The double axle motorhome cruised past on the motorway this morning, towing the obligatory Citroen C1/Fiat 500/other small car.

We've had a small campervan for about 5 years now, and we like it, though a bigger one would be nicer and the Mrs would like an indoor bog and shower.

Anyway, there seems to be one of those paradoxical situations where although a caravan is bigger, cheaper and easier to park up and leave than a motorhome, people still go for motorhomes. I assume it is simply an image thing.

Caravans have taken a pummeling from the Top Gear brigade, and I must admit, I've never been a fan either. But why?

Why on earth do people buy a huge motorhome, with it's own engine, just to tow anothe car with another engine, just so that when you arrive on a camp site, you can leave the motorhome and do your sight seeing in the small car.

Surely, simply towing a caravan with your normal family car makes 100% more sense.....

Motorhomes cost upwards of £30k for a new one. Caravans are half the price.

So, although all the logic stacks up, I still dont want a caravan, and might end up spending £20k on a used motorhome.
But why do I feel like this?

Views???

I know I'd rather drive a motorhome and tow a small car over driving a big car and towing an unstable caravan on the back any day

Caravans have always had a bad reputation with "motorists". My Dad would always mutter murderous threats when we got stuck behind them when I was a kid. And I think that was partly the problem - underpowered cars towing on single carriageway roads.
The problem with both caravans (and motorhomes to a lesser extent) is that both resemble kitchen appliances. There is almost zero imagination shown in exterior design, the interiors seem to be wilfully out-dated and if you try to go on caravan forums, be prepared for all your stereotype nightmares to be confirmed (in my experience, at least). I think the current popularity for motorhomes is an attempt to leave that image behind. How successful it has been remains to be seen. I recently translated the brochures for the Pilote (and associated brands) of motorhome and for all their luxury this and clever that, they are still massively compromised.

MrsC and I have a plan to buy a caravan and convert it to what we want, which is basically a big bedroom and decent en-suite in a shell that looks smart, sexy and nothing like a microwave.

Obviously I'll have to keep it secret from my dadMRS...

I always get murderous intents when I'm stuck behind either on the A9 north of Perth. Camper vans are invariably driven by older beardies whereas caravans are often more low-rent. Personally I can't understand either but then that's probably my problem

How many luxury nights accommodation can you get for the price of a Camper van? I know what I would prefer,

Sorted my post for you, MRS!

Fundamentally, I agree with you, especially on roads where overtaking is impossible, but if you can't afford a hotel yet you still fancy spending the night at, say, a weekend motor racing meeting or a music festival and camping in the UK seems a little like hard work, then I think they have a place.

I still believe they should pay a form of RFL though.

I think the benefits of vans (motor or otherwise) is the freedom to go where you like, knowing that your accommodation will always be up to your standards ! I always seem to end up in a noisy room in hotels.

Campervans are particularly flexible and you can use them to kip over at booze ups and for events like JC mentions.

They are also good for people who like the great outdoors and camping, but prefer a bit more comfort than a damp tent.

Our van is also used as a "Ute" for collecting wood for the fire, transporting large objects like doors and DIY materials. We can also tow big trailers with it.

My van is a 2.5TD and has enough power to do the speed limits on A roads and M-ways.

As a previous caravan owner in the uk and now a camper owner living in France also someone that tows a large trailor on a daily basis i have a few thoughts on the subject.

When having small children the caravan was great for holidays and short breaks. Allthough i have only ever towed with large 4x4's or a large transit type van.
Most of the time i could keep up with traffic and overtake with knowing i had the power and wieght ratio correct. so no wobbly episodes.

It was a great way to spend time with the kids,we would be on the Suffolk or Norfolk coast easy on a Friday evening after work.

Using a caravan in Europe is great also but wild camping is not allowed.

We now own a smart powerfull camper that takes all over Europe in comfort and it easy tows the track car and trailor for track weekends.
I also tow a bike trailor to carry my Burgman when on holiday.

Whats not to like? If i sold it tomorrow i would get my money back easy.

Nice hotels? I use them also when i travel long distance. But i cant see me selling the camper . A pushbike in the boot also gives me the best of everything.

But its horses for courses and i think a bit of research and a good think about what you want then go for it.

Whatever that choice is,its got nothing to do with an image thing.

Both are a compromise. We went with a caravan but you have to factor in possibly having to upgrade the car also and then driving something more thirsty solo than you might normally need.

I think whatever you plump for, you're always going to look longingly for the other.

Caravans are one of those illogical things you can't explain to people. I've tried to equate caravanning to a bit like making a den when you're a kid, but then most people look at me like I'm mad. You either get it or you don't.

If you are after a caravan my Dad finally resigned himself about getting rid of his. He bought it brand new 2-3 years ago and has used it twice for a total of 3 weeks. And not once last year. Seriously. Big expensive embarrassing mistake. So definitely not for everyone.

I've owned a camper van before A Toyota Hi Ace conversion. It was a bit as Jim describes them. A sort of outdated mobile shed. Plywood pull outs to make a bed and a tamale supported by one dodgy leg. We have however been looking at new second hand preloved ones lately and I quite dance the idea. It is more about freedom than luxury. Sure you could stay in hotels but you couldn't be as spontaneous or flexible in your route & number of nights away etc. And the big one………… take the dog! I wouldn't tow a second car but a a nice lambretta could be cool

Get a caravan as if you stay on site you can leave it hooked up and just drive the car for a day out/off site, its so much easier.

We bought a tent for fifty quid and sleep on the cold hard ground

£50? You was robbed chief.

PS, I spelled was as "W.U.Z" to be cool and down with the kids, yet I note the nanny state forum is choosing to spell it the Oxford Dictionary way, even though it shows W.U.Z in the edit....

weird.

was was was

Look it's done it again !!!

I own a T4 which is more of a day van than a camper van. It is perfect for when I go for weekends camping or away doing my heli thing.

As it is no bigger than a van (because it is a van :)) it is perfect. Its also my daily.

Have thought about a caravan, but living in a flat makes storage little difficult.

It's very much horses for courses I think. Why do you need a fast sports car? You don't but you like it.

Some would say I don't own a FAST sports car.

Do you care what people say though? A 20V is fast enough and without all the turbo problems

If you want a motorhome, get one. You won't lose any or much money on it if you sell it on, compared to what you would with a caravan.

You don't have to tow a small car, you could take mopeds or pushbikes, etc. The only hassle with a motorhome if you don't take another form of transport, is having to pack all your stuff away when you want to go out anywhere.

A motorhome is easier if you suddenly decide you want a night/weekend away somewhere - just throw your stuff on and go. Much easier than having to get the caravan out and hitch it up, etc.
A motorhome is also practical for day to day stuff like taking stuff to the tip or collecting large items, etc

Whichever type you look at, go for a berth that's a size or two larger than what you need.

My Mum's is a 2-4 berth, which is fine if it's 2 parents and 1 or 2 small kids, but when I went to Ireland with my Mum and my daughter, I took my camping gear with me for the main stay, but slept in the motorhome for one night on the way back.
It was very cramped and uncomfortable. I haven't slept that close to my Mum since I was about 3

It's always good to know that the forum software is doing its bit to keep things comprehensible!

Du wha mat?

As a daily commuter on Dorset's road to hell (A31), I have to agree. I can't think of anything worse.



OMG now I can

My holiday kit involves a bit of both. Chevy Astro dayvan with a Rapido Confortmatic folding caravan. The Chevy is the living room and the caravan serves as bedrooms/kitchen. Because the folded caravan is classed as a trailer, I can legally sit at 60mph which shouldn't inconvenience anyone too badly. Once on site, it takes all of 10 mins to set up the caravan and then we're free to head off and explore at our leisure with the Chevy.

Not on most of the A9 north of Perth you can't - 50mph on single carriageway. You then get stuck behind the lorry restricted to 40mph (tracked by average speed cameras) and then other vehicles build up and, before we know it, there's 10 vehicles all doing 40mph instead of 60 for 120 miles (an hour on everyone's journey).

Playing devil's avocado here, MRS... What's the difference being stuck behind a decently powerful car towing a caravan and the same car towing a racing car...?!

Meh. Who would choose to drive on the A9 anyway?

Scotland has hundreds of miles of wonderful roads... and the A9.

Jim, I'd have thought it was obvious. We like fast cars.

On the A31 the problem isn't the caravan per se, it's the 90 year old invariably driving it apparently intimidated by the huge white vehicle tailgating him.

Then we have trucks doing 40mph, car drivers afraid to exceed 45, and DELETED

It's a fair question, Jim, but there really isn't much of an alternative to dragging a race car about (I wish there was) whereas there's loads of accommodation alternatives. Car trailers are also infinitely more stable than caravans so, whilst the car might be quick enough to pull the caravan quickly, it's a very risky game.

Finally, as a huge generalisation, people pulling race/rally cars generally like to go quickly and are pretty aware.

As I said, I was being mischievous! I think I prefer the "each to their own" approach, tempered by a bit of common sense. My version of common sense suggests caravanners pull over once they have built up a reasonable tail and that all trailers should pay tax.
RK, may I suggest a nice cup of Horlicks and an early night? You sound a bit tired and angry!

Jim, you can't. Have you ever tried Horlicks?

I'm compromising with a glass of port and Silent Witness!

I know - I'm usually pretty accommodating but the A9 is normally either the beginning or end of a long journey and, TBH, the camper vans are every bit as bad as the caravans. I'm not sure VED on trailers makes much sense. Horse boxes (again either type) are the worst of all worlds. It would all be a lot easier if the queues of cars actually allowed for overtaking by putting space enough between them and the car in front (rather than deliberately closing any gap if someone does overtake). As with everything, a bit of consideration on the road goes a very long way.