just back from somewhere all inclusive in Spain and did very little work this week as we had to look at all her photos. All those five once had caravans.
We ourselves do still have a small caravan and use it occasionally, but a tiny holiday cottage in the Scilly Isles moved us to booking similar places elsewhere - sometimes just for the two of us and later this summer in France for ten of the family - but a Motorhome would not suit our circumstances either.
There is no universal answer to growing old is there.
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I agree TW and it's a frequent topic on here, changing from one type of van travel to another and in both directions. Really have a good look at any mobility issues and how you can adapt to a different van.
We changed to a PVC after a health issue meant we needed two drivers and I didn't want to tow a caravan. We later moved on to a small motorhome and both have been good for getting around.
I think one of the better things about motorhomes is that when travelling you really can stop, step into the back and have all the facilities up and running. So easy for days out and longer stays.
Good luck with your plans.
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Are part adapted leisure vehicles for the disabled still Zero VAT ?
The rules are quite clear, substatial adaptions are requited to be VAT exempt.
Here is what government guidence says on the purchase of a vehicle for use by the disabled.
"The vehicle must be designed or substantially and permanently adapted to enable the disabled wheelchair user or stretcher user to travel in it and the adaptation is necessary to enable that person to travel in the vehicle"
It is usual to have to produce evidence of the need e.g. Proof of receipt of DLA at the highest rate. For greater detail see >here<
peedee
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It is not only right for Keith's situation at the time but MS is a degenerative condition and I would suggest in view of the expenditure required, what might be required further down the line also be considered. It really is down to Keith to weigh up what is required and what to do.
peedee
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Just an alternative idea - As you say your wife is finding your current site difficult and maybe you all want to spend more time together as a family why not choose a more suitable seasonal site or for variety book next years sites now staying the maximum number of nights allowed and then moving the c'van to the next suitable booked site and so on. You can book sites for next year by phone and so explain your family needs. If however you decide a Motorhome is for you as a family bear in mind it will need to have seat belts for each person and suitable beds. Motorhomes with garages generally have beds (double or singles) that are high up and not always easy to use. Good luck with whatever you decide is best for you all. p.s. I'm sure there are speed restrictions in Europe.
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BB
That looks like a very nice vehicle. However it seems that all berths are quite high which might not be suitable for the OP's wife depending on the type of disability? If lower level sleeping berths are a requirement it might need a rethink on the type of motorhome?
David
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A MH, unless humungous, always has less living space than a MH. It would be easier to get cabin fever if cooped up in one for any length of time rather than a caravan.
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When we were considering a move to a MH lack of space was one of the main reasons we did not make the change.
I think eurortraveller has prompted a look at other options, something that may not always happen when, like Keith, we are trying to stay within the 'camping community'.
Looking at the MH that BB mentioned one could easily see that for that money there are other alternatives that may, in Keith's circumstances, be worth of consideration
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David, my response was based on this from the op 'The ability to transport mobility aids for my wife in the reasonably large cargo areas would a great benefit too.'....
whilst many of the proposed trips would be with two people aboard, some will involve three, so a two berth with low beds and little storage might also not fit the bill, also is making up beds easier for those with difficulty rather than (say) climbing two wide treaded steps into a proper bed that's already made?
then there's the issue of storing bedding.....possible with one couple and not scooters etc to store, but make that two beds worth and a scooter and space is going to be very tight.
OTOH, large cargo areas (garages) are now being offered in vans of just under 7m where they have bee grafted onto the rear of 6-6.5m open plan vans, especially A classes with large (low) drop down beds, big lounges, accross the rear washrooms.....but with now, additional storage.
the key players are Burstner, Chausson and Frankia (680 featured in what MH this month, named Best Luxury A Class).
Perhaps the Carthago Liner For Two does it all....the best rear lounge of any MH according to the writer in WMH (yet constructed in such a way as to provide a full sized motorbike garage underneath) a drop down bed (left in place when on site) with easy access steps, split washroom facilities and great kitchen.....voted Best Ultimate A Class...and all under 8m.....
ah yes, it's £150k......
MHs are compromise, as has been said many times, but having low beds with large storage or rear lounges with the ability to swallow mobility scooters etc is always going to be tricky.
only the OP can prioritise his requirements...
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just had a radical thought....
the OP could change his towcar for (say) a VW or even a small Ducato based conversion, using this with the caravan when OP wife is with them, but just the small PVC when OP and son away...
less cost than a compromise larger MH and perhaps more flexibility when OH is with them?
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Good idea BB. I tow my caravan with my panel van, best of both worlds. My boxer with a 2.2 engine has a towing capacity of 2500kgs so ample for any caravan. Food for thought there.
JK
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OH doesn’t say what kind of mobility aids are to be transported. Another option may be to consider an external rack on rear for carrying aids. Either bagged against weather, directly onto rack, or use a lockable Thule type box. We do both with a large dog carrier, which is no smaller or lighter than a wheel chair and some ride on chairs. This might broaden choice of MH, and keep down size to make daily use and parking of MH easier.
A MH kept on drive is the perfect solution to quick getaways. We have ours ready to roll (all bar water fill up) all the time, and short breaks are so much easier. As is touring around. Choosing the best size to suit your destination preferences and living comfort is the key issue, along with price range of course. If your wife is becoming less mobile, then touring around in comfort, with all your home comforts to hand, could be a huge boost for her, no matter how beautiful your current seasonal pitch might be. (We are in Snowdonia at this very moment, and it’s scenery to love.)😁
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