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The outfit in the OP is certainly around that mark, but our was a damn sight cheaper then 24k
£34k new, plus £3k of extras, but this isn't new, it's a 2016, cost me £22.5k but it's being used for work, put through the business and being offset by not paying hotel costs, which will address some of the points made elsewhere. Why anyone would buy a brand new one is beyond me. They depreciate like cars
Ours is self propelled.
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I don’t understand caravans if I’m being honest. Camper van or tent just seem more practical and easier to just pitch up in on a whim.
Lots easier to setup a caravan than pitch a tent. Much more comfortable, weatherproof and secure when you’re not there.
Campervans are great until you need to go somewhere other than where you’re camping. Having to pack the whole shebang to go to the supermarket or for a day out would be a pain
Swings and roundabouts innit
indeed, perchy. we've had that debate. if we had a camper we'd do a lot more weekends away, but I'm not sure how practical it would be for longer stays
I said to her that the highlight of the trip would be to see a Marauder. You’ll never guess what happened next?
Yes, two of them!! I nearly wet my self with excitement.
Wow! Proper jealous. I've never seen more than one in a single day tbh.
Question for caravan folk: do you wave and nod at each other on the road, or are you too cool for that sort of thing? I like to think that when I buy a Marauder of my own, I'll also become part of a sort of informal Marauder family of the roads. But maybe I'm being a little starry eyed about it all.
zilog6128
I think STW needs a refresher course on what “humblebrag” actually means; it’s become the new “man-flu”
That's about all I get from this thread.
Then wwaswas's mobile turned up. Jealous of that. I'd live in one if I didn't have 16 bikes and a million records 😆
(hope you mananged to put the kitchen fire out wwaswas)
We have a posh Campervan or basic motorhome depending on your view. I can see the attraction of a caravan in that when you (finally) get to your destination you unhook it and then you can use your car to get out and about. A large campervan is limited in where it can go - we found this out in the Brecon Beacons last year.
Having to tidy the van and put stuff in cupboards before driving off for the day is a pain. We like to find a site with good public transport links (much easier on the continent) but in the UK that's rarely possible in the areas we visit
Everything is a compromise.
We have a static van in a place we love an hours drive away but it means sacrificing the variety of different experiences for the convenience of being able to go away for the weekend on a whim with no more preparation than lifting a set of keys.
Question for caravan folk: do you wave and nod at each other on the road, or are you too cool for that sort of thing?
Absolutely. There is also an unwritten code that if someone looks as though they need a bit of help on a campsite then you’re allowed to spectate for entertainment purposes for a bit before offering assistance. You must always offer help though. 😉
After all the above hastle, is it not cheaper and more conveniant to rent a tin tent, book an airbnb or other accomodation?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But for me, a caravan is preferable to a B&B or even a hotel, because:
1) The caravan is full of your own stuff, it's your own space. You bring books, games, toys, whatever; you put your feet on the upholstery, you bring your own duvet and pillows etc. And to be honest, the seating in them is pretty comfy and far better than what you get in B&Bs. Lounging around in caravans is great.
2) You can come and go as you please and during the day you can chill out and do your own stuff. Hanging around a hotel room is dull as hell during the day and you usually only have a bed or a shit chair (done this a lot). When you are camping or carvanning you can sit outside, if it's a nice site you'll have woods, a stream, a beach, large open spaces, good views, your kids can play football, frisbee, archery, fly kites, all sorts. This is vastly better than sitting in a hotel room watching freeview. Of course, you can stay out all day, but that's either expensive or sometimes hard work or both. The chilling is far better camping/caravanning.
3) There are more better locations, in my experience when camping or caravanning.
4) You can buy and cook your own food, the way you want it. You can have your own snacks, you can barbecue, whatever, and it's far cheaper than eating out. Sometimes you don't want a dining experience you just want a few barbecued sausages, some crisps and a beer, don't you?
5) You're more involved with the outdoors generally. Even in a caravan in the rain, you are looking out of at least three windows at the scenery and views and green countryside; if it's nice you fling them all open and you're basically ouside with good seating. Or you can simply be outside anyway chilling on your camping chairs.
Caravanning is really just camping but with better sleeping and cooking. It's the same type of holiday, for us at least.
Anyway - here's our van. A 2000 Bailey Pageant Auvergne. Bought for £2,300, and it's in great nick. It's got electric and gas blown air heating, an oven, mixer taps, double dinette layout, Heki roof light, blinds all round, all 2000-era mod cons, and I've just put vinyl flooring down instead of the crappy carpet. Also fitted Alko shock absorbers and a spare wheel. It came with an inflatable awning, a Vax cordless vacuum cleaner and even a TV (which is now in the kids room). Having bought turkeys with the last two vans, I'm chuffed to bits with this!
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The caravan is full of your own stuff, it’s your own space. You bring books, games, toys, whatever; you put your feet on the upholstery, you bring your own duvet and pillows etc. And to be honest, the seating in them is pretty comfy and far better than what you get in B&Bs. Lounging around in caravans is great.
I sort of get this, but it also sometimes seems weird that people choose to travel to foreign countries in particular, then recreate their domestic environment in a mobile home or caravan and sit around watching TV and eating bacon butties.
I sort of get this, but it also sometimes seems weird that people choose to travel to foreign countries in particular, then recreate their domestic environment
It's not re-creating your domestic environment. Well, it is if you watch TV, but we don't do that. We have our own caravan-specific stuff.. not the same stuff from home. But yes - there are many people who just sit around doing nothing staring at screens in their caravans or campervans - this is crap IMO but each to their own. And when I say lounging around in a caravan is great, I mean AFTER you've done your bike ride, been surfing, climbed your mountain or whatever. Not all day 🙂
Most people seem to get camping, and look up to big motorhomes as luxury goods. Caravanning is just camping but with much better sleeping and cooking arrangements, and vastly cheaper than a big motorhome. And with more space, tbh.
We did a hire caravan holiday once (yep, once) and it was a good base to go for bike rides and explores an that. Kid was only little then. And bacon butties is the best thing about a caravan holiday.
Worst thing was the "friendly" folk on the caravan site, coming over and being all "friendly", like cos we were in a caravan we had something in common?! yeuch, who needs that shit?
Worst thing was the “friendly” folk on the caravan site, coming over and being all “friendly”, like cos we were in a caravan we had something in common?!
If it’s any consolation, they had already spent half an hour criticising you and laughing behind your back at your ineptitude first before they offered assistance.
The bastards.
But yes – there are many people who just sit around doing nothing staring at screens in their caravans or campervans
Playing boardgames and sitting inside with the windows open?
Playing boardgames and sitting inside with the windows open?
Playing board games isn't doing nothing, is it?
And being inside with the windows open in rain is preferable (to me) to sitting inside with the windows closed, or sitting outside in rain. Not sure your point, or are you just needling cos that's what you do?
Here's my litte tin tent for the odd weekend reconnecting with nature...
if it’s nice you fling them all open and you’re basically ouside with good seating
Not sure your point, or are you just needling cos that’s what you do?
Just some people like to chill watching TV and others playing Kerplunk. Even while it's nice as it's like outside.
How is that pimp’s palace a commercial?
Because it looks like this in the back
OP someone on here was looking for someone to tarmac their drive recently.
. The costs to the environment, and chaos on the roads, it causes are beyond ridiculous.
The op's set up shouldn't cause chaos or at least no more than any other vehicle towing a trailer, certainly less than a lower powered car towing a smaller caravan.
Regarding it's environmental impact, less than a family jetting of somewhere for a holiday ??
I'm guessing the fact that it's an expensive bit of kit is raising a few jealous hackles 😁
Regarding what people do on holiday, it's s a totally personal thing. No one thing has anymore merit than another.
Just some people like to chill watching TV and others playing Kerplunk. Even while it’s nice as it’s like outside.
Of course. I'm aiming mostly at the people who sit inside and watch TV all day. Why not stay home?
But like I say, each to his own. Do what you have to do. But at least make an effort sometimes.
Caravans don't really cause chaos on roads. I mean, sure, they are limited to 50mph instead of 60mph, but that's not so great a hardship is it? If it's not busy then just overtake and be away. If it is busy, then there's no point overtaking because you'll end up behind an HGV or pensioner or other caravan or whatever, so just chill out.
I try to avoid single carriageway roads as much as possible with the caravan, and when I do I pull over regularly. If I find myself on a windy one I invariably end up behind a 40mph pensioner anyway. Caravans aren't the issue, impatience is.
Regarding it’s environmental impact, less than a family jetting of somewhere for a holiday
https://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx?tab=3
"Total Flights Footprint = 0.28 metric tons of CO2" x 4 for a family = 1 ton, say. - this for Gatwick to Malaga
https://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx?tab=4
"Total Car Footprint = 0.16 metric tons of CO2e" - this was for 400 miles in the OP's car maybe add a bit for the weight of the 'van.
I don’t understand caravans if I’m being honest. Camper van or tent just seem more practical and easier to just pitch up in on a whim.
We just went tent camping, due to car issues which I may well start another thread on (yes, that car).
It was a ballache to pack everything, although pitching wasn't a big deal due to having a tiny tent. The biggest issue was weather though. It was warm all weekend, but it was quite windy, and we felt windswept. And it was cold in the evenings. Ideally we'd have had a big Coleman type shelter, but we didn't. The caravan would have been lovely and cosy in the windy evenings.
Setting up a caravan can be easy if you get it sorted. Pull in, unhitch, level the thing with wedges if required, put the legs down then one of you goes to get water and fill the toilet whilst the other gets a brew on or starts dinner. Takes less time than pitching a tent and can be done easily in rain, wind or darkness if required.
Re carbon, our car gets somewhere around 32mpg with the caravan on with or without bikes on the roof, as opposed to about 60mpg solo without bikes on and about 48mpg with bikes on. Assuming the worst case scenario we do about double the CO2 as we do solo, which would be approx 300g/km.
This holiday we drove 1100 miles so about half a tonne of CO2 or 0.4 tonne according to that calculator up there. We'd have done about double that flying direct to Edinburgh from Cardiff, and then there'd have been a three hour drive on top of that.
taxi25 yes, although we've not included the CO2 from the manufacturer of the caravan (or the hotel or the car or the airport transfers etc but that's possibly more complex than we can easily get?)
It's not weight nits wind resistance.
I’m guessing the fact that it’s an expensive bit of kit is raising a few jealous hackles
To be fair the op has started a few threads like this doing "humble brag" over the years.
I'll be picking one of these up in a few weeks. Cant wait.
Oh my that's nice.
I wouldn't have a camper van like that, but they're ok for those that want them - except for the cost! I can't see how they can get £15k's worth of van chassis and put £20k's worth of caravan on the back and make it add up to £60k.
For balance our diddy caravan cost £500
I don’t understand caravans if I’m being honest. Camper van or tent just seem more practical and easier to just pitch up in on a whim.
Tents take fricken hours to put up and take down, pack all the shit in the car etc. Our van has everything we need in it ready to go, just add food to the fridge and its done. Plus if it rains you you have a comfy chair and table and the kid can watch a dvd or something.
As for campervans I've seen people use them. Its like a 30min game of tetris to go to bed or nip down the road to buy some beers and even our tiny van has more space than a T5.
I can’t see how they can get £15k’s worth of van chassis and put £20k’s worth of caravan on the back and make it add up to £60k.
And this!!!
Biggest problem we had with a large family tent was putting it away wet because you have to be off a pitch by a certain time so either the dew hasn't all evaporated or it's raining and then trying to dry it when we got home.
It's the sheer cost of a camper that puts me off a bit. How much do folk tend to recoup in sale value when they shift them on a few years later?
Lots easier to setup a caravan than pitch a tent. Much more comfortable, weatherproof and secure when you’re not there.
Campervans are great until you need to go somewhere other than where you’re camping. Having to pack the whole shebang to go to the supermarket or for a day out would be a pain
Swings and roundabouts innit
But the alternative is to have a caravan Perchy. A caravan!
But the alternative is to have a caravan Perchy. A caravan!
I know! Awesome innit!
wwaswas - that is the main problem we have. 6 man tent is wider than our garden so drying it is a nightmare. Last time it ended up out the front of the house on a grass common area and I had to hang around outside until it was dry! Got some very strange looks from passing traffic too.
I'd love a camper, but 5 berth with 5 belts are incredibly expensive. And as mentioned above the freedom to be able to nip to the shop or out on day trips without playing tetris with all the stuff that 3 youngsters can spread everyhwere within 10 minutes of arriving.
So, a caravan would be ideal. But, on my post-97 driving license there's not many car and caravan combinations that fit within the 3.5t weight limit and can sleep 5 people. So I'd need to do a B+E training and test. Then get a new car because current one isn't heavy/strong enough to pull much.
It very quickly gets very expensive compared to a £400 tent. So, looks like we'll be sticking with that for a while. May need to get a towbar and trailer for all the kit before long though!
@martinhutch - campervan/motorhome residual values are excellent if you don't buy brand new
Classic cognitive dissonance.
Caravans are a better solution than motorhomes in many ways, yet not cool so not aspirational objects in the same way. The opposite in fact, objects of stigma.
That's lovely Lowey. Bike garage at the back under a fixed double?
We used to have a campervan until our daughter cam along and we moved to a folding camper then caravan. We tried to stay as small and agile as possible and we find we can move around just as easily as we did with the campervan. We usually do a highlands tour for a couple of weeks in the summer and move around, singletrack roads are a no problem with a small van and family car. Also campervans are expensive and it was stressful putting an old van through MOT's
I used to be pretty anti caravan but do not miss a campervan at all, we can carry bikes, bodyboards, wetsuits etc. far easier with this outfit than the campervan. We can nip out to the supermarket or explore areas a lot easier.
We got a bargain seven years ago and bought a brand new Adria caravan for £9k, we have since had over 400 nights in it, it stays in the garden and is available as fully en suite guest accomodation. I cannot see us getting rid anytime soon.
Molgrips sums it up pretty well, most of the places we camp you cannot find good hotels etc. if you do they cost a fortune. 400 nights even at £80 is £32k. Hotels are just nowhere near as nice a place to be with the family. Tenting is more fun when the weather is spot on though.
Static here 37 x 12.
Martin, Van residuals are really high, but I've no intention of getting rid. I've always wanted one and I intend to keep this till it falls to bits.
Jules, yeah can get bikes in the garage, but also got a bike rack and awning as part of the deal. Fixed island bed at the rear.
The cost is a lot. I could easily buy a car and caravan for less money, but its the versatility of a Moho that appeals. You cant wild camp in caravan. I can go to Europe and spend months travelling around on Aires, fully self sufficient.
I spent years camping with my daughters. Now they have grown up I wanted something for me.
I was brought up camping in tents and still got a STW issue 5m bell tent. Trying to pitch the bell tent one dark & stormy evening in the lakes a couple of years ago really showed the limitations of the tent though - ended up soaked through and sleeping in the car as tent impossible to get up.
Shortly after this Mrs Scruff & I bought a two seat campervan and it's ace for weekends away. We have used it for probably 20 odd nights away through the winter - wouldn't be doing that in a tent with any degree of comfort.
For main holiday summer / longer stays of any duration it's not the ideal tool for the job though as mentioned above faff of packing & unpacking to nip to shops, Despite having a pair of folding bikes. For trips away in the summer we tend just to use the yacht/floating caravan - far more self contained, better for exploring the Hebrides and far less midges at anchor.
I can see us getting a caravan if we ever have kids though - it'd be far more suitable for a two week camping holiday.
It's all about having the most suitable tool for the sort of break you want.