A question for some Motorhome owners
This is not a dig at motorhome owners but a genuine question from a caravanner. Whilst driving north up the M5 we commented on the number of motorhomes that were towing a car behind them. The question is why do some people prefer a motorhome and tow a car whereas others prefer to have a car and tow a caravan. I'm sure that, in the main, the average motorhome has less habitation space than a caravan so what is the advantage of having a smaller living area but are still happy to tow. To me it doesn't make any real sense but perhaps I'm missing something obvious. I'm curious.
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We changed to a motorhome from towing a caravan about 6 years ago ,and find it suits us better . I tow a car because you can’t always park a motorhome close to where you want to walk to and my wife can’t walk far and needs the use of a mobility scooter, so for us the use of a car from the site means we can park right in the middle of towns etc . We don’t always tow the car it depends on where in the country we visit and what we plan to do
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Have you seen the towcar for motorhome thread where this is touched on, John?
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/fifer59/towcar-for-motorhome/
It is easier to tow a small trailer/car with a bigger vehicle than to tow a caravan which has all the aerodynamics of a shed behind an ordinary car.
We towed a car on a trailer behind a big MH but found it a pain - more hassle than it was worth. These days we much prefer to have a small PVC which can be used as a car and gives us the best of all worlds.
However, we're all different.
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We've toyed with the idea of a Motorhome, even as an addition to the caravan, and we'd probably tow the OHs small car. Why?
Well a number of reasons, one of which Husky mentioned namely the parking restrictions for M/Hs. Another reason would be for security. We like to walk and visit remote areas so may not wish to leave quite a few thousand pounds worth of equipment at risk.
But you are also asking why can't we do exactly that with a caravan. Well we can and do but find the idea of moving on more quickly at certain times of the year appealing, say every third day or stopping en route at a safe visiting place such as NT House, thereby not wasting a day.
Additionally we would probably find some tours that we want to do easier with a small Motorhome and car, such as Island hopping in Scotland or a longer tour of some Northern European Countries either in Scandinavia and/or Latvia plus Estonia and Lithuania etc. Much rather be in a M/H and car for those. Maybe even just a smal! PVC.
I daresay there are other reasons that I've forgotten about but you probably get the gist.😁
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A car trailer would be a right hassle but an A-Frame is not. I have been towing a car for 20 years on a frame and if gives me the choice of both worlds, tour and stop frequently or pitch up for a week or more. The advantages for me are much the same as HD outlines with the added advantage of the additional strength of a motorhome which lends itself to being much more of a usuful LV for a disable person than a caravan.
peedee
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A trailer is more hassle than a A-frame, agreed, but not really in terms of coupling up and loading, rather in the need to secure and store it. Against that, it has the benefit of being legal in Euroland.
When we got our trailer, it was at a time when much fuss was being made about the legality of A-frame towing in the UK and, rather than take a chance, it seemed sensible not to go down the A-frame route. Fifteen years later A-frames have become accepted even if not declared legal.🤷🏻♂️
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WN, I think island hopping in Scotland would be a pain with a MH and toad. With a PVC - piece of (gluten free) cake 😀
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Before I became a motorhomer I must confess I had similar thoughts to the OP. Hardly a conversion on the road to Damascus but I think I understand it better now. Although I don't tow a car, I have considered it and it may be something for the future. The way I look at it is that if I am going to a site like Morton in Marsh there would be no need for a car as I could walk or use the bus, or even train. However if I was on a more remote site having a car could be handy. The crux of it is that it gives you a choice and from that choice more options. Being and ex caravanner I appreciate the more simple life of driving a motorhome. What I don't know is whether towing a car is different from towing a caravan, I imagine it is?
David
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It's much simpler than towing a caravan, David. For one thing, a hefty lump of MH isn’t going to be overpowered by a titchy car.
Of course, towing anything at all will affect speed limits and the ability to use the outside lane of a m/way. To some people that will matter but to others, not.
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I'm another who pondered the TOAD setup when I was a caravanner. As PD has highlighted, it can provide flexibility. Whilst the "may as well have a caravan" still has an element of logic, I do like the ease of setup upon arrival. An adjacent caravan provided a good forty minutes of entertainment yesterday setting up. With a motorhome, blink and you miss the rigmarole.
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A M/H may be quicker to set up on a dead level hardstanding pitch (although I'm not convinced) but having seen many motorhomes doing battle with levelling ramps the time difference disappears. I'd sooner set up a single axle caravan on a sloping pitch than a M/H. Filling with water and emptying waste water probably takes the same time regardless of the type of accommodation or when this occurs although I have seen queues of M'Hs waiting to empty their waste at some sites. Connecting the electric takes exactly the same time.
Overall I'm still not persuaded re my O/P. If I'm towing anything I'd sooner have the bigger living space of a caravan, enhanced if desired by a full awning and have a decent sized car for a day out. But that is just my preference.
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Overall I'm still not persuaded re my O/P. If I'm towing anything I'd sooner have the bigger living space of a caravan, enhanced if desired by a full awning and have a decent sized car for a day out. But that is just my preference.
Space depends on size, whether its a caravan or motorcaravan, its a matter of personal choice. Leveling a motorhome can be more difficult than leveling a caravan but need not necessarily be so, just depends on the lie of the land and whether you have hydraulic leveling or not.
peedee
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Levelling a MH is very much down to the ability of the driver to park in the right place. Also, the smaller the van, the more chance there is of getting it level easily. We carry ramps but have only used them on very rare occasions.
The big bonus of having tanks and driving to a MHSP to fill and empty is that it only needs to be done about every 3 days and there are no water containers for arthritic joints to struggle with.
However, I’m inclined to agree that, if you're going to tow, you might as well tow a caravan.
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Precisely and you use that to your advantage when choosing where to pitch.
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Only if you are competant
we are at Ashridge Farm and had a very "interesting?" half hour plus watching a couple first attempting to level and then filling their water tank, via a two litre? bottle and what looked like an anema? contraption
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Some definitely do. It ain't rocket science.
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I think it’s just individual choice. No one reason for choosing a particular outfit, it all depends on individual circumstances. My OH doesnt enjoy towing caravans, never has, but he loves the MH. Ours happens to be small and compact enough for us to use daily, we occasionally park up on a Site and it doesn’t move, if it’s somewhere like YRP, or we have gone to cycle an area. Likewise, we very occasionally take our Jeep away with us if we want to get into some really remote places, maybe do some green laneing, but we don’t tow it, we both drive a vehicle. Tends to be more local places. Some folks park a MH up for months as well, so need a car to get around. We met a few folks doing this at Exeter Racecourse. Full timers.
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Like I said not a problem with hydraulic leveling which I have, I can be fully set up, once parked, in under 5 minutes and a lot less if I don't want EHU. I don't have to think about waste and fresh water for at least 5 days if I park up with fresh water tanks full.
peedee
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Do I detect someone “wondering” about possibly having an MH😁
We found it quite different, pluses and the odd minus. There are specific things to consider, get them wrong, and it might not be a good swop. It’s a bit of a mindset move as well.
I asked my OH about going back to towing van yesterday (We still have both). There was a definite lack of enthusiasm, and that’s with a dream of a towing vehicle. I can see it merely being sited somewhere and using it more like a small static, home occasionally for some TLC, then moved to a different place.
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"Do I detect someone “wondering” about possibly having an MH"
Mmm, John seems to be considering the pros and cons of a MH v caravan rather than the toad issue😄.
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For us it means we can continue to tour in our distinct way. We can take our motorhome to any area in the countryside where a small delivery van can go. All we have to do is detach the toad when the roads are unsuitable for towing and one of us drives this for the last miles whilst the other our small motorhome. This allows us to visit remote camp sites throughout Britain and abroad, the ones caravaners can not reach and believe me we have stayed at some stunningly beautiful places. There are other benefits too but the above is the main one which makes absolute sense for us. We don’t tow it on all our tours but do so when it provides an advantage to do so. The secret is in the planning. I hope this explains a little of the possible advantages, JohnM20.
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You have found the perfect solution for you AD, and long may it continue. We have done all sorts of touring, tiny camper, tent (large and small), caravan and small motorhome. Enjoyed every one, each gave us something different. Much like John, we used to wonder what towing a car behind a motorhome was all about. But we recognise choice. I love to see the Motorhomes towing a nice classic around, that is a nice combination.
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Also can I say that our ‘toad’ is a tiny sporty car which is both fun to drive and very economical compared to the relatively huge tow car we had when we towed a caravan. It is our only car so that economy and fun continues whilst on holiday or not.
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