We have gone back to the dark side

Sumitra
Sumitra Forum Participant Posts: 154
edited November 2019 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

We had several caravans.Decided to give motorhoming a go.Liked it well enough for a while.Liked it a lot doing some tours on the continent but started to feel very restricted in the UK.Bought a caravan which we intended to use for the UK and kept motorhome for continental travelling.We started to use the caravan more and more and the motorhome less and less.In the end it seemed a waste so we sold the motorhome.Don't regret it.Looking now to upgrade caravan.

Comments

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
    500 Comments
    edited November 2019 #2

    We went the other way, after caravaning on and off since the early eighties missing out on the nineties we went back to caravaning in 2003 always had vans upto this year, Then we lost our two little yorkies,We made the decision not have any more dogs, we went to halfords bought two electric bikes, found it very awkward carrying them in the caravan, we sat down at a site we were on saw a motorhome arrive, within ten minutes they were camped up and off on their bikes. We hummed and hard for a few months then took the plunge in July of this year and bought a 2015 Autotrail Tribute, up to now we are loving it, we found we do a lot more short breaks than we did in the van and find it less stressful, only time will tell if we have made the right decision.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #3

    I suppose it just proves there is no right or wrong way to enjoy our hobby. We changed to a motorhome after 30 years of caravanning about six years ago. Can't see us going back to towing as we find the motorhome less stressful to set off, set up and for numerous other reasons. I can well understand deciding on one thing or the other rather than having a foot in each camp if you will excuse the pun!!!

    David

  • stephen p
    stephen p Forum Participant Posts: 194
    100 Comments
    edited November 2019 #4

    Sumitra   Surely you mean

    "Come back from"

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
    500 Comments
    edited November 2019 #5

    I dont think either side is 'the dark side' both have their plusses and minusses,  we have done both over the years. At the present we have a motorhome....albeit a smallish one. Which we have no plans to change, for the foreseeable future.  Both are 'the bright side'.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #6

    Well said, Ray. People usually refer to MH-ing as the dark side and, as well as finding it an unflattering term, I’ve no idea why. What on Earth is dark about the freedom to travel where you like and come and go as you choose? That also applies to caravans, of course, within any limitations imposed by towing.

    Bright side, for sure, for all of us. 👍🏻👍🏻

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited November 2019 #7
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  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #8
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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #9

    WTG

    Obviously up to individuals what they want to do re having both. It wouldn't suit us as we have nowhere to store both a caravan and a motorhome. I think I would also resent paying the extra costs involved like insurance/servicing and the need to maintain a car big enough to tow a caravan. One thing we did when we traded in the caravan for our first motorhome was to trade the 4X4 in for a much smaller car which suits our needs quite well. We live in Milton Keynes so have lots of other transport options should we need them and the number of journeys we do over 50 miles each year is fairly minimal so no need for a larger car. We now  tend to avoid those campsites where the need for your own transport from site is required and as such have found a surprising number of places where we can explore from a campsite without the need for our own transport. If push really came to shove I think I would just hire a car. That is why I think the OP has probably made the right decision in his circumstances.

    David

  • Sumitra
    Sumitra Forum Participant Posts: 154
    edited November 2019 #10

    I used the term dark side light heartedly.I agree there are pros and cons to both ways,The caravan does take a little longer to set up but we are retired now and time does not matter so much.We try and do only moderate journeys these days.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited November 2019 #11
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