Advice from you experts please

[hennyone]

Hi
Just joined and want advice from those with experience. My wife and I have decided to start travelling around the UK and Europe when I retire shortly. We would love to hear from members as to the pros and cons of caravans, campervans and motorhomes. We would expect to stay for a day or two at each place we visit and each trip would probably be for a week or two (to start with anyway). Can't decide what to buy so would welcome guidance.
Cheers
Hennyone

 

[David & Ann]

Campervan or Motorhome, doesn't matter. At my age I chose a Motorhome, a little more comfort and space. It is a matter of what you would prefere. If you are happy in your choice then that is all that matters. Have fun.

 

[robjk]

we used have a caravan and did not use a fraction of our motor home. More room and comfort you park and make a cuppa. with a caravan its legs down find water /empty toilet move awning then make cuppa. Parking a motor home can be difficult but a car and caravan even harder.
These are my thoughts and would not go back to a caravan now.

What ever you choose enjoy
Rob

 

[n brown]

mh vs caravan no contest really,when you stop,no un hitching and winding down legs, reversing is a doddle,the higher seats give a better view and safer driving,if you go off exploring and find a nice spot or site you don't have to go back and get the caravan,plus you can brew up when you like,and you have your loo and bed with you.etc etc

 

[Bigpeetee]

Ditto, I've had both and would NEVER go back to caravans

We chase the comfort of a fixed bed, as I get older, I don't want to be moving cushions around to make the bed.

Look around, talk to people, think what you want to do. Hire one for a couple of weeks.

 

[MOS]

Hi as an ex caravanner i wouldent go back ,but they where great when the kids were yound ,stick it on a site and stay there till time was up and back to work .
now we travel without the kids and MHing suits us ,we have two at the moment (flash hey )
we have an old merc tabbert (bigger and more cumffy )but its getting refettled this year ready for an extended jaunt over the channel and far away ,it needed more than we bargained for so we decided to take our time and do it all before we put it back on the road .
so we got a romahome hytop c15,to use this year ,so far we have done 3,000 miles in two months ,lakes dales broads and northern france ,and to be honest we are realy enjoying the flexibuility of the roma ,it fitts in a standard car park spot it goes on the ferry as a car it drives like a car ,and it does nearly 50 to the gallon .
appart from the lack of space and no shower its got everything we need for short jaunts (did 8 days in france no probs)
so if it wasent for the big trip we would stick with it ,but mavis is nearly done now so it will have to go but we are seriously thinking of changing afterwards for another roma just for the convienience of getting into more places
MOS

 

[Kontiki]

If you say you want to visit places only staying a day or two then a caravan isn't the way to go. Caravans are ideal if you want to park up somewhere & travel around the area local to where you are camped. If you want to tour around & wildcamp then a motorhome or campervan are better suited. We tend to have trips of 3 months to Europe, often we have somewhere in mind when we set off but sometimes never get there, we make it up as we go along often people we meet or something we see on route dictates where we go. A campervan or any type of smaller conversion if you want to be discreet & get down some out of the way places but then its a trade off against a larger coach built, A class or RV where you can have all the comforts of home.
You don't say if you have any camping/caravanning experience? Known people who like the idea & buy a large motorhome only to find it doesn't suit them. Some people think that you need at least a few vans before you find what suits you. We always considered a fixed bed a waste of space but when you are on the road for 3 months you realise how handy it is to be able to go to bed without having to assemble it often like a jigsaw trying to fit the cushions.
I would say try to see as many layouts as you can, talk to people (most motorhomers we have found are only to willing to share their thoughts & often show you around their vans)

Our requirements
Fixed bed - no making up just climb in when you want
Large fridge/freezer - need plenty of capacity for beer/wine & at least a couple of different ice creams
Garage -to carry mtorcycle or electric bikes (next van will have to do both) + all the other junk
Plenty of payload - if your licence covers you for over 3.5 ton the rod tax is a bit cheaper
Somewhere comfortable to sit

 

[Deleted member 13543]

I'm an ex-caravanner too, (all coming out of the closet today, aren't we???!) and also would never go back to it. The luxury of stopping, walking back, making a cuppa, having a sandwich, using the loo or having a sleep, without going outside is brilliant; not to mention just pulling up on site and watching everyone else struggle with steadies, water barrels and waste tanks!

Seeing as how you just want to stay for a couple of days in one place, probably a motorhome is a better option. A caravan is great for stopping in one place for a week or more, and using the car to tour the area. DON'T go too big; we did, cos it was a bargain, and himself had to have it, and everyone said don't go too SMALL!! Well, it WAS too big (I was right, as usual, one day he will learn to listen, lol!) and now we have a 21 ft Autotrail Cheyenne 630, which is just right. We hate making beds, but this has two long single bunks (which can convert into a HUGE double bed just by pulling the bases out) and on each one we just drop a sleeping bag in a duvet cover, our pillows, and a single duvet. Takes less than 2 minutes, and just as fast to put away. We have a cupboard over the cab where it all gets shoved during the day.

I think hiring a motorhome before you buy is excellent advice. Yes, they are expensive to hire, but you're talking about hundreds, and if you buy the wrong motorhome then deal it in, you will lose THOUSANDS!!

Also think about whether it will just be you travelling in it, or if you will carry other people at times. If you do, you will need seatbelts, and not all motorhomes have extra ones. Our 7 berth had TWO, just for the driver and passenger!!

Good luck, and enjoy your travels, you've come to the right place for advice!!

 

[vwalan]

hi, i,m different to the rest i use a caravan , well sort of . if you look on the mh discrimination thread there are pics . i have no need to put down legs ,mess around with water just step in the back and thats it . if i want to use a car . then i can unhook and use the truck. its not too big . loads of room . and goes almost in fact possibly places m,homes would never go. desert ,mountains . if a motor home can go then i,d better go as well. length shorter than a 12ft caravan and car . drive on a car licence . if over 70 can be made able to be ok for just b+e licence and have a train weight of 9,600kg . at the moment is mot exempt so cheap to operate . and as disabled road tax. much better for living in than a m,home . or get a rigid truck, again higher and easy to drive . easy for spares and comfortable as a car.
cheers alan

 

[iwm]

Speaking personally - My wife and I are in your situation but four years on.
No question MH is less of a problem than Caravan
We go thoughout UK and also into France, Germany, Austria, Italy - Yes near Europe.
Have not got bored as yet.
Made masses of friends in Eorope and also in UK after our travels started four years ago.
www.wildingcamping.co.uk has helped us a lot re: UK
There are similar sites for Aire de Caming car and Stellplatz in Europe.
Hope you have as much fun as we have had.

Best Wishes

IanM

 

[Firefox]

Motorhome and campervan are essentially the same thing, the terms are used pretty loosely.

There is though, a distinction between a coachbuilt and a panel van conversion.

If you want more interior space go for a coachbuilt. If you want a more compact vehicle on the road and for parking, fuel economy, or a sole vehicle, go for a panel van conversion. But as far as interior facilities and luxury go, panel van conversions rival coachbuilts.

I wouldn't advise a caravan unless you want to restrict yourself to parking up long term on the same pay sites and do a lot of touring in the car. A motorhome is much more versatile for wild camping, free camping, short breaks, and impromptu breaks.

 

[John H]

It really depends on what you want to do. As others have said, if you want to stay long-term on a site then maybe a caravan but if you want the freedom to roam and the possibility of wilding then a motorhome or campervan (loose terms but most people would describe a campervan as a small vw type without bathroom) is the way to go.

Remember, while it is being towed, a caravan is legal but if it is unhitched on the public highway then it isn't; a motorhome is legal wherever it is parked on the public highway (providing your tax and insurance are up to date!) - this is why caravans are not allowed on aires.

Finally - some people have both. We know several motorhomers who also have a caravan parked up on a site in the south of Spain for the winter and use the motorhome to travel around the rest of Europe in the summer. We are thinking of doing the same ourselves. But whatever you decide to do, good luck. I am sure you will have a great time.