Forum menu
Morning... having seen a few threads about caravans, I figured there would be opinions abound on this subject....
the boss wants a motorhome. I’d rather have a towable option for ease of travel after pitch up, and looking at the current crop of trailer tents like those made by Opus I’m really liking them!
Cheers
What compromises do yo want to make? would the motorhome have to double as a daily driver?
Big motorhomes - great to live in shite to drive. Little ones good to live in, cramped for a family and bikes have to go on the outside ( which I hate). Caravan - you have to buy beige elastic waisted trousers
I don't have any beige trousers, though one oy my pairs of walking trousers does have an elasticated waist.
Bikes can be inside a small camper, if the layout is right.
But, yeah, pick your compromise.
Trailer tent is still a tent so you have to accept that they won't have heating, shower, toilet, insulation - and they will be noisy when it rains and you'll be able to here all the noise your fellow campers make.
Caravan/motorhome delivers a more isolated experience and more 'home comforts' and also a far quicker arrival/departure experience (and you don't need to find a dry day and somwhere to pitch your 'van if you have to pack up on a rainy day). Needs off road staorage (ideally in a garage - they still get some damp even if ythey have a tarpaulin over them).
Caravans - much trickier to travel with than a motorhome (ime), susceptible to side winds, you need to have a car that will tow even if you only need a small car the rest of the time. pitching a bit more involved than a motorhome as you have separate water and waste tanks. You can use the car for day trips. Has to have off road storage - if it's away from where you live it's a pain as you either have to pack everything in the car and then drive to the 'van or pick the van up, come home and load then reverse on your return.
Motorhomes - driver up, turn on the gas, plug in an electric cable and you're good. Days out - you need to find car parks without height restrictions (and even then you can get tickets if you're over bay boundaries). Storage - on the road is ok depending on where you live, if not see caravans. Diesel engines increasingly being banned from towns and cities.
We have a 7.2m long motorhome and a dog and it works for us but there are compromises involved (less so as the dog means we tend not to visit museums and the like so mostly we're out and about when away).
Tbh it’s mostly an issue of space. My estate with roofbox isn’t quite big enough for a family of 4, dog and camping gear for more than a weekend... I would be happy getting an i800/transit custom type of thing and then upgrading all our camping gear. Or a caravan and a better car for towing (I have an avensis estate petrol which doesn't quite have the grunt for towing) that then gives us the freedom of not having to worry so much about going places after set up...
Don't get too hung up on the "you must have a diesel engine for towing" myth. We use a Volvo v50 with a 1.8 petrol engine for towing - previous car was a 1.6 petrol Skoda Octavia. The petrol engine has to work a little harder than a diesel when setting off and on hills, but towing is such a small part of how we use that car that we're happy to accept the compromise as we don't want a diesel engined car for the mileage we do. Longer term I'm looking at the new hybrids, the VW Golf hybrid with a 1.4TSI petrol engine should be fine for what we need
Needs off road staorage (ideally in a garage – they still get some damp even if ythey have a tarpaulin over them). This (plus comment abotu havign somethwere to pitch and dry applies to rtrailer tents - reread what I wrote and not sure it's clear.
wwaswas yeah, I think a trailer tent is out of the picture...
@nbt it’s mostly that I want a newer car as mine is a little beaten and old! 😇
If you can afford it fair enough. I'd rather not spend money on a new car unless it's necessary, but I'm afraid it might be for us 🙁
@tjagain I mostly wear shorts so I COULD get some of those trousers!
From what I saw at the weekend the caravaners didn't have a quicker strike time than tents - what with all having massive awnings to deal with, careful packing of cars (I guess towing weight limits the stuff left in the van?) the water tanks to disconnect etc.
having been in both the camper and the caravan with my brother in law... bot seem to take the same time....
From what I saw at the weekend the caravaners didn’t have a quicker strike time than tents – what with all having massive awnings to deal with, careful packing of cars (I guess towing weight limits the stuff left in the van?) the water tanks to disconnect etc.
It's up to you how efficient you are. Tent camping can be a 4 person backpacking tent with minimal stuff - we did Aviemore for 6 days this year in a tent, using the Prius; however we missed a fair few comforts and if you want those then a big tent and the chairs, beds, kitchen, stove etc etc all take some packing up.
Awnings are optional, you can also take them down the day before which you can't do in a tent. You can also get smaller awnings, our inflatable is far easier to put away than our old full awning was.
In terms of car, a Passat/Mondeo is plenty for the lighter end of the full-sized caravan market. You can still tow an 18-19ft van, but check the weights.
Comfort of caravan/motorhome cannot be overstated for family type holidays in the UK. You don't need to be isolated from your surroundings because you can still sit outside if you want, and even in the rain you can have all the windows open and still be mostly outside. It's not the same as being actually indoors.
Trailer tent never seemed like that great of an option to me, it's still canvas and you still need to tow. But probably easier than the big tent option.
It might take time to set up a caravan with getting water and waste sorted out - but then you probably gain that back by not having to walk over to the toilet block to pee/wash up. And you can stay in places that don't have them.
Caravans – much trickier to travel with than a motorhome (ime), susceptible to side winds
If you load and set up right, it's really not that bad actually. We've towed in some pretty windy weather and been surprisingly ok. You must make sure the nose weight is correct, and that the tyres are pumped up properly. We have a 1350kg MTPLM van with one axle and the tyres need 65psi. Which is why you can't use car tyres on it. If buying old caravans this is something to look out for cos people sometimes fit them. I see a lot of vans swaying about on the motorway, and it looks like low tyre pressure is the culprit.
@molegrips we have various sized of tent, from a weekend robens green cone and a massive 6 man family thing. but as the kids are getting bigger they take more room, plus if they want bikes etc thats extra hassle as they wont fit on the roof with the roof box there etc etc. hence the choice (now) between motorhome or caravan.
If you load and set up right, it’s really not that bad actually
It's not *that* bad, just a lot more difficult than a motorhome in sidewinds, when HGV's go past, plus the additional stresses of driving on country lanes or through towns with a large 'van.
I've done both and even with a 7.5m motorhome (we had a 6.5m caravan) it's a more relaxing journey.
And if you ever have to reverse back on a narrow road due to an hgv or tractor a caravan is a liability, especially uphill when the brakes decide to engage 🙂
Country lanes and small towns are much more of an issue than wind, I reckon.
We had a trailer tent for 10 years and replaced it with a trailer plus a tent. Latter was much cheaper, more flexible, carried more cargo. Just a thought.
Selling ours in 2 weeks, it’s been brilliant but time for he next chapter...
Just saying
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-want-a-caravan-thats-not-a-caravan/page/6/#post-6458709
Country lanes and small towns are much more of an issue than wind, I reckon.
I agree, never been worried in strong winds towing the caravan but little roads can be a pain, but OTOH little roads & towns can be a pain in a MH. (& not in the Xtrail that pulls our caravan)
Horses for courses & compromises innit.
We've had no regrets with it, we've used it loads from the Lakes to Dorset, New Forest, Isle of Wight, to through France and down to the Med.
It's very different and gets plenty of attention, it's light, easy to tow and non faffy. We have none of that aquaroll water and waste set up. You basically park up, level and plug in.
2 bikes on the front and kids bikes in the garage inside it
Awning is a blow up tent type so up in minutes and feels more like a tent when sat in it on an evening. Hate those rigid square box marques that people spend ages putting up.
For us it was the perfect upgrade from a tent.
Some photographs from various holidays to bore you all
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eGzLppKastTbjEaK6
If you got your licence after 1996 the default categories and weight<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> restrictions are different to pre-97 licences.</span>
It's really worth checking this on DVLA website before you make any decision
@ElShalimo I will need to get my B+E licence, it’s not too expensive tbh
You don't need the extra license for a normal car and caravan. But perversely, if you have a big SUV and a normal caravan, you can exceed 3,500kg train weight even though it'd be easier to tow than with a small car.
@molgrips I didn’t get my licence till 2004 so all the rules had changed by then. I need to do a new test for car and trailer
Only if the total weight is over 3,500kg. Which it won't be unless it's a large SUV.
Got to check the towing limit of the car as well. Our Peugeot 5008 1.6HDi (2010) has a towing limit of 1200kg.
Search for 5 or 6 berth with MTPLM of 1200kg on autotrader brings up 3 results nationally!
If the limit was higher then...
The car weighs 1480kg, so 85% of that is 1258kg - not much different.
However, that would total 2738kg so leaves plenty spare for people and stuff to get in at under 3500kg (I'm on a post-97 license too).
As an example, a 2010 Mondeo estate is 1600kg weight (with 2000kg towing limit). 85% of that is 1360kg, which would still leave 540kg for people and things - could be cutting it a bit fine if you had 5 adults in the car.
However, a search on Autotrader for 5 /6 berth with MTPLM of 1300kg gives 27 results (a few of which are trailer tents and 'test' ads) - so much more choice.
However, none of these are brand new - in my opinion the new caravan industry is facing a ticking time bomb with regards to weight. If they can't get the weights down to make it easy for people to tow without having to get additional licenses then they are going to lose a lot of business as people with post-97 licenses simply won't see it as an option. This is also in conflict with the fashion for heavier SUV vehicles and more gadgets in caravans themselves which all add to weight.
Mine is super light weight!!! Just over 800kg 👍👍
Pretty much gadget free though
just looked at the rules and @molgrips you're right.... however i would be happier getting the training as i have never towed anything unless it was attached to my bike! and i suspect that the Lady of the house will want something a bit bigger than usual!
The irony being that the trailer test is actually quick and painless to get
I paid 360 quid inclusive of test fees for a mornings refresher. Test at 1pm in the instructors car and trailer.
By 2.30 I was legal to tow 3500kg
We have a TT (technically a folding camper) and love it.
We inherited it and I wasn't sure at first if we would like it.
Pros:
* tows OK with our 1L Focus.
* can push it up our steep drive by hand
* all camping gear is kept in it, so no need to carry anything it our inappropriately sized family car (usually have bikes/boat on top so no room for topbox)
* can be pitched in 10 minutes, just open it out and it's good enough to sleep in at weekends
* awning can be pitched if we are staying longer than a couple of nights
* can be stored on drive
* not as desirable to thieves (mate just had caravan stolen)
Cons:
* it's not as warm as a small tent or caravan and so we don't use it in winter
* not as soundproof as a caravan
* not as quick to set up as a caravan
* if it gets wet you need to open it out to dry when you get home
We do talk about upgrading to a caravan but this would mean upgrading the car and paying for storage somewhere.
@trail_rat sounds good to me!
Quality trailer training at livingston - 2 years ago.
What i will say is - dear god they like a slip road round livi which was a shock coming from aberdeen
If you passed after 97, which test do you need to do to be able to drive one of those big 7+m motorhomes that weigh 4-5T?
It's pretty scary that , the same day I nervously scraped through my test in an F reg Nissan Sunny, in 1989, I could have legally jumped into a 7.5 tonne truck and towed a BFO trailer despite never even have driven on a motorway before.
If you passed after 97, which test do you need to do to be able to drive one of those big 7+m motorhomes that weigh 4-5T?
C1 license. I am one of those who can drive bugger all except a car, yet my mother who's driving is really poor can pretty much drive anything! Crazy!
C1 isn't too expensive, but if you want to learn/take the trailer test it gets expensive.
C1 isn’t too expensive
IIRC its about 1200 quid - Kenneththecurtain did it prior to buying a cheap economical run about - in the form of a DAF t244.
C1 round my way is about £1500 plus the test fee
If they can’t get the weights down to make it easy for people to tow
They are onto this. Each manufacturer has an entry level range and they are now getting lighter to match the lighter weight of cars in the Passat/Mondeo range. Bailey Phoenix, Elddis Explore etc.
Took my caravan to a festival the other week - Y-Not in Derbyshire, where it always rains.
Used a tent for the last couple of years and survived, but I tell thee - being able to take a dump first thing in the morning without getting dressed, a fridge full of cold beers, a double bed, sitting on the sofa with the heating on watching people trudging through the mud, when they'd given up and were heading home, having a hot shower, a wardrobe full of dry clothes, fabulous. I'll still use the tent for certain activities, but for holidays and definitely festivals, it's the way forward.
4.5t my gtw though
Tents are just too cold, damp and noisy for me. Want a warm dry space to come home to.
I weighed up a) buying a campervan and b) converting a van
But I decided I didn't want to drive round in a massive van 99% of the time not fitting parking spaces etc. Also packing up everyday to go on adventures or the shop I imagine is a massive faff (we are not that well organised to keep everything in place with toddler).
We have 110bhp 1.2 golf 7 that will easy tow a small caravan (my dad used to tow big caravans with an Austin Allegro).
So looking at a small caravan + large awning. The Dutch do them well and they are not offensive to look at on the drive:
circa 1996 Kip Kompact (they do make them new too):
[img] 
[/img]
These have a pop top, the dutch tend to keep them in the garage, so are largely mint condition.
Or possibly an Eriba (Hymer) Troll or similar if the budget stretches.
[img] 
[/img]
I feel a road trip to Holland coming on, shame about the €/£ rate recently.
(my dad used to tow big caravans with an Austin Allegro).
I used that logic at first, however caravans are way heavier than they used to be. Always check weights.
I used that logic at first, however caravans are way heavier than they used to be. Always check weights.
Vw Golf 1.2TSI 2013 plated Gross Vehicle Weight 1730kg, Train weight 3075kg
Leaves 1345kg for a braked trailer
Those little Kip Kompact caravans are 730/780kg unladen 900/950kg gross
OK on a B license (post '97) as it will be under 3500kg train weight fully loaded.
1.2 golf can't tow 1345kg
It's 1100kg max
And it's an 1100kg kerb weight.
I like the micro ones, but with the 2 kids and dog I think they’ll be a bit cramped, even WITH a big awning
Not trying too hard but....
2 kids (ones a teen now)
And 2 dogs....
No problems ...
No hot water though 😀😀😀😂👍
1.2 golf can’t tow 1345kg
It’s 1100kg max
And it’s an 1100kg kerb weight.
Where do you get your figures?
Mine come from the data sticker inside the drivers door of my car.
We tow our little van with a Fabia Estate.
Wzzzz you can get a Kip that has a reinforced floor to carry a motorbike too...thats what I want!!!
https://kipshelter.nl/extras/sports-packages/
Also have a look a Tab for small vans.
Well we’ve been and had a look at a load of cars and and motorhome today. We are now definitely in the caravan camp, and have found the layout we like... now to find a car for me to tow it with!
Wzzzz you can get a Kip that has a reinforced floor to carry a motorbike too…thats what I want!!!
The Kip Shelter is very cool, basically what you get in a T5 van but you don't have to drive a van round the rest of the time. £10k new so not bad.
https://kipshelter.nl/modellen/shelter-basic/
Shame theres no pop top sleeping arrangement for small kids tho.
Shame theres no pop top sleeping arrangement for small kids tho.
True, we might get one when our boy is old enough to sleep in a tent next to it.
Well we’ve been and had a look at a load of cars and and motorhome today. We are now definitely in the caravan camp
Yeah you definitely get more for your money with a caravan, and I prefer the interior space too. Even huge campervan feel cramped with the space taken up by the chassis and the cab.
If you end up with a caravan then read up on how to load it and set it up. Makes life easier all round.
@molgrips that’ll be the boss who deals with that! I’m just the donkey! 😂
Good stuff. Done tents and a T5 camper in my past, now have caravan. Great for year-round camping (Aviemore in snow at minus 14 bring our record, so far). Couldn’t justify or afford the cost involved with a sizeable motorhome, and the lifestyle of those doesn’t suit us as a family with 2 x active young kids. Tow it with Transit Custom with bikes inside the back - perfect.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/a11y_m/6qPN43
Horses for Courses.
I spent all my formative years going on holiday with the family in a canvas tent. Took my own kids camping also and we loved it. not great when the weather is against you but you have to take the rough with the smooth.
Kids are grown up now and we wanted to get something a step up. Looked at caravans, and the modern ones are real luxury. However, I really didnt fancy towing. plus my company car cant have a towbar fitted due to loads of batteries in the boot.
So we look at a motorhome. Took the plunge and we bloody love it! fixed island double bed at the back, electric drop down bed for visitors at the front and a decent sized lounge for 5-6 at the front. I love the convenience of it. I can leave work at 3 and be opening a bottle of red at 6 in the Coniston with the bike on the back. Got it in May and been away most weekends. Next year europe.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48569692577_ae2f9d64a6_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48569692577_ae2f9d64a6_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gZWnsH ]2019-08-18_09-31-42[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
Tiger, when you're ready to sell give us a heads up, I have a week to come up with a justification and somewhere to store it!
My parents had one of those pop top kips. They're great but some club sights get stroppy because the doors on the wrong side for the "line up on the peg" our t@b is the same so we left the club. Kinda miss coniston site but we'll survive.
They’re great but some club sights get stroppy because the doors on the wrong side for the “line up on the peg”
Eh?
My parents had one of those pop top kips. They’re great but some club sights get stroppy because the doors on the wrong side for the “line up on the peg” our t@b is the same so we left the club. Kinda miss coniston site but we’ll survive.
Unlucky choice of sites then. Complete opposite to our experience, despite having the ultimate pikey combo (Transit plus a German-imported Hobby - all Hobbys have door on 'wrong' side though). Never, ever once been an issue on Caravan Club sites for us.
Henley Four Oaks Caravan Club site:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/1941/45442812102_e2f091cfc2_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/1941/45442812102_e2f091cfc2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Our door is on the back, I dont think we'd fit in!!
Our door is on the back, I dont think we’d fit in!!
That must confuse the hell out of the site wardens!
And there's a joke in there about rear doors and Caravan Club but I'm too classy for that.
Our van door is on the European side and never had a problem on any UK sites.
This weekend we had to have the peg in the middle of the van. Scottish thing 😉
Travelling down to Coniston from here so will have to see
Much prefer to wild camp
[img] 
[/img]
@Tracey - are those 2 piece tie-down straps any good?
We've got the long single strap version and it's not that good.
Its the long single strap with the tension spring on one end, been out in some very windy stuff and its never budged but its anchored down with some big ex army metal pegs that my dad had.
@Tracey - thanks. Maybe the pegs are the key to it? I'll try some different ones.
The pegs that came with it were rubbish, in that they bent. Ours are more like a marquee peg. It also helps to get quite a bit of pre tension on the spring and that the canopy leg clamps are tight so that the strap doesn't pull them down.
We were in the eye of a hail storm in Les Orres and the weight of the hail stones on the canopy forced the legs down but the strap still did the job.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535761636_eda5303b69_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535761636_eda5303b69_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gWWsYu ]2019-08-14_01-42-42[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535910937_cdb02f8e35_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535910937_cdb02f8e35_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gWXemD ]2019-08-14_01-42-08[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535904412_ac0c1e2315_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535904412_ac0c1e2315_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gWXcq9 ]2019-08-14_01-40-47[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535748711_e5d533d573_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48535748711_e5d533d573_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gWWp8D ]2019-08-14_01-40-15[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
Stunning van mate.
Stunning van mate.
Cheers 🙂
Very nice! We’ve found a deal in a new caravan, and I think the boss is sold, I just need to find a new car! 😁
Just back from a Weekend in Woolacombe with some very changeable weather and some very strong wind. At no point did I think I would have been better off in a tent..
We did keep the pride of being the oldest, tattiest caravan on site too. Beige is coming back I tell you. I think our van was a tenth of the cost of most of the others on the site.
I think my camper van was a 10th of the price of strs trailer tent.
I use rather straps and dog lead screws for securing the fiamma out when it might get windy and I'm away from the van.
Those awnings a tough. We had 4 inches of snow up there after the first night of the strathpuffer. We did sweep it off with the brush mind to avoid it collapsing it.
Very nice! We’ve found a deal in a new caravan, and I think the boss is sold, I just need to find a new car!
If you've found a deal and are happy, then don't want to be a pooper, but not sure I'd buy a new van - they depreciate like cars.
You instantly lose the 20% VAT, plus the drive away loss. Mine's a 2016 Buccaneer Cruiser - £35k new, with 4wd motor movers and Truma aircon added - circa £3k extras on top. I paid £22.5k for it a few months ago
What van?