The Old Chestnut || Caravan v Motorhome!
So having enjoyed our Burstner Motorhome for a few years we started thinking about a change. Whilst looking around many sales forecorts today we started thinking about a Caravan and would it suit our needs. We have a VW T5 that would pull one so that's a
plus. But we do drive across France every year for a couple of weeks so thinking the Motorhome may be better for that. But then we are planning to do some longer breaks further South so maybe a Caravan might be better for that, we are also thinking we could
put a caravan on a site for a couple of months in the UK and use it as a summer home with frequent visits. But then we drove back down the M5 saw a caravan bouncing around it looked so unsafe, but then we saw it was being towed by an Astra! So thinking a twin
axle might be the way forward? As you can see we are going back and forward like a tennis ball! Anyone made the switch? Can you add anything in to help us decide! Thanks, your confused....
Comments
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We've had caravans for 35 years but decided to try a motor home 7 years ago. While the motor home has significant advantages (easy to pack up and move, easy to stop en route, ability to use Aires) we decided in 2014 to go back to a caravan. We gave the motor
home a 5 year experiment but eventually felt that the lack of easy transport when on site was too restrictive. Once we packed up to go out for the day, it didn't seem worthwhile to return at the end of the day so found that we were basically moving each day.
That kind of holiday didn't really suit us so hence the change back.In the end it's very much a personal decision and depends on the kind of holiday you prefer - very mobile or a bit more static, unless you tow a car behind the motor home, of course. We still move fairly often with caravan but we like the option of staying
put if we really like a location.Good luck with your decision.
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I've never had a Motorhome and cannot understand why most have a car attached, you might as well have a caravan?
Two lots of insurance.
Two MOTs.
Two lots of servicing.
Potentially eight to ten sets of tyres.
I have had the odd "wobble" while towing but I soon corrected it and a couple of times it was due to bad loading.
Have just bought a new caravan with "ATC" and I must say you can feel it "kick in" but its amazing device. It does not replace sensible driving / loading but its there if needed.
I prefer the freedom of dumping the van on site and the freedom of the car being available if needed. The new one has central heating which is amazing and works down to -25 so you can caravan all year.
Would never dream of swaping so much more flexability.
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So many pros/cons, many discussions on CT...
influencers....age, fitness, style of holiday preference, where you predominately holiday, how long you spend on a tour, thoughts on towing, thoughts on driving a (possibly large) Mh, are winter sports your thing, budget, size of vanning party, licence implications,
etc, etclots to ponder .....
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We have had five motorhomes over the years and as you say in your original post they are better for stopping over night when travelling but if you stay in one place for any length of time then I think a caravan is better. With that in mind we have just changed to a Caravan as in the winter we stay in one spot in Spain for three months, I must say I'm not looking forward to tugging for 1500 odd miles but it will be nice to have a car to use when needed for the three months..........with our bikes as well.
PS. Not sure it's that much cheaper however at £200 for a caravan service plus insurance etc.
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Easy decision to make. Get a dice and roll it. If it comes up with any number 1- 3 get a caravan, 4 - 6 get a motorhome. If you roll a number and don't feel comfortable with it, then roll again until you do get a number you like and Bob's your Uncle. It's
an ideal tool used in making difficult decisions based on gut feel. Then stick with the decision and make it work.0 -
We've been toying with changing to a motorhome for a while now.
We like to stay at sites near good cycling - box ticked for both MH and caravan.
We already have a 4x4 to tow with. We have to have this anyway for our business so no extra cost or savings there.
I am a bit of a nervous passenger - so think MH would be better for me.
As for not being able to get about we had already decided that we would hire a car for a few days if we wanted. While in Holland recently small hire car was €14 a day. Would definitely not tow one. For what we could save on the insurance etc and extra
ferry cost, we feel could be put to the car hire cost.Husband would want a coach built MH. So means ££££.
One of the things that is holding us back is hearing about the constant rattiling and banging you get from a MH.
We like the space we have with our caravan.
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Rattling noises can be overcome with a little effort so don't let that stand in your way. A MH is essentially a commercial vehicle and is bound to be noisier than a car.
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Rattling noises can be overcome with a little effort so don't let that stand in your way. A MH is essentially a commercial vehicle and is bound to be noisier than a car.
Must say that the modern motorhome is very much quieter these days. Habitation end too if you pack everything correctly. In fact I prefer to drive it to my car, so much more comfortable spacious driving seat and position. Also excellent visibility of road
around with higher driving position and rear view cameras.0 -
We still do both. If we are planning a very long stay on a site, say fortnight plus, then caravan. If we want to tour about, going longer distances or aiming to "do" all the interesting places in a region, then MH is better we find. We don't tow a car with
our MH by the way.0 -
We still do both. If we are planning a very long stay on a site, say fortnight plus, then caravan. If we want to tour about, going longer distances or aiming to "do" all the interesting places in a region, then MH is better we find. We don't tow a car with
our MH by the way.Write your comments here... We have considered this option too. The problem would be deciding what to take.
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Thanks for all your words of wisdom - that's made it crystal clear!
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we loved motorhoming ,ended up with a tag axle 28 1/2 ' long and let me say it travelled very quietly , the journey was great too but we didnt have a lot of free time and it was an expensive piece of kit to be sat idle, on saying that we now have an old
caravan (missed getting out and about) it cost a fraction of the motorhome to buy , and i didnt worry about the engine etc , sat in storage : funnily enough ive more free time now , will we go back to motorhoming? ... Not yet , enjoying the caravan type of
hols , will i go back to it ?... Yep but not yet ,you could always hire or borrow a caravan and see what you think, ....... We havent had a bad towing scare yet (touch wood ) lol0 -
We enjoy roaming so MH is great for us. We don't use sites unless we have to and if we do it will be a CL. Club sites are far to expensive for a night. Pub stops are good if they have a decent menu. We don't have problems parking we just stop a little further
out and get the bikes out. Converted to electric over the winter so not so hard to pedal. You can find some really nice spots to stay a night or two tucked out of the way.0 -
To ask the question caravan or motor home? is like comparing travel be air or ship, they are totally different in practice. Caravanners tend to set up home in their vans, attach awnings, arrange the bathroom with homely bottles and kitchens with culinary
equipment, while motor homers tend to sit out under their canopy until its too cool for comfort. The reduced size of cooking facilities in motor homes make eating out more frequently, desirable. Of course someone on this forum will violently disagree, telling
me that they frequently cook whole roasts in their motor home - think statistically. For touring, sipping tea while parked at a viewing point and quick setups, motor homes will win the day. For setting up your holiday home on a pitch with a view, and maybe
exploring the area before returning to the greater space, then you'll want a caravan. There can be no question that driving a motor home is easier and quicker than towing a van, but in reality, the latter need not be problematic if approached sensibly. My
best advice is to ignore perceptions, and frequent misconceptions of difficulty and cost and concentrate more on lifestyle, for which both are very different.0 -
There is no right or wrong answer to this one, it what suits the individuals best. We are wedded to our caravan but do not use the awning since the children stopped coming with us and often stay about three nights on site.
We lime the freedom of just leaving things where they are and going out for the day and not having to worry about parking a larger vehicle or leaving our possessions in public car parks.
Others disagree and I am happy to let them do their own thing.
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Caravaners stay at a site, drive around the local area and realy visit places. Motorhomers stay on a site, visit the toilet block and then drive to the next site!!
There is some truth in this but to what extent/depth do you 'really visit places' if you have driven 40 miles to get there as opposed to moving the 40miles and just walking out of your MH door
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Dont forget when you reach 70 years old your licence expires, you keep your caravan licence but NOT group C1, to retain your C1 you do as all the L.G.V. (H.G.V.) drivers and have a medical to renew each year
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That is why MHs of 3500kg are popular with us oldies.
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