Why did you do it!
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We did all the caravan tours we ever wanted - most of Britain and much of Europe for 50 years. But we cut that back and had 20 years of globetrotting.too. A Motorhome would have been very restricting for us so we never even looked at them. We were lucky and did it all and went everywhere before old age, infirmity and Covid struck. No regrets at all.
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Jill
The idea of changing to a motorhome is certainly not for everyone and I think you have to be prepared to make quite a firm commitment beyond just swapping to a newer caravan. So I perfectly understand your view. I think the trouble with people of our age is that once we thought we were invincible and could do anything but growing old tend to suggest a slightly different path!!!! I am sure your caravan has been well looked after and no reason why it shouldn't carry on for as many years as you want to.
David
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We never ever wanted to have holidays in a caravan when we were younger, we had friends with caravans and relatives with campervans and it had no appeal. We did once let two caravanning families (friends) stay in a big garden we had in Scotland, that left 13 people using our shower for two weeks!! Somehow on retirement when we were looking at small motorhomes we got sidelined by caravans for a few years...eventually we made a firm decision to go back to our original small motorhome plan because we can't be bothered with the extra work a caravan presents (at home or away.) We also have very narrow approach roads that are a nightmare with a caravan. Had we had no room to park a van at home we would not have considered it at all.
So I don't really know why "we've done it" but we've had interesting times and can't claim to have seen or done it all! In fact our youngest grandson asked me last week "has Grandpa really been up the Orinoco?" ......
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I think much has got to do with how you organise your trips away...
For us, we like to visit a site and use it as a base for visiting the area. I don't bike, not keen on buses, and don't fancy taking a motorhome off site everyday to visit places too far to walk to.
Perhaps in the future we may feel differently, but as there are only two of us, plus a small dog, we rarely put up an proper awning, preferring just to use a wind out canopy, which is good enough to keep the rain off the outside table, chairs, cadac and waste bins. We tend to use full serviced pitches most of the time these days, so don't bother with the aquaroll or wastemaster - we use Colapz FreshMini kit and the flexi waste pipes.
We're quite happy with caravanning like this, at the moment - even if we only go away for 3 nights (which tend to be our shortest stays), but who knows what we might think in 5 years time.
David
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You do realise that you are the exception to the rule, TW. The majority of M/Hs that we see spend ages trying to level up on-site. Then there's the queuing up at the waste water point waiting to unload, drive around again to the fill up tap. Oh! and once set up decide that another empty pitch looks better, so pack away the seats and table that have been set up by the side of the LV, unhook the EHU and carry it to the newly selected pitch, and once on the new pitch try and level the unit again.
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I don’t believe we are the exception, Nellie. As I suggested, some will always do things the hard way. they seem to enjoy it.😀
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We were on a CL earlier on this trip and one M/H moved pitch twice after having set up on pitch 1, to pitch 4 after a day, and when pitch 5 came free moved onto that one, all within the 4 nights they were there. Then another moved from their original pitch onto no 5 when the one above had left......most strange as all the pitches were in line, had the same facilities and had virtually the same view.
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Then there's the queuing up at the waste water point waiting to unload, drive around again to the fill up tap.
We have only rarely queued, perhaps the time we leave and then it is only generally a queue of one. Not sure why they would then drive round to fill with water. Surely they would either do both simultaneously, or as we generally do for a short stay, fill on arrival dump on exit.
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We had 5 nights at Seat House CL Nellie one time, and tried out every pitch as we were the only ones there😂 We drove off pitch 1 in the morning, drove onto pitch 2 in the evening, and then did a different one each time we came home. No levelling up to do, each pitch was fine.
Some folks do faff though, mind that goes for vans as well. We were staying at Gilsland one time a van pulled in, they pitched up top part of site (no set pitches there), set everything up, which took a good half a day, we had been for a walk and they were still at it five hours later. Next day, they took awning down and moved to another area, and spent another day doing goodness know what🤷♀️ Highly amusing watching some of what goes on.......😁
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They will have had their reasons🤷🏻♂️. Had it been us, the only setting up involved would have been connecting the EHU.
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There's no pleasing some folk!
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We would have tried out the other 5 as well if we had stayed longer😂 Grand Site that one, cottage is lovely as well, fingers crossed we might get it for a Winter break later in year🤞
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We have had a tent, a trailer tent, a variety of caravans, and now a motorhome.
We changed about three years ago. Caravan was at that age where a few things were going wrong and it had either got to be changed or run into the ground. Then there was the balance of when we would change the tow car. So we started to think about m/home. We weren't getting any younger, how much longer would we want to tow? Although we have a service road outside the house, getting the caravan on/off the drive was not straight forward, even with the motormover. Hitching up, un hitching, levelling, fetching water etc etc just seemed such a palaver.
M/homing is not a panacea in this country - ours is 6.3m so parking not always straight forward, and then there are the dreaded height barriers. BUT setting off, pitching on site, leaving, getting home is all so much easier.
We rarely have to level the van, but probably more so on club sites than CLs. We sometimes take water with us, sometimes just fill up when arrive, and dump the grey water when we leave.
Our last 2 berth caravan was very nice, with a good washroom. Whilst not as good in the m/home - always compromise somewhere - it is perfectly adequate, including the shower, which we use regularly. We rarely use site facilities.
We are now about to change our m/home for a 6.3m panel van, which will be easier to get around in, and will have space for my small mobility scooter under the beds, accessible from the rear. Currently it has to live in the body of the van or in the well of the passenger seat - neither very convenient.
We go away more with the m/home than we did with the caravan - just so much less faff. At least that is what we find.
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Agree with your last comment wholeheartedly hja👍😁 So easy just to have a day out, never mind a holiday out. Ours is kept ready to roll bar gadgets and a few other bits and bobs. We get far more use out of it than with caravan. Absolute godsend as well these last 15 months, once we were allowed to roam a bit. Mobile cafe with ensuite loo, ready to park up almost anywhere👍
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Interesting to read everyone's thoughts and especially the impact of the ageing process on decision making.Thanks...and keep them coming.
it's not a caravan vs motorhome which is superior discussion , it's a question of the benefits or negatives in the decision making process.
I'm heading to 70 soon. My caravan is 18 going on 19, not too much value in it but it's in incredibly good condition considering it's age and it was a top of the range model in it's time. No way would I swop to a new van but if a motor home extended my "camping" life or opened up new opportunities for days out or simple overnight stops I would consider it if I felt it was economically viable.
My upcoming trip to Scotland is costing around £500 for a month..I'm hiring a cottage in September for £700 for a week. If I sold my 'van I would probably get around 5-6 weeks in a cottage with the proceeds. If I bought a motorhome how much would I have to lay out? How many weeks would I use it?
Interesting how even in motorhome or caravanning Brexit has had an impact.
So much food for thought!
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The idea of days out and impromptu trips at weekends is what OH is thinking would be good with a MH, and she is right. It would also be suitable for our daughter and family to borrow.
I am soon to be 79 (gulp! ... Sounds ancient!!) but in my head I am only 20 something......but how much longer we can realistically caravan is the question, as several others have said.
And would a MH extend that timescale?
We would like to go once more to my former home in Norway, possibly in 2023 as DD wants to take the children and wants us to come too. A MH would be ideal for making this trip.....quicker journey and more stopping possibilities.....plus DD and family ( who would fly there) could take it on a trip while there and see more of the country.
Lots to think about.
Our caravaN is large, a twin axle, and very comfortable, but now 13 years old, though no problems with at at present. It is a big van to tow.
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For those over a certain age (70), it is worth looking at driving licence requirements if you intend to wish to drive a larger motorhome - I think it is over 3500kg. That is fairly large, but some large vehicles may require you to keep all your licence rights after the age of 70. Although I can still legally drive my car and caravan with reduced driving licence requirements, I thought I would keep mine, 'just in case'. I applied in February (my birthday in May) and I am still waiting to hear. I am now driving without a licence at all - my previous licence has now expired. I am now driving under the provision of Section 88 of the road traffic act. (With doctor's consent while awaiting renewal).
If you intend to go down this line, it may be worth applying really early. You also need to get your GP and optician to fill in the form (your GP will charge). To keep the full rights, you can't apply on line. It's been a hastle - I don't know if I shall bother next time!!
It is my understanding that this might need to be a consideration if you want to drive a larger Motorhome or other vehicle over 3500kg. There is another thread on this somewhere.
David
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I didn't even do that last night, I just stopped and turned the gas on. Moving on again today.
So tell me folks, did you buy your Motorhome with no previous caravanning experience or if not, why did you change and why did you do it! If you have never had a caravan why buy a motorhome?
To answer DW
We had a caravan for 13 years before changing to a motorhome 20 years ago. We decided we could get more of what we wanted from a motorhome with the added advantage of an easier method of travel when and to where we liked as long as there were roads and ferries available. Wasting hours at airports, delayed flights and wondering what the accommodation at the destination is going to be like are not for us any more. Give me the freedom of the motorhome in preference to a hotel and other means of travel any day.
peedee
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Booking well in advance is fine if, when you get there the weather is nice or even reasonable, but often it is not. For 18 years I have had a share in a narrowboat and my weeks on the boat change each year, but whatever season of the year, you cannot depend on the weather in the UK, and whilst I love being on the boat, cruising in high winds and/or heavy rain - or even very, very hot weather as I had a couple of years ago, is not much fun! One of the main reasons for buying my motorhome was to enable me to book a few days in advance of travel so that I have a reasonable chance of good weather. Another reason was that you can keep a lot of your, clothes and possessions in the M/H and not have to be moving them in and out when you go away, unlike when I take my weeks on the boat. As you say, so much food for thought!
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Of course once we are back to near normal, the option of going over there will present itself. In our case France. Then out of peak season no need to book, or even at peak away from popular areas. Even the ferry can be last minute if you aren’t bothered on route, cabins, time etc. If the weather isn’t good just move elsewhere. It’s all so much easier with a MH. It also opens up the option of Aires which makes last minute planning and changes so much easier.
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This has been a most interesting and friendly discussion with motorhomers and caravaners explaining why they have made their choice. We are both in mid 70's, in pretty good health and have worked our way up through a tent hiring to owning one and then to caravanning owning a number from small 4 berths ones when the children were younger to a small 2 berth and to our present comfortably sized caravan. Looking back haven't they changed, I remember fitting mains supply (a diy kit with just 2 sockets) to an old caravan in the 70's and how much that improved our quality of caravanning; and now in our current caravan running hot water and an electric wc!!
. Our choice of holiday is to stay in an area for at least a week, usually longer on continental holidays. We have looked at motorhomes and talked to many owners over a glass of wine discussing the pros and cons which, in the main, are those made in this discussion. I do not mind towing and on the open road find it very relaxing driving at the same speed as HGVs, and not changing lane all the time to overtake etc. Living on a wide quiet road we have no problems with access to our drive and plenty of space to park it off the road. I can see the advantages of each. Caravanning meets our holiday requirement very nicely and we will continue as long as the old bones allow and our 12 yr old caravan continues to have no major problems. Everyone to their own.
Off to glorious Devon on Wednesday
. Caravan all checked,. Touching wire in 13 pin connector sorted (made nearside indicator 'on' all the time, interesting to diagnose!); pass on how it happened as it was ok a couple of weeks ago. 1 -
I can see the advantages of each. Caravanning meets our holiday requirement very nicely and we will continue as long as the old bones allow and our 12 yr old caravan continues to have no major problems. Everyone to their own.
commeyras, we are of a similar age to you, and although our van is a couple of years younger than yours, our thoughts are the same as yours. Have looked at new vans but not found one that would suit u s as well as our present one, and we've discussed/looked at M/Hs but don't think that they would suit our style of year round touring, staying a locality for about 5 days, touring from the site, before moving onto the next one.
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I have read all the comments with great interest...for me the idea of a motorhome has two major positives. 1) The day out with with your own facilities 2) ferry trips where the fare is far less with a motorhome than a caravan. I am seriously tempted until I look at the price then I think it's madness to spend that amount of money for just a few weeks a year. Running two cars( which we do) is mad enough when I work out the cost per mile when you add in all the bits...service,road tax, insurance,MOT and then fuel. When you are laying out £30,40,50Kand more for a few weeks of use and then still have the added car costs it doesn't make too much economic sense when I already have a paid for luxurious caravan that offers the same possibilities and yet the reality is that for the last 10 years it's had little use. Why? Because Asia ,Africa and more offer something a caravan trip can't do!
I think I'll just sit and look at those motorhomes and continue to look at them slightly enviously but not understand why I do!
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